Offers to hold women's arms when being escorted into dining venues

[Techno123]

Fudge we were partially on the same cruise as you and I agree, it was a very different experience to our first cruise with Seabourn which was quite calm and refined with few children and a slightly older clientele. This one reminded me of a club 18- 30 holiday at times, much more raucous than I have been used to with whistling and catcalling going on when the singers were performing opera and a lot of calling out and whistling during some of the evening performances. The children, in fairness, on our section of the cruise were pretty well behaved and on the whole, I still very much enjoyed it as there were places to go to escape the more rowdy crowds :D

The service was a little slow at times and one or two extra dishes were forgotten - the number of staff certainly seemed less at times but again, it was not a major issue and the majority of the staff were, as expected, amazing.

My beloved told me I was going to be disappointed this time as I had put Seabourn on a bit of a pedestal. Whilst I still very much enjoy Seabourn, I now have some other options to compare them with and I think several of the luxury cruise lines have much to offer so whilst I will definitely sail with Seabourn again, especially as they are changing their smoking policy, it's good to know we have other options.

[fudge]

Fudge we were partially on the same cruise as you and I agree, it was a very different experience to our first cruise with Seabourn which was quite calm and refined with few children and a slightly older clientele. This one reminded me of a club 18- 30 holiday at times, much more raucous than I have been used to with whistling and catcalling going on when the singers were performing opera and a lot of calling out and whistling during some of the evening performances. The children, in fairness, on our section of the cruise were pretty well behaved and on the whole, I still very much enjoyed it as there were places to go to escape the more rowdy crowds :D

The service was a little slow at times and one or two extra dishes were forgotten - the number of staff certainly seemed less at times but again, it was not a major issue and the majority of the staff were, as expected, amazing.

My beloved told me I was going to be disappointed this time as I had put Seabourn on a bit of a pedestal. Whilst I still very much enjoy Seabourn, I now have some other options to compare them with and I think several of the luxury cruise lines have much to offer so whilst I will definitely sail with Seabourn again, especially as they are changing their smoking policy, it's good to know we have other options.

 

Techno,

Thank you for your response. I agree, the children were on the whole well behaved, there was just so many this time, we were just not used to it.

 

I am not saying we will never sail with Seabourn again, I think the itinerary change was just too much for us, (understandably) to have two sea days which we didn't want, Rhodes twice, and Cyprus twice incidentally where we live, just put a dampener on the whole cruise, in fact Mrs Fudge could have got off after one week, when I enquired at Seabourn Square they said "let us know what time you want to get off" !!

[Techno123]

School holidays hence why we are able to sneak away ;)

You were on for our second week - I agree that the whole thinking through of the alternative ports on offer was poorly done and Cyprus was just too far from everywhere else leading to unnecessary sea days and a reduced amount of time in port . There are loads of other Greek Islands, Italy,Croatia to name but a few but I suppose, last minute, they took what was easily available rather than what was going to give their guests the best experience.

[Mr Luxury]

Looks like a big mistake taking a cruise that stops twice where you live.

Was the itinerary changed that drastically?

[Techno123]

It was as no Turkish ports so for the people doing the same and the 2 weeks after us It was Cyprus twice (not what was booked) Rhodes twice( not what was booked) and Athens 3 times!! Plus 2 sea days, also not what was booked so very, very different - poor Mr and Mrs Fudge did not intend on visiting their home island as part of their cruise!

Edited August 11, 2016 by Techno123

[fudge]

Looks like a big mistake taking a cruise that stops twice where you live.

Was the itinerary changed that drastically?

 

Yes it was, a huge change in fact. In fairness to Seabourn they cancelled Istanbul and one other port at least three weeks before the cruise, and we were compensated with $300 OBC however, less than 16 hours before the cruise they cancelled the other two Turkish ports of call.

 

The fact that we sailed over 19 hours to Cyprus the first time, docked around 07.00 and left at 14.00hrs says it all, it felt like we were bobbing around in the med to kill time, no amount of food or drink can make up for it.

[Mr Luxury]

I suppose you have to put in down to one of those unfortunate situations which given the aggro going on in these countries was a difficult thing for Seabourn to re schedule after they took advice from security services.

I think Seabourn were one of the last lines to cancel Turkey as they were hopeful that the situation would improve.

Bad luck all round but better luck next time.

[Techno123]

Fudge - I felt very sorry for the people like you and Mrs F who were on for 7 and 14 nights. At least our first week was as planned - in the second week not particularly happy about missing Patmos (it kind of just slipped off the itinerary) nor the length of time it took to get to Cyprus and I have fed this back in my post cruise questionnaire.

 

I know Turkey had a coup and not going was probably the right thing to do and it was probably panic stations looking for alternatives but as Seabourn can anchor and tender in, surely out of all the islands in the Aegean they could have chosen something other than Cyprus and hence kept Patmos in :(

 

Anyway, we are digressing - I liked being accompanied by Antonio to my seat each evening - I am astounded how quickly he learnt everyone's name!

Edited August 11, 2016 by Techno123

[fudge]

To finalise, it was nobody's fault just an unfortunate set of circumstances, you are right, Antonio was just an amazing guy, the first member of crew to call us by our names.

[jenidallas]

In my conversational experience on SB, many younger women who have careers find the practice less than charming.

 

Those of us younger women who have careers but are also of proper upbringing have no problem with this practice. 😉

[galeforce9]

Those of us younger women who have careers but are also of proper upbringing have no problem with this practice. [emoji6]

 

 

Totally agree

[Joc123]

Jenidallas, Are you really suggesting that because I don't like to hold the arm of someone I don't know I haven't had a good up bringing? My parents (may they rest in peace) would be horrified! I note, on the smoking thread you say you give smokers a "death stare", something my upbringing would not tolerate.

[jenidallas]

I've consulted the etiquette books and the common wisdom is that yes, a woman is escorted to her seat in this manner at both weddings and grand dinners. Seabourn clearly wants its dinners in The Restaurant to be regarded as grand dinners (and I have not noticed being offered an arm at breakfast or lunch in the same room so that logic seems to hold). I did not find etiquette rules for refusal of an arm although I have not done a thorough search.

 

The art of the icy stare or disapproving look is certainly not new to polite society... perhaps the term "death glare" does not translate culturally but given how often I've seen it practiced by many on Seabourn, I know it's not an uncommon practice.

[Techno123]

You all need to watch a bit more Downton Abbey. Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess of Grantham very definitely has the icy stare and one line put down off to a tee :D:D

 

 

However, in my humble opinion, Seabourn is trying to recreate the gentility of the old cruise liners. Some people love it, some hate it and the vast majority are happy to go along with it.

 

Please don't get into an argument over who has had a good upbringing based on arm holding and death stares - our grand parents fought in wars to allow us to express our opinion and there are currently enough places in the world where this freedom of speech is not allowed which should make us all appreciate what we have.

[Chairsin]

Techno,

I totally agree with you. I think the bottom line is either it is something you appreciate and go along with or it is something you do not appreciate, in which case, you smile and politely decline.

[Joc123]

I can't believe this conversation has gone so far. You like something, I don't. My upbringing suggests I should leave this conversation now.