Illusion Or Reflection

[Davydine]

Hi all,

We are looking at booking either Silver Illusion or Silver Reflection for a week, early next year. From the Hoseasons And Silverline web sites, these two boats look to be identical. Does anyone have any experience of them both and is there anything to choose between the two?

Many thanks,

David

[Matthew12]

Hi David I have not hired from silver line but all there boats are really clean and a nice boatyard reflection has better reviews but it's up to you. How many people are you taking? 

[Davydine]

2 minutes ago, Matthew12 said:

Hi David I have not hired from silver line but all there boats are really clean and a nice boatyard reflection has better reviews but it's up to you. How many people are you taking? 

There will be 5 of us, which will be my wife and me, my mum and our 2 children, so 3 generations. This layout appeals because it gives everyone their own cabin.

i noticed the difference in reviews but couldn't really see why, I think it is just people being subjective.

[Matthew12]

Lots of people on illusion said the berths are quite small but the photos look similar so I'm not to sure

[Matthew12]

You could call them or send them a message on messager I'm sure they will be helpful 

[Davydine]

Thanks, the beds look like typical boat beds to me! I think sometimes people have unrealistic expectations about how much you can squeeze in to a limited space!

[Matthew12]

Yes 

[Hylander]

Book with the yard H.... Is taking 2hrs plus to get through to and then you get cut off or phone goes dead. Horrendous at the moment.  Above I am speaking from experience this week,  you just cannot get through,  think they must be having problems with system.  Probably wrong but trying to give them benefit of the doubt.  Jimmy H would turn in his grave.  This virus has a lot to answer for. 

 

 

[Davydine]

Thanks Hylander.I will speak to the yard. I would prefer to book direct if I can.

[DAVIDH]

47 minutes ago, Hylander said:

Book with the yard H.... Is taking 2hrs plus to get through to and then you get cut off or phone goes dead. Horrendous at the moment.  Above I am speaking from experience this week,  you just cannot get through,  think they must be having problems with system.  Probably wrong but trying to give them benefit of the doubt.  Jimmy H would turn in his grave.  This virus has a lot to answer for. 

It's a combination of so many staff still on furlough, the avalanche of reservation enquiries following lockdown release, and re-bookings for those who had their holiday cancelled and given a credit note to use in the future. 

Have you thought of using their website reservation system? It's quick and easy.

[Hylander]

40 minutes ago, DAVIDH said:

It's a combination of so many staff still on furlough, the avalanche of reservation enquiries following lockdown release, and re-bookings for those who had their holiday cancelled and given a credit note to use in the future. 

Have you thought of using their website reservation system? It's quick and easy.

p.m. sent.

[Hylander]

49 minutes ago, Davydine said:

Thanks Hylander.I will speak to the yard. I would prefer to book direct if I can.

We always booked direct with Silverline.

[andyg]

If you book direct with the yard do hoseason still take a booking fee ?? 

[deebee29]

7 minutes ago, andyg said:

If you book direct with the yard do hoseason still take a booking fee ?? 

Yes they do

[Hylander]

You do get a few perks for booking with the yard with Silverline in the fact that you do not (or it used to be) pay for parking and the divers insurance I think was included.

 

At least if you book direct with the yard you are assured of your holiday.   Paperwork can come later.

[Mouldy]

53 minutes ago, DAVIDH said:

It's a combination of so many staff still on furlough, the avalanche of reservation enquiries following lockdown release, and re-bookings for those who had their holiday cancelled and given a credit note to use in the future. 

And no doubt they will be taking full advantage of the money on offer by the government to take staff back off furlough now.

We always used to book through Hoseasons, right back to 1969 at the end of our first boating holiday, when we travelled from Horning to Lowestoft to book for the following year and met Jimmy Hoseason at their office.
Im afraid that their service level has slipped to the extent that even if we want a shore based break in Cornwall for example, I always book direct with the site now.

[TheBands]

We are on Silver Illusion at the start of August (family of five, all now adult sized) and we also hired it in the past (2014). It's a great boat, four genuine bedrooms and yes small berths but that is all boats and Illusion is as good as any boat we have ever hired in this regard. As with all boats take max occupancy figures with a big lump of salt.

Good layout, decent room in the central lounge area and the kitchen area tucked down out of the way of the main passageway works well.

Only two bathrooms but I have never understood why you need three on a boat - my own house only has one bathroom......

From the website the boats look to be identical, I'm not sure how reflection could have bigger berths unless it meant compromising on the kitchen/lounge space.

Hired from Silverline a couple of times, in my experience they are briskly efficient (which might upset some and may not be what a first time novice wants but I am absolutely fine with).  Would solidly recommend them.

Silverline's website links you direct to hoseasons, we have never had any issues with hoseasons and they are offering full refunds if (please god no) we have to go back into regional or local lockdowns.

 

[TheBands]

EDIT: Just noticed that the link on Silverline's website for Reflection actually takes you the Illusion page - so don't know if they a4e the same or not.....

[DAVIDH]

2 hours ago, Mouldy said:

And no doubt they will be taking full advantage of the money on offer by the government to take staff back off furlough now.

Just talking generally about the £1,000 bring back bonus. How can it be referred to a bonus when currently 70/80% of staff wages are paid by the government. If the company brings them back, they have to pay the wages in full until January...but get paid £1,000 in  exchange.

[Davydine]

5 hours ago, TheBands said:

EDIT: Just noticed that the link on Silverline's website for Reflection actually takes you the Illusion page - so don't know if they a4e the same or not.....

Thank you, I contacted Silverline through their Facebook page and they tell me the two boats are identical. I completely agree with you about bathrooms, but I think people who are non boaty expect a hireboat to be like a hotel, with en-suite facilities and hairdryers!

On another note, Silverline asked me to book through Hoseasons  as they are busier than normal at the moment.

[Hylander]

"Only two bathrooms but I have never understood why you need three on a boat - my own house only has one bathroom......"

 

You wait until you are our age 70+  believe me two loos are essential.     What gets me is though some boats may have three loos but only one waste tank.   I imagined each loo had its own tank.   

 

 

[MaceSwinger]

19 hours ago, Hylander said:

Book with the yard H.... Is taking 2hrs plus to get through to and then you get cut off or phone goes dead. Horrendous at the moment.  Above I am speaking from experience this week,  you just cannot get through,  think they must be having problems with system.  Probably wrong but trying to give them benefit of the doubt.  Jimmy H would turn in his grave.  This virus has a lot to answer for. 

 

 

I tried to book direct with Silverline a few weeks ago and was told Hoesasons had told all yards only to allow bookings through Hoseasons themselves.

I was on reflection a couple of years ago with a party similar to yours David. My parents, my wife and I, my sister and brother in law and their 2 kids. Overall pretty roomy, saloon was a little crowded with us all in there, but it's a boat; it has a finite amount of room. Overall it was lovely, and immaculately turned out as Silverline's boats always are.

[Hylander]

Well I booked direct with my yard on the 30th June , everything has been confirmed to them from Hoseasons,  no problems at all with the yard.  May be some yards are overwhelmed with all that they have to comply with and it is therefore easier to do it through Hoseasons.

[Davydine]

Thanks, everyone for the information and advise, we have booked Silver Reflection for a week in the Easter school holidays next year. 
 

Booked online through the Hoseasons web site, As requested by the yard. all very straightforward and quick.

[MaceSwinger]

5 hours ago, Hylander said:

Well I booked direct with my yard on the 30th June , everything has been confirmed to them from Hoseasons,  no problems at all with the yard.  May be some yards are overwhelmed with all that they have to comply with and it is therefore easier to do it through Hoseasons.

It certainly didn't seem like it was Silverline's choice when they sent me this on June 20th:

"Hi, with the current climate Hoseasons have asked us not to do our own bookings. All bookings must be done through Hoseasons."