Cruise Specialists Blog

Luxury Cruise News & Reviews

Blog Home / Cruise Lines / Silversea Cruise Reviews

Silversea Makes The Med More Inclusive: Free Shore Excursions & WiFi, Your Questions Answered

Ralph Grizzle

Silversea's Silver Shadow docked in Ketchikan, Alaska. Photo © 2014 Aaron Saunders
Silversea’s Silver Shadow docked in Ketchikan, Alaska. Photo © 2014 Aaron Saunders

I don’t about you, but I like a bargain.

I often will walk into a department store and head straight for the sale rack. I’m not looking for cheap so much as I am looking for value.

That’s where I feel like luxury lines like Silversea excel. They offer a lot of value for what you get. Now, Silversea is adding even more value to 52 of its Mediterranean voyages. The company will include complimentary shore excursions and free Wi-Fi.

NEW FEATURES

General: The program includes two hours of Wi-Fi internet access offered to each guest, every day of the cruise.

Medallion and higher-category suites: unlimited complimentary internet access is their reward – perfect for keeping in touch with home or showing off your sumptuous Grand Suite to friends and family.

Once again: it's tough to beat the Observation Lounge, with its Silver Spirit-esque design. Photo © 2013 Aaron Saunders
Luxurious Surroundings: the Observation Lounge aboard the Silver Wind. Photo © 2013 Aaron Saunders

On shore, guests are able to select from an extensive list of complimentary Silver Shore Select shore excursions that are offered in each of the line’s Mediterranean ports of call.

The only tours that aren’t included in this offer are, unsurprisingly, the more immersive Silver Shore Collection Tours, or Silver Shore Privato, Silversea’s customized touring option that gives guests their own cars and exclusive drivers for a day for self-directed explorations.

 

Silversea's Silver Spirit in Casablanca, Morocco. Photo © 2012 Aaron Saunders
Silversea’s Silver Spirit in Casablanca, Morocco. Photo © 2012 Aaron Saunders

Kristian C. Anderson, Silversea’s senior vice president and general manager for the Americas explained the updates in an interview with Aaron Saunders.

Living in 2015, without question Wi-Fi is becoming an expectation of our guests. So, if we are listening to our guests and our potential guests, we’re looking at ways that we can build not just a new ship – that’s always a possibility – but ways we can continue to refine and enhance our core product offerings.

How did the new complimentary shore excursion program come about?

Our guests – our Venetian Society guests – were asking for it. And when our Venetian members speak and voice their feelings and their views, it’s our responsibility to listen. 

Our excursions are capacity controlled. They’re civilized.

I think it refines the overall experience and guests are appreciating that when they make the purchase, they’re not just receiving a quality cruise but they’re receiving another extension of their cruise experience – a quality shore excursion.

Silversea's Silver Spirit off the coast of Sorrento. Photo © 2011 Aaron Saunders
Silversea’s Silver Spirit off the coast of Sorrento. Photo © 2011 Aaron Saunders

Can guests still customize their shore excursion experiences?

The most critical thing is that we continue to offer our Silver Shore Concierge service, which is basically the complete service and support – a truly reliable resource for guests to refer to if they have any questions, concerns or special needs. The Concierge will be available to help them out.

Silversea’s Expeditions product already includes shore excursions, correct?

That’s right. Our Silversea Expeditions ships are all about going to places no one else is going and exploring ports that have gone unexplored. It’s all about going into communities, exploring the local cultures and customs, and it is gaining a great deal of momentum in that respect. It appeals to the passenger who is a cruise aficionado who just wants to get out there and explore something different.

Do you think there is a possibility the program might be expanded to other destinations across the classic fleet?

The easy answer to that is ‘yes.’ 

I could not be more pleased with what we’ve done here with the complimentary shore excursions and the inclusive Wi-Fi; it’s just the next evolution. I love to tease, but the truth is there is more to come and we just want to continue to build success upon success. 

Anyone else excited to see what Silversea cruises has in store for the coming years? If you’re ready to experience all they have to offer, checkout some of our favorite sailings.

More from my site

  • Silversea To Include Shore Excursions & WiFi On 2015 Med SailingsSilversea To Include Shore Excursions & WiFi On 2015 Med Sailings
  • The Value of River CruisingThe Value of River Cruising
  • No April Fool’s Day Joke: Free Internet On Cruise ShipsNo April Fool’s Day Joke: Free Internet On Cruise Ships
  • Just Posted: our Silver Explorer Photo TourJust Posted: our Silver Explorer Photo Tour

Silversea Cruise Reviews

SEARCH ARTICLES

Article Categories

  • Cruise Destinations
    • Africa Cruise Reviews
    • Alaska Cruise Reviews
    • Amazon Cruise Reviews
    • Antarctica Cruise Reviews
    • Arctic Cruise Reviews
    • Asia Cruise Reviews
    • Australia/New Zealand
    • Baltic Cruise Reviews
    • Canada/New England Cruise Reviews
    • Caribbean Cruise Reviews
    • Cuba Cruise Reviews
    • Europe Cruise Reviews
    • Galapagos Cruise Reviews
    • Grand Voyages
    • Hawaii Cruise Reviews
    • Iceland/Greenland
    • Mediterranean Cruise Reviews
    • Mexico Cruise Reviews
    • Panama Canal Cruise Reviews
    • Scandinavia and Northern Europe Cruise Reviews
    • South America Cruise Reviews
    • South Pacific Cruise Reviews
    • Transatlantic Cruise Reviews
    • World Cruise Reviews
  • Cruise FAQs
  • Cruise Lines
    • Abercrombie & Kent Reviews
    • AmaWaterways Cruise Reviews
    • American Cruise Line Reviews
    • American Queen Voyages Reviews
    • Aqua Expeditions Reviews
    • Atlas Ocean Voyages Reviews
    • Avalon Cruise Reviews
    • Azamara Cruise Reviews
    • Celebrity Cruise Reviews
    • Celebrity Galapagos Cruise Reviews
    • Cunard Cruise Reviews
    • Cunard World Cruise Reviews
    • Disney Cruise Reviews
    • Explora Journeys Cruise Reviews
    • Holland America Line Cruise Reviews
    • Holland America World Cruise Reviews
    • Hurtigruten Reviews
    • Lindblad/National Geographic Reviews
    • Norwegian Cruise Line Reviews
    • Oceania Cruise Reviews
    • Oceania World Cruise Reviews
    • Paul Gauguin Cruise Reviews
    • Ponant Cruise Reviews
    • Princess Cruise Reviews
    • Quark Expeditions Reviews
    • Regent Cruise Reviews
    • Regent Seven Seas Cruise
    • Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
    • Royal Caribbean Cruise Reviews
    • Scenic Eclipse Discovery Yacht Reviews
    • Scenic River Cruise Reviews
    • Seabourn Cruise Reviews
    • Seabourn Expedition Cruise Reviews
    • Silversea Cruise Reviews
    • Silversea Expedition Cruise Reviews
    • Silversea World Cruise Reviews
    • Star Clippers Cruise Reviews
    • Tauck Cruise and Tauck Land Tour Reviews
    • UnCruise Adventures Reviews
    • Uniworld River Cruise Reviews
    • Viking Cruise Reviews
    • Viking Expedition Cruise Reviews
    • Viking Ocean Cruise Reviews
    • Virgin Voyages
    • Windstar Cruise Reviews
    • Zegrahm Expeditions
  • Cruise News
  • Cruise Ports
  • Cruise Specialists Benefits
  • Expedition Cruises
  • Hosted Cruises
  • Ralph Grizzle
  • River Cruises
  • Ship Reviews
  • Solo Cruising
  • Tom Mullen
  • Tours, Trains & Resorts
    • Palace Resorts Reviews
    • Safari Reviews
    • Shore Excursions
    • Trains

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Maggie Blehert

Her ideal travel day: venturing to a new place, learning something interesting and sharing a smile.
View My Blog Posts

Steve and Wendy Bodenheimer
Cruise Specialists Voyage Hosts reporting on their round the world journeys.
View My Blog Posts

Ralph Grizzle

The Avid Cruiser. Well-traveled and insightful. Helping you make informed cruise decisions.
View My Blog Posts

FOLLOW US ON

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter