Covepointcruiser

Breakfast and Lunch have been served daily in the restaurant while we have been at sea.

We will tip during the cruise if our attendant, waiter is getting shore leave.   That way they have some additional funds to use.

Definitely don’’t leave your balcony door open as it ruins air conditioning for adjoining cabins plus extreme noise in the passageways.    On newer ships the heat/air conditioning turns off when you open the balcony door to save energy.   Of course it will go back on when you close the door.

We prefer the Ovation/Encore because of the Retreat and the larger Earth and Ocean, and TK Bar and Restaurant.

The Retreat is one of the best places on board for a minimal up-charge.    We purchase it for the sailing and are always assured of a quiet space, great service, sun loungers, shaded table for lunch and shaded cabana with sofa and television.

Each day you receive a $50 spa credit and a premium bottle of wine or champagne.    We choose to have our wine at dinner so we don’t need a premium wine package.

We are on the Ovation now and the staff couldn’t be better.   We boarded after Avalon left in Lisbon.    We don’t sit by the pool so we haven’t ordered anything from there during the day but we enjoy Earth and Ocean in the evening.    We are in a Spa Suite and no complaints about the service.    The pool area seems crowded and everyone wants to be by the pool.   The min restaurant has been open every sea day for breakfast and lunch and we have only had one port in 7 days.

Yes, you have to order them at the same time.

For the same charge you can order multiple meals to your cabin.   It’s the same charge whether you order 1 or 6 meals.

We attempted to book the QM2 12/8/25 round trip and the Q5s-Q7s are totally booked except for one Q7 accessible suite.   We don’t need an accessible suite (at least not in 11/23) so we are waitlisted for any non accessible suite in those categories.    As far as I know this crossing opened up in the last week so the suites are selling fast.   We had a wonderful time on the 12/22 B2B2B and loved the Christmas flavor.

Last night was the first formal night on the Ovation Crossing.   I was surprised at the number of tuxes and dinner jackets.     The men really dressed for the occasion in the Restaurant and most or all tables were filled by 7:30.   Even the Staff Captain at our table remarked about the number of diners considering we had 100 less passengers than the cruise before, Rome to Lisbon.

Glad we don’t have to collect our bags.   Sun Prince did say that you are fast tracked with Global Entry but we have not experience this other than at U.S. ports and airports.

What similar services would you recommend in South Florida from FLL to Miami Hotel?    We are open to other car services but we want to be met at baggage claim.

The QM2 is also our favorite ship, every time you sail it’s an experience.   We were on last December for the Literature cruise and enjoyed it immensely.    We also stayed on for the Christmas Market and then back to NYC.    Hope she is doing something similar in Dec 2025.

Enjoy your voyage!

Formal evenings will change, especially if you miss a port.   We are on the Ovation and the first formal night changed.

It’s the same size ship so if it’s an “expedition” type voyage you should have Zodiacs

Wow, prices are crazy, $26 for a drink!    We are enjoying Seabourn and everything is mostly included except for high end wines and any tours.    We have noticed that extra cost events have been added, Scotch Tastings, whiskey tastings, wine tastings and special wine paired lunches and dinners.    Believe it is their way of adding revenue.    We didn’t notice any of this on our South Pacific crossing in April.

Must be in certain markets.  Taking them from Tampa airport to Clearwater was $95 and it was a 40 minute trip.    They met us at baggage claim and handled our baggage to the limo car.   Makes it very easy on us.    Worked very well in Lisbon, 57€ from the airport to the Ivens Hotel and we never had to touch our luggage.

We use Blacklane.   They are not expensive and the driver will be there with your name on an IPAD.   Uber/Lyft will often have a surcharge when ships are in port.   It’s unlikely that Seabourn will be the only ship in port.

Luggage tags are available in the Grill Concierge Lounge.    We usually don’t like the ones we get so we exchange for tags nearer to when we want to disembark.    You can get off the ship early as your bags are the first put on to the pier.

We are on the Ovation transatlantic right now.   It’s only day 2 but the service is excellent as always.   The TK restaurant was great as usual, the beef is amazingly good.

Not happy about collecting bags in Toronto before we fly to the U.S., but if this means no Customs or Immigration in the U.S. I guess it is worth it.    Nice to know they accept Global Entry in Canada, the U.K. And EU countries don’t recognize it.

Our check in for the Ovation is at 2:30, but we must leave the hotel at 12 pm.    We will see what they do with us at the pier.   I am sure they will take checked luggage but do they want us to wander around with our carry ons?   Is there a reason for the late check in for the Ovation in Lisbon?

I am speaking of the QM2 , and the Queens Grill.

The problem with shower doors is with oversized people.   They can’t shut the door while in the shower.   The curtains allow a little extra room.    Last December in a Q5, we had a rub and a good size walk in shower.    There was a ledge as we weren’t in an accessible cabin.    The furniture in the Grill Lounge looks the same as last year.

As long as your husband wears a jacket and a dress shirt you will be fine.  

Won’t we go through Customs when we leave the ship in St. John.    Our flight will be to Toronto where there should be no immigration since we are still in Canada.   We are flying from there to IAD, Dulles, and I will expect immigration at that airport.   Never had a problem with immigration or customs at that airport.