Shipless in Seattle

We noticed this too yesterday on the app. However, the website login was saying we were leaving today. Usually they send an email if there’s an itinerary change but haven’t received one so could be a fluke in the app. It’s odd also that we are not dock boarding Manaus rather tendering on board. That will be a mess for the staff, trying to unload and load luggage and provisions.

We’ve been going through all of our cruises over the last six years posted to see the pictures. Quite enlightening.

Thanks for posting this link! Tells us a lot. Didn’t realize they had these great daily journals with photos.

We’re in Manaus looking forward to getting on in a few days all the way to Ushuaia. We’ve been thinking of taking local tour to the jungle and river, but expect Expedition team may do that on the ship during the Amazon trek so might wait. If anyone on board can comment on some of the “Amazon experience” activities it would be appreciated. Kent and Jeffrey

We’re seriously considering this one too but it will come down to price and availability. I am not worried that the experience won’t be amazing as I’m sure there will be lots of senior management on board and that the staff will be at its best. I think though it may be more expensive since it is the farewell. Really like this ship so would be nice to join on the final goodbye.

I’m so glad to see that Seabourn has added this, as it was really missing compared to Silversea. Hopefully they expanded to include more raw fish at lunch and other venues.

We were just on Seabourn Odyssey a few weeks ago an Alaska cruise, and spent about $3000 on tours through the ship. I did think the prices were higher than I was used to, but when I tried to look at booking independently in the various cities, there wasn’t much savings, so I think the pricing has just gone up for everything overall. We’re getting on Pursuit shortly in Manaus to Ushuaia and have been nicely surprised there are complementary tours in nearly every port so getting on their new expedition ships has that advantage. Silversea and Regent include the tours but Seabourn seems to be having some more aggressive prices on their cruises lately so you’re still paying for probably the same price overall wherever you go.

Hey guys, nice to hear from you. Stay in touch. I never tried to get the video. I don’t think I saved the link from the presentation so I don’t have it. If I do find it, I will post. Kent

We were just on Odyssey in Alaska and ask the same question of the seabourn ventures tour guides. We’re getting on pursuit for an Antarctica in November. She said the most important things are waterproof pants, several layers, no cotton. We were originally going to buy the layers you need package on the Seabourn website, but then realized we have a lot of it already. Synthetic fabrics or wool are best. She explain cotton gets very wet and will make you cold. Good polarized sunglasses also recommended plus sunscreen Hope that helps. Kent

Here's video that includes Polar Plunge in Antarctica off the M/v Venture

We use 2 travel insurance companies CSA and Travelguard. Key reason they cover pre-existing conditions provided you pay for the policy within 24 hours of making final cruise payment. Most either don't cover pre-existing or require you buy the day you make deposit, not final payment. We would not travel without due to some medical issues plus since we are retired but only in our 50's private insurance won't cover you if you are out of the country (policies from employers if you are traveling WILL cover you). Thus if you break your leg while traveling, if you don't have travel insurance it will likely be on you. As for evacuation insurance, I wouldn't travel without as it is a $250K-500K taxi ride off the ship if you need it for not a lot of money. We're going to Antarctic shortly and our policy would cover that evac up to 500K as it doesn't limit it to where you are. Now could you get someone to get you there? that's the unknown.

FYI we did learn yesterday at our travel clinic that the vaccine is now considered good for life not 10 years as it was in the past. The WHO ruled this several years ago with new data. I got the vaccine in 2006 that don’t need to get it again and my vaccine card was updated. We are going to the Amazon in October. They also did say that yellow fever has expanded in Brazil into the major cities over the last decade so if you don’t get vaccinated, make sure you wear lots of bug spray. This will help protect against all mosquito borne diseases, such as Zika and Dengue fever.

Hi can you let us know the key staff on board? (MCaptain, SCaptain, HD, F&B, CD, ACD)? We’re on it a few weeks and just wondered who we know. I think it was mentioned it MCaptain Tim is on board who we sailed with before last December. Thx Kent

Seabourn just sent me a notification that the visa requirement is delayed until January as we are booked on an October cruise with them on Mv Pursuit. Kent

Great to hear it’s starting off well. We get on in Manaus in October for an adventure all the way to Antarctica. Can you let us know the management on board as just curious who we might know (ie Captains, HD, F&B, CD & ACD)? Thx Kent

I’ve enjoyed reading all these posts and some of the back-and-forth. A couple of you need an act at the Apollo. We have 100+ days each on Seabourn Silversea and Regent each and love all three for different reasons. I spent a lot of time on Holland in the 90s but ships are too big for me. I started sailing Regent (Radisson) back in 2000 and Silversea in 2004 than Seaborn ~2010. We love being on a ship. A cruise has always been a specific snapshot moment in time of a line so sometimes you have not so good experience on one cruise just because the captain isn’t the best or the financial condition of the cruise line isn’t as good or the food isn’t optimal but I’ve always tried to I have a good time and find the things I i like. The main thing on all of them is the staffs are so attentive to help you have a good experience. The more you sail a particular cruise line the more you get to know the staff from multiple cruises I remember one cruise on Regent a long time ago. We had a knock at the door early in the cruise, and it was a housekeeper who had been our housekeeper a year before on another cruise. She was in tears really sad because she had tried to switch her floor so she could be our housekeeper again because she liked us so much but couldn’t . Still makes me feel humble today that she wanted to clean up after me. The staff on these lines have always treated us with absolute genuine emotion that is probably one of the biggest pluses of being on any of them. Seabourn Silversea and Regent. The holy trinity of cruising 🙂 I have no issues with booking any of them and find them all amazing.! cheers Kent & Jeffrey

We are on the Pursuit cruise after yours from Manaus to Antarctica so have the same concern. We don’t leave our home until October 19 to fly to Brazil so we’ll have a bit of time. Hopefully it’s an easy process. I remember going to Brazil back in 2006 I needed a visa and part of the process included a proof of yellow fever vaccination run at a state agency. That required some extra hoops to get. Hopefully they make it easy. I was going to ask my TA about this Kent

Ouch. I rarely buy individual stocks just that reason, instead just cheap index funds. I figured for $690 for 100 shares it was a good bet given the SBC program. CCL is sitting on so much debt from the pandemic which likely is what drove the price so low. I’d hang onto the stock as cruising is seeing strong demand.

Yes, I saw they were $1000 pp so definitely won’t be going, but if it’s worth it to you go for it. For me I would skip even if included.

This has been the best little deal ever. Bought the stock in the toilet last year at $6.90. It’s tripled in value AND we’ve received $750 so far in SBCs. I hope they extend to next year cruises. Kent

We are on Pursuit in Antarctica in October and November so had to take a look at this thread about the subs. I’m sure they are quite safe BUT I am also sure if I was on board I’d be thinking about the Titan the whole time and wouldn’t be able to get the thought out of my mind. 😳. It’s like that old line about skydiving….why leave a perfectly good airplane (or cruise ship)! We will be skipping the subs even if included. I do scuba dive which is riskier I’m guessing but you go with your comfort level. cheers Kent

Hi Mauzac I have experienced this in the past with Seabourn. Not so much Silversea or regent. We’ve had cruises booked at one fare and then later on the fare drops significantly. Fortunately, in our case, the fare drops have usually before final payment so you can cancel the cruise and rebook. We are in the process of booking on one of the expedition ships had incredible discounts. I spoke with my TA and Seaborn is being extremely aggressive with pricing right now on a lot of their upcoming cruises with 30-50% extra discounts but it goes nonrefundable immediately. He speculates that they are trying to fill the ships for financial reporting for carnival even at a loss to create revenue. I agree with you that because of your status they should at least do something nominal like some shipboard credit. I don’t think they should be required to give you the lower price simply because you got the advantage of choosing from a better cabin selection earlier on but a small amount of goodwill goes a long way. the last thing they want is you angry at them. I would think they might at least split the difference. I had amazing experience with silversea where because their air flight was canceled and our luggage was lost and didn’t make the ship they reimbursed $2300 for the clothes I had to buy for the cruise. I received that unexpectedly after sending a nice detailed note to their customer service. We have lots of loyalty to them because of that. Good luck. kent

Yup. He was very good to us as acd on our group on Odyssey Aimee was was most amazing cd. Hopefully he just needed a little to adjust to the position as we thought he had some talent. John Barron is a natural anomaly you don’t find very often. One of the Best cd in the entire world. I sailed with him the first time on Radisson Mariner in 2002 when he was an acd and have never seen anyone do lying poker better. Thanks for helping us with device on this ship Kent

Thx! I’ve sailed with John and Handre many times. I thought Handre had moved to a land based position securing the great entertainment on board so glad to hear he is also sailing again.

Can you let us know if David is CD? We met him on Odyssey last December as ACD but he was excited to be joining venture as cd this year. Was real good. Kent & Jeffrey