Hi Joe & Joan,

We have multiple sailings on Regent and multiple sailings on SS. For example, we sail on the Voyager Dec 1st (Mumbai to Bali) them we have three SS sailings booked for 2013, including London Tower Bridge to Iceland and back--arrives the day of the SS Cloud cruise u are interested in. Special Kudos/shout out to John & Tanya for sharing their blog and answering my ? about this itinerary and ? on London.

We truly enjoy both lines, prefer the dress code on SS (2-3 formal nights per cruise), smoking policy on SS, will be essentially the same as Regent's in 2013 (no smoking in suites or verandas), prefer lunch in the La Veranda equivalent on SS (La Terraza) they have sushi daily, service is a tad more attentive in LT at lunch than LV. The Restaurant(MDR on SS)/Compass Rose are very similar--coin toss for us in terms of which we prefer. Both lines offer outstanding specialty restaurants.

We choose SS over Regent in Europe since we are comfortable making private tour arrangements or using SS tours paying with the generous SS OBC. For exotic itineraries we prefer Regent's included excursions (e.g. in Asia, SE Asia, Middle East). As for airfare (BC) From Chi, You will pay $200pp more for biz class air on SS than on Regent, if the Regent voyage BC price is $999 pp per leg, the SS price from Chi is $2198 total pp.

For us, where SS shines over Regent is in special orders--altho available on both lines. We find SS executes (steak diane, Crepe Suzettes, dover sole, English truffle, london pie (pix below). You simply give the Maitre'D 24hrs notice and viola you receive a true gustatory delight matched with stellar service. Also, am not happy with Regent's new $200pp reduction in air credit since we do our own air with miles (have a million plus) thus for 2014 we will look at SS first before looking/booking Regent.

Plus on Silversea, we get to sail with David/EnglishUSA, Susan & Jeff/Grey Gypsey, DougBurns (Doug and the Lovely Miss Lynn and see you next Thursday in Phoenix) and soon Betty on the Spirit (fall crossing 2013)



Hope this helps.

r/wes