Live from Seabourn Encore

[toseaornottosea]

Have cruised on both Seabourn and Regent Seven Seas. Like them both for different reasons. Every one of Regent's ships has a walking/jogging track.

[eliana]

That's the problem. We also cruise with Regent and much prefer their walking tracks. In fact Crystal have even better ones but we do not like .crystal because their staterooms/ suites are much too small and we do not like their fixed times for dinner.

[Hanoverian]

We too are concerned that the "exclusive" Retreat concept is the first step towards a class system and worse, the kind of clientele it will appeal to. One of the great joys of Seabourn is that all pax are treated equally and have access to all areas of the ship. The pay-to-play Retreat is a rather vulgar contradiction of that philosophy and it's a slippery slope.

 

You said it very well, Rusty. My wife and I have talked about this several times and cannot find anything of value in the Retreat, regardless of cost. The idea that one could buy a level of experience different than that of the other passengers is not what we would want to see. Not very "Seabourn" in our opinion.

[Able Seaman H]

I'm not changing my mind about the retreat being the place that will be used by crew for their party's.

No Seabourn ship is designed for runners or even ideal for walkers.

I run in the gym but you can't beat running on a designated track or walking on a promenade deck on a ship.fortunately there are a few ships that have these facilities if it is a deal breaker.

Thanks to Markham and AS Henry for your detailed points of view.

I will have to wait until August before I am aboard the Encore.

 

 

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I hope you will find as we did that it's business as usual so you should enjoy yourself. Nothing about the ship is put there with the intention of spoiling your experience. The Thomas Keller Grill is a vast improvement over R2. In our case Katy on piano and Bobby behind the bar were the icing on the cake.

 

Sushi offers not only great food but also a fun atmosphere. Staff were superb across the ship, friendly, efficient and I was addressed by name on almost every occasion. After 34 days I haven't found myself bored of the food choice. We still haven't got round to eating in the Patio Grill at night.

 

The Club is designed around table service and whilst lack of fundamental equipment (ice) behind the bar meant drinks had to be mixed behind closed doors leaving leaving the outlet unattended we didn't go thirsty. Take up on the dance floor is always variable on Seabourn so getting the right seating to dance floor ratio is tricky. We had plenty of fun in there and your reporter did cut some shapes more than once.

 

Production values on the shows has stepped up a notch with a strong cast. Handré and Jacqueline proved to be the dream cruise director combination.

 

We leave the ship with great memories. I never did get to read my book or last Months Motor Boat & Yachting so I guess that ticks the "plenty to do at sea" box and we met new friends.

 

The Retreat debate will continue and whilst I can't say it added to our experience because we didn't use it, it didn't detract either.

 

The gym is a big improvement over Sojourn.

 

I'm sure you will have a great time.

 

Henry :)

[markham]

Yes, and as I have documented, there are many fine features to be enjoyed on Encore such as the Observation Bar, Seabourn Square, the Thomas Keller Bar and Grill, and the deck spaces that are adjacent to these venues.

 

But, and this is "my but", not a party line "but", it is important to remember what one's own priorities are and also to expect a new ship's designers to deliver on some or all of them assuming they know the market.

 

Please forgive the repetition, but in the interest of clarity (which is what it's all about at this point in the discussion), The Club is hardly functional or appealing in terms of what one gets in the Odyssey class ships. There is less outdoor space available to walkers on deck 5. There is no passenger laundry and no sports deck area. And the banning of access to most of deck 12 to the Seabourn passenger public is just not Seabourn. I mean, really, you would expect any new class of ship - and this one carries 150 more passengers - to extend and enhance the experience of passengers in all areas, not to deny them what they expect.

 

Here's a quick fix idea, not to be taken too seriously of course, but reduces this snag list while those in charge can consider their options: why not shift the Retreat to the under-used Club and setup a laundry near the Casino with coffee service? The casino will get some passing trade while the punters can do a couple of cycles. The golf and shuffle board deck sports can finally get underway on deck 12 and everyone would have access to that deck. Common sense remedies, all. Not bad,eh?

 

Happy and healthy sailing!

[RustyRollock]

There is no passenger laundry

 

Seriously?! :eek: Not even an ironing board?

[Able Seaman H]

Where have you been? Keep up at the back.

 

That's right, the ship was designed without a laundry, everyone said it was their favourite pastime and would never sail Seabourn again so a laundry is being installed at some point in the future on deck 5 where currently the hotel managers office stands.

 

We had some good times in the club, lengthy conversations around the bar. People danced as much as they have done on Sojourn. The 2 Filipino bands even did "hot" changes so we were never without sounds.

 

I think Seabourn is a little confused as to it's intended audience. It thinks they are selling to an elite audience who use first / private air travel and wouldn't dream of doing their own washing. The reality is far more normal people who just happen to enjoy treating themselves every now and again.

 

Henry :)

[markham]

Nope. No ironing boards.

 

"But where there's a vacuum it will be filled", so the saying goes...

 

Some on board have proposed a dhoby ghat facility in place of the Retreat. It would be dedicated in honor of the open-air original laundry in Mumbai, our first Indian port on this past Dubai to Singapore cruise. And it would doubtless get more custom than the Retreat, be eco-friendly, while helping alleviate the current stress on the ship's own commercial laundry and pressing services. Plus I would get to walk past the proposed dhoby - no more "out of bounds" to hoi polloi signage - between the pool area's deck 9 stairways up and across to deck 12's forward lounge chairs. Just like on Odyssey, Quest and Sojourn!

 

Sounds smart, right?

 

Happy and healthy sailing!

[turtlemichael]

Nope. No ironing boards.

 

"But where there's a vacuum it will be filled", so the saying goes...

 

Some on board have proposed a dhoby ghat facility in place of the Retreat. It would be dedicated in honor of the open-air original laundry in Mumbai, our first Indian port on this past Dubai to Singapore cruise. And it would doubtless get more custom than the Retreat, be eco-friendly, while helping alleviate the current stress on the ship's own commercial laundry and pressing services. Plus I would get to walk past the proposed dhoby - no more "out of bounds" to hoi polloi signage - between the pool area's deck 9 stairways up and across to deck 12's forward lounge chairs. Just like on Odyssey, Quest and Sojourn!

 

Sounds smart, right?

 

Happy and healthy sailing!

 

If they put in the dhoby ghat it will be a case of dhoby, dhoby, do! :)

[dalliowner]

Henry,

 

We like to spend our evenings in the Club usually standing or on a bar stool. As the drinks look like they are prepared out the back is there still a barman stationed behind the bar to serve those standing ???:D

 

Many thanks

 

John

[ajpeter]

After all are finish with their favourite past time in the dhoby ghaut the masses may proceede to the kitchens for their next favourite past time of doing the dishes. Such splendid fun!

[Isklaar]

Henry,

 

We like to spend our evenings in the Club usually standing or on a bar stool. As the drinks look like they are prepared out the back is there still a barman stationed behind the bar to serve those standing ???:D

 

Many thanks

 

John

 

Misread by me as 'standing ON a barstool' . :eek:

Hardly Seabourn appropriate behaviour :D

[Able Seaman H]

Yes, there is a bar steward stationed behind the club bar who was excellent. There was also at least 1 wandering bar steward hoovering up requests from the tables.

 

At first it was slightly unnerving if you walked up to the bar and there was no one there because they were making drinks out of sight but within 60 seconds or so he would be back to take your order. Undoubtedly a case of someone designing the outlet who has never worked a bar on Seabourn before but as with everything else it can be fine tuned.

 

For us it was business as usual in the club.

 

Henry :)

[JVNYC]

Has anyone seen the V1 rooms on deck 7 with the shower only? Is the room the same size but just a smaller bathroom? I'm curious. Good value for location.

[tinkky]

the absence of laundry is ridiculous

i dont let anyone iron my silk and linen.

last time I did on reflection the linen came back with a hole where the iron had gone thru.

looks like I will be unironed for the whole cruise to Sydney!:eek:

[RustyRollock]

I was planning on taking my "tropical" linen wardrobe on the Sydney to Singapore segment in March. I don't mind cold hand washing them in the bathtub or sink but they need ironing so it looks like I'll either have to go around looking like I slept in them, pay Seabourn to iron them or (shhhhhhhh) take a travel iron with me. Totally forbidden I know but what's the alternative.

 

I'm surprised I'm so annoyed about this. Classic fundamental designer/corporate oversight from people who clearly don't know their customers. Or don't they think that "upscale" people on "luxury" cruises actually do their own laundry?

 

Oh, and while I'm kvetching the nice but impractical souvenir Tiffany book is more muddled corporate thinking at its best. But I'm looking forward to reading one of those abandoned spare copies in Seabourn Square with my morning coffee!

[eliana]

Rusty, you are so right about the absence of facilities for ironing. Converting one small room on deck 5 as envisaged by AbleSeaman is a joke, we need many facilities not just one. We are considering cancelling a forthcoming cruise on the Encore because of this and some of the other criticisms that have been made such as the useless Retreat and the lack of jogging/walking facilities. Someone from top management at Carnival needs to address these issues with Seabourn.

[dalliowner]

I presume the Encore is now at full capacity, could those on board say if the extra 150 passengers is making a difference :)

[binbin854]

We're new to seabourn. Do their other ships have self serve laundry facilities? We were on Viking sea last Year and they had one on every floor. Very convenient.

 

 

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[eliana]

Yes, they all have launderettes with irons and ironing boards. Generally, quite crowded. Is the absence of these facilities on Encore a mistake or deliberate for whatever crazy reason? We sail a lot on other quality cruise lines and have never known a ship without launderette etc, facilities.

Edited January 8, 2017 by eliana

[wripro]

Rusty, you are so right about the absence of facilities for ironing. Converting one small room on deck 5 as envisaged by AbleSeaman is a joke, we need many facilities not just one. We are considering cancelling a forthcoming cruise on the Encore because of this and some of the other criticisms that have been made such as the useless Retreat and the lack of jogging/walking facilities. Someone from top management at Carnival needs to address these issues with Seabourn.

 

If these are your main reasons for cancelling a cruise then good luck finding another line that provides these elements PLUS everything else that Seabourn provides. To me all these other things FAR outweigh the lack of a laundry, the presence of a Retreat which I can simply ignore or a more circuitous jogging track. jmo.

[RustyRollock]

Certainly not planning to cancel but this laundry issue displays such a fundamental lack of understanding of customers' basic requirements I can only assume (hope?) it's a massive oversight that will be fixed, or the cynic in me (who, moi?) wonders if it's a handy money making ploy from pax forced to use the ship's laundry/ironing service?

[eliana]

Winroope, our reason for cancellation would be that Seabourn management have changed so fundamentally that the line would no longer appeal to us. We have sailed regularly with Seabourn since 2001 and would be loath to drop them. but we need to be reassured. As platinum members of the Seabourn club we are entitled to one bag of laundry each per week. It is not the absence of self washing/ironing facilities that would deter us but what could be a change in culture of Seabourn management.

Edited January 8, 2017 by eliana

[ab21au]

. It is not the absence of self washing/ironing facilities that would deter us but what could be a change in culture of Seabourn management.

 

All this talk of SB culture change was going on before our last SB cruise and yet it was our best. I respectfully suggest you experience this yourself before making such a decision on any culture change.

 

On the retreat, if others paying for its use reduces the price I pay for a cruise, bring it on I say. I have not done a TA during which I would say the upper deck would be more utilized but on our port intensive cruises, I rarely saw anyone there other than Cpt GA who was up there taking photos with me.

[markham]

Just to clarify if it helps, the Retreat on Encore is not the same facility that was converted last year into the 4 Spa Suites on Odyssey, Quest and Sojourn.

 

The Encore's Retreat takes up much more deck space, is on the top deck 12, midships and forward, where the golf, shuffleboard and some seating are located on the other 3 ships. And it's a different concept with 15 cabanas with fridges and TVs. I doubt that you and Capt Geir Arne have photographed them unless you have sailed Encore since Athens. Also, you would not have access to its general area to do so unless you pay $350 per day. It is literally roped off!

 

Happy and healthy sailing!

Edited January 9, 2017 by markham