jenidallas

Wow!!! I am disturbed by that but also by the second paragraph (that they were about to just walk onto the ship and into a cabin without registering). Definitely seems like a highly unusual journey....

There was another Virtuoso host who acted all put out because we passed on the many cocktail parties/ luncheons/ dinners she "hosted." She tried to make us feel as though Seabourn was her private yacht and she had invited us to sail with her. We would politely RSVP that we were unable to attend and the next day would get the third degree about why we missed the event.

I'm wondering if this is the same host. At one point after she was quite rude in addressing the seating situation on the bus we pointed out that her tone with us was doing her no favors and she looked at us (shocked) and said "I've been nothing but nice to you... I was even kind enough to invite you to MY cocktail party last night."

I do love my personal agent, but I think I might decline to sail on Virtuoso hosted sailings in the future given the trouble we had with not only this host but also some pre-sailing miscommunications with Virtuoso about the tour. (We later found out that several others with different agents had the same miscommunication which leads me to believe it was a Virtuoso issue.)

Thanks again for the review. Loving it. Got to say, your virtuso host sounds like a complete B! So condescending to call you "the girls".

It wasn't the "girl" part as much as how it was said. She addressed us as "YOU girls" (emphasis on the you) several times and it seemed from the way she looked us up and down (or looked through us when speaking) that she didn't think we were Seabourn (or Virtuoso) clientele material.

It's a shame she had some kind of pre-conceived notion (which we assumed was either due to our age or that we were single women traveling unaccompanied by family or significant others) that we somehow didn't belong there. We otherwise were appropriately dressed and appropriately behaved but she talked to us as if we were naughty schoolgirls.

It left a very bad taste in my mouth and my Virtuoso agent was shocked when I returned and relayed the entire story of our several uncomfortable encounters with her.

The Halloween "Rock the Boat" party was really fun. The Club was seriously packed... like standing room only when I got down there. They did a dessert extravaganza that took up the entire hallway leading from the casino and even though it was the day after Halloween, all of the performers were dressed up as were many of the guests. I had to fight my way through the crowd to get to the bar but there were also several waiters circulating with trays of prepared cocktails and even shots (or so it appeared).

I'm glad I didn't listen to the poster who had sniffed at my question about whether Halloween would be celebrated with a somewhat snobbish air that it "would not" because I'd say that probably 40% of the guests had anything from a minimalist costume (mask, headband, t-shirt) all the way to a full scale costume. I was awfully glad I'd packed a Mardi Gras mask as it felt nice to be "in the spirit" with everyone else. It was definitely a lively Rock the Boat party and one of the few evenings that The Club got busy before 11 pm.

We also celebrated Halloween the previous day by surprising our Suite Stewardess, Andrea, with a felt trick-or-treat bag filled up with all sorts of American candy delights.

Berries were plentiful on Sojourn this last sailing too. So plentiful that nolatravelgirl had to request bowls of "just strawberries" because there were tons of raspberries and blackberries in the mixed berry bowls otherwise.

I hate to be catty but the clientele on that ship was low class. I saw lots of young men with their pants slung low with boxer briefs showing along with several shirts with tasteless slogans such as “I heart (weed plant instead of heart) Weed” and gangster style baseball caps with stickers still attached. Just inside the cruise terminal there was a liquor stand offering free shots and it was bombarded with passengers. This same stall was open when the Sojourn pulled in and I didn’t see a single Seabourn passenger partake. There was also several tour guides with bullhorns herding people into cattle shoot lines for tours. It just looked pretty miserable.

I'd like to believe (as it was Halloween) that the NCL ghouls were our own version of a haunted house - all the scary things you are glad to escape once you are out of that maze!

Also on the topic of entertainment, I let Seabourn know that I did not think that strings of tasteless jokes about yeast infections and such were at all appropriate for an upscale travel experience. I don't doubt that comedian probably does great on the more mass market ships but it's a case of "know your audience"!

Frankly, the observation bar was much more upbeat and fun than guitar guy - by a mile. The pianist, David, was terrific and we had a couple of passengers that sang with him as well... it got the room engaged, for sure.

 

(That being said, nolatravelgirl, jenidallas and I have discussed onboard, and I agree with all the above).

I wrote a long paragraph about this on my post-cruise survey yesterday... they definitely should have had Sleepytime Guitar in the OB and the pianist in The Club. And I should also point out, the guitarist was VERY talented - he just was not "lively". It was wonderful to listen to him at the Pool Grill or during afternoon tea. I contrast him with Michael Burke from Sojourn this summer... he was very lively and kept us fired up and entertained every night until The Band played.

Many thanks for taking the time to post your review, we sail on Sojourn in just over two weeks time.

It was interesting to hear about the dress code, we have sailed Seabourn before, what I would like to know please is how many nights were there where Gentlemen wore jackets to dinner. I would have thought being in the Caribbean that they would not have too many in the warmer climbs.

 

I do not wish to pack too many jackets as the weight restriction on airlines these days is quite rigid.

I know there are 1 formal optional and I suspect that the first night and the last will be resort casual.

 

Perhaps you could comment please.

I answered this elsewhere but we had 1 formal, 4 elegant casual, and 5 resort casual evenings. (Our resort casual were first and last nights as well as the evenings of the St. Barts, Cruz Bay, and Isla Catalina ports, if I recall correctly.)

We were 1 formal, 4 elegant casual, and 5 resort casual - 3 more resort casual than I expected!

Heidi said she was on for two more sailings after the one we just completed (and then heading home to the UK for her vacation) so I think there will be a new CD on for the Thanksgiving sailing. I have heard it will be John B. And Sophie for the world cruise but not sure if John returns in November or not.

Seabourn does too... it's amazing!

I have been on line and there is a lactose free option on the guest preferences so I suspect all will be fine. Failing that I shall bring a goat on board in lieu of the daughter - at least goats don't run around pressing elevator buttons and over run the hot tub :)

Feel free to drop the goat in the card room on your way to Seabourn Square - or just assume that other guests will look after it. ;)

A1 guarantee means you will get - at minimum - an A1 suite, nothing less. If there are no A1s left then you will likely get something higher - you won't be left without a suite! I'd keep an eye on the categories above you as well.

As a reference point, I am on a V1 guarantee for October 28. There are currently NO V1s and only 3 between V2-V3. Seabourn just sent an offer to our agent to allow a buy-up to guarantee a higher V or upgrade to a PH or OW. Some folks will no doubt do that so a V1 might open but if not, Seabourn will assign upward. (Upgrade, if you will.)

It's a good strategy if one is willing to wait. On my last sailing, I talked to folks who were upgraded above their guarantee. But you may also get a buy up offer in a couple weeks - and if the anticipation is killing you, by all means, you can jump on that! (It's an opportunity for Seabourn to make extra revenue on those who start to worry!)

We'll be taking our first Seabourn cruise in March of 2014 aboard the Odyssey.

No referral here but I wish I was tagging along on that particular cruise... itinerary looks fabulous - alas could not convince any of my chartering friends to do this one! :-(

I'm not much on costumes unless it's a costume party. But perhaps this is the occasion for a cute pair of cat ears (with a little black dress)... that's about as fancy dress as I imagine getting. :D

I don't doubt a few of the regular sailors here have been on board with Seabourn at Halloween. I located one Cruise review where it was mentioned that there was a Halloween party in The Club where entertainers dressed up but I saw nothing as to guests. On Sojourn this year it will be our 4th night (and end of our first port day). I'm wondering if I ought to at least toss a fun carnival mask in the bag that can be worn with my dress after dinner?

(And by all means, please cue up the fancy dress comments....)

I would not be comfortable in the MDR in capris on any evening. I have one dressier pair (black) that I occasionally wear with nice heeled sandals and a nice top, but I'd still probably leave those for the Colonnade or daytime wear.

Can these be used if one pax in the cabin is new to Seabourn but the other is not? (Separate reservations....)

I used one for my June cruise but would love to hook my friend up when I go again in October....

For me: Do I bring 2 - 4 cocktail dresses and a few other casual dresses for dinner? Should I throw a long gown in? Will long white slacks [until I spill red wine on them] and a casual top do it for dinner most nights?

I'm presently starting to think through my packing for a 10 night Caribbean - I know it will be 1 formal night with a mix of resort casual and elegant casual. After seeing what women wore on my last cruise, I'll wear a short cocktail dress for the formal night. My resort casual outfits will be either maxi dresses with fun flat sandals or short knit dresses with heeled sandals. My elegant casual outfits will be fun dresses I can't wear to work (one-shoulder short dresses or more elegant maxi dresses with funky straps, etc.) I'll probably toss in some separates too.

Unless out doing active stuff, I tend to wear the same kinds of things day or evening so I pack clothes that can do double duty. On the last cruise, for example, I wore a navy sleeveless knit dress for daytime with a sport cardigan and flats to tour. A couple of nights later, I wore it alone with an elegant necklace and heeled sandals for dinner.

I have to say, as a mad dancer, I have been very disappointed by the fact that after playing 3 or 4 tunes that have everybody hopping, the bands then settle into music that is totally inappropriate for dancing like discordant jazz or outdated show tunes that just clear the room.

 

This happens so often that I really think it is a technique some bands use so they can justify stopping playing and get off work!

 

I have mentioned this issue on my Seabourn comment cards but nothing has changed.

This was our main complaint last week on Sojourn too. I commented on my survey that I felt like the staff in The Club tried to push us out almost every night. (Granted, we were usually the last handful in there but we heard from many others that they wanted to hang out in The Club but found it a bit too dead at times they stopped by.)

But the entertainment was great otherwise... the current singer (Sabrina) has a very diverse repertoire and was trying hard to entertain a group that ranged on most nights from college aged through senior cruisers.

The other entertainer in The Club was Michael, a very talented singer/guitar player from Ireland. We enjoyed his sets too - not really danceable stuff but he did a good job of trying to keep the crowd drifting in after dinner pumped up until the band came on.

Thanks for the flood of replies. I had someone express mail one in for me today.

This is an amazing community!

I'm on my first Seabourn cruise in two weeks on the Soujourn and would *love* a referral coupon if anyone has one still to share. You can email me at jmoody@amerimedconsulting.com - would be lovely to have the onboard credit!!!