SLSD

Mr. SLSD and I are still thinking about our great Norwegian itinerary we shared with you. And I agree--Seabourn is behind the eight ball in not setting its itineraries early. That is the reason we could not go to Flam --as by the time SB chose it as a port, the maximum number of cruise guests for the day had already been reached. I applaud towns who limit the number of cruise guests allowed. A lower number is better for everyone. Can you explain why you prefer Seabourn over Silversea?

You make it sound easy Markham. What about the bar situation on the newer SS ships? Is there anything to compare to the Obs Bar on SB? Where do you hang out in the evening? Is it a ghost town? Is the clientele even more elderly than SB? I remember you saying it is like being a fine hotel. I'm sure that now that you are a regular you know quite a few people who sail SS. Has that made a difference in terms of the social atmosphere?

It seems like a lot of effort to me and even though more choices for dining is appealing, the appeal is lost because of the effort that has to be made and the uncertainty about where you will be dining.

New cultural experiences are always what we are looking for and we saw amazing things in China. I just don't need to return. One of our sons lived there for several years and I think we got our fill of China.

Because of comments they often make about people joining to shorter segments.

I'll try that.

Thank you for such a detailed report. One of the things that has kept me from booking a Silversea cruise has been the restaurant situation and the need to make reservations. I prefer to take each day as it comes and decide late in the day where to dine.

Thank you for your comments. Very helpful.

I've spent some time reading about each port and it looks promising. Thank you for your comments. We would arrive in Hong Kong several days early if we decide to book this cruise and see the most interesting things. We would probably hire a private guide as we did in Beijing when we were there. We would also spend some time in Singapore.

I've used your approach, but thank you for suggesting it. Sometimes the site is just broken and doesn't respond--when all the other sites do.

I've spent a good bit of time today looking at itineraries on Seabourn--and on Silversea, Regent, and the new Crystal. Thank you to 2seabourn sailors for suggesting I look at Vacations to Go to ferret out the itineraries since the Seabourn website is so painful to use. I've looked at Vacations to Go in the past, but since I would never book through them (should we? ever?) I had not looked at the site recently. One of our friends, who doesn't cruise now due to age, has been urging Mr. SLSD to book an Asian cruise during the winter. We had looked at those and I had dismissed the idea, perhaps prematurely. I went back to the Seabourn website today after looking at the whole panoply of choices on Vacations to Go. January is a very good time for us to cruise. Christmas with the family will be behind us, and our next domestic trip will not be until April. We're looking at a January 20th 14 days cruise from Hong Kong to Singapore. I wish it was longer, but it is what it is. We have not been to Hong Kong (have been to mainland China and do not consider it a vacation spot). I know Hong Kong is changed now due to being part of mainland China now. Here are the ports which are nicely space among sea days. I really like sea days sprinkled in among ports--never more than one sea day at a time. Hong Kong Halong Bay, Viet Nam Da Nang (Hue) Viet Nam Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) Viet Nam Sihanoukville, Cambodia Ko Kood, Thailand Laem Chabag (Bangkok) Thailand Singapore My questions concern the ports. Are they good ports in terms of things to see and do? Or, are some of them a long way from things to see and do. Have any of you experienced this itinerary?

Very disappointing to hear this. We've found very spotty service when dealing with Seabourn's home office. Sometimes the person we talk to doesn't have a clue, while others are very professional and take care of things.

I totally agree with you that it is important to open up venues at breakfast and lunch on SB to spread passengers out so it is not a cattle call. I would be most interested to know how you think the Panorama Lounge compares to the Observation Bar. We sailed on Silversea WAY back in 2005 and I just remember the Panorama Lounge being somewhat soulless and cavernous as compared to the more comfortable forward facing Observation Lounge on all the Seabourn ships. Maybe things are different on the newer Silversea ships like Dawn? On out June cruise on Ovation, we did not experience any upsell on wine, or maybe we just ordered what we wanted at the outset and there was no opportunity.

Those of us from Texas are ALWAYS looking for cooler weather. There is no way we would ever book summertime cruise in the Med or in many other places in Europe. I'll look at the itinerary you mention--I'm assuming it is July 2024? And Direct flights are good--very good.

I totally agree with you. We try to avoid short back to back cruises--it's minefield out there looking for the right itinerary.

That's an idea, but how pathetic that the SB website does not work. We will be booking through a travel agent once we find our itinerary.

I have always been reluctant to book a segment(s) on a WC or a Grand Voyage. I don't like to be those passengers that the long haulers are looking at with disdain. Talk me down from that--if you can.

I'm actively searching for an appealing itinerary and I am about the throw up my hands. The Seabourn website is terrible. First, I have to change browsers to use it --from Chrome to Safari--and even then if does not work well. How can Seabourn do business this way? I am not having difficulties with the websites of other cruise lines.

Has the new Seabourn President addressed the fact that Seabourn's website is abysmal? To use it, I have to leave my usual browser (Chrome) and use Safari. Even then, it doesn't work well at all--in so many ways. I have been actively searching for an itinerary to book and I am throwing up my hands. It's enough to drive me to a competitor. Am I the only one having these difficulties? I don't have issues with any other cruise line's websites.

This looks amazing, but is probably more adventurous than we are---I say this rather sheepishly. Just being on a ship with Fletcher would be great. I look forward to his commentary. We'll have to ask him to post it over here too.

We did a crossing from Japan to Vancouver (including the Kamchatka Peninsula and Alaska). Sea days are not our very favorite thing--but we would not rule out that route again as we love Japan AND Alaska. We won't be returning to Russia in this lifetime.

It's hard for us to leave for more than 21 days with a dog, a cat, and a farm to be concerned with. And oh darn--we have another domestic trip for the latter part of April, first part of May. It will be fun--but is really cutting into our cruising. Your itinerary does look very interesting.

I'm searching now for our next cruise. I'm open to most itineraries beginning with January 2024 as we have several domestic trips scheduled for the rest of 2023. We would be most comfortable with what we know (Seabourn), but are open to looking at Silversea, Regent and possibly the new Crystal. Mr. SLSD doesn't want to do Antarctica (I know) . We prefer at least 14 days and 21 would be even better. If there is an itinerary you think is fabulous out there--would you share with the rest of us?

Did the HD tell her that it was you who reported her behavior? This is such a bizarre story. I am so surprised that Seabourn allows her to sail. I know that the crew takes notes about guests. When we sailed in June on Ovation, our waiter brought me a glass of the included wine that I always order at our first lunch on the veranda of the Colonnade. When I asked if they knew this--Cristian just smiled.

I do wish you luck! Hopefully the transit gods will be in alignment and you will arrive without any difficulty!