MightyQuinn

It would be wonderful to have Heike on board.  Back in the day, we sailed with her on Azamara and she ran a tight and happy ship!  I'm sure she would aim to provide the usual sea day activities on Explora but I wonder whether there would be enrichment lecturers or so-called luminaries on board.  We decided to go straight to the source and called the Explora Experience Centre.  An Ambassador said that most journeys do have luminaries on board but they can't guarantee 100% that any would be on the Hawaii voyage.  If there are, their names would not be released until 60 days before sailing.  So I guess that's something.  

We're considering the Explora 18-day Hawaii cruise next spring which has a whopping 10 sea days.  There are 5 consecutive sea days going to Hawaii from Vancouver and another 5 consecutive sea days on the return.  We've sailed this route before on another luxury line and there were enough shipboard activities that we never felt bored or restless.  We certainly don't need continuous programming but we'd like something more than lounging by the pool.  I appreciate the recent reviews by @uktogand @kool kruiserwhich suggest that enrichment and entertainment are still a work in progress.  I'd welcome any other comments or speculation (!!) about how Explora would handle a sea day intensive cruise. Thanks!

On 11/19/2023 at 5:27 PM, markandjie said:

Learned today that we have 240 passengers on board, of whom a whopping 199 are first time Seabourn cruisers.

Hi @markandjieI'm curious how Venture feels with 240 pax.  Our Greenland trip this past summer had just 118 pax and we thought that was ideal.  No issues with seating in any lounge or in getting a coveted window table in the Restaurant, even at peak times.  No line-ups in the Colonnade or SB Square.  No problem grabbing an unobstructed seat for recap in the Discovery Centre.  Double the pax seems like there could be various pressure points.  What has been your experience?  Thanks for your reports!

Really. Good. News.  We welcome a change from TKG and have high hopes for Solis, under the direction of such proven culinary talent as Chefs Egger and Salein.  But nothing will replace R2 as our favorite dining space on SB.

On 10/14/2023 at 8:02 PM, Hobar said:

We’re going Aug 5, 2023.  Let us know if you will be on that voyage, on the Venture. 

You picked a great date @Hobar with or without a time machine!  We actually were on Venture in Greenland on Aug 5, 2023 and shortly after midnight, got a wake-up call announcing the Northern Lights.  We're now looking at a couple of different 14-day sailings in mid-late August 2024. 

Good for you @Hobar.  I hope you have a blast.  We loved our Greenland trip so much that we're actually considering a repeat voyage next summer with a slightly different itinerary.  This time we'd include the much acclaimed Scoresby!

On 9/22/2023 at 6:53 PM, Hobar said:

... Looking at Greenland - how does it compare to Iceland?  Is it more exotic and scenic?  All opinions welcome.  If too much like Iceland, then not interested, but wondering if it’s different and, if so, how??  (And please, no judgment - just opinions.)

We booked a last-minute Venture cruise to Iceland & Greenland this past summer.  It was within a month of sailing, so we did no research and went with no expectations.  This was very atypical for us, as we are usually armed with endless research and must-see lists before heading out. 

We had been to Iceland before and had already experienced its outstanding natural wonders and vibrant urban life.  Icelanders are a hardy sort and certainly know how to party hard!  Despite its somewhat remote location, Iceland still has a very western feel.  Greenland, on the other hand, feels more remote and exotic.  It is a vast landmass with elements of Norway (fjords), Chile (glaciers) and Antarctica (icebergs).  The culture is predominantly Inuit which lends a unique feel even in small urban centres.  While we really liked Iceland, we loved Greenland.

Our positive impression was no doubt influenced by the weather.  We had brilliant sunshine almost every day.  The expedition team told us that Greenland weather is usually unpredictable and not nearly as good as we had.  I'm sure we would have come away with a different impression if it had been dreary and cold.  In addition to breathtaking scenery, we saw lots of wildlife including humpbacks, orcas, fin whales, bearded seals, musk ox.  We also had the good fortune to see the Northern Lights which was a real treat.

This impromptu cruise turned out to be one of our best ever, with Greenland tipping the scales.  It has become one of our favorite places on the planet.

On 9/23/2023 at 12:17 PM, toseaornottosea said:

For those of you who have done both Antartica and the Arctic which did you prefer or were they both great for different reasons.  Would love to hear from those who have done both.

We've been to Antarctica and South Georgia, as well as parts of the Arctic in Canada, Greenland and Norway. 

The obvious difference is the Arctic is inhabited, mostly by northern Indigenous peoples, whether Inuit, Mikmaq, Sami or others.  There are opportunities to explore aboriginal villages and to experience a much different culture.  Antarctica has virtually no people, except those who staff the various research stations.  It has an other-worldly feel unlike any other place we've been.  It is nature on steroids. Both have stunning wide-open spaces, spectacular scenery and unique wildlife.  Both leave you grateful to have traveled there and we'd happily return to either.

10 hours ago, Khareef said:

what dates were you in Greenland?

July 29 - Aug 13 

I was surprised to see several men in tuxes on special nites in the Restaurant on our recent Venture cruise in Greenland.  I haven't seen fancy gowns on SB in years but there was a young woman who wore floor-length gowns.  Her partner wasn't similarly attired but she looked great!  

We were recently on Venture in Greenland.  We received an upgrade offer from V3 to Panorama Veranda which was very tempting.  I tried to find reviews, but since this is a new category for SB, there wasn't much.  I found some pics of the suite and a few mentions here on CC, as well as some comments from influencers on other sites.  You found the same but it's not enough to go on.  So we decided to wait until we were on board and ask to see the suite before accepting the offer. 

Shortly after boarding, we arranged to see the suite.  It is truly stunning upon entry, with floor to ceiling wrap-around windows.  The bed faces the ocean and the whole effect is very bright and inviting.  However, the room is long and narrow so it felt cramped and not as well laid out as the more traditional SB veranda suite.  The walk-in closet seemed narrower than usual.  There is no separate writing desk so stuff you would usually do or keep there would need to be done on the main glass table.  The balcony is slightly smaller than usual and can be seen from the window in the bathroom.  On balance, we decided not to accept the upgrade and were very happy with our decision. 

As an aside, our V3 (deck 6) was around the corner from the Panorama Veranda suites, which jut out in the corridor kinda like the Wintergarten Suites.  I can assure you there is absolutely no noise from the elevators or the nearby stairwell.

2 hours ago, CalmSea said:

Thanks. It seems that automatical passport control (APC) is different from the MPC, and almost all US and Canadian passengers can use the APC. So, whether there is a long queue still depends on whether one is unlucky to embark with several big cruise ships.

You should have no problem navigating Canada Place or waiting in long lines during embarkation, even if several monster ships are also in port.  Just follow the signs for Seabourn or mention to any onsite CP staff that you are sailing with Seabourn and they literally will trip over each other trying to help you.  You'll also get a magic card (ours was yellow) to slip into your passport/travel docs.  Once a CP staffer sees the magic card, you are whisked away to a priority line for quick access to US Immigration and Customs.  Once inside, there are separate lines for Canadian/American or International passport holders to reach APC terminals.  Pick your line, scan your passport and get a printed ticket to give to the Immigration officer at the door.  Then proceed to the Seabourn check-in area and wait to board the ship. 

All went very smoothly for us up to this point but we got stuck in the Seabourn waiting area for almost an hour since the Canadian Coast Guard decided to do an unannounced inspection of Odyssey before any new guests could board.  Set that aside and embarkation was a breeze!

2 hours ago, jgd3rdbcfd said:

How did you order?  We are on the cruise but have not rec'd any info.

The link to order the Alaska jackets was in an email from Seabourn titled: Your Voyage Is Just Days Away.  It wasn't obvious that it included info about the jackets!  Once you click the order link on the email, it's already populated with your voyage number and sailing date.  You then select the size jacket from a drop down menu.  The jackets are unisex but there's a sizing chart on the order form.

1 hour ago, nancygp said:

Hi there…not sure when Matt starts but I can ask him, he said the full season.

 

SB gave you wrong info about the CD.  His name is Robert Robinson and also goes by Robert Brennan.  He was on my first cruise last August…fabulous CD and lovely guy.  He’s currently on the Odyssey.

 

if you want, feel free to email me with your date.  Sorry we will miss one another as we are on mid season.

 

nancy

Thanks Nancy.  I'm not surprised the info from SB was wrong!  My DH said the person answering the phone didn't know who would be the CD, so she placed him on hold for quite a long time and came back with Peter Robinson.  DH got the impression she wasn't too confident with her answer.  I'll be in touch later today.

@nancygp Hi Nancy, do you know when Matt starts?  We're on an early sailing to Alaska and SB told us the CD would be Peter Robinson.  I've not heard of either of them so I guess it won't really matter!

We purchased 100 CCL shares for $2419 in April 2009.  Out of interest, I went back and added up the shareholder OBC that has been credited to our cruises since then.  We initially received $900 on HAL and another $2350 when we graduated to Seabourn.  We also have $250 credited on our upcoming Seabourn booking for a grand total of $3500 in shareholder OBC.  Of course, we spent a fair amount to purchase those cruises and our CCL shares are now only worth $879, but we have more than recouped their initial cost in OBC, without even accounting for dividends.

5 hours ago, Laylam said:

We booked an expedition cruise while on Odyssey last month,  We have a FCD but we were told it wasn't combinable with the Promo fares.

Wow Laylam, how disappointing. I wonder if that's unique to expedition cruises since our experience was different. We booked an ocean cruise during the Suite Life Event and got the 15% discounted promo fare.  We then applied our FCD and got a further 5% reduction.  There was no issue in combining both discounts. 

Your post made me curious, so I checked the T&C of our FCD to see if there were any restrictions on combinability.  The only reference was ... "the 5% savings discount may be combinable with any public fares that may be applicable to the cruise the guest selects".  If you booked on board, I assume (!!) you would have been quoted a public fare, so I'm surprised you weren't able to use your FCD.

2 hours ago, Isklaar said:

Following with interest as we have a future cruise deposit that will expire in December this year. It looks extremely unlikely that we will be in a position to book a cruise before then (although I may cruise solo if I can find a suitable cruise line with a decent deal for solo travellers).

 

We were in the same situation recently with our FCDs.  We knew we wouldn't be able to use them before the "sail by" date so we asked Seabourn if they would extend them.  We made the case that the FCDs sat in our account during the pandemic when SB ships were paused and/or cruises were cancelled, yet the clock kept ticking towards their expiry.  We asked for an extension and if that wasn't possible, we requested a refund to our credit card.  SB responded by reissuing the FCDs with the same numbers and a 2-year extension on the "sail by" date.  Worth a try?

On 2/21/2023 at 8:48 AM, Vineyard View said:

I am not sure how long the suite life promotion will be available. Likely not until we sail late May? That would be my guess, but I could be wrong.

The Suite Life Event includes the following:

1) up to 15% discount on ocean ships and up to 25% discount on expedition ships if booked by Feb 28, 2023.  Promo NV

2) up to $2k shipboard credit which ended yesterday Feb 21, 2023.  Promo ZH

If you have FCD, there would be an additional 5% discount off the Suite Life reduced fares.  If not, as Nancy said, 15% Suite Life is better than 5% FCD alone. But you could always gamble and wait until you're onboard Seabourn, purchase FCD and see what offers are available then.  SB seems to have promos of some kind or another quite often.  If your planned cruise is way in the future, you may be able to grab another attractive offer and also apply FCD.
 

@thebigcruiseguy I agree with many of your observations, especially that Seabourn has dropped the ball on cocktails/bar service.  Their offerings are comparatively weak and sorely lacking for a luxury line.  I can offer this tip when/if you sail Seabourn again: you can request Fever Tree and other specialty tonics in advance and it will be on the ship when you arrive.  We've special ordered many times and having what we prefer makes all the difference.  I know it shouldn't be this way but it is an effective workaround until Seabourn gets with the program.

Did you try the Kaiseki menu at Sushi on formal nites?  I seem to remember that some of those courses were hot but my experience was on Encore in 2019 so I could be mistaken.  I agree that Seabourn could revamp that menu and make it more exciting to appeal to a wider audience than sushi lovers.

Thanks for your balanced review!

On 5/25/2022 at 6:30 AM, Host Dan said:

There is a lot more to report, and I'll try to answer any questions anyone might have.

Host Dan, thanks so much for sharing your observations, both good and less so.  I know you have many days onboard Seabourn ships, so I'm curious how your recent experience has influenced your overall view.  Would you sail with Seabourn again?

3 hours ago, SusieQft said:

We board tomorrow for the same.  I would prefer to have low expectations and be pleasantly surprised than vice versa.  This board has certainly adjusted my expectations downward.  This will be our first time on Seabourn, so future bookings hang in the balance.

SusieQft I understand your approach of going in with low expectations given these recent reports, but I hope your intro to Seabourn will be wonderful.  Crystal and Seabourn have been our favourite cruise lines and we enjoyed both for different reasons.  When we lost Crystal, we were unhappy but felt OK since we still had Seabourn.  We haven't been on Seabourn since 2019 and I'm dismayed to read so much has slipped since then.  Truth be told, we've been considering a 14-day Alaska itinerary for later this summer but we're now holding off booking until we see how the season progresses.  I look forward to hearing your impressions.  Best wishes for a wonderful cruise!
 

2 hours ago, rkacruiser said:

Yes, the sandwich does sound like a better burger than many, but, why the "Napa" designation?  

Using Napa to describe the burger is a nod to Napa Valley, location of several TK award-winning restaurants.  SB also has a Yountville Dog, similarly named in reference to TK Napa restaurants.

I will add that SB is very serious about how they prepare the Napa Burger.  Shortly after TK launched on SB ships, we were on a long cruise and had the Napa Burger early on.  We loved it!  So of course, we ordered another a short time later only to learn that SB had run out of the proper buns.  No bun. No burger.  We pleaded and eventually the chef agreed to make us the burger on a different bun, as long as we didn't call it a Napa Burger!

2 hours ago, SusieQft said:

Is there anything on the Seabourn or CCL websites about the shareholder benefit?  I can't find any info.

Hi SusieQft.  The shareholder benefit of onboard credit is available across all CCL brands, including Seabourn, to guests owning at least 100 CCL shares.  The OBC amount varies by length of sailing. Details here:

https://www.carnivalcorp.com/static-files/50351a91-4dc0-4f6b-bfec-684647e6129f

On 4/14/2022 at 1:59 PM, bohaiboy said:

New to SB.  We are on a BTB for 14 days on the Encore.  I think  with the shore excursions (all prepaid) etc we will have over 20 points at the end, putting us in Silver, but when do those points kick in, on a subsequent cruise or on the second half of a BTB?  Looking at laundry needs primarily.  Thanks all/

Seabourn Club FAQ says if a guest becomes eligible for a higher membership level while on board, they will receive the next level of benefits on their next SB cruise.  In your case, I think it will depend on how you booked the B2B and when you actually cross the 20-point threshold.

If you booked the B2B as a combo cruise with a single booking number, you won't attain Silver status on that voyage regardless of the number of points you have accumulated.  You'll have to wait for your next cruise.  However, if you booked the B2B as two separate cruises with different booking numbers AND you actually cross the 20-point threshold by the end of the 1st segment, you should qualify for Silver status on the 2nd segment. 

We had a similar situation on a B2B a few years ago when we became eligible for higher status mid-way through the cruise.  We had booked the B2B as separate cruises with unique booking numbers.  I asked SB Club in advance of sailing how it would be treated and they replied:  "After the completion of your Odyssey #ABC voyage, please go to the front desk and request Gold member status for the start of your Odyssey #DEF cruise.  At that time the ship will confirm with us and you will be granted Gold status from the beginning of that cruise, booking reference #12345.  We will also note it in your accounts".

And so it happened!  We went to SB Square at the end of the 1st segment and they worked their magic to make sure we got enhanced benefits for the 2nd segment.