On 2/27/2022 at 1:03 PM, bonnieg said:

 .... My friend sent in a $400 referral coupon, and my TA told me it was rejected by Seabourne stating it's because I received a 3rd party pricing promotion, not available to the public and it is not combinable with the referral coupons...

You mentioned that your 3rd party price promotion was not available to the general public.  Perhaps it falls under the SB fine print which says that Club Referral Rewards are not applicable to guests traveling on an industry discount.  A few years ago, I sent in a referral certificate for new guests who, unbeknownst to me, were sailing under a trade discount (interline).  Their referral OBC was denied. 
 

3 hours ago, CwazeAndCwaze said:

Apparently Seabourn does a radically good Guacamole! Can someone enlighten me?

Always needy,

Scott

If you have lunch outside at the Patio Grill, guac and chips are brought to your table once you place your order.  It's standard guac, a little on the chunky side, if that's your jam.  Not sure I'd call it rad (mine is better!) but it is refreshing, especially with a chilled glass of something on the side.

I've posted this before but it may be worth repeating for Crystal refugees and others.  We've never had a problem resisting even subtle pressure to purchase revenue wines at TK Grill.  Knowing it's likely that we'll be presented with the premium wine list at that venue, we head it off at the pass.  As soon as the sommelier or a wine steward comes along to welcome us, we don't give him/her an opportunity to pitch the premium list.  We usually are familiar with the complimentary wine list already and know our favorites, so we simply say we'd love a glass of ABC to start and then we'll switch to XYZ with the main course.  Our choices are always from the complimentary list.  We've done this for years at TK Grill and before that at R2 and we've never had any push-back.

6 hours ago, cruiser02 said:

On the Ovation now.  Tell us about the Chef's dinner.   Saw  information on it but only listed the wines.  Since it s in the Restaurant is the menu the same as that being served to everyone or is it special for the Chef's Dinner  

The Chef’s Dinner happens once per cruise in The Restaurant.  It's a multi-course fixed menu featuring signature dishes and a few special touches of the culinary team.  There is also a vegetarian version of the menu and Seabourn Classics are also available.  After the meal, the Executive Chef usually makes the rounds in the dining room and stops by guest tables for a quick chat.  It's a fun night that we always enjoy.   

@CwazeAndCwaze A few additional thoughts:

* swap the Welcome Champagne for anything else you prefer
* all complimentary wines are available every day, just ask for what you'd like
* grab a seat at the Sky Bar for sailaway on embarkation day
* TK Grill Bar is great spot for pre-dinner cocktails
* Caviar in the Pool is a ton of fun
* try the TK Napa Burger and TK Yountwurst at the Patio Grill
* have dinner at Earth & Ocean.  Fab menu.  Go early as it fills up fast
* don't miss the Galley Lunch, if still offered
* don't miss Chef's Dinner in The Restaurant
* don't miss Officers on Deck party on final nite before disembarkation
* accept dinner invites to hosted tables in The Restaurant at least once
* Sushi is worth a visit on Encore/Ovation.  Menu on formal nites is quite special
* souffles in The Restaurant are usually excellent
* house made gelato is pretty decent
* SB breadsticks are legendary and addictive
* special order any meal with 24+ hour notice
* sign up early for Shopping with the Chef, if offered
* purchase an FCD while onboard to get 5% discount on future cruise

Finally, resist the natural temptation to compare and contrast everything to Crystal.  Just appreciate the differences and enjoy Seabourn for what it is.

On 2/9/2022 at 3:06 PM, cruiseej said:

Why did Seabourn decide last year to name its next ship, the forthcoming sister to the Venture, the Pursuit, when Azamara had just debuted a ship with that exact name in 2018?

I remember the same question was asked on the Azamara CC forum in 2011 when Seabourn named a new vessel Quest.  At the time, Azamara already had a ship named Quest and AZ folks figured Seabourn could have been more original.  History repeats with Pursuit!

18 minutes ago, Emdee said:

Well said Mighty! Going on Seabourn next month…all our Crystal bookings out there in ether . 
What are your thoughts on the long Seabourn cruises? We are looking at the Vancouver to Sydney Grand Voyage….not sure yet because it really looks like half the Crystal WC 2023 which we booked on and still hoping to go on.

Hiya Emdee!  How long is the Grand Voyage?  We really enjoy longer cruises but have not yet ventured onto anything really extensive.  Our longest SB cruises were 43 days on Odyssey (Fiji-LA-Panama Canal-FLL) and 32-days on Encore (Auckland-Sydney-Benoa).  The Odyssey was a particular hit with us, not just for the itinerary but the excellent line-up of guest speakers and many of our favorite staff were onboard.  SB also did some wonderful events for B2B guests that made it very special.  We were less enchanted with Encore, even though it was a boss itinerary.  We loved the TK Grill Bar and the Sushi Restaurant, but other than that, we really missed the smaller O class ships. 

I hope your Crystal 2023 WC is a go.  Lots of time for good stuff to happen yet!

35 minutes ago, SLSD said:

Now--my friend can be a bit of a snob--but I seem to remember her saying that we would do excursions and such with people in our "Suite class" on Crystal.  Am I totally dreaming that?  At the time, what she told me made me think that Crystal was not our line. 

Not true!  Your friend must have misspoke. 

Crystal excursions were operated just like those on Seabourn with no regard to suite privilege or guest status.  The only difference, which was actually in Crystal's favor, was guests could book an excursion in advance without pre-payment.

Seabourn and Crystal have been our favorite lines for several years.  We chose either depending on timing and itinerary.  Both deliver an excellent luxury cruise experience but there was a subtle difference in the on-board atmosphere.  The vibe on Seabourn is casual and laid back, likely a reflection of the younger staff who tend to be friendly and familiar.  Officers, staff and crew are quite accessible and they engage with guests in a very proactive way.  On Crystal, the vibe was more reserved, though not stuffy or uptight.  Service seemed a bit more polished and professional, perhaps because of the large contingent of older long-time staff. 

Hearing bits & pieces of others' experiences is interesting to a point, but only matters if their priorities and values match yours.  In the end, the only opinion that really counts is your own.

On 2/4/2022 at 6:51 PM, nancygp said:

So nice of you to offer to offer to check with seabourn to see if the old obc referral certificates are valid but but combinable with the Amex offer.  No rush on this as my cruise isn’t for quite a few months.

Hi Nancy.  I have an email ready to send to SB Club tomorrow.  I'll let you know when they respond.  Hope it will be good news for both of us!

On 1/29/2022 at 11:47 AM, nancygp said:

I does anyone know if the referral coupon shipboard credit is combinable with an Amex cruise privilege shipboard credit?

Hi Nancy.  For some reason, I'm no longer getting alerts on this thread so I missed your question.

Seabourn updated their Referral Rewards Program in 2019.  Below is from an email announcing the change:

We are relaunching this benefit to make it easier to use and more rewarding — both for Club members and for those they refer.

The Seabourn shipboard credit was not previously combinable with other offers and that meant you had to choose whether to redeem the Referral Reward or take advantage of some other promotional offer.  From now on, Club Referral Rewards will offer a shipboard credit of $250 USD per suite, and that will be combinable with most Seabourn shipboard credit offers, frequently resulting in an even greater total benefit. 

So far so good BUT the fine print on the Referral Rewards Certificate also says ... Offer is not combinable with third party Shipboard Credit offers.   I seem to remember that AMEX offers weren't allowed to be combined with referral OBC under the old program.  I expect the same applies today and you'd need to chose the better offer.

As an aside, I have a couple of $400 OBC referral certificates that predate the changes made to the program in 2019.  That $400 OBC is not combinable with any other SB onboard credit (including flow-though offers via TAs) but is combinable with CCL shareholder OBC.  I'm not sure if SB will still honour those old certificates but I'm happy to ask.
 

2 hours ago, nancygp said:

I’m wondering if it’s combinable with the shipboard credit I’ll be receiving from the Amex cruise privileges program?  I did ask the question on the thread but no responses.

per seabourns website, it’s not combinable with shipboard credits from 3rd parties.  The Amex obc is slightly more.

Nancy, I'll respond on the Referral Thread.

25 minutes ago, KenzSailing said:

I love menus (cruise or otherwise), they're like one or two page history books.

Speaking of menus and history ...

This past weekend I found a copy of "Last Dinner on the Titanic" at my favorite second-hand bookshop.  Combo history and cookbook with archival photos and anecdotes of what it was like to dine aboard that fateful nite.  It presents sample menus for all 3 classes along with recipes for some popular items.  Tucked inside was the Boarding Pass of Thomas Drake M Cardeza and Staff, who occupied the most expensive suite on the Titanic.

I also found a copy of "The Inn at Little Washington Cookbook: A Consuming Passion".  Brief history of the restaurant, along with gorgeous photos and exceptional recipes. 
 

51 minutes ago, travelberlin said:

It was really a fantastic experience. The town Uyuni is very simple. There is a good hotel (probably the best there ) called Hotel Palacio de Sal. This Hotel is at the border of the Salar de Uyuni. Our trip was organized by Hidalgo Tours from Bolivia. Our travel agent contacted them. Very good. We were picked up at the airport and we had a driver and an English speaking guide the whole time. I am posting some pictures of the hotel.
 

By the way, we were also at the Makgadikgadi Pans many years ago. At that time we were camping, just my husband and me. No organized tour. We drove all the way from Lusaka in Zambia. Our destination was the Kalahari dessert and from there back to Zambia. It was also fantastic.

Ivi, many thanks for that super helpful info.  I'll be in touch with Hidalgo Tours to see what they offer.  I like that they're local to Bolivia and that you had a fantastic experience with them.  Your accommodation at Palacio de Sal looks wonderful.  Most international operators that I found were promoting a multi-day Deluxe Airstream trek over the salt flats, ending with a stay at Palacio de Sal.  It seems a little hokey but does get great reviews!

Like you, our visit to Makgadikgadi Salt Pans was also many years ago.  We did a combo of FIT and small group touring in several countries in Southern Africa.  After wild camping in Okavango Delta (where I spotted a leopard in a tree with an impala kill) we treated ourselves to a stay in Jack's Camp.  I will always remember the eerie silence of the vast salt pans so I'm keen to visit those in Bolivia.  Thanks again!
 

On 1/29/2022 at 10:01 AM, travelberlin said:

We had a trip booked to the Bolivian Salt Lakes and we almost did not go because of fear of being quarantined in such a remote place, which receives lots of international guests. We are glad now that we did that trip. It was magical…

Ivi ... lucky you getting to visit the Bolivian Salt Flats!  It has been on our bucket list for a while.  We've been to Makgadikgadi Salt Pans and it was utterly breathtaking so I imagine Salar de Uyuni is equally magical.  A few years ago, I researched possible trips to Bolivia and narrowed it down to FIT options with a few well-known international operators.  We eventually abandoned the idea but your picture has me thinking we should reconsider.  Would you mind sharing your travel provider?  Thanks.

@Psoquethis update was posted on Crystal website yesterday.  In other words, stay tuned but have patience!

https://www.crystalcruises.com/advisory-alerts

2 hours ago, Canal archive said:

MightyQuinn they may be carrying out the survey for a third party! Den den den.

Den, den, den, for sure! I have little doubt that Sycamore Partners is behind the front-facing Azamara survey, which was the most comprehensive survey I've ever taken.  It took me upwards of 25-30 min to complete, no exaggeration.  Most questions made sense to be asked on behalf of Azamara but the section on river cruising really jumped out.  Why would the survey ask so many probing questions on river cruising?  Why would they provide a list of traditional cruise lines and then ask if I would take a river cruise operated by each of them?  It seems that Sycamore Partners is keen to gather intel on river cruising, whether for the potential benefit of Azamara or some other member of their investment portfolio.  They have already demonstrated a commitment to the cruise industry and they have the funds to purchase their way into the river cruise market. Is a deal with Crystal in the works?  Den, den, den!  LOL

I recently received a survey from Azamara which asked very detailed questions about my travel style/preferences and the factors that influence my travel decisions.  There were questions about my interest in various travel options with an entire section about river cruising.  What variables are important to me in selecting a river cruise?  What matters most to me once on board the vessel?  Would I consider taking a river cruise from a long list of ocean-going cruise lines, including Crystal? 

That got me thinking.  I wonder if the PE firm that owns Azamara are considering entering the river cruise market?  Could they possibly be looking at purchasing all or some of the Crystal fleet of river boats?  Just idle thoughts while we're not on the water!
 

I wonder if this Seabourn restriction on boarding for UK citizens will also apply to Canadians?  We have a similar "avoid all travel on cruise ships until further notice" advisory in place.

https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/cruise

2 hours ago, cruiseej said:

 

In my experience, it's not that it's a hard sales pitch. It's that they hand you the premium list and create an expectation you will choose from that list. It's the lack of mention on the menu, or by a waiter, that the ship's complementary wines are also available. And when you ask for a complementary wine, it's often greeted with unsmiling silence as th premium menu is taken away, rather than being pleased to serve you.

We head them off at the pass.  As soon as a wine steward comes along to welcome us, we don't give him/her an opportunity to pitch the premium list.  We simply say we'd love a glass of ABC to start and then we'll switch to XYZ with the main course.  Any choices we make are always on the complimentary list.  We've done this for years at TK Grill and never had any push-back.

17 hours ago, Psoque said:

I'm very curious what is being offered to those passengers on cancelled cruises that could not be automatically accommodated to another river vessel.  It would be nice to know what is being offered, so that we can have some expectation when/if this happens to us

Here is our data point.  Last week, Crystal cancelled our Moselle cruise on Bach which was scheduled to depart mid-Sept 2021.  We were offered the opportunity to move to the same itinerary aboard Debussy with a departure date 3 weeks later than our original cruise (!!) with price protection but no other consideration.  If we didn't exercise that option, we could transfer our reservation to any 2021-2023 Crystal experience, at prevailing rates.  Interestingly, the cancellation notice did not mention that we could request a refund of monies paid, even though that is another option.  

2 hours ago, SLSD said:

I think that it is imperative for Seabourn to require vaccination for its guests and crew. 

Excerpt from an email I received from Seabourn today in which they announce new Greece itineraries on board Ovation this summer:
 

On board, we have implemented enhanced health and safety measures guided by our team of medical experts. Seabourn Ovation has abundant space for our guests to comfortably enjoy the outdoors and indoors and have beautiful views of the ocean from nearly anywhere on the ship. All guests will require proof of vaccination to sail. Additionally, we plan to vaccinate our award-winning Seabourn team members on Seabourn Ovation.

57 minutes ago, Joanandjoe said:

I'm puzzled by the legislation.  For now, cruise ships are not just prohibited from stopping in Canada:  they are not allowed to cruise in Canadian waters.  One of the points of Alaska cruises is that much of the sailing is in the relatively protected Inside Passage.  If the ships can't cruise between the Canadian mainland and Vancouver Island  (& Prince Rupert Island), they will have a much longer, rougher passage between (for e.g.) Seattle and Seward. 

The original Order by the Canadian Minister of Transport included a carve-out which allowed vessels to transit the Inside Passage.  

Foreign vessels in certain waters

(2) Despite section 3, a foreign vessel may, in the Great Lakes, the Inside Passage, the St. Lawrence River, the Gulf of St. Lawrence or the St. Lawrence Seaway

• (a) navigate, if passage is expeditious; and
• (b) moor, berth or anchor if those activities are incidental to the passage.

So cruise ships could "expeditiously" sail the Inside Passage enroute to Alaska from Seattle, but they would still be bound by the PVSA requirement to stop at a foreign port.  That's the real sticking point.

@rafinmdRoy, I'm so sorry to learn about the passing of your brother as well as your own health challenges.  You are a literal ray of sunshine here and I hope these clouds lift away from you soon.  All the best.
 

4 hours ago, Wendy The Wanderer said:

When will there be details about these two 2023 itineraries on the website? 

According to my contact at SB, itineraries and pricing for the 2023 World Cruise and the 2023 Grand Voyage are expected to be released to the general public in Feb 2021. 

On 12/10/2020 at 6:52 PM, KenzSailing said:

I know this is a little fussy, I'd like to just toss the spuds in and say "do your thing," but the results are worth the effort.

 

Happy cooking!

 

Thanks to you @KenzSailingwe bought the Philips Compact Airfryer today, digital of course!  Also ordered America's Test Kitchen "Air Fryer Perfection" but just like @JunelovestocruiseI couldn't find the spiral bound edition in Canada.  So excited to have this stuff and can't wait to get cooking. Yam fries up first!