Newbie help please!

[Jupes]

Hi all

 

I have read countless posts and reviews over the last few weeks (thank you everyone for unknowingly helping my research) and have decided to try Seabourn for our first cruise for our 10th wedding anniversary next year. We have always shied away from cruising as the thought of being on a huge ship with 1000's of passengers whom you never meet twice, hundreds of children and class systems on board is our idea of hell. Seabourn seems to offer the type of cruise which will suit our ideas of what a holiday should be; not just a number ie personalised service, good food, wine, nice people, etc, etc.

 

So..... having got this far... we think we fancy the 8th April transatlantic cruise from St Maarten to Monaco which is rather like sink or swim for a first experience!!

 

Hubs has some reservations in terms of the week crossing the Atlantic. How we will fill our time? Although, last year, we spent a week in a small exclusive resort in the desert without leaving the reserve and we didn't get cabin fever!! So, would love to hear from anyone who has done a similar crossing re filling your time and guidance on the weather please.

 

We would also really appreciate any PM's with advice on TA's to use or avoid please and any other tips anyone can share.

 

Hubs being Director of Finance (whilst I am Director of Spend 😉) is insisting on my providing him with a full list of additional expenditure 🙄, yawn as he says my guesstimates against actual spend are grossly inaccurate and usually 50% under 😂. So, any help here much appreciated to reduce the nag factor!!

 

Many thanks for all your help.

[Host Jazzbeau]

Hi all

 

I have read countless posts and reviews over the last few weeks (thank you everyone for unknowingly helping my research) and have decided to try Seabourn for our first cruise for our 10th wedding anniversary next year. We have always shied away from cruising as the thought of being on a huge ship with 1000's of passengers whom you never meet twice, hundreds of children and class systems on board is our idea of hell. Seabourn seems to offer the type of cruise which will suit our ideas of what a holiday should be; not just a number ie personalised service, good food, wine, nice people, etc, etc.

 

So..... having got this far... we think we fancy the 8th April transatlantic cruise from St Maarten to Monaco which is rather like sink or swim for a first experience!!

 

Hubs has some reservations in terms of the week crossing the Atlantic. How we will fill our time? Although, last year, we spent a week in a small exclusive resort in the desert without leaving the reserve and we didn't get cabin fever!! So, would love to hear from anyone who has done a similar crossing re filling your time and guidance on the weather please.

 

We would also really appreciate any PM's with advice on TA's to use or avoid please and any other tips anyone can share.

 

Hubs being Director of Finance (whilst I am Director of Spend ) is insisting on my providing him with a full list of additional expenditure , yawn as he says my guesstimates against actual spend are grossly inaccurate and usually 50% under . So, any help here much appreciated to reduce the nag factor!!

 

Many thanks for all your help.

 

That's actually pretty good. When we planned new projects at work we usually did our best estimate and then doubled it!

Edited February 28, 2016 by Host Jazzbeau

[Able Seaman H]

I'm not sure doing a transatlantic crossing would be my choice for a first cruise. A long time at sea and the potential for rough seas. I would go for an itinerary with more ports of call.

 

You can't send private mails through Cruise Critic, they don't allow us to talk to each other.

 

Henry :)

 

edited to say there isn't much additional spend unless you want there to be. You could purchase premium wines but there will be something in there to please you. The Spa is chargeable if you fancy a massage, hair do, nails etc. Massages budget a couple of hundred dollars a treatment, some are available for less.

Edited February 28, 2016 by Able Seaman H

[Roxburgh]

Hi all

 

I have read countless posts and reviews over the last few weeks (thank you everyone for unknowingly helping my research) and have decided to try Seabourn for our first cruise for our 10th wedding anniversary next year. We have always shied away from cruising as the thought of being on a huge ship with 1000's of passengers whom you never meet twice, hundreds of children and class systems on board is our idea of hell. Seabourn seems to offer the type of cruise which will suit our ideas of what a holiday should be; not just a number ie personalised service, good food, wine, nice people, etc, etc.

 

So..... having got this far... we think we fancy the 8th April transatlantic cruise from St Maarten to Monaco which is rather like sink or swim for a first experience!!

 

Hubs has some reservations in terms of the week crossing the Atlantic. How we will fill our time? Although, last year, we spent a week in a small exclusive resort in the desert without leaving the reserve and we didn't get cabin fever!! So, would love to hear from anyone who has done a similar crossing re filling your time and guidance on the weather please.

 

We would also really appreciate any PM's with advice on TA's to use or avoid please and any other tips anyone can share.

 

Hubs being Director of Finance (whilst I am Director of Spend ��) is insisting on my providing him with a full list of additional expenditure ��, yawn as he says my guesstimates against actual spend are grossly inaccurate and usually 50% under ��. So, any help here much appreciated to reduce the nag factor!!

 

Many thanks for all your help.

 

Okay, for the issue of 'spend' and the related subject of 'revenue'.

 

You can maximize onboard revenue (also known as on-board credit) by using a Travel Agent which gives you some OBC as part of the deal. I get $300 from my TA. Alternatively, as this is your first Seabourn cruise, you can get a referral from one of the nice people on here which will provide $400 OBC. You can get a further $250 OBC (for a 14 day cruise) if you own 100 Carnival (CCL) shares. They also pay a dividend and have decent performance. So, on the revenue side, you could have up to $650 to spend before actually dipping into hubby's credit card.

 

Onboard, your only expenditure will be on tours (not many on a transatlantic), premium wines and liquor (the complimentary ones are usually very drinkable), the Spa, the Casino, the shop, internet access and laundry. I can usually get away with around 6 hours ($60) of internet. We usually do two bags of laundry per week ($100) and we don't generally gamble or buy much in the shop. We can, however, easily spend $500- $750 in the Spa. For tours, you can go online to he Seabourn site, look at the ones that interest you and add up what it will cost. In some ports, doing your own thing is also a good option.

 

Hopefully, this will help you get an idea of what your revenue/spend will be.

Edited February 28, 2016 by Roxburgh

[Jupes]

I'm not sure doing a transatlantic crossing would be my choice for a first cruise. A long time at sea and the potential for rough seas. I would go for an itinerary with more ports of call.

 

You can't send private mails through Cruise Critic, they don't allow us to talk to each other.

 

Henry :)

 

edited to say there isn't much additional spend unless you want there to be. You could purchase premium wines but there will be something in there to please you. The Spa is chargeable if you fancy a massage, hair do, nails etc. Massages budget a couple of hundred dollars a treatment, some are available for less.

 

I know it probably isn't most people's first choice! We had our own boat until recently so are less worried about rough seas. I figure lots of time in the middle week for R&R, getting to know fellow cruisers and decidedly less jet lag than we would have flying back.

 

So, if you cannot PM, any other suggestions please?

 

Thanks Henry

[Bostonactor]

First, are you sure you have the right board? The transatlantic this year leaves April 10 from Ft Lauderdale and goes to Barcelona. Next year, I believe it departs April 15 from Barbados and, indeed, goes to Monaco after stops in Funchal, Barcelona and Marseille. More on that….

Second, I will try to answer your question about on-board expenses, which, since everything but laundry is included in the price of your cruise, will be entirely up to you. Laundry is $50 per bag or you can do your own. You can spend extra for "fine" wines, spa treatments or go crazy in the casino……. as you choose. Shore excursions for ports of call will be listed with their prices about 6 months before the cruise. You can purchase them then, so it's possible to know pretty much what the total cost will be long before you leave home. The real unknown is what are you intending to spend in Barbados and Monaco, on the before and after? For us, that's what really adds to the cost.

[Jupes]

Okay, for the issue of 'spend' and the related subject of 'revenue'.

 

You can maximize onboard revenue (also known as on-board credit) by using a Travel Agent which gives you some OBC as part of the deal. I get $300 from my TA. Alternatively, as this is your first Seabourn cruise, you can get a referral from one of the nice people on here which will provide $400 OBC. You can get a further $250 OBC (for a 14 day cruise) if you own 100 Carnival (CCL) shares. They also pay a dividend and have decent performance. So, on the revenue side, you could have up to $650 to spend before actually dipping into hubby's credit card.

 

Onboard, your only expenditure will be on tours (not many on a transatlantic), premium wines and liquor (the complimentary ones are usually very drinkable), the Spa, the Casino, the shop, internet access and laundry. I can usually get away with around 6 hours ($60) of internet. We usually do two bags of laundry per week ($100) and we don't generally gamble or buy much in the shop. We can, however, easily spend $500- $750 in the Spa. For tours, you can go online to he Seabourn site, look at the ones that interest you and add up what it will cost. In some ports, doing your own thing is also a good option.

 

Hopefully, this will help you get an idea of what your revenue/spend will be.

 

Thanks Roxburgh. He is convinced there must be 'hidden charges' !! So, thanks this will help to reassure him. I think Internet will be our Achilles heel.... We both find it hard to live without it these days. We are unlikely to take organised tours, I prefer to organise myself and he doesn't do coach travel well. I did read the thread on referral, so will be looking at that.

 

Many thanks.

[Jupes]

First, are you sure you have the right board? The transatlantic this year leaves April 10 from Ft Lauderdale and goes to Barcelona. Next year, I believe it departs April 15 from Barbados and, indeed, goes to Monaco after stops in Funchal, Barcelona and Marseille. More on that….

Second, I will try to answer your question about on-board expenses, which, since everything but laundry is included in the price of your cruise, will be entirely up to you. Laundry is $50 per bag or you can do your own. You can spend extra for "fine" wines, spa treatments or go crazy in the casino……. as you choose. Shore excursions for ports of call will be listed with their prices about 6 months before the cruise. You can purchase them then, so it's possible to know pretty much what the total cost will be long before you leave home. The real unknown is what are you intending to spend in Barbados and Monaco, on the before and after? For us, that's what really adds to the cost.

 

Yes, it is the Barbados to Monaco with the week prior embarking from St Maarten and touring the Caribbean before leaving Barbados for Funchal on Odyssey. I would intend to arrive in St Maarten the day before and would probably have a final night in Monaco before leaving Nice for the UK. Why do you say more on that please?

 

Thanks for your help.

Edited February 28, 2016 by Jupes

[tv24]

I have not done a transatlantic on Seabourn, but I have done a transpacific. Plan on spending some of your OBC on internet; Seabourn has a good unlimited package that you 2 can share. On our crossing of the Pacific we were kept busy by the lectures (which were pretty good), art classes, and all the activities at Seabourn Square, plus lots of time at the fitness center. If you play bridge, there are classes and competitive playing. Lots of trivia. We love sea days and were never bored. The mix of fellow passengers is one of Seabourn's strong suits: The small size of the ship lends itself for lots of pleasant socializing. Few snobs. Just lots of truly sweet travelers.