ChancerandDancer

I have two referral coupons for first time cruisers departing before November 1st. No problem to post it anywhere from France. The post is not on strike!

jonathan.stratford at orange.fr

Thanks so much for your replies. It sounds like maybe they make a decision where to dock when they get there? We did a bus tour to the volcano the last time we were there so I think we will rent a car and tootle around the island. Any suggestions for car rentals?

We hired a great taxi driver for a few hours, although we speak French, Jimmy spoke very good English.

jfausta971@gmail.com Jimmy Fausta

Have a wonderful cruise, Guadaloupe was one of our favourite places.

Where any of you able to purchase on-line or did you have to call / email the hotels?

Hello, We had to email the hotels in advance and reserve with them on line. In the end we did not do this in advance and it was just as well as the waves were too high for the tender.

Have a lovely cruise

Sad to say. We are currently on the Odyssey. The service has been so poor that we are no longer interested in sailing on Seabourn.

 

 

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What happened between the 8th January and the 13th January to make you change your mind so dramatically. On the 8th January you said you could not imagine sailing with anyone else; If you are still on board why not try to resolve any problems which are worrying you.

We have sailed on a cruise only once, On the Odyssey in November last year and cannot wait to go again.

The expectation in European service is that "everything is ok" and if you should find fault, it is up to you to complain. That's why in French restaurants (unless it is a tourist trap) you are never pestered and interrupted throughout your meal by people asking if everything is ok.

Spot On, I totally agree with this. I really dislike being asked all the time 'is everything is ok ' If there is a problem then I ask quietly and gently for it to be resolved. That always works,

Wondering if anyone has requested a special order meal at lunch time (Colonade or Restaurant)? Big dinners aren't for us - but we do enjoy an indulgent lunch occasionally. I'm thinking of things not ordinarily served at lunch time i.e. Dover sole , steak and lobster, etc. I know Seabourn is very accommodating but don't want to throw the galley too much of a curve ball. Thanks for any info.

Do ask in advance and you will find they are really happy to please. They made us a special dinner for a special anniversary, foie gras terrine, lamb en croute, crepes suzette. All delicious, beautfiully presented and a delight!

We disembarked Odyssey last Tuesday and can honestly say that this was one of the best cruises we have ever had on Seabourn.

 

The chef, Tom Goetter, was excellent and The Chef's Dinner was our best ever. He also ensured that the Dining Room was open for lunch every day even when in port. There were always about 40 people taking advantage of this! The Galley Market was back and enjoyed by most.

 

The Hostess in the Dining Room Emel was great, always smiling and always anxious to accommodate seating requests. Never a problem getting a nice table for 2.

 

There weren't many familiar faces but the new crew are very keen and anxious to please and we encountered no issues.

 

Sky Bar with Julien and Paul ran as it always does. Aperol Spritz was perfect.

 

Finally there was unlimited champagne and caviar for those who wished to partake.

 

Just our opinion but having sailed over 300 days I think we are able to make a sound judgement of the current situation.

 

Fear not you will have a great time.

The above reflects our experience practically word for word and we are Seabourn Newbies.

We took our first cruise with Seabourn on the Odyssey in November and it was wonderful. I too read so many negative comments before we sailed and I was initially concerned. I received some common sense advice from positive contributors to this site, exactly as you have done and they were so right!

As the previous replies have commented you have a responsibility also to make it work: We found the crew to be

so keen to make us enjoy the very best experience, and that is what we had. We enjoyed everything, the food and wine was excellent, the service second to none.

We are looking forward to our next cruise with the Odyssey in 2018.

Have a wonderful time and continue with your excited anticipation!

The problem with back to back cruises is that one day in the middle is totally chaotic

Hello Dalliowner

Having just had a wonderful first cruise on Odyssey I am looking at a back to back, Lisbon to Barbados for repositioning and then 14 days in Barbados. Would you please explain the chaos! Thank you.

Delighted to hear this. Is the gentlemen twirling that delicious raclette

Still part of the lunch? It is such a nice opportunity to chat with some line cooks and tell them how much you have enjoyed their work.

Just back from Odyssey and the Galley Lunch day was a feast in every sense, the photo opportunites were abundant as was the food:

Yes, he is still twirling the raclette in great style!

Well personally I really feel for the wait staff trying to adjust to the dining speed preferences of a large number of passengers night after night. Some people do like to have a leisurely dinner and some want to race through their meal. To help the staff and ourselves we try to sit in the same section of the Restaurant every night so we end of with the same Head Waiter. Then on the first night , because of all the talents Seabourn’s wonderful crew have I don’t believe mind reading is one of them, we actually TELL, we enjoy have a relaxing dinner but and would prefer the courses not usually pile up one on top of another. This system had usually worked just fine - of course there is the occasional evening where there is a glitch and we end up “relaxing” a bit more than we had planned but that is no big deal.

 

 

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Yes, this is an important point. They are not mind readers!

We have just returned from the Odyssey and dined every evening in the MDR. When we explained that we liked to have time to enjoy our food they were so pleased to accomodate our preferences. It was not "slow service" but well managed and considerate service. The food was always hot and presented just as it should be, freshly cooked. Wonderful. This was our first cruise on any line and if we could eat as well as that here in France every night for anywhere near the same price with good wine then we would be delighted. We enjoy excellent food and wine and we struggle sometimes to find it, let alone the considerate service.

Maureen et Jon

LadyVol1 - could you ask Onur, the sommelier, if he will be on Odyssey for our February 3rd cruise, please? We met him last year and really enjoyed discussing wine with him. We were with our sons and daughters in law and he treated us like kings! Thank you. Margaret

 

 

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Hello We have just returned from the Odyssey and Onur was fantastic, really appreciated what our tastes were in the way of wine and looked after us so well. He was so helpful. He told us he was on the Odyssey until March when he then takes his 2 month break. Bon dégustation et santé!

Maureen et Jon

Many thanks, yes, this is perfect. Perhaps see you on Board?!

I received a reply frol Secrets last night and this is some information they sent to me

"You need contact the hotel before coming to check on the availability.

the taxis inside Cap Cana have a cost of 3.00USD each way, no matter the distance as long it be inside Cap Cana. "

Thank you again

Maureen and Jon

This is far from the worst review of Seabourn or Odyssey and the issues noted should be easily resolved. Don’t be so pessimistic and form your own opinions once you board. You might be surprised with the result.

 

 

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Thank you Sunprince you are absolutely correct and I am actually a 'glass nearly full' person! I

read the review again and then checked out some of the other reviews by the OP I thought I had been too hasty.

Thank you for your wise words!

Maureen

This post has made me so depressed. I think it is the absolute worst review we have read and not what we were expecting when we board on Saturday!

I would like your advice please

 

 

"what is New York Strip"?

 

Maureen and Jon

Hello MandJ. I cannot see if anybody actually answered your question, so I shall seek to do so. Different cuts of meat - especially beef - have varying names between UK, America and elsewhere. My understanding of the strip steak, which is cut from the short loin (behind the ribs and towards the rear of the cow), is what we in UK call sirloin and the French call faux-filet. But American chefs and menus use sirloin to describe what we more normally think of as rump steak.

Hope that helps. You'll love it - but take care if you have a normal European-sized appetite you may well find the Keller Grill portions (especially the steaks and chops) rather large! On Quest this year, after our first experience, we tended to order a shared main course in most cases and found this perfectly adequate for our appetites.

They were still serving lobster in the grill - but, unfortunately, not Thermidor - more a kind of risotto.

Further point - if you have not yet found out about a $400 on board credit as first time Seabourners, check the thread at the top of this section.

I am sure you will love Seabourn - after 200 days we still do.

Best wishes

Thank you so much for this clear response! Thank you, yes a kind person has organised the onboard credit for us, we are very lucky all round.

We are sailing on the 12th November and we are so looking forward to the cruise.

Maureen and Jon

I would appreciate please any feedback on which beach resorts you would recommend and which offer a day pass at Cap Cana. An indication of cost would also be appreciated.

I am assuming it is easy to pick up a taxi at the port to the resort and then a taxi back again!

Thank you

Maureen and Jon

On our recent Odyssey cruise we dined at the TK Grill twice and enjoyed it very much. Both times we were supposed to be at a table for four, sharing, but the other couple failed to show up. As a result we had a very pleasant, large booth for two.

 

We found the New York Strip and the Dover Sole to be excellent. We also had the Caesar salad to be great, I suspect that could vary by server since it is prepared table side.

 

The chicken and rib dinners are served in the Collenade not the TK Grill.

 

As others have said, give it a try!

Hello Steve and Maria

We are joining the Odyssey on the 11th November and I have reserved the TK Grill. I would like your advice please

"what is New York Strip"? I was hoping they were also preparing Lobster Thermidor but perhaps I am being too hopeful;

Thank you for your really helpful reviews on your voyage on Odyssey, it will be our first time with Seabourn and our first cruise.

Maureen and Jon

Hello SunPrince

Thank you for your really good list of "things to see and do". It certainly seems as if further visits will be required.

Maureen and Jon

Hello SunPrince

Yes please any information you can post on the message board about Nevis would be so welcome. Thank you

Maureen and Jon

Well the problem will be missing the 2 bars on the Deck 5 route unless we do more turns to compensate!

Thank you for the walking plan!

Have a lovely cruise

Maureen

Hello Markham

Thank you for your fast reaction! I will re-look at the deck plans. Having read all the wonderful comments about the food I am certainly anticipating that I will need some brisk walks, the gym is not for me!

Best thoughts

Maureen

Would someone be able to let me know please if it Is possible to walk all the way around one of the decks on Odyssey.

If not, does anyone have a good route to take! Yes, I realise it could be a route via the bars!

Thank you

Maureen

We are so lucky and blessed to live where we do without such natural disasters. I agree with you, all of those poor people who have lost their homes and their livilihoods. I hope that there is sufficient external aid arriving quickly for them before Jose and Katia arrive,

I have been thinking the same thing Lisa, I am even wondering if we will even make it to Miami? I guess we just have to wait and see if Seabourn make any announcements of any change of route, I just hope it is not completely cancelled!