SLSD

Well--perhaps itfthey opened it regularly, people would go there. But, not knowing IF it is going to be open until the night before does not make for the best planning. I just checked with a friend who was on the Ovation itinerary following ours in June. He tells me that the Restaurant WAS open for breakfast and lunch each day. But, he is one of those people who really likes all the choices in the buffet and always went there for lunch. Unfortunately, he, and the rest of his traveling group of six came down with Covid at the very end of the cruise.

Markham, As of this afternoon, our travel agent is looking into a couple of Dawn itineraries for us. Unfortunately, we can't sail until next summer because of other travel plans, but it will get us out of the Texas heat next year. I agree with you and Mr. SLSD has come around to fhe idea of trying one of the newer SS ships.

I saw up to 17 tables filled at lunch. That is when we came in around 12:45.

The menu for the Colonnade is VERY short and I don't believe it really changes. I do not like buffets even with gloved servers--it's just now I prefer to dine. Others love it, I know. And I agree with Jon's comments above--why should Seabourn cruisers have to dine in a crowded environment?

When you say ghost town--do you mean that only the tables along one side are used? We sailed in June before you and most of the tables at one side would be filled at lunch.

I may well, but IF we sail on Silversea, we were not planning on dining at either upcharge restaurant anyway. Neither really appeal to us.

One other comment Markham. I have been asked to participate in a virtual discussion with Seabourn about my expectations on a luxury cruise line. That will be coming up in just a few days. You can be sure that I will discuss this topic and my concerns.

I agree with you Markham. Mr. SLSD and I need to give Silversea another try as we haven't sailed with them since 2005. And yes, we would stick to the three ships you mention and perhaps the new Nova. I would not even consider the other SS ships. Mr. SLSD will give me some pushback and I will miss more sophisticated entertainment and events onboard. We were so fortunate on our Ovation cruise in June that the The Restaurant WAS open every day for breakfast and for lunch. I enjoyed every one of those meals as did so many other passengers.

Interesting comment from you as my information came from the restaurant manager and he brought up the issue and we had a detailed conversation about it. I asked questions as well. This is why I think there was a new policy which was then reversed---similar to the policy of calling the cruise director entertainment directors and then almost immediately reversing back to cruise directors. Whatever happened, it is disconcerting to some of us. Others don't care as the buffet in the Colonnade seems to suit them just fine.

Exactly Jon ( and thank you) . And I remember that your wife will not do buffets and you bring her the plate. For us, it's not about carrying a plate--but about the buffet itself. I have DONE buffets on SB. I don't want to see what I have seen. I don't want to handle utensils with scores of others. I am not a germophobic, but I am extremely cautious on cruises- (even before Covid) because I want to enjoy the entire cruise and not become ill. Additionally, I don't enjoy a panoply of food. I like to order from a menu.

I totally understand what you are saying. On our recent 14 day cruise, we never dined on our veranda or even sat out there together (why did we not do that--such a mistake!) but I did go out there almost every day to survey our surroundings and enjoy either a docking or a sailing up to a port. And then, there was that glorious evening (starting at 3am) when I went out to watch the sail in to the Nordfjord--something I will think about for a long time.

I have been asked to participate in a virtual conversation about my expectations for a luxury cruise. You can be assured that I will be asserting (in a nice polite way) that I DO expect options for lunch which include The Restaurant. Dining at The Colonnade for lunch (especially if the veranda is not available due to weather or being full) is just not an option for those of us who never do buffets. I truly do want to continue with Seabourn. We love so many things about it. We are not picky people except for the fact that we don't ever do buffets. I look forward to the virtual conversation which they say will include others and be an hour long, By the way, SB is proposing to pay me $200 for my participation. I would gladly participate without remuneration. The fact that they are paying worries me. What kind of people do they think we are? Comments welcomed.

Scroll down on this link and there may be the photo (actually it's a video )you are looking for. We've never had one of these suites, but I don't think it would bother us. Click on the dark heading below to read the thread. We have done the GTY and have always been pleased with the resulting suite.

Very true. Why didn't they open The Restaurant for breakfast at least? Are you on Ovation?

And sometimes in inclement weather, the Patio Grill and Veranda of the Colonnade are not options. I know not everyone understands an aversion to buffet dining in the Colonnade. Some people really love it. One of our Seabourn friends calls it "eating at the trough". I laugh every time I remember him saying that, but I totally agree with him. It reeks of mass market cruising to me. I KNOW that having the dining room open with its own printed menu and staff for breakfast and lunch is costly--but so is taking a Seabourn cruise.

Either way--offensive or not funny---not good entertainment.

I agree that a cruise director may not be the best for making fleetwide entertainment decisions. And why the offensive comedians? I've never heard one aboard ship that I thought was worth listening to. No wonder so many people walk out.

I think the policy was changed. I was not misinformed. The restaurant manager told me himself and said it was effective as of the beginning of our cruise.Other people on our cruise were told the same, including one of the posters here who verified that he was also told this. Since our cruise, it has changed. I'll check with friends who were on the cruise right after ours and see what was happening then.

I am so glad to hear that! And yes, a station by the windows is so much better than in the middle of the dining room.

Should read DON'T like dining in the Colonnade unless on the Veranda. I know that for us cruising is about the destinations and not about the ship so much--but we ARE signing up for a luxury cruise and DO expect luxury options for dining.

Just to whet your appetite a bit further about the Lofoten Islands, here's a photo I took the day we were there.

OH! I'm going to have to find that podcast. The idea of a a Nordland Night Train is fascinating. It is a magical place. What is interesting is that even though we were on the same cruise, we had very different daily experiences (for the most part) from Mary. I am finding her posts on her wonderful blog to be very interesting.

i just don't want to take a lot of luggage--but I know that has been overly discussed already. i just like dining in the Colonnade unless out on the Veranda and we absolutely WILL NOT do a buffet--and that is not always possible due to weather etc. I know these are elitist issues (not using the word first world), but we all like what we like. We do enjoy lunching in various ports when possible and when we can find a really nice/interesting place to do that. Isklaar, have you tried Silversea? I know Markham is a proponent of their newer (larger) ships. We sailed with them years ago. I think it was the Cloud, but I can't even remember at this point. Mr. SLSD is very resistant to changing from SB and I just have this picture in. my mind of very stuffy people. For some reason, Regent has never really interested me. There is the new Crystal--waiting to see how their first voyages go. Seabourn is pretty perfect for us when they are in top form (which. means more dining choices, not less) and when the chef is top notch. I think I may be writing a letter to the new president,

There is a second installment from the Norwegian cruise which talks about the Lofoton Islands.

What a disappointment. We were DEFINITELY told while on board by the manager of The Restaurant that it would be open every day for breakfast and for lunch--and it was. He said that this was across the fleet--so obviously there has been a reversal of this policy. This will severely limit our choices going forward for dining. We found the food to be just OK--tasting ok, but not exceptional in any way. Others may see that differently of course. Food is so subjective. Not having any TK nights in the Colonnade may be a money saving move as well. I'm beginning to think there isn't a cruise line for someone like me--a bit nerdy, ambience important while dining (breakfast, lunch and dinner), likes serene settings, doesn't like snobby imperious fellow cruisers, doesn't want to make reservations for meals, doesn't want to bring formal wear in my carry on.