DC Traveler244

My husband and I recently concluded a Venture cruise from Málaga to Greenwich. While it was pleasant, it was not a true expedition by any stretch of the imagination: it visited European ports that any of Seabourn's non-expedition ships could have handled. Yes, it is on an expedition vessel, and the expedition staff was onboard (in many cases, performing tasks that typically would have been performed -- more ably IMO -- by SB Guest Services staff on non-expedition vessels). And, perhaps because ours was designated as an "expedition" voyage, we were required to use zodiacs to go ashore in ports where it would have made more sense to use tenders. I do think it's possible that Seabourn's big commitment to "expedition" cruising isn't working out as planned. I noticed that the future cruise sales representative was offering very large (35% + the normal 5% onboard booking) discounts on quite a few expedition cruises. Nonetheless, there seems to be high demand for true expedition itineraries, like the Kimberley. As much as we enjoyed Seabourn's true expedition cruises (Antarctica and Iceland/Greenland), we don't plan on booking another non-expedition voyage on one of SB's expedition ships.

We were in 820 on the Venture. I thought the suite was very comfortable and well laid-out. It seemed smaller than penthouse suites on the non-expedition SB ships.

We were in a penthouse on the Venture last year. We definitely were aware when the zodiacs were being raised/lowered, but I don’t recall being bothered by this.

When I say “retail,” I mean the price you’d pay in a wine shop.

Even if you don't purchase a wine package, there are excellent values on the premium wine list. Seabourn gets wine at very favorable prices (presumably because of the purchasing volume of its corporate parents), and doesn't mark the wine up as much as restaurants typically do. In our experience, the premium wines are priced at approximately U.S. retail. In U.S. restaurants, wines are typically marked up 2 or 3 times retail.

We had a similar experience on a recent NYC to Montreal cruise. I believe there were whales in the area.

Several years ago, we were in 1126 on the Encore. That area of the ship is a very quiet and convenient location: easy access to both the Observation Bar and the pool/patio area. There was no noise from the OB or elevators, and very little foot traffic. On that cruise we had some truly rough weather, and there's no denying that we felt more rocking there than we would have felt on a lower deck. Re noise from The Retreat: one morning, we did hear what sounded like heavy furniture being moved. Because it was quite early and the noise had awakened us, we called Guest Services. The noise stopped immediately and there was no repetition. Apart from that one-off experience, we heard nothing from The Retreat. We'd happily stay on Deck 11 again.

We visited Lisbon in Spring 2022 and used a company called Your Friend in Lisbon. The company provided hotel pickup/dropoff, car and driver, plus an excellent English-speaking guide. Highly recommended http://www.yourfriendinlisbon.com

Have you checked whether there’s a signature or hallmark on the mirror? If so, that would identify the maker. Or, you might bring the mirror (if not too large) or detailed photos of the mirror and make inquiries. Murano artisans are likely to recognize the work of another studio, even if the studio is no longer in operation. If you’re staying in Venice (as opposed to visiting on a cruise), your hotel’s concierge might be able to put you in touch with a Murano expert. Good luck!

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Hi SLSD. I think you’ll enjoy The Pig. A suggestion: because the restaurant is very popular with people who aren’t staying at the hotel,, be sure to make advance reservations. Also, when staying there, it’s an opportunity to try some British wines. Before our stay at The Pig, we’d enjoyed a few UK sparkling wines. But during our stay, we were able to try several well made sparkling and non-sparking whites from the surrounding area.

Last April, we took a Seabourn cruise that departed from Dover. Like you, we were interested in seeing Canterbury. However, the hotel options in Canterbury itself didn’t appeal to us, and we stayed in an historic property that was 10 minutes away: The Pig Hotel at Bridge Place. It’s housed in a very old building (17th century) but updated (in an historically appropriate way) inside. Its website says it has air conditioning (we didn’t need it in April, so I can’t claim first-hand knowledge of how well it works). It has a restaurant that features locally sourced food and wine (most from within a 25-mile radius). Bridge Place is an easy taxi ride to/from Canterbury and Dover. The hotel will arrange taxis for you. I’d describe the overall vibe as casual and cheerful. If you’re okay with someplace that’s a bit quirky, it’s worth a look. Important: the hotel doesn’t have elevators, so if stairs are an issue, look elsewhere. I’d also recommend selecting a large room, as the small ones are reputed to be quite “cozy.” https://www.thepighotel.com/at-bridge-place/things-to-do/

We were on the venture in Iceland last September. I wore lightweight sweaters and long pants inside. I don't think you'll need shorts.

I’m currently on the Ovation, and today passengers were advised that they must take passports ashore in Zeebrugge Belgium on May 4. No alternatives were mentioned (e.g., photocopy of passport, US passport card, other government-issued photo ID). Belgium isn’t at all comparable to South Africa in terms of crime, but I still dislike having to carry my passport around while sightseeing.

I meant that it will be worth checking news reports to see what happens over both Easter weekend and the following weekend. If things return to normal over April 15-16, that will be most welcome news. If gridlock continues April 15-16, I'll likely adjust the timing of our transfer to the ship. It's my understanding that some of the recent traffic congestion is related to the volume of holiday travel, but that ongoing protests in France are also a factor. That's why I think it's worth checking news reports to see whether problems recur over April 15-16.

Until I read Techno123's comment, I hadn't been aware of the gridlock that affected the Port of Dover last weekend (and might recur over Easter weekend). For those of use boarding the Ovation on April 23, it's something to monitor.

In my experience experience, the excursions that Seabourn offers are large groups on buses. If you don’t like tour buses (I don’t either), you can use the credits for spa services, premium wine, and shopping. With determination, you definitely can make a dent in that OBC!

We were on the Venture in Iceland and Greenland last September. Zodiac rides and guided walks were included. There were charges for submersible rides and kayak excursions.

In recent years, I've seen guests who were seated in the MDR despite wearing jeans (in some cases, decidedly non-elegant ones). It seemed that the MDR's maître/maîtress d' were reluctant to enforce (or perhaps had been quietly instructed not to enforce) the no-jeans rule. In fact, in over 300 SB sailing days, I've never seen a SB guest turned away from the MDR, even when dressed like they'd just finished washing a car or performing heavy yard work. So -- given that the old dress guidelines weren't being honored or enforced, Seabourn apparently decided to abandon them. It could be a slippery slope, but I think most SB guests will continue to eschew jeans (whether "elegant" or not) after 6:00 p.m. I don't have an issue with SB's decision to stop holding formal nights on expedition cruises. I think the decision makes sense.

When I completed my post-cruise questionnaire, I wrote in detail about the Greenland/Iceland-transfer experience. I never received a response from Seabourn.

Add us to the list of booked guests whose confirmed TK reservations (ours for a December 23 sailing on the Quest) have vanished. As others have reported, the site won't let me rebook the reservations. Also, a booking for an April 2023 sailing has vanished from the "My Bookings" page of the Seabourn website. The Seabourn website is disgracefully unreliable.

Since this is a new route for Seabourn, you might want to check boards for ship lines that that have sailed this route in the past.

This is the first season that Seabourn is able to offer this route. Before introducing the Venture, SB ships couldn't go upriver past Manaus. Having been on a recent Venture cruise (Iceland & Greenland), I'd expect the Venture to offer similar experiences on the Amazon: frequent kayaking and zodiac opportunities; lectures by onboard naturalists and other experts; naturalists pointing out animals and vegetation of interest throughout the cruise; shoreside excursions (hiking, guided walks and such) where feasible. On our Venture cruise, there were shore excursions planned for most days, but the expedition team adjusted activities depending on weather/ice conditions. On our cruise, rides in the ship's submersibles were offered, but I don't know what the underwater visibility would be on the Amazon. Hope this helps.

Thanks to all of you who have responded. As I read Seabourn’s language about FCCs for days spent in isolation, I too interpreted FCCs as a benefit that is independent of those available under Seabourn Shield. But your first-hand experiences have confirmed my understanding AND convinced our TA. She’s now actively pursuing the FCC issue. I very much appreciate your taking time to share your experiences.