Jawmaster

"The Telegraph" 3 days ago: "Cruise giant P&O cancels Dubai season amid rising Gulf tensions" 

"EU Today" 2 days ago: "UK & US stand firm in Strait of Hormuz: P&O cancel Gulf cruises as naval forces prepare for conflict"

All following Seabourn cruises will go through the Strait of Hormuz: What will Seabourn do? Some thoughts?

19-Day Holy Land & Arabian Gems Ship: Seabourn Encore Oct 2019

18-Day Jewels Of Arabia & India Ship:  Seabourn Encore Nov 2019

19-Day Route To Ancient Wellness Ship:  Seabourn Ovation Nov 2019

19-Day Pearls Of Arabia & India Ship:  Seabourn Ovation Dec 2019

On ‎5‎/‎28‎/‎2019 at 7:37 PM, sippinglady said:

I have just booked Ovation Nov 13 Piraeus to Dubai. We have not been to this part of the world before so we are excited for this adventure.

 

I am seriously thinking of booking the Haifa to Ashdod Overnight Journey and wanted to see if any of the wonderful CC community has taken this overnight and what their experience was like?

 

I would also appreciate any other tips for excursions and packing! I have been following some of  the comments from FB over the last few weeks and see how hot it has been but our itinerary is November- but we all know its hard to predict weather.

 

Thank you for your insights!

Perhaps some additional information?

Last year we did the Masada-Jerusalem overnight journey: a UNESCO partner tour. It’s warm so dress easy. The tour is worth the money.

We first departed from Haifa port and drove along the shores of the Dead Sea to visit the Masada Fortress. Our fantastic tour guide was Mr. Barak Berkovich. You should ask for him if possible.

Then we drove to the Crowne Plaza Dead Sea Hotel for a lunch (good food). Afterwards we had the opportunity to take a swim in the dead sea, which was a very nice experience. Don’t forget swimming gear. It’s very crowdy and busy in the changing rooms.

Then we drove to Jerusalem and checked inn at the Orient Hotel (very nice). Afterwards we went for dinner at the Dolphin Yam restaurant (not so special). After dinner we drove along the beautiful city of Jerusalem and went for a visit to the Western Wall

The next day we had a very early breakfast because we left the hotel at 6.45am for a visit of the old city of Jerusalem.  We could easily visit all important places because it was early.

Then our coach drove to Bethlehem (short drive) where we met with a new guide to visit the Church of Nativity. After lunch we had the opportunity to shop for souvenirs before we returned to Jerusalem. Then we drove to Hasdod  to be rejoined with the Encore.

Mr Luxury, thank you for your response!

Last year (November 2018) we were on the Encore during the "19-Night Holy Land and Arabian Gems" cruise. During cruising (when the radars were working) we noticed that one of the radars made a very annoying, sharp and high-pitched sound. It was so uncomfortable that no one would lie on the sun terrace on the 12th floor. I asked a responsible from the crew if nothing could be done about that annoying sound. Apparently at that time something was broken and could not be replaced during that cruise.

I wonder if someone could tell me whether that annoying noise (only noticeable during cruising) has been fixed since? 

We will be on the Encore in June.

Do it.

We did it last summer in July with ourdaughter and son (23 and 21).

It was the best vacation experience ever,for both of them.

Interestingly, when I contacted Seabourn excursions late yesterday afternoon and asked specifically about the zodiacs in August, I was assured this issue would be sorted out and the zodiacs would be going out.

I certainly hope so.

And also that this issue will be sorted out, one month earlier. :eek:

Our cruise will start from July the 7th.

I'm getting more and more worried.

The Zodiac and Kayak excursions were one of the major reasons why we booked this cruise, after all.

Thank you for your response

But, the following can be found in the terms and conditions:

Onboard Booking Savings On Future Cruises: Guests can … or purchase a Future Cruise Deposit that entitles them to a savings of 5% on a future cruise booking….. The 5% Future Cruise Deposit is individual to the guest… and may only be applied to that guest’s cruise fare in any future booking. …..

I cannot find anything on the "sequential

On our last Seabourn cruise April 2016 Barcelona – Istanbul Seabourn Odyssey my wife and I placed a future cruise deposit of 350 euro each. This deposit provides us a 5% savings off the ‘cruise fare” on our “next” Seabourn cruise.

Recently (October 2016) we booked our “next” cruise: Mediterranean

06 may 2017 Piraeus – Barcelona on the Seabourn Encore

V6 veranda suite 7000€ pp. This means a saving of 350€ pp

And 10 days later we also booked another “next” Seabourn cruise together with our children: 4 persons in total) for an Alaska cruise

07 July 2017 Seward – Vancouver on the Seabourn Sojourn

Penthouse suite: 18000€ pp. The 5% would mean a saving of 900€ pp (only applicable for my wife and myself)

We are still some 140 days before embarkation in May 2017, and 200 days before embarkation in July 2017.

For obvious reasons we would like to have our 5% savings on our Alaska cruise.

But Seabourn says that the 5% savings will be for the Mediterranean cruise and not for the Alaska cruise.:confused:

The reason for this is not clear. Both are “next” cruises, to me.

The ‘terms and conditions’ on these issues are unclear.

A following question to Seabourn: If we would place a new cruise deposit of 350 euro on our ‘next’ Mediterranean cruise, May 2016, could we benefit from a 5% saving on our Alaska cruise in July 2017?

Answer of Seabourn: No, because the embarkation is on 07 July. If you make the cruise deposit on the Seabourn Encore onboard on 06 May, the embarkation on 07 July is only 61 day later. And full payments will be received by Seabourn no later than 90 days before sailing.:mad:

Do you think this is fair from Seabourn?

Has anyone experienced the same issues?

Thank you for your reply and best regards.

Seabourn Club Level: Gold Member