Cruise Specialists Blog

Luxury Cruise News & Reviews

Blog Home / Cruise Lines / Silversea Cruise Reviews

Spending the Holidays at Sea: A First-Person Experience

Kevin and Susan

Kevin and Susan are two of our long time Cruise Specialists voyage hosts, which means not only do they love cruising, but sharing it with you! Last year they embarked on a holiday cruise, which provides some great insight as to why it’s a lovely way to spend the season!

We shipped out for Christmas. That is, we boarded the Silver Whisper on December 20 in Ft Lauderdale and we’re retracing our September cruise back through the Panama Canal to San Francisco then continuing on to the South Pacific ending in New Zealand on January 27.  The day we left our home in Rotonda West it was a balmy 91 degrees — a record breaker for the Sunshine State. Meanwhile the Plains and Midwest were shivering in way below zero weather. Brrrrrrrrrr! At one point, there was a temperature differential of 104 degrees between my birth state of South Dakota and Florida. That polar vortex is a pretty wicked dude.

Cruising on the Silver Whisper is a great way to spend the holidays.

When we boarded in Ft Lauderdale Mark Conroy, the former head of Regent and now leading Silversea, greeted us passengers and wished us all bon voyage and bon noel. After all, the ship was beginning to look a lot like Christmas with trees and garlands throughout. There are some families on board, one with three generations sharing the holiday together.

Our family has had two reunions on board ships and we found it is the perfect setting for these get-togethers. No one has to cook or wash dishes or even make their own beds. It is quality time having fun together with loved ones celebrating holidays or special occasions.

With Christmas and Hanukah coinciding this year, it was a time to revel. It seems that Silversea really knows how to mark these important days without going overboard…so to speak.

  • There was a menorah lighting ceremony
  • a midnight church service
  • Christmas caroling
  • a holiday show
  • a special yuletide dinner
  • Santa showing up on Christmas Day.

To make the day even more special, we transited the Panama Canal on December 25. There were five other cruise ships and numerous cargo vessels in the canal and holiday greetings filled the air between passengers and crew on all the ships in each of the locks.

In addition to all the revelries on board, the port cities are in full holiday mode. We took a walk on the medieval walls of Cartagena and had a nice overview of South American style decorations. The same held true at our ports stops in Guatemala and Mexico.

On New Year’s Eve day, we went on a catamaran sailing and snorkeling excursion in Zihuatanejo, Mexico and later sailed out of the bay just as fireworks were lighting up the night sky. On board the dress code was formal and there was a pre-dinner show featuring some of the most beautiful arias sung by the excellent Voices of Silversea. Afterwards, a gala dinner dance in the dining venues was the perfect way to bring in the New Year.

Ready to ring in your new year with something different?

Let us help you find the perfect tropical getaway or go enjoy the holiday markets of Europe! (888) 993-1318

 

More from my site

  • Silversea Pacific Island Cruise Review: A New Holiday TraditionSilversea Pacific Island Cruise Review: A New Holiday Tradition
  • World Cruise Options for 2012World Cruise Options for 2012
  • A Day in the Grand Voyage Life: Panama Canal TransitA Day in the Grand Voyage Life: Panama Canal Transit
  • 2015 Silversea World Cruise Review2015 Silversea World Cruise Review

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