SLSD

All of your reports are great fun to read. We loved Mdina, but understand that it is more beautiful before all the tourists arrive. We thought we didn't have enough time there--but maybe we really did and would not have enjoyed it longer if swamped with tourists. There are some very ancient archaeological sites on Gozo. I hope you are head to them.

We have friends on the Venture's next itinerary. I don't think they will be having any issues with ice. I hope it goes well for them.

We enjoy galley tours as well--but have never enjoyed Galley Lunches--which are really another buffet. Too much excess and disjointed food offerings for us. We did go to one on our last SB cruise, but agree that we will not be doing it again. We don't watch a lot of TV in our suite, so the position of the TV does not bother me. Your photos of this cruise have been glorious, but I have certainly gathered that you are not pleased at all with many of the particulars of the cruise. Looking over the events for this Sea Day, I would have to agree that there is nothing that would interest me--unless the Australian retired military man is exceedingly interesting. What would interest us on a Sea Day---very interesting lecturers, an on deck caviar champagne event midday, some special entertainment (a musician flown in for a special concert), a bridge tour, a lecture by the captain about all the details of sailing various kinds of ships--and how a cruise ship differs from others, a special meal featuring local cuisine. You get the idea.

We know quite a few people who have recently come down with the virus in spite of getting the omicron specific booster. While the booster did not keep them from becoming infected, none were hospitalized.

Thank you Catlover. I had seen #32, but had somehow missed #50. I am shuddering.

I read virtually every post on Cruise Critic in the Seabourn forum . I have found this site to be most helpful for those of us who love to cruise Seabourn. I am not at all offended by very critical posts and I also like hearing from others on the same itinerary that they are not totally displeased with food, service, excursions, etc. We have cruised enough to recognize that you can be on the same cruise with others and have a totally different experience. For that reason, I like the hear about both sides of the coin. As an aside, we are recently home from a 10 day trip to our favorite city in the US---Santa Fe, New Mexico. One of the highlights of our trip was getting together with friends we met on a Seabourn Baltic cruise in 2018. They had recently purchased a lovely home in Santa Fe--had us over for lunch on our second day in the city and we met them for another lunch several days later. It's always a bonus when you make good friends on a Seabourn cruise.

No converters need. This really helps in packing. No difficulties at all with charging our phones or laptops. I used the small desk area with mirror right outside the bathroom to dry my hair, etc. I applied makeup in the bathroom as the lighting was somewhat better (not great). This worked for us as my husband is a late sleeper and we never needed to be in the bathroom at the same time. The bathroom is small, but I can't imagine having a larger one in a basic veranda suite--which is what we always choose. We found the suite with its ship bathroom to be quite comfortable.

I have to ask--what sort of dreadful people? Are they drunken? loud? uncouth?

I love this image. For me, this would be worth the entire cruise.

On past SB cruises, we have run into the same thing---excursions announced at port talks (which we usually attend). Several times, we have left a port talk to go and book a newly announced excursion. Also, bridge tours have often been booked up before we even heard that they were happening. In one of these cases, I called guest services and asked them to offer an additional bridge tour for those of us left out of the first one. They obliged, and we were happy. We never tire of bridge tours and try to take one on each cruise.

We. enjoyed Ajaccio.

I should add that I had one of the best Rib Eye steaks I've ever had for dinner one night in the MDR. That's another memorable meal. Sadly, it was so large that I could only eat about 1/4 of it!

Mr. SLSD calls the food on Seabourn "good hotel food". Nothing has been very memorable for us, but most of it good. We do like the Napa Burgers, but limit how often we order. I had some delicious slow roasted lamb shanks that I will always remember.

Thanks Nancy--hopefully we will sail in 2023. I think you understand what I am saying. Luxury is different things to different people. LIke you, we find many on the menu to provide choices for us. I respect those who love having a special meal made from them. For us, serenity is luxury.

I understood what you are saying and generally agree. On the other hand, some cruisers like us are very low maintenance in almost every way. For example, we never order special meals just for us (nothing wrong with doing that), order caviar maybe twice in a 28 day cruise, etc. I think it is a very nice thing to provide the MDR occasionally for lunch for those who enjoy it. It's not the formalness of the meal that we like, but rather the sereneness of the atmosphere when spending time with so many people a lot of the time. It's just another luxury item that some of us crave---different from what others might enjoy. Not surprisingly, we. never go to the Colonnade for breakfast either, preferring the MDR, room service, or perhaps breakfast on the pool deck when we finally get to enjoy that. Basically, we don't even want to see a buffet!

We love lunch in the MDR. It is true that there are seldom very many others there, but for some of us it is perfect. Our least favorite place is lunch in the Colonnade as we don't do buffets and the menu from which you can order is very limited at lunch there. It just goes to show that not all SB cruisers like the same thing.

Another great travelogue. Mr. SLSD even stopped his own writing to listen.

Fletcher, You must have written travel books in a previous life. Mr. SLSD and I are enjoying your writing. Now, we wait for the name of the cafe in Tangier.

Thank you. And all best wishes for continuing your lucky streak in cruising. i think we were just very unlucky--and hope to cruise sometime again.

Your writing style is greatly entertaining. Just what I need while recovering from Covid without even attending a superspreader event! Have a great time on this cruise. For the record, I am always surprised by the older demographic on SB--even through we fit right in at ages 70 and 71.

We have not cruised yet because of the specter of Covid and the desire not to wear masks while cruising. We have worn masks in public whenever we thought there was a possible exposure. We recently took our first trip--a domestic road trip--and came home with Covid--from which we are now recovering. Needless to say, our likelihood of cruising has been pushed even further into the future. I cannot tell you how disappointed we are. If we WERE cruising, we would wear masks whenever necessary. This is such a discouraging time for travel. I do envy those of you who have cruised successfully without succumbing to this dastardly virus.

Yes, you are right and I just read another report about it. Evidently, the next guests will be delayed in boarding the Wind because of the storm.

I read that a Silversea ship took refuge from the storm in Alaska. Is it the Wind--or whichever SS ship is up there.

It came up on my weather app--nothing to do with cruising there. Even though I've been to Alaska, one never really contemplates how very huge the state is--even the western part. Our first port coming across from Japan/Russia was Kodiak--which is far more north than most SB cruises go.