Rare knotheadusc Posted May 4, 2011 #1 Share Posted May 4, 2011 This year, we're cruising the SeaDream I for seven days in the southern Caribbean in honor of our anniversary. But next year, come November, I think my beloved and I will be going to Scotland and trying five days on the Hebridean Princess. The Princess has been chartered by the Queen a couple of times and specializes in cruises around the Scottish Highlands, Ireland, England, and northern France. Like SeaDream, this is a small cruise. Only 50 folks go at a time and it's all inclusive... prices are about the same, too. I'm sure the weather will be a challenge, but that's what good scotch is for. I managed to talk my husband into booking and hopefully we'll be doing that by the end of the week. I'm excited about it, though I still want to do another SeaDream cruise in June 2012. We'll see if the budget allows it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frequent traveler Posted May 5, 2011 #2 Share Posted May 5, 2011 Former CAD Amy (now working for SD in a sales capacity in the UK) was with this line and speaks very highly of it. Brave to do in November but look foward to reading your review. As one who is cheating on SD next month in Alask on Regent, I understand the feeling! FT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare knotheadusc Posted May 5, 2011 Author #3 Share Posted May 5, 2011 I have always wanted to go to Scotland. I lived in England as a little kid. My dad was in the Air Force and was stationed at Mildenhall AFB, so my earliest memories are of England. I may have gone to Scotland, but I don't remember it. Many of my "people" are of Scottish descent, while my husband's folks are mostly Irish. When my husband and I were posted in Germany, we meant to go to Scotland and Ireland, but ended up having to end our tour early. I figure this is the perfect way to celebrate ten years of a happy marriage. If the Hebridean Princess is good enough for the Queen, it's good enough for me! It's good to know that CAD Amy speaks highly of Hebridean and now works for SeaDream. I have a feeling we'll be in excellent hands! Of course, our trip to Scotland wouldn't be for another 18 months, but that gives me something to look forward to and makes our upcoming SeaDream cruise seem much closer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ragnar Danneskjold Posted May 5, 2011 #4 Share Posted May 5, 2011 We are going to Scottland in June. May cheat on SD there by taking a Zodiac boat tour out to the bird-nesting rock :rolleyes: Note also the SD cheat in my sig, cruising the Seine (for at least an hour..) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare knotheadusc Posted May 5, 2011 Author #5 Share Posted May 5, 2011 My husband and I cruised the Seine when we were in Paris, but that was before we became SeaDreamers... :D Of course, if we do this cruise to Scotland, I'm sure I won't see "fanboobs" like I did on my first SeaDream cruise! I have a feeling the Hebridean cruise will be a lot more sedate, except maybe when the haggis is served. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DSNYSDRMR Posted May 14, 2011 #6 Share Posted May 14, 2011 We are cruising a couple of times this year on the new Disney ship before we do Seadream. At first, I felt guilty, but realizing we will be one of thousands of people...I may not be recognized! I'm sooo sorry SeaDream! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flygod Posted May 14, 2011 #7 Share Posted May 14, 2011 Personally, as a resident Scot, I would get the heck out of the country in November! (have a look at the sunrise and sunset times to start with) I am no greater fan of my country - and a crisp, clear winter day is pure brilliance. Trouble is, we get so few of them - and you can get a month of constant "dreich" anytime from October to March. You can drink a lot of whisky anywhere in the world for HB prices. (and Lizzie is not really the touchstone for comfort, as anyone who has been on Britannia will testify!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare knotheadusc Posted May 14, 2011 Author #8 Share Posted May 14, 2011 It did occur to me that the weather and the sunrise/sunset times would be a problem. We had the same issue in Poland in 2008 when we celebrated anniversary #6. We still had a great time, though. Moreover, our anniversary is in November, which also happens to be the time of year the Hebridean cruises are most affordable. :D This year, we'll be in Antigua for our anniversary, which should give us plenty of sunny days. We haven't booked yet... but despite the potentially yucky weather and short days, we still want to. I think it has to do with the haggis. But I have plenty of time to change my mind! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flygod Posted May 16, 2011 #9 Share Posted May 16, 2011 Hey, you could be here today - at what's meant to be one of the best times of year! http://www.xcweather.co.uk is what I often use for airfield forecasts and you'll see it is high winds and driving rain. Get me out of here! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frequent traveler Posted June 5, 2011 #10 Share Posted June 5, 2011 Ok, its official - my cheating on SD starts on Wednesday when we board Regent Navigator in Vancouver. I feel so guilty, but not guilty enough to stay home:rolleyes: Everyone on the SD board is so pleasant when we discuss an issue - wonder if how long it will take me to get flamed on the Regent board:D ZQ VOL has already made it! FT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare knotheadusc Posted June 6, 2011 Author #11 Share Posted June 6, 2011 I have noticed that SeaDreamers are a pretty mellow group. Sometimes I frequent the Royal Caribbean board because my husband and I cruised them once. I'm often shocked by the level of snarking that goes on over there over everything from smoking to dealing with kids to whether or not it's right to sneak booze on board. Here on the SD board, people generally seem to want to gush about how awesome SeaDream is. I hope you have a great Regent cruise, FT! I look forward to your review. I think it's interesting to read the perspectives of people who try another line when they're loyal to a different one. We still haven't booked our Hebridean cruise yet... Thankfully, we still have over a year! I'm actually kinda eyeing the Paul Gauguin line, too, but my husband is pretty set on Scotland. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ragnar Danneskjold Posted June 27, 2011 #12 Share Posted June 27, 2011 Also guilty, just signed up for the maiden voyage of the Oceania Riviera (4/14/12), as it hits all the major Med ports, from Barcelona to Athens. Mrs D has never been to the Med, so figured this would be a good intro for her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CDreamer Posted June 28, 2011 #13 Share Posted June 28, 2011 Already cheated!! :eek: Took SD's recent Norway Hamburg - Bergen cruise, which was wonderful... and since we were already in Europe we decided to tack on another cruise afterwards rather than fly back and forth. Unfortunately, we had to 'jump ship' and try another cruise line because SD didn't cruise Venice-Dubrovnik-Venice during this particular time frame. Once I get my notes together I will start another thread comparing the two cruises, but suffice it to say we are really looking forward to our NEXT SD cruise where we'll once again be reunited with SD's amazing crew and friendly mix of passengers. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stan01 Posted June 29, 2011 #14 Share Posted June 29, 2011 We have a two week back to back Seabourn Legend cruise along French/Spanish Riviera coming up in July. Our first cruise on Seabourn after 3 on SeaDream, but since 2 weeks on Seabourn was only a little more than 1 week on SeaDream we're going to try Seabourn this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frequent traveler Posted June 29, 2011 #15 Share Posted June 29, 2011 I'm done with my cheating for a while . . . unless the Paul Gaugin has a really really good deal . . . but Sea Dream is going through the Corinth Canal is 2012 . . . another bucket list to check off. FT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kathyanddanny Posted July 6, 2011 #16 Share Posted July 6, 2011 I am sooo glad we have tried alot of other cruises before we did Seadream. now, we are done with the others....the service, the food and the lines....never again. we are finally home....lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare knotheadusc Posted August 4, 2011 Author #17 Share Posted August 4, 2011 Well, we've gone and done it... booked a B2B Scottish cruise for our 10th anniversary. I put down a non-refundable deposit, so hopefully nothing will spoil this for us. Guess it's time to buy more travel insurance! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ragnar Danneskjold Posted August 4, 2011 #18 Share Posted August 4, 2011 Oceania just canceled our Med cruise, making a big headache for us. Cheaters never prosper :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ragnar Danneskjold Posted August 4, 2011 #19 Share Posted August 4, 2011 Well, well, perhaps cheaters and Ragnars do prosper. British Airways kindly found a way around the flight blackouts for our frequent flyer flights and got us set up in biz class to make it to the "new" maiden voyage of the Riviera, a 12-dayer around the eastern Med (in place of the 10 dayer we booked, with an nice OBC to boot) - Look out you poor camels, ol' Ragnar will be on your backs soon :eek: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare knotheadusc Posted August 4, 2011 Author #20 Share Posted August 4, 2011 Awesome! I hope you enjoy your updated vacation! As for me, since we decided to do two five night cruises, I'm not sure we'll make it aboard SD next year... :( Maybe there will be a killer fare I can't resist! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ragnar Danneskjold Posted August 4, 2011 #21 Share Posted August 4, 2011 Yeah, we keep wanting to do another SD, but timing never seems to work out. I suspect our next SD will be a spur of the moment thing when we feel like some Caribbean sun and sand. Another problem is there is just so much of the world we (especially Mrs D) haven't seen that when we do long term vacation planning there is always something that interests us more than the caribbean. But it is a tough call as to whether I'd rather be riding a smelly old camel or a SD bali-bed :eek: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare knotheadusc Posted August 4, 2011 Author #22 Share Posted August 4, 2011 We would like to do a SD cruise in Europe, but I just don't think we can swing two trips to Europe next year... even though my husband's youngest kid will no longer be getting child support anymore. I was looking at a cruise in Italy, but they extended it by a day and raised the price $800 per person. Ah well... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ragnar Danneskjold Posted August 4, 2011 #23 Share Posted August 4, 2011 Our goal is to do one cruise per year and one land trip per year. About all our Doberman will let us be gone :p Other than that we do car trips so we can take him along. Thank goodness Paris Hilton started a trend of some nicer hotels allowing dogs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Avery Posted October 17, 2011 #24 Share Posted October 17, 2011 Our goal is to do one cruise per year and one land trip per year. About all our Doberman will let us be gone :p Other than that we do car trips so we can take him along. Thank goodness Paris Hilton started a trend of some nicer hotels allowing dogs. We have the same dog issues too, Ragnar. Sorry to say, we are cheating on SD too. Cunards Queen Victoria 1/19/12. Really wanted to do SD but the flights are not near as timely as last year and the prices are ridiculous from Podunk International.:eek: When you add it all up, way too much trouble and $$ to do the same islands over again, no matter how much we like them. Like Disney Jen, we stay on board at most islands anyway. Come on SD, just one measly voyage a year out of a Florida port.:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ragnar Danneskjold Posted October 17, 2011 #25 Share Posted October 17, 2011 I wish we had some interesting cruises departing from SoCal, but the only cruises that do go to the place where your head can end up in a bag o' heads dropped in front of a school :eek: Despite it's ugliness, I've grown attached to my head.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.