Originally Posted by
Sunny 1
Seabourn staff serving caviar and champagne in the surf is not hype. Our first cruise was with Seabourn in the Caribbean and yes, "caviar in the surf" was offered. "Pretentious"? No, it was simply something they offered. Our second cruise was with Seabourn as well, but in the Baltic and yes, caviar was served again, but poolside. It was a one time special occasion offered on each cruise, but I suppose you could ask for caviar anytime.
We've been on Silversea the past three times and again, no hype. "Butlers" attend to each suite - don't recall white gloves all of the time, but do recall seeing them.
You’re right and what I was trying to say, maybe unsuccessfully, that it can look a bit over the top to somebody who is just seeing the ads and has not actually been on a cruise with Seabourn or Silversea. Indeed Silversea has butler service for every cabin on every cruise and I didn’t mean to imply they don’t. What I was saying is at least one of Silversea’s ads has a line up of white gloved butlers greeting you dockside as you board. OK that happens but in 72 days on Silversea in the last four years it’s happened once. Personally we’ve had six diffferent butlers and without exception they’ve been excellent. They don’t hover though and I think adjust to their passengers and provide assistance and service they sense the passengers want or need. Within reason they’ll do as much or as little as a passenger asks or expects. It’s also not a one cabin one butler relationship. While I’m not sure of the exact number I’d say the ratio of cabins per butler is around 10 to 1.