Isklaar

5 minutes ago, ak1004 said:

Okay, I just checked, the issue is only with the new 2025 itineraries, the rest works fine.

 In that case you're very lucky, problems with the website (and app)  are duscussed frequently here! I assume the itineraries are being updated and will be available to view at some point later today.

The website is so poor. It's awful. It's been awful since autumn 2015 and is becoming more awful as time passes. 

I can only suggest that you clear your cache and try a different browser. For me it hates Safari, so perhaps try Chrome?

But why should you, when SB is fully aware that the website is rubbish and getting worse? 

8 minutes ago, Mauzac said:

 

I came in from an excursion very uncomfortable after hobbling round in too small borrowed trainers and missed the cases! Thought I was dreaming!

I hope you haven't got blisters!

1 hour ago, Mauzac said:

We have been in Svolvaer Lofoten today and we were told they would not be using the tiny airport here and Tromso tomorrow would be possible, but what a shock when we returned from an excursion to..... (drum roll)...

 

Our cases!

 

Thank you for all your help kind people 🥰

Great news! The airport there really is tiny, not sure how it is now but it used to have scheduled flights to only two destinations. 

I bet you nearly cried, or actually did, when you saw them.

So pleased for you, now you can properly relax and enjoy the rest of the cruise 🥂🥂

15 minutes ago, FlyerTalker said:

 

The company went into bankruptcy in 2020, so any five year numbers relate to a previous entity.  The trade names have come and gone, along with a myriad of operating units with specialized names.

 

 

Okay yes that makes sense. I fly with them (or the new owner!) every two weeks so I was somewhat confused, Thanks.

Also, another thing I wondered about those stats. Ryanair and Easyjet flights tend to be point to point for most passengers. But BA for many passengers use a hub. Lots of transfers, and the times my bags have been 'lost' it was always when I was making a connection. 

8 minutes ago, FlyerTalker said:

 

Of course, those are deceptive numbers, as they are dealing with gross complaints over five years.  Any airline with many flights and/or passengers will have a greater chance of more baggage issues, just because of volume.

 

Let's parse the figures from that report.  With the red numbers showing the number of DAILY flights for the airlines in the top 10 of flights in Europe:

 

1. Ryanair (954)    3078
2. British Airways (844)  812
3. easyJet (565)   1656
4. Wizz Air (552)   806
5. Norwegian (419)   Out of business
6. Flybe (297)  Out of business
7. Turkish Airlines (195)   1527
8. Virgin Atlantic (182)   No data
9. Tap Portugal (160)   No data
10. Iberia (105)  

 

 

So, Ryanair flies over 3000 flights per day, but had 954 complaints in FIVE YEARS.  Do the math.  They do over a million flights a year with less than 200 complaints.

 

 

I agree about the poor methodology. 

However I am confused about the 'Out of business' notation for Norwegian.

We've done this itinerary on Sojourn and a few years later on Ovation.

Thank you Julie for the link to the other thread which I had missed as I haven't been spending much time here at CC recently. Posts there describe the itinerary well, not much I can add.

It's a great itinerary, we would do it again for sure even though we both find the heat and humidity in most of these ports challenging. At the time of year you're considering Hong Kong should be cooler and less humid than most of the other ports, Halong Bay too,

18 minutes ago, Mauzac said:

 

It was very stormy last night!

We are a sea day followed by Svolvaer the next day, but won't pin my hopes on that!  

I was told that the weather is much better to the north so seas should calm. 

1 hour ago, Mauzac said:

Update...

Our luggage has arrived in Alesund from Oslo but Captain has announced, due to weather, we are not docking.

 

Not sure what next plan is..

I had a horrible feeling that may happen after speaking to family yesterday. My 90 yr old godmother who is at her house up on the coast said she has not seen a summer storm such as this in decades, although inland is affected even worse. At the moment the weather looks good for you on Friday.

Which port are you in tomorrow?

5 minutes ago, Mauzac said:

Hiya.. we've just heard that instead of 10am it will not dock until 'some time in the afternoon' because we are 15ft plus waves and very windy.

 

Then another sea day and then Svolvaer Lofoten on Thursday followed by Tromso Friday

I pretend I've been in the hot tub which is why I'm wearing my bathrobe and slippers round the ship whilst I wash our clothes!

 

We flew to Amsterdam then on to Copenhagen @skybluewaters

So sorry you're having to deal with this.

I hope that you make it into port! As Techno pointed out it's good there for hiking gear etc which may be just what you need in the current climate.  The weather in south east Norway is pretty awful just now, a bad storm. Family living close to Oslo told me it's the worst they remember for decades, especially in summer. I didn't realise it was quite so bad up there by the coast in that area. 

9 minutes ago, Mauzac said:

Yes but it is Alesund tomorrow! Not Wednesday 

Sorry Mauzac, does the ship arrive there tomorrow? If so what time do you leave? I thought it was Wednesday. 

What is your next port after?

15 minutes ago, Mauzac said:

Thank you, they are hoping for Alesund but they were missing and then found in Amsterdam

I live in hope!  SB are doing their best and we are very grateful 

KLM has two flights from Amsterdam to Alesund tomorrow. Keep your fingers and toes crossed as I believe Wednesday flight would arrive too late. 

I just checked your route and see that Ovation is due into Ålesund on Wednesday. Depending where your bags are currently, it's possible they can get them there. 

Do you know where the bags actually are? I'm not sure where Ovation is right now but if the bags' location is known I would say if you're calling at Stavanger, Bergen or Tromso they are your best chances of getting the bags before you fly home.

In the past we have known SB to make considerable effort to work with the airline to reunite guests with their luggage, even if Flight Ease wasn't used, but it's challenging for your itinerary. We had a close call several years ago, only getting our luggage delivered a couple of hours before we checked out of the hotel to go to the cruise port. Our friends weren't so lucky but theirs did turn up about a week into the cruise. Guest Services kept them informed of whereabouts and expected arrival port. 

29 minutes ago, SLSD said:

What a disappointment.  We were DEFINITELY told while on board by the manager of The Restaurant that it would be open every day for breakfast and for lunch--and it was.  He said that this was across the fleet--so obviously there has been a reversal of this policy.  This will severely limit our choices going forward for dining.   We found the food to be just OK--tasting ok, but not exceptional in any way.  Others may see that differently of course.  Food is so subjective.  

 

Not having any TK nights in the Colonnade may be a money saving move as well.  

 

I'm beginning to think there isn't a cruise line for someone like me--a bit nerdy, ambience important while dining (breakfast, lunch and dinner), likes serene settings, doesn't like snobby imperious fellow cruisers, doesn't want to make reservations for meals, doesn't want to bring formal wear in my carry on.  

 

 

This cruiser is on the lookout for pretty much the same, except for formal wear. 

This is disappointing, particularly on an itinerary such as this one where the weather may be iffy, placing huge demand on the Colonnade.

Thank you for updating texanaust, enjoy the rest of your cruise. 

Sojourn is our favourite ship, so happy you enjoyed!

I don't think it's odd that they want payment in local currency, but you state they want cash only. That does seem odd as according to their website they take all major credit cards and PayPal. 

How did you make contact with them, are you definitely in contact with the legit company?

18 hours ago, SLSD said:

 

 

I've been looking at the Quest itineraries around Japan and they interest us.  My only concern is the Quest itself.  Last time we sailed on Sojourn (2019), I found it a bit down at the heels and wonder if I would see Quest in the same way.  

 

 

SLSD, Sojourn had been due to go into dry dock a few months after your cruise. Unfortunately with older ships it's not surprising to see wear and tear in the months prior to dry dock. It can of course give a less than favourable impression.

We sailed on her in December 2019, 25 night cruise. They had to cancel the dry dock which had been scheduled for a few weeks earlier due to Hurricane Dorian had caused huge damages at Freeport where Sojourn was scheduled for dry dock. Then of course came Covid. Quest and Sojourn went into dry dock in Genoa (I believe). I can't recall when that happened, if it was 2021 I guess they both will be in need of another dry dock in about a year from now. Something to bear in mind! 

20 hours ago, EnidSooner said:

Just booked Odyssey Juneau to Vancouver 8/4/23.  Note that a couple of posters just sailed that track.  Any comments/suggestions for a first time Seaboune guest?  Thanks!

Welcome to the Seabourn board! Take a look at the 'Referral Coupon Thread' which is a sticky on this board. Someone will be happy to offer you a referral coupon. I'd suggest taking time to read around the board and if you have any questions start a new thread so your questions don't get missed. 

11 minutes ago, nancygp said:

Same here

 

Nancy

Ditto!

50 minutes ago, SLSD said:

The fluffy bath mat is obviously meant to be a medium to dark gray.  No inefficient laundering involved--thank goodness.  

Do we need to organise Search and Rescue for the white ones with their fetching green backing? Where did they go? Keelhauled or forced to walk the plank...

Oh, so bath mats are back? I'm not sure that I understood why they were removed. But glad they're back.

1 hour ago, LMB01 said:

Please don’t flame me for this, it is just my observation and how we chose to sail.  We stay in the premium suites - Owners Suite or Signature Suite and have recently been doing the Wintergarden Suite as it is mid ship.  Those suites always have the nice, big fluffy towels (and different bathrobes).  I did not realize they were segregating towels by suite size!

No flames here! It was following our stays in the Wintergarden we realised the difference in size and fluffiness. The next time we were in a V category I was a little wary asking for the larger towels but our suite attendant didn't bat an eyelid when I did ask, so then we just asked every time when we were making our introductions. 

31 minutes ago, SLSD said:

Thank you for this suggestion!!  

SLSD, I'm in complete agreement with you regarding towel size and quality, and IMO it's been that way for years.  We always ask our suite attendant to provide the larger towels.