Mahogany

3 hours ago, markandjie said:

 

I feel like pre-COVID the pricing was much more in line with booking on your own. Perhaps a small mark-up but one that was easily overcome by having Gold status. Now it seems they are marked up 1.5-2x the price and it doesn't really make sense to book thru the ship at all.

Except for the ease of maybe canceling onboard

1 hour ago, bigred70 said:

Just booked a Seabourn cruise and have SBC. Went online to book excursions and found they make you pay with credit card and will reimburse you on board if you have SBC. Sailed Oceania 20+ and they let you use SBC booking on line. 

 

Several cruise lines let you do this. But it's a very easy process when you get onboard to transfer your shorex payments to OBC.

17 hours ago, Lois R said:

Hi, the hotel is extra, yes. And I asked about the change and was told there would not be an extra charge. I will follow up again.

What hotel ae they using?

On 2/18/2024 at 2:10 PM, Lois R said:

I am sailing on the Ray at the end of the year on her TA crossing (December). I just received an email from Silversea with my flight from here to Lisbon. It is Miami to Istanbul and then Istanbul to Lisbon.  Just curious, isn't that a bit of a weird connection? I will contact my SS rep tomorrow. I have booked my flights through SS many times for long hauls across the pond but this is the first time I can remember getting an email so early. We are in February and the flight is for December.

Just seems really strange to me........any thoughts?

Oh, the really wrong thing is...they have me arriving in Lisbon the day we sail..........I NEVER arrive on sail day when flying overseas. So I am definitely going to have to change the flights!!!

Lois, I'm on that same itinerary in December. I live near Daytona so usually fly out of Orlando. You mention Miami-Istanbul-Lisbon - but you have to get to Miami, right, and live in JAX? Did SS Air have you fly JAX-MIA or were you planning on driving (ugh!)?

On 2/19/2024 at 6:18 PM, Goodnote said:

I am interested in taking an Alaskan Cruise with my wife. Seaborne looks like a good option, but I'm appalled that they can't provide some sort of cost estimation for shore excursions until you actually book the cruise.  It seems like thy are trying to hide something and makes me suspicious.  I realize the shore excursion costs can easily change but they should provide some means to at least approximate the costs.  I'm not ruling out Seaborne but I am going to explore other cruise lines

In your exploring of other cruise lines, have you found they quote excursion costs before booking a specific cruise?

I save my TA's time for the big stuff. I am capable of calling them myself for the simple task of changing a shorex.

2 minutes ago, Techno123 said:

Crikey, I hope not 😜😜😜. You could have done a Cleopatra and taken a bath in it 😁

Yeah, that little" m" in ml makes a HUGE difference!

I bought on Amazon a package of 3 seal-type bags and take home the opened bottle if there's enough to matter (only spirits, not wine).  My only mistake was trying to fit a Grand Marnier bottle in the bag: too squatty, bags only hold standard-size bottles including 1L. Just remember to put it in your checked luggage.

28 minutes ago, SLSD said:

I know that Sunprince.  There are all kinds of expeditions, but they do differ from classic cruises.  I have not been sent itineraries for the invitation only cruises on Venture.  They are in the Med.  If they are true expeditions, Seabourn needs to send the itinerary and particulars along with their invitation.  The way I understand it, Venture (and Pursuit) are doing some cruises which are NOT expeditions--which also means excursions are NOT included as they are on true expeditions.  It was not made clear in the "invitation only" cruises which kinds of cruises on the Venture are being offered.  

You're wrong about the excursions. Most of the ports I'm visiting include complimentary excursions, e.g. a visit to Giverny and a cruise on the Seine (classic ships would probably not be able to do this). A glance at my voyage March 19 - April 14 may surprise you with the range of free excursions as well as the smaller ports we're visiting that likely could not accommodate the classic ships.

But I get it: no sushi, no expedition ships to non-expedition locations. Great we have choices.

14 hours ago, SLSD said:

I know that not all Venture cruises are expeditions,  but I think the ship is lacking for the regular cruises in terms of dining venues and entertainment.  Perhaps that is just me--but if I sail on Venture, it will be an expedition.  Your mileage and desires may be different.  

I agree. I will miss the restaurant variety - only Restaurant and Colonnade, and sushi in the Club - and because I've visited the standard expedition areas, I am going for the ship experience. It may well be "one and done" though I have booked her for Newfoundland to Barbados in Sept. I wish they'd have built another classic instead of Pursuit, but I guess the plan is always to build more than one while you have the design.

3 hours ago, pappy1022 said:

I did go and read the Oceania thread on the same topic. I walked away with the sense that there were more people on the Oceania thread that gave the slight edge on food to Regent and in particular the Compass Rose. It’s hard for me to compare the 2 because things have changed everywhere since COVID and Regent has been the only cruise line that I have cruised with post COVID. Ironically my wife did get COVID on the ship in the waning days of the September 2023 cruise, so I guess we aren’t in the post COVID era yet. The 2023 cruise in Regent restaurants was a mixed bag as far as the food and service. I would say that 50% were excellent, 25% very good and 25% unacceptable and had to be returned and/or the service was poor. My pre COVID cruise on Regent were 90% excellent and 10% very good. At least from my perspective, Regent has changed a bit in the food and service arena. I know I am beating the same message to death on several of my posts but it’s the inconsistency on Regent is what feels different to me. They can be great one day in one venue and then less than stellar the next day.   

Better than "consistently" bad 😁!

On 2/11/2024 at 11:49 PM, SLSD said:

I've been bombarded with emails from Seabourn lately.  The latest one this evening mentions several cruises which they say are by invitation only (?). How does that work?  They are all  Spring 2025 and each includes a special event of some sort.  The issue for me is that they are all quite short.  Once we haul ourselves over to Europe we want to sail a bit longer.  I'll take another look in the morning.  The email says there is a 20% savings.  I am always suspicious.  And curiously, where do I go to see the itineraries?  If the cruises are exclusive and by invitation only--I am assuming they would not be on the website?  But no itinerary is shown in the email.  Maybe I am missing something.  All the cruises in "the Collection" are aboard Venture, but they are in Spain, France, and the Med--not in areas where there would usually be expeditions.  

 

I will be on Venture next month in Spain, France, and the Med, plus northern Africa, ending in England. Not all Venture cruises are expedition-y itineraries.

13 hours ago, Dusko said:

No I didn’t.  I did try and register/pay on the EASE site.  I got to the payment section and got a message that my credit card provider may need additional confirmation. Shortly afterwards I get a blank screen.  I contacted the support website 5 times and tried applying on 3 different browsers, 2 computers and 2 different credit cards.  Same result.  Finally the support line told me that I can pay on arrival. I have searched and this is a very common problem but it does seem that payment on arrival works fine, just takes longer.  I don’t fault Seabourn in any way on this.  Now when you do print your final paperwork you get details of a visa service that has a special section to handle Seabourn, for a fee I’m sure.  If you’re really worried you could try them.

Not really worried. Perhaps there will be some explanation at the Ritz. I was more concerned about the "5 days prior" note, but if we can pay upon arrival, no worries. Website does seem a bit dicey, though. So, you registered but didn't pay? How much (upon arrival)?

3 hours ago, Dusko said:

I believe you are correct, you don’t need a visa but you do need to complete Ease.  I am assuming in the instructions it means ‘at least’ 5 days ahead of arrival and not precisely 5 days. If you’re joining the cruise in Cap Verde I assume you will be flying in from Lisbon. You will need the flight number and you only get that when you complete your final documentation. I did that yesterday and will complete Ease over the weekend.  

Did you receive some documentation from Seabourn that outlines the advance process for US citizens?

5 minutes ago, boblerm said:

Very nice relaxing sea day yesterday.

 

Here are some activities available on deck 12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We attended an interesting lecture by historian Jeana Rogers on an introduction to the Caribbean.

 

There was a wine tasting at 10:30AM, because one can never start too early, apparently. 

 

In the afternoon there was a Big Screen Popcorn Movie : Barbie. 

Here is my review 

 

 

 

 

The popcorn, however, was great. 

 

Dining at Compass Rose on this ship is like being in a Gaudi wonderland

 

 

Dinner was great. We both had the cream of asparagus soup, I don't think that I have ever been disappointed with soups in CR. 

 

 

I had the beef carpacio from the Always Available side, I think this is the first time I have had this, but it surely won't be the last 😋

 

 

 

The Duck a l'orange was very good

 

 

 

But the star of the evening was the sake glazed salmon 

 

 

 

 

 

The evening show was Diva Extravaganza by a guest entertainer Patty Dess. 

I hated.... for it to end! She did songs by Aretha, Diana, Ella, Etta, Whitney, Tina.  Her dynamic vocals and charisma brought the house down. The good news is that she is doing another show later in the cruise, can't wait!

 

 

I guess it's just the luck of the draw, our cabin is quiet as can be. 

You didn't even like the last scene in Barbie? 😂

13 hours ago, eroller said:

Another fairly large design change between EXPLORER and SPLENDOR/GRANDEUR is the atrium.  The direction of the stairs was reversed and it's a more open design on the latter ships with more of a single stairway.  Mind you the atrium on EXPLORER is absolutely stunning, it's just an updated design on the two later ships. 

 

First pic is EXPLORER and second pic is GRANDEUR. 

 

 

Thanks, eroller, for all the comparison photos. I've been on Explorer, will be on Splendor this summer with 2 couples (family). Thought I'd have them check the sample menus on the website just to get the gastronomic juices moving. Hope the sample menus compare favorably with the menus served onboard now.

6 hours ago, Dolebludger said:

I have the same problem. I’m more allergic to seafood — I just don’t like it. I looked at a sample pacific rim menu on the web site, and couldn’t put together a meal,I would eat because it is all sea food of some sort. There are many Asian dishes that do not contain seafood, and I gladly enjoy many of them. 

No ribs, bulgogi, duck, lamb chops?

17 hours ago, eroller said:

Enjoy!  I’ll be back onboard next month and can’t wait. 
 

You are going to love the ship.  She is just stunning top to bottom.  I’ve sailed on almost 150 cruises on numerous ships and lines, and honestly GRANDEUR might be the most beautiful of them all.  She is an eye-turner.  

What are the big differences between Grandeur, Splendor, and Explorer?

2 hours ago, -Lew- said:

 

The moral is more than reading the fine print...

 

My personal practice is to not purchase insurance from the entity I may have to submit a claim against. This is because the entity or its insurance company may have a conflict of interest when it comes to paying out claims. IMHO it is better to purchase insurance from an independent third party who has no stake in the outcome of my claim. This way, I can be confident my claim will be handled fairly and impartially.

Unfortunately, sometimes the cost of buying from a third-party may be prohibitively expensive, if it is age-based - expensive for us seniors, so sometimes the cruise line's is the cheapest, but I agree, maybe not the wisest.

5 hours ago, H2O Polo Willie said:

We go Alaska from SFO to SEA in First then Icelandic from SEA to KEF in Business.  Your flight to KEF should be a bit shorter.  Ours is 7 hours and 25 minutes.

Unfortunately, Icelandic doesn't have flat-bed seats in Business, which we've all gotten used to.

9 hours ago, mrlevin said:

684; it is entrance to gym.

I've chosen one of the aft-facing G2's. Any comments?

31 minutes ago, H2O Polo Willie said:

Interesting topic.  We booked through Regent air the last week of December.  Going out to Reykjavik, it was a bit interesting as there really appear to be no SFO to KEF non stops.  So a connection was inevitable somewhere.  We prefer a longer haul overnight so we ended up SFO to SEA and then SEA to KEF.  The best of not a lot of desirable options.  On the return from Heathrow, the booked us on Virgin Atlantic but the flights are on Delta metal.  Maybe we got in under the wire on Delta.

I booked my Air to Reykjavik through Regent. Icelandic air from Newark. What airline are you flying from Seattle? I'm also returning from LHR on Virgin.

9 hours ago, nfcu said:

What ship is he on?  Did he mention it anywhere and I missed it?

In the title.

17 hours ago, Dusko said:

Just been advised that two ports, St Louis in Senegal and Tan Tan in Morocco have been removed from the itinerary. We’ve now got an additional sea day and we’re off to Tenerife for the day, presumably on the beach.  Not thrilled about it as the expedition ships are not the best for sea days and 5/14 is too many.  Also wanted to do this trip because I am interested in Isle de Gore and Morocco.  Nothing to be done I’m sure since Seabourn always have the right to alter the itinerary.  Port Congestion is given as the reason. Hopefully we get free drinks to compensate 🫠.

Wel, there are still 3 Morocco ports and Ile de Goree in Senegal (as present). And there is more to do in Tenerife than the beach, at least a chance to walk around in between sea days. I was on three of the islands in December, very different, Lanzarote very dry (closest to the Sahara), and more lush as you go West. Port congestion? Must be commercial traffic, not many cruise ships go there.

Why are the expedition ships "not the best for sea days"? Not enough to do, too unstable? It's my first time on Seabourn's expedition ships. Also have another booked for the fall, so interested why you mention this.

Maybe just UK sailors?