highplanesdrifters

Maybe it's my old tablet, but can't find the thread. Would you consider posting a link. Thanks much.

Thanks for the link. That is tough news. Looks like only Gritviken is open for landings. We have 5 days there in March. Most disappointed. Please keep us posted on your experience.

Thanks for the info. Nice to hear that Daniel Fox gave the boys a special experience. Looks like you got some quality time with the whales. Nice!

Those are some mighty big Louboutins to fill. It is a rare and special place thanks in no small part to you. I'll do my best to sweep the peanut shells and keep the bar stocked. Velvet hammer is under the counter. Remind me, how much gin do you put in the water cooler when you change the jug?

JP's getting PTSD. 😄

@markandjie I feel your pain. We had the perfect Antarctica trip on Quest 2017/18. We didn't want to do it again for fear that another trip there couldn't live up to the perfection we experienced. Nevermind all that, we are headed back in February followed by Cape to Cape, on SS Cloud. Thanks to your excellent report, I have dialed my expectations way back. I can't remember if you told us who the expedition leader is. Care to share again? On trying to cross the Antarctic circle - Does anyone really care except the marketing people? Thanks again for your report. Look forward to follow up.

It was clickbait. 😃

Thanks!

Care to share more about The Thief? It seemed close to the fun, but away from the fray. Did you find this to be the case?

Thanks for posting! Great report.

Looks interesting, thanks for sharing.

My kind of combo.

Oslo Last visit we stayed at the Grand Hotel Oslo. While the rooms and hotel were lovely, the club on the roof, which blared club music every night till 3 a.m., puts this hotel on our NA list. Same with The Grand in Stockholm. Street noise can also be a problem. Lots of rowdy partying types. Next trip we will try The Thief. Great location on the Promenade. You'll find numerous restaurants at your doorstep. We enjoyed Lofoton (the restaurant). The ferry to all the museums on Bygdoy Island is very close. Go see The Fram. More than just the ship, great history lesson. Hop on Hop off gives you a nice overview of a relatively small city. Copenhagen We like Hotel D'Angleterre. It's a tough town as everything is so expensive. A poorly rated 3 * will still cost an arm and leg. The National Museum of Denmark has an amazing history exhibit that takes you from Neolithic to current day. An easy to follow narrative with artifacts from every era. Nyhavn is the waterfront canal and entertainment district. Lots of restaurants and very crowded. Worth a stroll for a waffle cone. No shortage of castles and historic buildings. Have a great trip and keep us posted on what you find.

All so very interesting, thanks for taking the time to post.

You hit the nail on the head with this statement. You are not alone. One feels taken advantage of. The problems can only be solved by going back in time and not filling an understaffed ship with passengers. Things are so hit or miss on Seabourn and Silversea right now. We all long for the pre Covid excellent food and service era across the fleets. It may take a bit more time, but in reading the boards it seems there are more hits than misses these days. Hope springs eternal. And yes you are correct, we are all so fortunate that we can continue to have amazing experiences. Alhambra vs. Ephesus - I have not done the Alhambra but Ephesus was a great experience. Ephesus is called a Seabourn 'Signature' event. There was no charge. Something to check for when reading descriptions.

Thanks for all the great info and pics! Keep em coming!

Whoa, that's a weird one. Looking forward to your report! Just disembarking Seabourn Encore. After a less than stellar preformance, not sure if we'll do a big ship again.

@Lois R & @Port Power and all, thanks for the feedback.

Nor have I ever encountered rude staff in the past. Rather shocking. We have encountered a few rather snippy waitstaff. One of them has disappeared. We have also had numerous problems dealing with accounting and destination staff. No one willing to admit their mistakes with condescending arrogance being the norm. The list goes on. All very frustrating. I have agreed to meet with the hotel director. I am always happy to provide constructive feedback, but it will take more than a quiet word to solve the problems. My heart goes out to the fantastic staff on board who are working double time to provide decent service.

Hey Port Power, Would love to hear your thoughts on the Dawn. Thinking about booking something on her. I know you are fair and can tell it like it is. Food, Service, ect. Currently on Encore and there are plenty of issues. Maybe I should just stick to expedition ships. 😁

We are currently on Encore. We were told last night that multiple Chefs boarded in Istanbul to practice Solis dishes. It will then be rolled out on the Quest. Except for a few good meals at Earth and Ocean, food has been mediocre at best. Service even worse. We have even had to bus our own tables at Colinade to get a seat. While we have been able to find classic Seabourn amazing staff, we are shocked by the plethora of rude staff. They will need a massive culinary team to help this ship.

@machotspur. Thanks for the heads up. Something from the Polar Journal. https://polarjournal.ch/en/2023/10/24/avian-influenza-reaches-south-georgia/

Fletcher, thanks for the entertaining report. We are currently on Seabourn Encore with a similar itinerary. Same dismal report on staff and food.

I suspect Indian Market is popular because there is spice and flavor. Presently on Encore. Already tired of the recycled mundane menu choices. Poached or broiled protein, gummy starches and barely a vegetable in sight. The sushi isn't bad if you compare it to a grocery store. Would it hurt to throw one ethnic dish on the menu? It feels like an assisted living dinning room. Even if it isn't up to London standards - Indian food, sign me up! Before anyone suggests it, we are trying to arrange some special meals with flavor, spice, and vegetables. My heart and stomach long for Chef Pia.

Just wondering if there are any plans to replace the Expedition ships. Thanks for the great report.