petern6827

TrapperZimmy and Richard&John STX:

Thank you for your wise, relevant and sensitive responses.

I can agree that the likelihood of encountering a loud and/or oblivious shipmate is small. (And it's possible my singing in the shower could be as offensive to them as their snoring, coughs or other noises might be to me.)

We are proceeding as booked, and we're looking forward with great anticipation to experiencing SeaDream!

In our cruising may we all experience 'fair winds and following seas'

....and in our lives too.

Thank you all again !

We are Seabourn and Caribbean fans, and love to cruise in January. 

But we have fallen in love with SD 1's itineraries for Jan 2023, and with SD in general based on the comments here and the reviews.

Alas... my TA tells me the only cabins available for our preferred January cruises are the convertible/thin walled ones. I've read the cautions regarding these cabins on this site. So....I'm seeking your thoughts:

Should we hold off on SD until perhaps 2024, and book SB or Regent (which we've also enjoyed) for January 2023?

Or, take one of the available cabins and hope our neighbors are tip-toeing whisperers?  (and not tap-dancing wailers.)

From the Seabourn Ovation page of cruisedeckplans.com:

"Please note:

Next dry dock planned for Quarter 2, 2023"

.

Been to Valley Church several times. Definitely no snorkeling there. But great massages!

On 5/17/2022 at 9:28 AM, rucrazy said:

David has always wanted a white dinner jacket, but I am having a lot of trouble finding one of quality... may I inquire as to where you got yours?

Sorry for the delay re my white dinner jacket.

About 25 years ago, I was cast as the leading man in 'South Pacific'. The costumer said I needed to wear a dinner jacket for a few scenes, and said they would reimburse me if I could find a well fitting one.

I lived in the Boston area at the time and went to a high end second-hand store in Cambridge, Ma and found one that felt (and still does) like wearing butter. If I recall it was ...$20. And it still looks and feels wonderful. ... Just looked for a label, and there was none. So it may have been custom made.

So, I'm so sorry, fellow Seabourn cruiser, that I could be of no help!

Peter

  I always bring a white dinner jacket (I prefer it to a black tux jacket...  it makes me feel like Vic Damone when I'm wearing it!).....And also a blue blazer.

*They both can fit with everything from a Tommy Bahama shirt to a white shirt and black tie.

* I find it comfortable to wear a jacket in the evenings so I can go from dinner....to time on deck in the sea breeze...to a show... to some disco dancing.

*...And, I can fit with whatever my wife is choosing to wear that evening. (Because it's not just about me.)

Part of the fun of cruising (mostly with Seabourne) for us is dancing. Aside from weddings, it's one of the few opportunities we seem to have. So, we take full advantage, going to both the Club and/or the Observation bar (depending on our preference for the artist, band or DJ). Plus we try to attend as many dance classes onboard as possible. Many times there are not too many of us out there for many of these. But who cares! We're onboard the Odyssey in a week. So if you observe a couple laughing and trying to dance like Fred and Ginger, or Travolta and his partners, it's probably us.

Well, I'm not sure about dancing..... but it does seem that SeaDreamers (at least as represented here) have a flair I find intriguing.

I'm in!

I will find somewhere...sometime...to 'shuffle off to Buffalo'.

If the stars align, we will be there. Booking today.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts (and experiences).

(BTW. FWIW. Someone told me recently that the 'shuffle off to Buffalo' tap step is now simply called 'The Buffalo'.)

(Being from Buffalo... that made me kinda misty.)

Hello Sea Dreamers,

FYI. My DW and I cruise about once/year. Recent trips have included the Celebrity X (Galapagos), a Seabourne Caribbean (little sister), a HAL to Bermuda and a Caribbean on Azamara.

All we feel have been... a hoot!

Anyway...We have realized that the only time we get to dance together...(and channel John Travolta (and partner) in "Just Like a Woman" and "Night Fever"... is on a cruise! )

We're know we're not that good. But after a few pre-dinner cocktails...a nice to superlative meal ...and an after dinner drink... We are Fred and Ginger!

Ha!

A cruise is the only time we seem to be able to completely relax, snorkel, scuba dive, dance and generally 'let go'!

So. ...a Question:

We're now looking at a November 2017 Sea Dream Barbados to Barbados cruise thru the Grenadines (which btw we sailed thru last 40 years ago!).

We're 90% sold on it.

But....

What do you think? Everything looks perfect on Sea Dream.

But...

Can we dance?...

Shall we dance?

Thanks, in advance foe your thoughts.

Peter

You veteran Azamarians may take it for granted, but for a newbie (who has been to a few rodeos and a county fair!)...this was a wonderful evening!

Highlights:

The transformation of the pool deck to a spectacular 'party room'..the great food...the Captains remarks.. the crew parade... the dancers ( the Journey dancers gave us many "WOW" moments during the cruise)... the four singers backed by that sensational band that compelled to 'dance the night away'!

Thank you Azamara!

(As you may surmise...we're hooked.)

We were there, too.

Being first timers we were very impressed. (For perspective, recent cruises were aboard the Seabourn Legend and Celebrity Xpedition)

Highlights of this evening:

A dash from St Barts to St Martens (yahoo!)... a short walk to a professional stage set-up at the end of the pier..tropical drinks.. stilt dancers.. a 20+ piece steel band fronted by dynamic youngsters..a Caribbean-style string quartet.. fireworks rivaling July 4th in Boston (ok ..almost rivaling)...champagne served on the walk back to the ship...the Journey band serenading us on the pier (the band was terrific btw)...then a superb night club style performance by Marcus French, an Argentinian heartthrob/Frank Sinatra, in the Living Room...and then some disco afterwards.

Oh, what a night!

Not sure about the UK, but in the US, the option to order luggage tags appears on the "online check in" page about 30 days before departure, and disappears about 3 weeks later.

So how much did you have to slip the bar tender to get 3 different drinks on the SBC at one time when the limit is "one drink every five minutes"?

I tipped servers $1 from time to time in the bars we frequented (mostly the Crows nest and Mix). I probably spent a total of less than $10. We always offered both cards, but once they knew us and knew we both had cards, it got pretty casual. If Sandy couldn't find her card, they just put it on mine.

BTW the 'card' is just a red sticky dot on your room card.

Re 'martinis'. Keep this in mind: a grey goose martini is over $7. The following are under $7: grey goose on the rocks...grey goose neat.....grey goose chilled and served in a martini glass.

Bill and Becky,

Sandy and I just got off the Veendam. The lanai cabins have 2 loungers each reserved for them. But there are additional loungers available on that deck. We had no problem finding two when we went there.

Peter

We are first time HALers, and just off the Veendam to Bermuda.

Not sure what all the flapping around about the Retreat (Lido deck aft) is all about.

I am a lap swimmer, and enjoyed the Lido deck main pool at 7 AM (when it opened) with 1 or 2 others for a good 30 minute workout. (1 lap = about 25 yards if you don't attempt an aggressive push off).

We also spent a lot of time at the Retreat: Sail-aways (entertained by John ...a very entertaining vocalist/guitarist).... breakfasts out in the open air....sunning on the deck....afternoon cocktails....chilling in the hot tubs.

Again, I have no idea what it once was, but for an experienced cruiser (most recently Celebrity Xpedition, Seabourne Legend, RCL)...I thought t was quite nice.

Peter

Hi,

We enjoyed having the SBP.

* Lattes or Cappuccinos in the AM, afternoon or dinner: no cost.

* Most makes (up to Grey Goose in vodka) under $7.

* If you want something that is over $7, order 2 drinks and combine them. Example: I enjoy Rusty Nails (scotch + Drambuie...$12+ on the drink list). So I would order a Chivas Regal or Johnny Walker Black on the rocks (both under $7)...and a Drambuie neat (under $7), then combine them, sit back in the Crow's Nest and relax. (If you slip your favorite server a $ once in a while, they'll do it for you.)

* The ONLY downside of the SBP is that there are limited wines under $7. It wasn't a problem for me (the Cabernet was fine) but Sandy was only ~ 90% happy with the options.

Thanks everyone for your kind wishes. Sandy and I are excited!

Thanks everyone for all your feedback.... and that picture from Ine says it all! Here's hoping the ocean off Bermuda will be warm. We'll bring our snorkels and masks.

Hello all,

Sandy and I are looking forward to our first HAL cruise....May 30, Boston to Bermuda.

We are swimmers and wonder if there is a good time to swim laps for our daily exercise. Any thoughts on the pool onboard?

Thanks.

Peter

Veendam. 5/30 - 6/6. Boston to Bermuda. First time on HAL.

Peter and Sandy

My DW and I were on the Legend this spring in the Caribbean, and had a blast dancing almost every night in the Club. We are novices, but after a pre dinner martini....gourmet dining...then one 'Rusty Nail' (our 'dating after dinner drink' 45 years ago) ...we were out there trying to dance like John Travolta and his partner in "Saturday Night Fever'! What fun! We thought the band and the duet were terrific.

Sandy and I are on the March 9th cruise out of St Thomas on the Legend. Considering it's been below 10 degrees here for the last couple of days, it can't come soon enough!

Peter

My email address is panawrocki@gmail.com

And, thanks for the advice, Dan.

Peter

I have a black tuxedo as well as a white dinner jacket. Would either be apropos?

(The white jacket makes me feel like humming Vic Damone tunes, so I like to find opportunities to wear it.)

Peter

Hello SBers,

Sandy and I are planning our first Seabourn cruise this year.

Our TA is offering a $200 on board spa credit. Would the $400 referral credit be in addition to this?

Thanks

Peter