billichka

Thank you for your great reporting!  
 

It does sound like it’s been more of a standard cruise than an expedition so far.  How is the onboard evening entertainment?  Is it more like a standard cruise with guest entertainers, deck parties etc or more like an expedition with informative lectures and presentations?

Have a great trip!  Thank you for making the effort and I look forward to reading your posts 🙂

We disembarked Odyssey in May in Honolulu after doing a 15 night segment from Papeete that went in the opposite direction to your cruise.  It looks like there have been a number of positive changes since then that are making us look forward even more (if that's possible LOL) to boarding her again in Sydney in December!

Update - this morning (Australia time) the December NZ cruises have returned... at a far higher price than they were a few days ago!

Last week nearly half the suites on our upcoming New Zealand cruise in December were available…. Today that cruise, and another NZ one in December, had disappeared.

Hope it hasn’t been cancelled!

I am curious about this as well.  The Retreat looks great and has good reviews but it would be better to hear from someone who has been on both Seabourn and Celebrity Retreat.

We boarded in Papeete and I had been concerned that I would look/feel out of place given my tendency to wear a jacket after 6pm on all nights, not just formal.

Thankfully I have been delighted to see many other gents with nightly jackets!

Cruise is going great so far… except for today’s sunburn which was acquired at the beach!  I will post a summary of my thoughts after we disembark in Honolulu.

1 hour ago, BasandSyb said:

acknowledge the difficulties the ship has in securing supplementary product in this part of the world from small islands.

Our first day in Papeete today and we discovered the Carrefour supermarket.  One normally finds this supermarket brand in France so, not surprisingly, there was a huge variety of French wines for sale at various price points.

If Seabourn hasn’t sent supplies of wine to Papeete for changeover day on the 15th then hopefully they will be able to stock up from local suppliers whilst they are in port.

We are off to Moorea tomorrow where we will stay in an over water bure until we board Odyssey on Saturday!

47 minutes ago, Flamin_June said:

 As far as I know, which probably isn’t very far, no new cases have have been reported among incoming passengers. 

As my Wife and I will be boarding in Papeete (we fly out tomorrow for a week in Moorea prior to boarding) that is great to hear!  

5 hours ago, Flamin_June said:

 

So there is very little adverse news to report. 

Thanks, great to know that everything is going well before we board in Papeete, it is 3.5 years since we were last onboard and we can't wait to be back!

Oh, I should have waved as you sailed past the Gold Coast on your way to Moreton Island... 😁

I will be boarding in Papeete on April 15, happy to let you know once I'm onboard (subject to wifi working LOL).

What great service I received from Seabourn! 

Yesterday afternoon I sent an email to the CCL address requesting the shareholder benefit cruise credit for our forthcoming April voyage and attached a copy of my broker statement.  

This morning I awoke to find a reply indicating that they have actioned my request and applied the credit!  Very happy!

We did the final AK cruise in 2018 and it was in late September.  Of the 14 days, 13 of them had no rain!  This contrasts with the 14 day cruise prior to ours where we are told that it rained nearly every day…

I did a fishing excursion in one port where the operator said that he couldn’t believe that he had a booking this late in the season as the likelihood of it going ahead was small.  Fortunately the aforementioned good weather meant we had a great day catching Pacific Halibut. 
 

It is a question of luck I guess!

10 hours ago, rallydave said:

The simple answer is no menus are not available prior to the cruise commencing.

So I decided to go ahead and book TK Grill only to find that there are no reservations available... 4 months before the cruise!  😭

My Wife and I are looking forward to our April 2023 Tahiti to Hawaii cruise.  Are the nightly restaurant menus released in advance - as in prior to the cruise commencing?  It would be great to book the TK Grill in advance, safe in the knowledge that we are not going to miss out on any of our favourites (like fried chicken night in the Colonnade) in the other restaurants that night.  

Great photos, thanks!

4 minutes ago, texanaust said:

Seabourn will be eliminating at least one of the bands in the Club and replacing it with a professional DJ.  I believe a guitar player (electric) will also be added.  The music (play list) will be modernized to reflect the current onboard demographics.  I've been told more rock, pop, and dance music.  There will also be the ability to request songs via the SB app and/or other portable devices.  

Thank you for your extra prompt reply!

2 hours ago, texanaust said:

With the music changes due next year, Seabourn should become even more lively!  

Music changes?  I must have missed this announcement... where can I read about it?

I was interested in the April 23 Japan circumnavigation but, alas, it was fully booked.

After cancellation it was instead re-routed to the Pacific with very low fares - with a future cruise deposit due to expire I booked immediately!  Tahiti to Hawaii here we come! 😁

Assuming that my Wife and I are happy with the "post covid" Seabourn experience we will book a Japan cruise as soon as Seabourn recommences cruising there.

Now that Japan has re-opened to tourists I am confident/hopeful that Seabourn will once again offer Japan cruises in 2024!

I am really enjoying this thread - thanks!

The Source app advises only 175 days until we board the Odyssey...

My Wife and I will board the Odyssey in April so it's great to read that your cruise is going well so far! 

We also greatly appreciate the photos! 

Have a great cruise - I look forward to reading your reports (with a great deal of envy!) 😁

Thank you for making the effort, I look forward to your reports. 😀

Awesome photos!  Thank you 👍

I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the new vessel.  Enjoy!

Thanks All,

I will check out suites on deck 6! 😃