en Encore

[rols]

We will go to Encore with an open mind as the crew always try their best. Looking forward to the sushi and trying the Earth and Ocean experience - the Patio Grill was much in need of a night time makeover.

 

An open mind made our cruise very enjoyable despite any issues we had, many of which were minor.

Unless they roll it out before Christmas however you won't get to try Earth and Ocean as that started on Ovation and hasn't been introduced on Encore yet. This did seem like a concept which should be pretty easy to roll out so perhaps you'll be fortunate and have it by year-end. If not I'm afraid they still have the same Patio Grill on Encore.

[Mr Luxury]

Thanks for your review Gary

You are spot on with the different feel between SS and SB

I think there will be changes with Royal Caribbean in charge at SS

I'm sure they will chase younger guests to experience SS

 

Sent from my SM-G955F using Forums mobile app

[markham]

Just to say that this thread has been very insightful. So kudos to all who have already and will participate in it!

 

Further, I agree with Tarwood3 about SS having “sleepy” characteristics based on my limited experience of a less than “Seabourn energy” single cruise on a somewhat tired looking Whisper last October. And then I have found the SS board on CC very different from Seabourn’s. Much less lively, more a place for travel reminiscences and port advice among long time friends than such active discussions about ups and downs of the line itself. Until recently, that is, when the Spirit’s post-stretch cruises restarted and passenger dissatisfaction blew up, and more recently when the Explorer’s cruise complaints started rolling in and suggested that customer relations management there is so unsatisfactory.

 

Anyway, back to Seabourn and about Rols’ point that the Encore class ships’ future itineraries appear less expensive than those of the Odyssey class. We have noticed the same thing, and this may demonstrate that the market has indeed figured out that smaller ships with better space and crew-passenger ratios, and with more poised, calm and consistent crew behaviors/performance attract more customer demand. And the market, for what it represents, is right. No amount of designer provenance or exclusive “retreat” type nonsense or a Japanese restaurant (as found on Encore and Ovation) is persuasive enough to compete within the same brand. So yes, Seabourn is in effect is bifurcating the brand, unfortunately and unintentionally, no doubt. (Over to you, Seabourn.)

 

Let’s keep the ball rolling. The cruise lines have plenty to learn about us, just as we do from one another.

 

Happy and healthy sailing!

[wripro]

Thanks for taking the time to post Gary.

 

Always refreshing to get the viewpoint of someone new looking with fresh eyes.

 

There is a danger on here that with several hundred nights under their belts some posters get blasé and have unrealistic expectations. Worst still they look back at a bygone era with rose tinted spectacles.

 

The triplets were of their time and I suspect if priced at today's market rate you'd fall of your chair when you saw the fare.

 

Henry :)

 

Then I'd better wear a seat belt when SB prices its expedition ships!

[sfvoyage]

I sailed on the Ovation in July, and it was my best Seabourn cruise ever. In fact, when I boarded the Quest in August, it took me quite a few days to re-adjust to the smaller and older ship. I kept missing the additional space, the beautiful, plentiful, and varied artwork throughout the new ship, the superior Colonnade (in terms of space, layout, food selection - they now offer fairly-authentic Chinese-style congee during breakfast), the beautiful Observation Bar with the stunning circular glass work and atrium. The Club has been fixed (not yet on the Encore), so that there is now a customer-facing bar and bartender.

 

The Restaurant has a totally different layout and decor. Service can suffer on formal nights when it's full; the maitre d' told me she prefers the older version, which can accommodate all guests at once even on a busy night. However, I didn't suffer from poor service on that cruise.

 

TK Grill is now a big and beautiful space, and its bar is a wonderful addition.

 

The Sushi is a welcomed addition, although its popularity varies by passenger demographics, and I didn't frequent the place because it is not veggie-friendly.

 

Service level was top-notch, best ever. However, that depends on the crew and can vary by ship and by cruise, of course. I do agree with others that Seabourn, like other cruise companies, is facing challenges recruiting, training, and retaining good staff members, due to the growth in the industry in recent years. On the Quest last month, I was told by crew members that they are indeed short-staffed in their F&B department.

 

Lack of conviviality and intimacy was not an issue. We met many interesting guests and kindred spirits. Sure, we kept seeing guests we had never seen before throughout the cruise, but for us it's about quality, not quantity. Our social life on board was just as robust and satisfying as ever.

 

Much has been said, over and over again, about the Retreat. While I agree that it should be re-deployed and re-imagined, personally, it did not detract from my enjoyment, as I never made use of the facilities (putting green, shuffleboard, etc.) that previously occupied the space, which wasn't utilized much anyway.

 

All other things being equal, I now much prefer the bigger ships.

[SLSD]

sfvoyage, Your post explains what I fear. I've sailed on both Encore and Ovation now and loved every minute. Mid May 2019, we will be on the Sojourn. Am I going to be disappointed? Will I miss the lovely Observation Bar, the larger Colonnade, the larger TK Grill and its wonderful bar? I'll come back and report. We'll be spending 23 days on the Sojourn. I should be able to do a comparison.

[florisdekort]

In fact, when I boarded the Quest in August, it took me quite a few days to re-adjust.

 

 

It took us no time at all. It was delightful to be back on Odyssey class after sailing on both Encore and Ovation. More space on the open decks and especially in the pool area. The Patio Grill and Bar on the same side of the pool, next to each other. The Restaurant with plenty of seats for all, more space between tables, much less noise, and better views to the outside world. The much more intimate and special feeling of TKG (it’s too big and too noisy on the larger ships). The Colonnade with much better, personal table service and therefore without the feeling of a mass market buffet with countless people touching utensils before you and sneezing all over the place. A more open Observation Bar with the windows on all sides much closer to wherever you sit (offering better outside views than on the larger ships), our much preferred square bar and the lovely outside viewing deck. The Club as it’s meant to be. Better service across the board (if only because of the significantly better crew to guest ratio). No Retreat and no class system. A noticeably more sociable environment. I could go on and on.

 

No more Encore class for us. We might as well sail Viking or Azamara then, a similar experience and cheaper. Seabourn should stick to small ship luxury and charge a premium for it.

 

Floris

[SLSD]

Wow Florisdekort, you make me really look forward to our voyage on the Sojourn next May!

[BasandSyb]

Well said Markham.

Florisdekort, you are continuing to play into our thoughts as to why we have avoided the larger ships so far, but will give Encore a go at Christmas.

More noise in the MDR? Terrific :o!

We find this area on the O ships to be very noisy and impossible to have a larger table conversation - and we both have perfect hearing!! Would hate to think of the difficulties for people wearing aids.

[Les Picantins]

We just left Encore after three weeks. My review has been turned in to CruiseCritic. It is generally positive. But there were shortcomings on our trip. I said we expected more from a luxury cruise costing this much. We needed more consistent service. I don't think it's necessarily a lack of staff, it's a lack of organization and supervision. There was way too much talking and pointing among the wait staff. We needed more supervision at the swimming pool. Yes, the area is a little too small, but it could be adequate if managed with better staffing and supervision. While we had some excellent staff (Dora from Portugal in the main restaurant was wonderful), I was surprised that so many of the staff were not very accomplished. LittleRedJohn

 

I just went to look for your review which is not yet online. I came across another one instead written by Zmod225. I sure hope you did not cross paths with this passenger. Sounds like a real "piece of work". I'm surprised that the review was accepted!

[rols]

I just went to look for your review which is not yet online. I came across another one instead written by Zmod225. I sure hope you did not cross paths with this passenger. Sounds like a real "piece of work". I'm surprised that the review was accepted!

 

The review is certainly on the extreme end however, if you dial down the rhetoric you may see in there some of the elements various of us who've been on Encore in the last few weeks have pointed out were a bit lacking, just amplified to a rather ridiculous level.

 

Can't figure out the comments about the suite, ours felt pretty brand spanking new, all the bathroom fixtures were working perfectly, he claims all 3 suites had 'the same problems' which doesn't sound possible.

 

That review does remind me of a few things. We really like the 'tap to unlock' locks on the suite doors, much better than taking the card out and swiping it. More of the doors around the ship are now automatic which was good. The door closer on the veranda door closes it much ... more ... slowly so you can open it and take your drinks and a book out without having to hold it open with your backside, it's a small thing but a helpful touch. That poster is correct that you have to leave a keycard in a holder in order to get lights and aircon and power, however if he'd just gone to seabourn square and asked, they'd have given him a blank card which you can leave in there for as much of the cruise as you like.

[lincslady]

I read this a couple of days ago. Some untruths, like the 'fact' that there are a lot of places where people can smoke. And reads like it was written in a hurry and with a lot of anger (or maybe drink taken). I would personally prefer not to have dinner at a shared table with this person; luckily it seems unlikely that they will darken Seabourn's doors again.

[Isklaar]

Another odd thing about that review, it's for Encore but they stated it was a cruise in the Baltic Sea last month. I thought Encore had been in the Med for months.

[SLSD]

I read the review and it does not seem credible.

[frantic36]

Another odd thing about that review, it's for Encore but they stated it was a cruise in the Baltic Sea last month. I thought Encore had been in the Med for months.

 

Your right Isklaar, the review is Encore in the Baltic. Encore has been in the Med for months and was definitely in the Med in both July and August.

 

With regard to the the card we just put an ordinary card from our wallet in the slot by the door and leave it there. We don't even bother to go to Seabourn Square.

 

I agree there were some hiccups on Encore in July and Odyssey class ships are my preference but this review is way over the top. However I do enjoy the larger dining choices and depending on the itinerary I will sail on the larger ships.

 

I am not understanding some of the complaints. There are clear instructions in the room on the door, same as on the Odyssey class ships as too which area is your muster and the CD gives clear instructions over the tannoy. I don't understand why they were so confused.

 

Julie

[ab21au]

I agree with Mr L and others. Just read the review and laughed.

 

Our experience was totally the opposite, in fact many of the reviewers complaints are not even possible.

[Able Seaman H]

It took us no time at all. It was delightful to be back on Odyssey class after sailing on both Encore and Ovation. More space on the open decks and especially in the pool area. The Patio Grill and Bar on the same side of the pool, next to each other. The Restaurant with plenty of seats for all, more space between tables, much less noise, and better views to the outside world. The much more intimate and special feeling of TKG (it’s too big and too noisy on the larger ships). The Colonnade with much better, personal table service and therefore without the feeling of a mass market buffet with countless people touching utensils before you and sneezing all over the place. A more open Observation Bar with the windows on all sides much closer to wherever you sit (offering better outside views than on the larger ships), our much preferred square bar and the lovely outside viewing deck. The Club as it’s meant to be. Better service across the board (if only because of the significantly better crew to guest ratio). No Retreat and no class system. A noticeably more sociable environment. I could go on and on.

 

No more Encore class for us. We might as well sail Viking or Azamara then, a similar experience and cheaper. Seabourn should stick to small ship luxury and charge a premium for it.

 

Floris

 

We also came from Encore back to Sojourn and didn't feel we were getting second best not being on the latest & greatest ship of the fleet. Where we differ is that I would happily cruise either ships again.

 

I didn't find the MDR on Encore noisier in fact if anything I think the roof design and height changes made the space quieter and more intimate. Several spaces joined together rather than one big space.

 

The distance from windows in the Observation lounge is surely a bit of a white elephant. Most of the time you are in there it's dark so the windows are black. During the day it is perfectly possible to sit and enjoy views of the outside world. There would be a few hardened drinkers sitting at the bar during daytime opening but not many. I thought the bar design and particularly the glass fish above it a fantastic feature.

 

The smaller TK restaurant on Sojourn does mean bookings are very precious if everyone is to have their turn. Encore had more covers pro-rata and so it was possible to enjoy extra meals in there beyond the guaranteed minimum particularly if you work with TK staff and are flexible when you can dine. Sushi was a welcome addition on our longer 30 day cruise.

 

I have always struggled a bit with table service in the Colonnade restaurant regardless of ship. I'm quite able and happy to get up and serve myself and I like the additional serving areas and choice afforded on Encore.

 

The Club bar on Encore was a mistake, I believe it's been rectified on Ovation and will be on Encore.

 

I don't disagree with you that the positioning of the Patio Grill on Encore isn't ideal and could possibly have been positioned forward rather than aft. I think there was / is also a problem with the large sun shades aft of the pool which should swing round but don't - or didn't when we were onboard.

 

 

We had no problem socialising or meeting people on Encore.

 

Yes, the Retreat should be opened up to all who want shaded space minus the TVs in the cabanas (which would need policing rigidly so people don't plonk a book down to "reserve" them). There is no one on here who supports them as they currently stand.

 

Henry :)

[Les Picantins]

Another odd thing about that review, it's for Encore but they stated it was a cruise in the Baltic Sea last month. I thought Encore had been in the Med for months.

 

The Baltic Sea thing is a bug in the system. Somehow that also appeared on my review of the Encore which is the one right after.

 

I didn't understand several points of this review, but mostly I don't understand how it got past the approval stage.

[SLSD]

Able Seaman, you see the Encore (and Ovation) exactly as I do. Not perfect, but a very very nice ship. Like you, I really liked the glass sculpture above the Ovation Bar and liked the Ovation Lounge very much in general.

 

I do look forward to sailing on the Sojourn in May so that I can come back with my thoughts. I

[jenidallas]

With regard to the the card we just put an ordinary card from our wallet in the slot by the door and leave it there. We don't even bother to go to Seabourn Square.

 

Ditto to that, Julie.

 

So many hotels have gone to this as well that I find it wise to just leave an old hotel key card or two in my bag for when this occurs - slide that in and then don't even worry about having to fetch it back at the end. (I do enough one-night hotel stays that my bag seems to constantly have a dozen old key cards floating about in various pockets!)

[Able Seaman H]

Able Seaman, you see the Encore (and Ovation) exactly as I do. Not perfect, but a very very nice ship. Like you, I really liked the glass sculpture above the Ovation Bar and liked the Ovation Lounge very much in general.

 

I do look forward to sailing on the Sojourn in May so that I can come back with my thoughts. I

 

You'll have a great time because you step aboard wanting to have a great time and no one working on the ship has any desire to stop you having one :)

 

Henry :)

[Isklaar]

The Baltic Sea thing is a bug in the system. Somehow that also appeared on my review of the Encore which is the one right after.

 

I didn't understand several points of this review, but mostly I don't understand how it got past the approval stage.

 

 

Thanks for explaining that.

[JYarNYC]

My husband and I were on the Encore from August 18 (Barcelona) to August 25 (Civitavecchia). I've enjoyed seeing posts on this thread from people who were either on the ship when we were, or after. Gary, aka Tarwood3, I especially liked reading your thoughts, especially as you compare your experiences with Silversea (which we've never been on, but we're interested in them.) I submitted a review of our time on the ship, but it is taking a while to get posted, so I thought I would continue the bonhomie here.

 

We absolutely loved the ship, and I'm afraid that we are now fully spoiled. I don't think we would want to go smaller, or older. Perhaps that is short-sighted, as I can appreciate that the smaller ships do have their charms. But the sleek and modern -- without being ostentatious -- style of the Encore really hit the right notes for us. We had only been on one other cruise before this one -- Celebrity Solstice to Alaska. And while we enjoyed it at the time, I don't think we could go back to a more mainstream line without having buyer's remorse.

 

There was a nice energy on the Encore. We're a gay couple, and no one -- and I mean no one -- batted an eye. I'm not sure we ever ended up interacting with a fellow passenger who wasn't from the US, Great Britain, or Australia (although I did hear a few other languages besides English over the course of several days). No doubt the crowd is prosperous, and just like in life, we met a handful of people who we didn't really want to meet again, but I never felt like I was surrounded by 1) snobs; or 2) stodgy types. So if our experience is typical on Seabourn, we're hooked.

 

Our secret to having a great MDR experience -- and we were there for four of the seven dinners -- was being early-birds (we're 41 and 51, so I guess we defy the stereotype.) We'd hang out in the Observation Lounge until a little before 6:30 each evening then make our way down. Not only did we almost always have a seat by the window, but we almost always had responsive service. Yes, there were occasional gaps in drink refills, but by and large, we didn't wait long. Towards the end of our meal we would notice the crowds gathering around the host/hostess area, and I guess that's when the problems began. Our Thomas Keller meal was superb. I was surprised that I wasn't as enthralled with the Sushi restaurant; I don't really have any complaints, but it didn't especially stand out. We loved getting room service on our last night.

 

All of you who see no point in the Retreat: I'm with you. If I craved a secluded area where I could alternate between sun and shade, with access to a TV and all the champagne I could drink, I would merely remain in my suite. The spa was another waste of money. I was a sucker -- and perhaps the one and only that whole week -- who sprung for the unlimited sauna/steam room/"experience shower" access. I never would have considered it had I not been experiencing some back pain at the beginning of our cruise. It didn't really help, but whatever... I tried.

 

I have the attention span of a gnat, with restlessness to boot, so there is no way I could have sat through the shows. I have no doubt that the performers are quite talented, but I think that Seabourn's strengths lie in other areas. Even the venue itself seemed informal and underwhelming. I got most of my evening entertainment in the vicinity of the TK Grill bar.

 

All in all, our Seabourn cruise was top-of-the-line and indulgent... so much so that I found myself becoming less interested in the extra drink or food course as our week came to a close. I guess that's why I'd probably not consider anything longer than 7 days -- or taking a cruise more than once every couple of years -- because I'm afraid that it would stop being special. But cruise again we will. This was our first Seabourn cruise, but it won't be our last.

[cece50]

My husband and I were on the Encore from August 18 (Barcelona) to August 25 (Civitavecchia). I've enjoyed seeing posts on this thread from people who were either on the ship when we were, or after. Gary, aka Tarwood3, I especially liked reading your thoughts, especially as you compare your experiences with Silversea (which we've never been on, but we're interested in them.) I submitted a review of our time on the ship, but it is taking a while to get posted, so I thought I would continue the bonhomie here.

 

We absolutely loved the ship, and I'm afraid that we are now fully spoiled. I don't think we would want to go smaller, or older. Perhaps that is short-sighted, as I can appreciate that the smaller ships do have their charms. But the sleek and modern -- without being ostentatious -- style of the Encore really hit the right notes for us. We had only been on one other cruise before this one -- Celebrity Solstice to Alaska. And while we enjoyed it at the time, I don't think we could go back to a more mainstream line without having buyer's remorse.

 

There was a nice energy on the Encore. We're a gay couple, and no one -- and I mean no one -- batted an eye. I'm not sure we ever ended up interacting with a fellow passenger who wasn't from the US, Great Britain, or Australia (although I did hear a few other languages besides English over the course of several days). No doubt the crowd is prosperous, and just like in life, we met a handful of people who we didn't really want to meet again, but I never felt like I was surrounded by 1) snobs; or 2) stodgy types. So if our experience is typical on Seabourn, we're hooked.

 

Our secret to having a great MDR experience -- and we were there for four of the seven dinners -- was being early-birds (we're 41 and 51, so I guess we defy the stereotype.) We'd hang out in the Observation Lounge until a little before 6:30 each evening then make our way down. Not only did we almost always have a seat by the window, but we almost always had responsive service. Yes, there were occasional gaps in drink refills, but by and large, we didn't wait long. Towards the end of our meal we would notice the crowds gathering around the host/hostess area, and I guess that's when the problems began. Our Thomas Keller meal was superb. I was surprised that I wasn't as enthralled with the Sushi restaurant; I don't really have any complaints, but it didn't especially stand out. We loved getting room service on our last night.

 

All of you who see no point in the Retreat: I'm with you. If I craved a secluded area where I could alternate between sun and shade, with access to a TV and all the champagne I could drink, I would merely remain in my suite. The spa was another waste of money. I was a sucker -- and perhaps the one and only that whole week -- who sprung for the unlimited sauna/steam room/"experience shower" access. I never would have considered it had I not been experiencing some back pain at the beginning of our cruise. It didn't really help, but whatever... I tried.

 

I have the attention span of a gnat, with restlessness to boot, so there is no way I could have sat through the shows. I have no doubt that the performers are quite talented, but I think that Seabourn's strengths lie in other areas. Even the venue itself seemed informal and underwhelming. I got most of my evening entertainment in the vicinity of the TK Grill bar.

 

All in all, our Seabourn cruise was top-of-the-line and indulgent... so much so that I found myself becoming less interested in the extra drink or food course as our week came to a close. I guess that's why I'd probably not consider anything longer than 7 days -- or taking a cruise more than once every couple of years -- because I'm afraid that it would stop being special. But cruise again we will. This was our first Seabourn cruise, but it won't be our last.

Enjoyed your thoughts on the Encore.....we sailed her this past May, Athens to Barcelona. It was our first cruise ever and we would have to echo your thoughts. For us, Encore was the perfect size with that subtle touch of glamour, a lovely crew, good food & interesting fellow travelers. Thanks for the tip regarding the MDR. We had no issues dinning there a few nights, & loved the TK Grill along with a few pleasant evenings on deck at the Patio Grill. We have plans to sail her sister, The Ovation, on a repositioning cruise next May, Lisbon to Amsterdam & hope to have the same wonderful experience. We are fans!

[Able Seaman H]

.........We absolutely loved the ship, and I'm afraid that we are now fully spoiled. I don't think we would want to go smaller, or older. Perhaps that is short-sighted, as I can appreciate that the smaller ships do have their charms. But the sleek and modern -- without being ostentatious -- style of the Encore really hit the right notes for us. We had only been on one other cruise before this one -- Celebrity Solstice to Alaska. And while we enjoyed it at the time, I don't think we could go back to a more mainstream line without having buyer's remorse.......

 

A lovely refreshing review lest those jaded by years of Seabourn's pampering forget :)

 

You raise a very interesting point in terms of transition from mainstream cruise lines to Seabourn. We also made the jump a few years ago and believe Encore / Ovation's styling makes the move very easy.

 

What ever you might dislike about the crowds, herding and general watering down of any service on the mainstream ships their internal spaces are often spectacular, possibly to deflect attention away from failures elsewhere.

 

Moving from 3, 4 or even 5,000 passengers to 3-400 might be too big a leap for some, 600 could be easier. Intimate but still a good sized pool of people to choose from.

 

You hit the nail on the head in terms of inclusion and also the lack of competition amongst guests to be top dog.

 

Anyway, glad you enjoyed yourselves and look forward to meeting you on board. I would encourage you to give the entertainment a whirl next time. I'm not a show tunes kind of guy but have found Seabourn cast members punch above their weight. You can always place yourselves at the back in case you need to make a premature exit ;)

 

Henry :)