Mahogany

4 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

I just opened a separate thread for this question, but let me ask. Is it mandatory? Princess says a coat is required on their formal nights in their dress code guidance, but it is not mandatory whereas on Crystal, you weren’t allowed to be seated in the MDR on formal night without a coat on.
 

More simply, when we go to the MDR on Formal night, will we even be seated if we are not wearing at least a sports coat? I have to say that would be quite annoying to see someone not wearing at least a sports coat, but we had to.

"Required" and "mandatory" in the same sentence? Is there a difference?

3 hours ago, kjbacon said:

Thanks, Martha and you’re not wrong about the Regent single supplement, it’s way too high! I am encouraged by these posts and I’m sure that we will have a fabulous time. There’s no question heading into it that Regent is a far better fit for us but I have every intention of trying my best to work within their perimeters and I will be very fair in my blog. I am also concerned along with the above poster, MBP, about getting a decent breakfast before our early excursions. Regent always opens La Veranda early enough to accommodate so we will see. Just learned yesterday that there’s a 3 day cancellation policy on the shorex so that’s one more thing Regent has all over SB.

Most of the Regent shore excursions are "included". Is there no cancellation penalty for the Regent Choice ones? If you used OBC, will they refund you the credit, even the day of the excursion, if you don't go?

6 hours ago, kjbacon said:

My feeling is that it’s going to be our favorite dinner spot too. If it’s too cold when we are in Iceland and Greenland, we will go there more often before and after those ports! 
 

Somehow, I feel like I read that the menu is on a one week rotation. How does that work? Is it like every Monday features the same menu?

As I recall, there are 3 sections, the last being dessert (one is always baked camembert), The other two sections are a hot and a cold with 3 selections each; you can select as many courses as you wish from the 8-9 choices, some light like a salad, some heavy like a lamb shank.

But, yes, the menu does repeat, not sure if it's exactly weekly. But the menu will be published in the Herald:  printed, online, and on TV.

One of my favorite venues; only negative, no reservations, so it can be a wait for a table.

14 minutes ago, Host Dan said:

I'm the ONE who reported that Cruise Critic was off line for my Odyssey Panama Canal cruise.  As a 20 year " cheerleader " for SB, I felt it was important that people get my honest opinion.  Good or BAD.

Host Dan, do you know why it was available to me?

12 hours ago, kjbacon said:

Unfortunately, I am hard pressed to see the appeal to SB at this point. We are still looking forward to our cruise and we will have our usual terrific time.

 

Just read on a different thread that cruise critic was banned on the poster’s recent cruise! That says it all.

 

While we love Regent and Oceania, we’ve been on many different lines and I’ve never seen breakfast unavailable before 8am and dinner at 7pm. And a pastry in the bar at 6am is a junk food snack, not breakfast.

 

Earlier in this thread someone said that one has to adapt and change to make do on a SB cruise but we have not had to make do on other luxury lines.

There was ONE poster who said Cruise Critic was banned! I was on Odyssey for 33 days April/May, and Cruise Critic was alive and well. Sounds like you were searching for that one poster to offer your criticism. We can always find internet substantiation for our views. "THAT says it all". Sorry if that seems harsh, but...

After you log in with your booking and click on the Spa, you will find prices for the services. Of course, as with excursions, you have to prepay, but you can cancel I think within 3 days. I changed a service onboard after it coincided with another activity. Not sure, but I think pre-booking was a tad cheaper than booking onboard. Anybody know if I'm correct? Of course, pre-reserving means you have a greater choice of appointments, though once onboard you may be lucky to snag a cancelled booking.

If you are referring to your original post about hosted tables, I can speak about my recent Odyssey 33-day voyage. As a solo I look forward to invitations for dinner which pre-Covid often included entertainment staff or officers as hosts. This past cruise I was invited to join entertainers and lecturers who were not staff. It was delightful, though I missed the young singers and dancers (some of whom had Covid while I was onboard).

I was just on Odyssey, same size as Sojourn. I believe the standard, regardless of itinerary, is the US$. You could pay with cash or charge to your sute account. Indeed, my recollection is 3 tables: roulette, blackjack, and a type of poker. I was only at the blackjack table where the minimum bet was $6.

Seriously, you are really considering canceling an upcoming cruise because of a few posters' opinions on dress? 
Don't forget, Cruise Critic posters are only a small minority of the passengers sailing.

Enjoy your cruise; by March 2023, all these opinions could change!

2 hours ago, moosemac said:

I have been following this post with great interest. DH and I are sailing on the Ovation in March 2023. This will be our first Seabourn cruise.

I have been struggling with attire for this cruise. Years ago, we used to dress for occasions but as time has passed the change in norms made us appear over dressed so we adopted a significantly more casual style.

Now I am thinking I need to do some serious shopping as I was planning on dressing DH similar to the OP's example with the exception of formal night. I would also adapt my wardrobe accordingly. DH has a couple suits and I have a few dresses but not enough for a 14 day cruise.

To be honest, after reading some the posts I am having second thoughts about this cruise. 

 

 

 

 

10 hours ago, Hobar said:

I do not favor The Restaurant, but only because I don’t love the course-by-course and formality (and not supposed to wear jeans, although I do), but have never had a bad meal.  Service is always top-notch - even on our holiday cruise when so many staff were in quarantine, and food always superb.  We only go with others when we would like a nice, long and relaxing meal.  Thanks for your positive review.  I agree with all you say.  

Well, there are other venues to wear jeans.

22 hours ago, saminina said:

You know these ships originally had no design for a self serve laundry.   Installed after consumer feedback with cheap equipment.     People use it for different reasons and competing companies have more, much better equipped facilities.   Other companies do not charge for same day service versus standard two day on SB.    A $50 bag is no deal for a person that has free laundry.   

22 hours ago, saminina said:

You know these ships originally had no design for a self serve laundry.   Installed after consumer feedback with cheap equipment.     People use it for different reasons and competing companies have more, much better equipped facilities.   Other companies do not charge for same day service versus standard two day on SB.    A $50 bag is no deal for a person that has free laundry.   

Not everyone, especially first-timers, has free laundry. My comment was directed to them.

I was on the 33-day voyage from Aruba to LA. Some observations:

I was surprised that coming off dry dock, the ship didn't look brightly painted. I heard (rumor) that the dry dock was to make the Colonnade more available for service rather than buffet at night.?? But I never saw garbage or any indication that staff wasn't trying to keep this "old lady" clean.

I complained about a shore excursion: on the return, people got on the first bus they saw, so headcount was iffy. I got a personal call from Chris. I wondered why there could not have been a Seabourn rep on the shorex to manage the logistics. That's been the case in the past. She said they don't have enough reps to go around. I guess it's like, since Covid, no hosted dinners with crew, only guest entertainers. There was an effort to minimize contact between crew and passengers. That said, the crew was fabulous: helpful, friendly, accommodating. But it was obvious there were positive cases on board among the crew since suite attendants might change. So, considering how many were new to the ship, and had to change responsibilities, they tried their best. Covid positivity also affected the entertainment schedule.

I agree that the food was not spectacular. But trying to find a middle ground between those who are happy with a steak and pots, and those expecting "gourmet", is difficult. There were always several options at The Restaurant. I had never had dinner at the Colonnade on previous voyages, but the theme night and TK dinners made a nice change (I just don't like buffets at night).

The complaint about the self-service laundry makes me wonder if the poster knew about "the $50 bag" - what a deal.

I will be on Encore for 21 days in September. I do love that bar in the TKG! And the sushi option

I know there have been several negative comments on this post. Please don't let that keep you from trying or returning to Seabourn. Many of the complaints can be related to Covid-recovery - or sailing as we may have to be accustomed to.  And BTW, I posted to Cruise Critic during my cruise.

On 5/25/2022 at 7:51 PM, Jimmycruiser said:

If you do not have the cash to pay early for a substantial discount how were you planning to pay the final payment when due? I am surprised anyone booking a luxury cruise could not afford to pay early for the discount and instead would pay credit card interest rates to cruise versus sailing a cruise they could afford without a credit card loan. I understand if it is more than a year out or a cash flow timing issue of a couple months but. IMHO.

Who pays credit card interest fees?

How can they book "conflicting" excursions? If I try to do that, I'm advised of a time conflict and unable to book both.

On 4/26/2022 at 12:25 AM, johng75370 said:

We have recent experience with this question: did Edge in February 2022 in a Sky Suite and had “The Retreat” experience, and was on Seabourn Odyssey in Sept 2021/Seabourn Ovation Nov 21.  Short answer: for us Seabourn hands down.  Longer answer: Entertainment on Celebrity Edge was of course a different level than Seabourn can offer due to stage and scale of things.  It’s a big ship and there is space to roam.  Dancing, and overall energy of ship much higher on Edge.  The Retreat lounge and special pool area is nice, and almost at the service level you’d find on Seabourn.  Otherwise, especially with food and beverage, there was no comparison; Seabourn was just another league.  Minor example; at the Luminae restaurant they will do a “Eggs Benedict Smoked Salmon (Eggs Royale) with Caviar”, but it is served with the lowest grade crappy caviar possible; Seabourn happily serves it with their decent quality standard offering.  Had some good meals in Luminae, but many were not.  

 

But it’s the service and staff that keep us coming back to Seabourn, and that is the biggest difference.  On Seabourn, the staff are connecting with you and “smiling with their eyes”; Celebrity Edge had a fraction of that.  Because of “The Retreat”, on Edge you will be in a class-based society and it takes away from the experience; on Seabourn there is none of that.  Celebrity Edge was fun for us, no question, but Seabourn is always memorably fun and just a different experience.  

I am currently on Odyssey, have another 3 weeker on Encore in Sept., so many times on Seabourn. I have a booking on Apex in the Retreat next spring but will probably cancel based on your notes. Just wanted a new ship but was always a bit leery of the class distinction between Retreat and the rest of the ship. Thanks for your comments.

I’m currently on Odyssey and drinking out of a wine glass size that is just fine. Didn’t know they made wine glasses “for children “ 😁. But I hope when one recommends Reidel glasses, you don’t mean the stemless ones. Whose idea was that? White wine too cold and you want to warm it up in your hand?

On Odyssey now. TKG 6-9, Restaurant, Earth and Ocean, Colonnade 7-9.

On 4/10/2022 at 2:41 AM, markham said:

I long ago stopped reading printed newspapers. It was senseless and wasteful. The Herald? You can find whatever that lists online, and a whole lot of information that it does not include. I haven’t missed missed seeing it at Seabourn Square where years ago piles would be stacked, many ignored and most thrown away. It is the “away” part that is just another blight on the planet.

 

Why not try going to you phone or iPad for the information. A cruise is an ideal time to try new things. It is thereby always handy and you are doing yourself and the environment a positive turn. Same for digital newspaper subscriptions which are cheaper and smarter as they are always available.

 

Happy and healthy sailing!

I also do not read the print edition of newspapers. But the digital subscriptions I have at home, I read on a 22" monitor. As I said in my original post, logging in/out of Source and squinting at my phone is not enjoyable. I'm glad that I can request a paper copy of the Herald.

Markham, you must have young eyes!

I think in-suite dining is great for breakfast, afternoon if you toured in the morning and are tired - and also for dinner if you've had a tough excursion day and just want to chill at home. And consider what you order - something simple or that you might not mind if it wasn't hot.

I agree with SLSD: for a special occasion, let the Maitre'd know in the MDR - or Thomas Keller.

And I can understand their wish to reduce the paper flow. Why not dispense with those notices to scoop up those great deals on gems and watches in the Boutiques!!

For those of you who've sailed and reported not receiving a daily Herald, I have good news. I emailed Seabourn and received an answer 10 days later (frankly I was pleasantly surprised that they did). 

On my upcoming Odyssey voyage, the Herald will be left on the bed during evening turn-down (as in the past), and if not, I am to contact Seabourn Square. I know many of you primarily use digital means of communication, but I am pleased I will not have to sign into Source, and squint at the small print on my phone - yeah, I'm old! And there's a paper reminder of goings-on to keep if you wish.

At present, there are two levels of internet access. For the occasional search, checking email, etc., yes, that is complimentary; an upgrade to stream is available at a cost.

Didn't think there was a TK bar on the smaller ships.

And on Formal Night Optional, are cruisers allowed throughout the ship (Grand Salon, the Casino) in shorts?