SLSD

1 hour ago, Mahogany said:

The only change I would accept would be no liquor in the suite, since it's so easy to get a drink.

I agree with you.  We have quit asking for liquor in our suite because it went unopened by us.  

On 4/21/2024 at 6:17 PM, Northern Bear said:

I will be doing a 14 day Alaska Seabourn in July. Because of the itin I was not planning on bringing a jacket. Could I get by with dress pants and shoes, button down shirt and a tie on formal night or should I plan on eating elsewhere?

What is the point of a tie if you are not wearing a jacket?  It would be better, in my view, if you wore a jacket and not a tie.  I've never liked the look of shirt and tie without a jacket--seems so mid management at work to me.  Just an observation.  I'm sure you can get by with your dress plan.  

On 4/23/2024 at 11:42 AM, jondfk said:

I’m not sure they will actually reject you at the entrance to the dining room, but you will be in the small minority.  Earth and Ocean and Colonnade are other options, the thing is, particularly E&O, will be swamped with similar minded passengers.  In the same circumstance with SB in Alaska last year we ended up with room service one night and E&O the other.

 

You didn’t ask but I’ll add another comment, we were totally shocked by the limited availability of the Restaurant for breakfast and lunch.  It operated only 4 of 14 days for lunch and only 6 of 14 days for breakfast.  We generally do not like buffets and were stunned to be forced there so often.  By way of explanation we were told the SB don’t operate the restaurant on short (7 day) sailings with many ports.  This left a very negative impression with us and we will never again book an itinerary that is also sold in shorter segments.  
 

I think most of the regular posters here know how I feel about buffets and the closure of the MDR for breakfast and lunch.  We'll be onboard for 28 days this next summer and it could be a challenge for us.  

I just completed the same survey and found it worrisome as it seemed to putting out feelers to see which current amenities could be dropped or changed (and not for the better).  Like many of you, one of the main reasons we sail with Seabourn is because it is an all inclusive experience treating each passenger the same.  And, sure enough, the return email address was Holland America.  

I just received an email thanking us for sailing with Holland America and talking about some details of our trip.  For the record, I have never sailed on Holland America and do not plan to in the future.  Clearly, the email is referring to my upcoming Seabourn voyage.  I don't appreciate the name confusion.  I can't imagine Seabourn letting that get through.  I see it as sloppy and careless.  I'll leave it there.  

On 4/13/2024 at 2:27 AM, caviarforme said:

Second visit also excellent - 36oz Porterhouse sharing steak cooked to perfection and so full of flavour. Almost did not need a knife. Best steak I have had for years, and a lot better than TK, which I never liked.

 

Service again excellent. Addresses by name,

 

Try Solis, and if something is not quite right tell the Maitre D' who will always try to correct the issue before complaining here

I am expecting to enjoy Solis in July and August. 

Hmm. I often order appetizers instead of main dishes.  I hope this is allowed by the time we sail in the summer.  

11 hours ago, robertmartha said:

Depending on your restrictions - the menus in the restaurant are great with their identifiers (icons)..dairy, nuts, gluten, sugar, etc....

I have quite a few restrictions and after checking in when we stop at the table that is set up near where you check in (believe it is the restaurant manager) they have a list (assume based on the preferences you check) of passengers with restrictions..so good place to start. Also recommend if you find a waiter/table you like the first night - stick with that table (if you can). This way the waiter and his team know your restrictions and can accommodate them.

 

When in doubt - always ask your server - better safe then not 

Thank you. I expect to be able to eat some things on the menu (salmon for example) but do not want to eat it every night or for every meal.  I will certainly be eating what I can off the menu, but expect to need entrees made for me many nights--when I am not eating the ubiquitous salmon. 

25 minutes ago, FlyingScotSailors said:

@SLSD  As you probably already know, "belt and suspenders" is always a good approach.  Let Seabourn know ahead of time; there should be a place in your "preferences" selection to indicate dietary requirements.  Then, when you board, ask to see the Chef and/or Assistant Maitre D' responsible for special diets, and discuss your needs.  The Assistant Maitre D' will bring the next night's dinner menus to you at dinner so you can select what you would like to have and the kitchen can prepare it for you.  Then, you can be surprised like we are since we usually do not remember what we had ordered the night before.

 

The Assistant Maitre D' is also usually good at tracking you down if you are not eating in the Restaurant to give you the next night's menu.

Thank you for these comments.  I will go to preferences and give them an idea of what I can be eating.  It should be easy to accommodate.  

1 hour ago, sfvoyage said:

If you need special ingredients to be brought onto the ship, you need to email guest services ahead of time, ideally 2-3 months prior to sailing.

 

Otherwise, when you board, just talk to the assistant maitre d' who is in charge of looking after guests with special dietary requirements.

Thank you.  No special ingredients needed--thank goodness. It should not be that difficult.  I just don't want to eat the same thing at every meal.  

I am very sad to say that I have joined the ranks of those who need a special diet--with a lot of things I can no longer eat.  What is the protocol for asking for special accommodation while on the ship.  We will be sailing for 28 days this summer.  Do I ask ahead of time? Do I wait until I am on the ship? And to whom do I speak about this?   Thank you for any suggestion in this area.  

21 hours ago, shark b8 said:

Aloha & ahoy there, CC’ers!  As promised (or threatened, depending on how you look at it) a few weeks ago…..we’re baaaaaaaaack.  We boarded the Sojourn a couple of hours ago, we arrived in Sydney over the weekend after the briefest of puddle-jumps (🙄).  Had a nice view from our hotel window (below)…..just before the skies opened up (while we were out at brunch) for a good ol’ fashioned midwest-style thunderstorm. A real “frog-strangler” as Andy Griffith would have said.  Thunder as loud as I’ve ever heard it.   It was glorious.  (and produced second pic, below)

 

So, we were originally scheduled for this cruise in 2021 (2022?) but it became a covid-cancellation, and thus was automatically re-scheduled.  This 2024 World Cruise is already underway, of course, started in L.A. over a month ago, hit some place called “Hawaii”, then several Pacific islands and New Zealand, we’re catching up with it here.  We’ll be on for the leg(s) through Shanghai, 50 days.  And Ross told us at the gangway that everything after Singapore (which included passage through the Red Sea) has been canceled, for obvious reasons.  I’m sure that has already been noted and widely discussed elsewhere on CC.

 

(And since you asked….the ship in the pic below is the “Resilent Lady”, a Virgin ship…..so to speak. 😉)

 

Hoping for the usual CC-fun - hit me with questions or whatever as we go, let’s please have a lively back-and-forth!

 

 

Always happy to read your reports!

6 hours ago, Mahogany said:

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.

The invitation only cruises did not include a full itinerary or much information.  I think the expedition ships are great--for expedition type cruising--all over the world.  There just wasn't any information given--or rather not enough given.  

25 minutes ago, Sunprince said:

“Expedition”, need not be defined as Antarctic or Arctic (as is usually thought), but rather should be regarded as travelling to unknown or less travelled unique locations, of which there are many in the world.  We just need the people who design the itineraries to realize that!

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.  

3 hours ago, Mahogany said:

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.

And since we don't eat sushi, our dining opportunities are very narrow.  I WOULD try an expedition cruise, but not a regular cruise on an expedition ship.  I do think that SB is having a bit of difficulty selling the concept of a non expedition cruise on an expedition ship.  

2 hours ago, Isr45 said:

Rang TA for a quote as stated and told they can’t live access the pricing on the new releases and they also have to call Seabourn.

Hassle and time wasting for everyone   especially when requesting numerous permutations of suite and back to backs

I agree.  This should have been seamless.   

3 hours ago, Mahogany said:

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.

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'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.  

4 minutes ago, johng75370 said:

I've only done it for lunch in The Restaurant (MDR), by asking the day before.  Not sure if the Colonnade accommodates special requests.  Another reason I (like you) am a fan of lunch in The Restaurant and wish it was open all days and not just sea days.  

 OK.  I thought that would be your answer.  We DO prefer lunch in the MDR.  And the menu to order in the Colonnade for lunch is very short.  When we are on Sojourn for 28 days next summer,  I WILL ask.  

On 2/8/2024 at 8:40 PM, johng75370 said:

A few other points that you may have read elsewhere already, but worth pointing out:

- you can order ahead with The Restaurant with 24 hour notice special dishes (off-menu), or special meal (Indian, Italian, etc).  For longer voyages it’s a nice option for a special dinner.  We’ve done things like a soft shell crab salad entree for lunch, or a Pom Moscovitz (sp?) caviar appetizer, as pictured below.  

- speaking of caviar, it’s available 24/7 delivered anywhere on the ship.  Nice pre-dinner treat with cocktails!

- if you enjoy the experience, the Future Cruise desk sells open future cruise deposits for $500pp (not sure in pounds) and it gives a 5% discount on whatever cruise you end up booking and is good for 4 years.  A nice deal compared to what I’ve seen on other cruise lines.  

- if you want something don’t be shy asking for it; they really try to make the answer yes.  

 

Do you order ahead of time off menu even when the MDR is closed for lunch?  In other words, if planning ot diner in the Colonnade for lunch, can you order off menu ahead of time?

We have received the same emails. I will have to admit to looking askance at most of Seabourn's marketing.  We tend to choose the itineraries we most want to experience.  Not a money saving decision, but it works for us.  

6 hours ago, stan01 said:

 

If ordered for one I don't think they will say "no, you can't have it".

 

Exactly.  Everyone should order what they want--and if they cannot give you a portion for one person, there will be a lot of food waste.  Seems silly to me.  

In the MDR, I sometimes have ask for a cup of soup instead of a bowl.  I've been told they cannot give me a cup--can only give me a bowl. I keep asking.  

4 hours ago, nancygp said:

Just got an update from my TA.  THE ONLY cruise that is cancelled is the July 26th british isles cruise as it’s a charter.  I’m back on the July 12th Norway cruise!

 

nancy

That is good news Nancy--but what chaotic information coming from Seabourn!  

48 minutes ago, CardowMD said:

Silversea cancelled entire Norway season summer think  2025? Some new regulations in Norway, but that doesn’t explain the Mediterranean cancellation.

Some of the new regulations in Norway were in place last summer as well, but perhaps there are additional new regulations?  We are on a SB itinerary going (back) to Norwas this summer (2024).  

1 hour ago, Hlitner said:

I have an update on the Soujourn cancellations, based on an e-mail from SB to our agent.  All the Soujourn cruises from July 12,2025 - Sept 14-2025 are cancelled in this message.  The only explanation offered is "due to operational considerations."   I guess we can all speculate as to the cause.

 

Hank

I corresponded with our travel agent this evening.  She says that Seabourn has decided to pull out of Dover starting in 2025.  That's all she knew.