Rivercove10

What a devastating loss. :loudcry:

Heartfelt condolences to family and crew.

Hi,

Hubby and I did this cruise April just gone. I have just researched the cruise you will be taking and the ports we visited were little different to the ones you will seeing. I feel your itinerary will be better than the one we experienced. Firstly we loved the Sojourn, very rare can you fault service and experience.

Regarding the ports of call - all were very humid and hot. We are Aussies so we can handle hot summers but the humidity we experienced in the Philippines was very uncomfortable. Returning back to the ship after excursions was euphoric, cool and clean. What I do fondly remember is how very welcoming every port was on our arrival - dancing, music, welcome gifts of necklaces.

Hundred Islands - beautiful environment. Very little infrastructure for tourism but they are working on it. If you don't take a shore excursion you can still get to the main Island and have a swim and get the general idea of the place.

Manila - Traffic chaos, spent a lot of time in traffic jams. We were in port overnight. Easy enough to do your own thing.

Boracay - we took a shore excursion "Relax at the Beach" which was a dumb choice because Seabourn provided a free shuttle service from the pier to the main town which is next to the beach. Actually Seabourn provided a free shuttle services in every port to transport you to the main trading area. If we would have known about this before we booked excursions we probably would have been more independent. We also did not realise that you can take the tender to shore even though you are not on a shore excursion. Boracay had a fun vibe to it...beachbars, souvenir huts, very crowded - popular for Asian tourists.

Coran - very pretty, beachy place.

Puerto Princesa - unforgetable welcome given the the ship as we docked. We took a tuktuk or Jimny (? forgot what they called their local transport) had a walk around independently.

I hope my reflection does not sound negative because it was a lovely cruise, I suppose the ports of call to us were not mind blowing which Antarctica was. As they say once you have done Antarctica on Quest you always compare every cruise thereafter to that experience.

Cheers

More than a month has past since we disembarked form the Ganges Voyager and I have not posted a review as yet...I am bad especially that Cruise Critic has given me so much information on our upcoming cruises. I do have a bugbear about writing on forums; there is always somebody that feels a need to comment on spelling errors or somebody wants to start an argument about an opinion given. I will harden up for the sake of giving back because Cruise Critic is such a valuable tool.

The review given by pbnjrockette was spot on, I will share my experience.

We (Aussies) booked our trip to India with Insider Journeys, they organised an 8 day post-cruise extension from Kolkata which included Varanasi, Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. They organised transfers and internal flights; on the whole the India experience went smoothly. A hiccough occured with a transfer from the boat to airport which was not booked but the staff from the Ganges Voyager organised and saw to a stressfree transfer. I describe our India trip as an experience not a holiday; some confronting moments that makes you question your values which is what traveling is about I suppose.

I understood that the Ganges Voyager was sort of chartered out to different tour providers and I presumed that this would be done in blocks of time eg; Vantage would have a charter for week, and then A&K, then Insider Journeys but what actually occurred, guests from all tour providers were on our sailing. Great! I enjoy the diversity but we found it ended up being a two class sailing.... The A&K group had wine and beer included in their package but the Aussie guests did not. It became annoying that after each drink was ordered a form was presented for signing. I understood wine and beer was inclusive in our package but evidently it was not.

The crew and staff went out of their way to ensure everybody was happy and safe. They were always around if there was a trip hazzard on a pier or wharf to ensure we were mindful of the hazzard. Whenever the guests were getting on and off the Country Boat (tender) there were at least 2 crew assisting to ensure safety. During shore excursions there was always extra crew to ensure we crossed the road safely or did not fall down embankments or get harassed by cows, goats, dogs, pigs. The crew genuinely cared for our welfare. Hand sanitizer was issued on every excursion and cold bottled water was freely given.

Food was tastey and enough choices available to keep most happy. The food hygiene standard looked as though it was being practiced to western standards. The ice onboard the boat was edible as it was properly filtered but the water in the ensuite shower or basin was not allowed to be consumed. Several guests did end up with Delhi Belly (us included), just one of those things...not good for 24 hours but then it becomes managable...sort of. I believe the requirement of non flushing of toilet tissue down the loo may be a causative agent of the spreading of sickness onboard - my opinion only. I brought nappy sacks to wrap the offensive material. That aspect was probably my only complaint.

Sleep quality was excellent, comfy beds and lovely linens. Excursions were great - informative and pleasent guides. The locals from the villages and towns we visited were very interested in us - we must act and look wierd to them. One of the guests would give soft toys to the local children, most of the kids freaked out and did not want to touch the offering. Sometimes sweets were given to the children, they were received happily by the older ones. Our tour guides suggested that it is not good policy to give to the children because they will come to expect something from all future guests who visit.

I am happy to share any further information.

I unsuccessfully tried to attach the Ganges Voyager Daily Program from our time onboard for those who are like me and want to know every detail of what to expect. I will email them if requested.

We did the Holiday Antarctica 2014/15 on Quest - it was so memorable, I think about it daily. I recall a couple of formal nights per week, On Christmas Eve, Night and New Years Eve most guests were dressed up for the occasion. There were quite a few evening gowns and handsome tuxedos. Most men dressed in dressy trousers, collared shirts and dressy jackets. Ties are optional even on formal nights.

Jeans are not seen in the Restaurant or Restaurant 2 in the evenings but certainly around the Pool Grill and in the Colanade it is common.

I felt we brought along too many expedition/Antarctic clothing, I basically bought what was recommended from the expedition clothing outfitters mentioned on the Seabourn site. We did not require that many layers of clothing for warmth while ashore. Mind you it can of course get colder than we experienced. You are really only in those clothes for maybe three hours maximum per day, so they dont get dirty really (except maybe for a bit of penquin poop).

The indoor temperature onboard is perfect, we found using the black puffy jacket that Seabourn supplied was great when moving around the ship, if you had to go on the open decks. I recall two very cold sleety days when the cold was a challenge but once inside it is all so cosy. I loved when we stayed outside on the pool deck and we were spoiled with heaters and cosy blankets and hot toddies or irish coffee. It was fantastic!

Movie selection is fantastic. Think what you gain on business class flight entertainment, you will experience similar or better. We were blown away with the latest offerings. Plus there are so many movies, national geographic and programmes relating to your voyage. Too much to watch for the time onboard even though my DH would like a bigger screen, amazing entertainment and experience.

... I love everything Seabourn but DH (Husbank - lol) complains that the television is too small and off centre when watching the vast supply of entertainment on the interactive television in the Veranda Suites.

He also agrees that Seabourn has everything up there to a faultless experience. He hates the size of the TV. So much so that he has insisted that we have a penthouse suite on our next sailing which has been booked. I believe the veranda suites are awesome.

I have sort of said that the new Encore ship will get this right. Oh dear, I cannot find anything about what size television is going to be installed. I hope that the new suites will have a slightly bigger screen.

Isn't it wonderful that we have to find such a small issue to complain about.

BTW (by the way for less geeky persons - lol) I was so appreciative when hubby and I had a bit of sea sickness on the Antarctic Holiday Cruise 2014 - we were so entertained by the latest films on offer to keep us from feeling a little green.

I am surprised that the new Encore has so few Penthouse suites when the vibe has it that they sell out the quickest.

All the opinions are my own and I am not an expert in cruise travel other that I am a Seabourn cruiser ...seriously once a Seabourn Sailor, how can you go back??? ( And this forum needs some stimulation of argument - lol)

At last a blog about Ganges Voyager, I have become obsessive about finding reviews about this new boat on a daily basis. I very much enjoyed and appreciated the link above.

I am a little anxious about having to place used toilet paper in a container; not able to flush it. Fingers crossed hubby and I won't be suffering Delhi Belly. I took it for granted that the Ganges Voyager was being advertised as "luxury". I have been a spoilt woman as I class Seabourn as luxury. I understand that the sailing is on the Ganges River but the Ganges Voyager looks like the maharajah would sail in it. I have to harden up!

Thanks Sgt. Pepper... Looking forward to your review... It will be a first....the ship looks wonderful, the itinerary also sounds unique. Best wishes to you for safe and memorable travels.... Cheers.

Hubby and I are booked on Ganges Voyager 22 December. I have not found any reviews comments or information on any cruise sailed at this time, very weird ,.. I am aware that the ship suffered fire damage the day after its christening which was January 1st 2015. I have been told by my travel agent that one of her clients had sailed and was very satisfied BUT I have not found any information reports or reviews regarding the ship. Any info out there would very very appreciated

Hi. Yes we are sailing now on Quest...after much excitement waiting to find which suite we were assigned having booked OB guarantee we ended up with 811 V4. The info came 10 days prior sailing.... We were so happy with the allocation.

Having an amazing cruise.... Just can't fault Seabourn.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

I came across the link below while I was searching Google for the allusive secret to "how does Seabourn allocate OB verandah guarantees".

I am waiting for our suite allocation for the Holiday Antarctica sailing. I am carrying on like kid who can't wait for Christmas. 11 days to go. The article / study does not give me the answer I was seeking but it was an interesting insight into pricing of cruises focusing on Seabourn / Hal.

http://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:731192/FULLTEXT02

BTW - I know there is no formula to the OB allocation...I just love reading about others experiences.

I have been searching every news site about cruises and cannot find any info what is happening to Quest...just checked again; she is still in Puerto Madryn. Fingers crossed she did not suffer any damage. grrrr