SandyK1968

We always stay at the Hassler. Love the location, service and views over Rome. We also love the courtyard bar for a lovely Tuscan red after a “passeggiata”.

As for Amsterdam, I can recommend Hotel de l’Europe and the Pulitzer (they have a great duplex suite) - and if you’re on a budget, Hotel Estherea, a boutique offering with great service and a fantastic breakfast in a wonderful location.


Sent from my iPhone using Forums

We booked a small suite at the Bauer Palazzo a couple of years ago, for three nights after getting off Seabourn. We loved it. The service was great, the suite, overlooking the canal, was beautiful and our only issue was the bar which felt rather corridor like. I should add that the bar opens onto an outside terrace which was lovely but as we had some rain while staying there, we were unable to make much use of it. We would stay there again without hesitation.


Sent from my iPhone using Forums

I agree that they should bring Nick Hale back but they treated him so dreadfully that bridges have been burned. Nick has been with Viking for a while and does not seem to have lost any of his joie de vivre and general awesomeness!

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Thanks.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

I'd echo other posters. We've done five Southern crossings and had good weather (high sixties to low 80s )on approx 9 or 10 days. IMHO, the seas and weather are rarely good on the couple of days between Madeira and (often) Lisbon. It's such a lovely trip, azure skies, a really convivial atmosphere and party spirit - you do hear the odd story of dreadful crossings , but the worst conditions we had only lasted two days.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Thanks, Roy. I'm not sure whether Jason will still be HotMan by the time we get on. I often find that the identity of the HotMan and Maitre D' have an impact on my enjoyment. Probably says something about my relationship with food :)

We are due to embark in a couple of weeks; can anyone help with the identity of the current officers, particularly the Restaurant Manger, HotMan and Captain, please?

Happy New Year to all our Seabourn acquaintances and those we have yet to meet!

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Eliana - like you, we are Platinum and get one bag of laundry per week each - laundry is per week whereas internet is per cruise. Enjoy your cruise.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Hurrah! Divsec will go to the ball. Looking forward to seeing you around the ship.

Work days seem very long this week so roll on the flight to Athens and fingers crossed that the Jersey fog does not roll in on Friday to prevent us leaving our little rock in the Atlantic.

Sam and David

It is such an (apparently) random process, isn't it? From what I've been able to ascertain, the shorter the cruise, the higher the likelihood of a decent suite. I know last summer when we were sailing with my mother, who, unlike us, was only on for 7 days, she got a PH, when we got a V1. She has done 500+ days - i don't know whether that makes a difference, but i doubt it as i have met a significant number of first time Seabourners who have been allocated a Owners' Suite and even a Wintergarden.

I do rather feel as though we will have reason to open the NF when you get your suite allocation, Divsec. Looking forward to hearing that you have a home!

I thought it was unusual too. We are on the Odyssey on Oct 1 with Divsec.

I am not tempted by the up-sell on this occasion but have been in the past. To be honest, this is probably only the fourth or fifth time that we've booked an OB, and we only did so because we're only onboard for seven days.

Last year, we made the mistake of doing so for a 3 week trip and ended up paying almost what we had paid for the trip in upgrading because our cabin allocation on an OB was V1,and there were no upgrade offers available so we had to effectively rebook.

On this occasion, the original OB deal was great and we've been allocated a V6 so pretty happy.

Luck of the draw, I guess, but i think that Divsec may be lucky!

I am hopeful for a great upgrade for you as I have just been offered another "upsell" so it rather looks as though there are a number of premium suites still unoccupied :)

Divsec - we are (I believe) booked on the same cruise as you (OB) and received our suite allocation today. Over the last couple of years, I have found that they are usually allocated about 10 days out. Keep checking!:)

Many thanks again for all your responses. I think it tells you something about this board if I share that we have abandoned all plans for SS - and unable to bear the thought of anything other than what we love (until we have more time to waste), we are doing a Seabourn trip in the Med instead...might be construed as a cop-out but we don't want to risk an unhappy cruise experience.

Alaska will have to wait!

I am really grateful for the fulsome and considered replies.

I am really time limited this year and can only take an Alaskan cruise in August because of professional commitments. I have cruised in Alaska (many years ago) but DH has not,so I'd like him to have the Alaskan experience, which I found spectacular. My cruise was on HAL, long before my Seabourn days.

For the last 12 years, we have sailed only Seabourn (with exceptions on HAL for cruises with our kids).

The SS option I'm looking at is more expensive than an equivalent Seabourn (at around £20,000 for 14 days) I am therefore reluctant to travel if I am going to be constantly bemoaning the food/service etc. I am principally doing the cruise for the scenery/wildlife, but am a discerning eater too. Seabourn is usually OK from this perspective.

I wondered about Oceania. I also considered PH or at the very least Neptune suite on HAL ( but not with much enthusiasm). I had not given any thought to Regent and unfortunately Crystal are not doing Alaska in August.

This is a genuine conundrum because it's less about the money and more about the fact that DH and I work hard for our few weeks of annual cruising and I would be most resentful if I felt I had wasted hard earned holiday on a sub par experience.

Once again, I am really grateful for your input. Most appreciated!

Forgive me for posting a question about Silversea here, but you will understand that as a seasoned Seabournite, I'd rather ask Seabourn passengers for advice than ask committed (and therefore potentially more biased) Silversea regulars.

So... we are regular Seabourners, but I'd like to do an Alaska trip this year and have identified a Silversea trip that fits the bill.

I have already read enough criticism of SS on these boards so I'm not inviting a torrent of abuse :D but would love some help identifying whether ( as a lover of Seabourn) I might be able to tolerate SS. Might I prefer Oceania? Regent? or, God forbid, HAL?

All thoughts would be welcome and very many thanks for taking the time to read and reply.

Sandy

Glad to hear that all is shipshape aboard the Spirit.

We join for the crossing; who are the Captain, Hot Man and MDH? Enjoy!

Please don't take your children on Seabourn until they are, at least, in double figures age-wise, and even then, only with caution.

We always cruise Seabourn without our children (currently 8 and 9) and cruise on other larger ships (like HAL) with the children.

Seabourn is for relaxation and tranquillity; there are many other lines that cater beautifully for the little people -it's not just about your child and how well behaved they are. Ours behave beautifully but they would simply not enjoy Seabourn - there is nothing for them.

At the risk of being shouted down, I would prefer not to endure other peoples' children, however charming, when I'm on a holiday which is intended specifically to give me an opportunity for downtime from my own. Entirely selfish, but there it is.

Nick is now on Viking River Cruises