SLSD

We also dine outdoors in nice weather. We choose the MDR during cold or inclement weather which is not uncommon on our cruises, or if the Colonnade is zoo. Not preferring buffets, we do enjoy the additional offerings of a menu. We have dined for breakfast in the MDR often since 2014--different cruises I guess. i am tired of arguing about a preference which does not affect anyone's choices.

This is exactly what I have said---that most on SB obviously prefer the buffet for lunch. That has been fairly clear. Just for the record, we don't really consider lunch in the MDR to be formal. It's not like dining there in the evening. Generally, we don't change as we dine there for lunch on a sea day and we are already dressed presentably for dining there. And, we don't mind if dining is leisurely as we are not going anywhere--it is a sea day after all. I am in NO WAY criticizing those who prefer a quick lunch. It's just an ambience thing for us and an aversion to eating from any buffet. I am very puzzled that this thread has been so contentious. The issue just doesn't warrant that. The real point is that some see luxury in cruising differently from others. It is not a moral failing--on either end of the spectrum. Let's try not to be snarky here as we have enough of that in politics these days.

We all are entitled to our different perspectives. I'm just observing that the Colonnade appears to be more popular for breakfast/lunch with most. No judgment being made--just an observation. But, as I recall, you are the poster who said that your record for dining in the TK Grill is 35 minutes. Amazing. Not what we would choose to do, but then again, we may be in a minority.

Two things you might do: 1. Ask. your hotel for a later check out time. 2. Ask Seabourn for an earlier arrival time.

Pre-pandemic we dined for breakfast and lunch every day we were at sea in the MDR on a crossing from Japan to Alaska. I am beginning to believe that most Seabourn guests actually prefer buffets and don't mind dining with a crowd. Perhaps it seems more festive to them than the serene dining room. It's a shame for the rest of us, but SB may be trying to please the majority and doesn't worry about the few. Is Covid a valid excuse? Who knows. I just read that Carnival's Majestic Princess is docked in Sydney with 800 Covid positive passengers onboard (out of 4,000 total passengers).

Here's the bottom line--Mr. SLSD and I want to sail with you and Mrs. Fletcher and benefit from your observations and your eye--not to mention your way with words. Thank you for sharing these photos. Please keep us apprised on your next cruises--on whichever line.

Just out of curiosity (even though I think I know the. answer), was Silversea willing to give you a refund for the "included" excursions that you could not get reservations for.

I think you probably realize that being able to dine from a menu in a serene environment is only one part of a luxury cruise experience. For many of us, sailing on a small ship is another part. Most of us are aware of what Cunard has to offer and have not chosen to sail with them for various reasons. Thanks for the heads up anyway.

I never said this. I did ask that others try to understand another point of view. I don't like to argue so I am over and out on this topic. Please don't misconstrue my comments.

I give up on trying to explain what people are upset about. Some of us do not do buffets--and with the MDR open for only 60 minutes at most and usually only on sea days for breakfast or lunch, it is not ideal for us. I'm not going to make any other comments. It's just a different perspective. I have NO desire to go to buffet after everyone else has already dined there. I can't imagine anything less appealing.

Wow.

And this is an example of different perspectives. While I do recognize the effort and creativity that goes into the preparation of the Galley Lunch, it just doesn't appeal to me for choosing a meal.

I've taken a lovely tour of the galley with champagne and appetizers--which is altogether different from the Galley Lunch.

And is having to survey several lines luxury? For me--no. And why should I have to curate a menu on a luxury cruise line? I also don't prefer the galley lunch which looks to me that the kitchen has thrown everything they have out to serve. I've done it--two times. Will not do it again.

When I said it was simple, I meant for us--not for everyone else. I was talking about assessing what luxury means for us. I am well aware that some high end resorts/hotels/ restaurants do utilize the buffet as a means of serving their guests. I can recall a lovely hotel in Kyoto which had a wonderful breakfast buffet which we enjoyed. It was much more luxurious and less crowded than the Colonnade on a Seabourn ship. There are high end restaurants in our city which also offer buffets--but not many of them--and we don't choose these places as we do not like buffets. While I am not a germaphobe, I am a bit grossed out (is that an American term?) by the idea of self serve food stations as you have no idea how sanitary or unsanitary they might be. But even more than that, I like the ambience provided by a curated menu and being served at a table. I do not like schlepping through a line and choosing from many incongruent offerings. I always try to assess calories I am taking in and that is much easier to do from a menu. It IS as simple as that--at least for me. All this being said, I have enjoyed every single Seabourn cruise we have taken--and we have managed to "work around" the buffet issue. On a crossing form Kobe to Vancouver, we did have the MDR open for breakfast and lunch everyday--but only for ONE hour. For us, this was not luxury service. Why not allow esteemed guests a larger window for their leisurely sea days? I now recognize that many Seabourn cruisers are fine with the buffet. It's just not our culture or way of dining.

I also appreciate that SB does not include excursions in their pricing. While we do take SB excursions, we also like to be able to choose a private excursion or just walk through an interesting port town on our own. We've never sailed with Regent.

I think much of this boils down to what our individual ideas of a luxury cruise encompasses. I remember a conversation I had with one of our posters here on Sojourn a few years ago. He told me that he saw Sojourn as being more luxurious than Ovation or Encore. I told him that he might be more discerning that I am--but that I preferred the two newer ships. The real truth is that we all have different perspectives. As for me, I don't see myself as a cruiser. In fact, I find myself justifying my love of cruising to various friends who are aghast that I love to cruise. For me, luxury cruising is not having to deal with crass partiers or as I tend to call them "the Hawaiian shirt crowd" (There is a back story to that--as Mr. SLSD had a lengthy case in Hawaii some years ago.). For us, luxury is a small ship with fewer guests, white table cloth dining venues, as well as comfortable dining on open deck venues, ordering from a menu. Since we never darken the door of buffet restaurants in our onshore life, we are not about to dine buffet style on a ship. It's just that simple. We work around the dining offerings on SB--and so far, have done ok and have been pleased. We just hope that Seabourn recognizes and acknowledges that they have guests who do not do buffets --and never have. I'm not picky about wine--we can usually find a palatable wine on SB. among the included wines--and if we cannot--we'll drink champagne, a kir royale, or other liquor. We order caviar occasionally--but usually don't remember to do it often enough. Luxury is not one thing or another--it's an overall ambience--and that is what Seabourn needs to maintain. \

Was it open for only an hour? Was it well advertised to be open? Was the menu posted?

It's a shame your husband is not proud of the company he works for. I'm sure if they knew his true feelings, he would be encouraged to work elsewhere. And, as someone else said, some of the products may be overpriced (what isn't these days?), but they work quite well. I'm happy with my Apple products starting with my laptop, my Ipad, and my Iphone. Just a suggestion, don't make this kind of comment unless you are truly sure you are anonymous.

I agree with you. We do not go to the club often, but if the music was from a DJ, we would not go at all.

I don't want to sound argumentative or combative here--because that is not me--but i wish those of you who do not value the MDR being open for breakfast and lunch would listen to those of us for whom it is important. After all, we support your love of caviar anytime and free flowing champagne. For some of us, ambience is everything when it comes to assessing luxury. And some of us never do buffets. Having a breakfast/lunch venue with white tablecloths and a menu is very important. I think there are two issues contributing to the low attendance in the MDR for breakfast and lunch. One--it is open so seldom that people cannot count on it or plan for it. And two---the MDR is only open for about an hour when it is open. This makes it necessary for anyone planning to dine there to arrange their entire schedule to be able to dine at this hour. Not always easy. I have one other compromise suggestion--why not have a much larger sit down menu for the Colonnade for both breakfast and lunch? We love dining out on the outdoor deck portion of the Colonnade, but get a bit weary of only having grilled salmon, or a couple of other options available for lunch. Why not have a more extensive menu to satisfy those who eschew a buffet?

While not excusing very poor wine service, I would not make a decision on a cruise line based on the actions of one staff member.

This reminds me of a Seabourn excursion we took at the port of Petrovlasak on the Kamchatka peninsula. It was billed as an "exotic picnic" with a Russian herbalist and I have to say it lived up to this description. Half of the attendees hated the experience and the rest of us loved it. It involved a crusty Russian man who spoke no English, played the piano and sang and served us food from the forest and Coho salmon in a yurt. Vodka was involved. Every time I think of this, I smile. It was quite memorable. We won't likely be returning to Russia ever again and I'm glad we had this experience.

There is a recent thread on this very issue. Scroll down to see it.

We've never considered any cruise lines aside from Seabourn and Silversea--and not Silversea for some years now. Perhaps we should, but I think it would be such a let down. Right around the time Covid hit, I was following a blog written by someone from the UK who was on one of the first quarantined ships. The author ended up being hospitalized in Japan for Covid. I remember him saying what a luxurious experience his cruise had been. I think it was Princess, his preferred line. I was surprised that he saw it as luxurious, but I guess that was his perspective.