SeaDream II, Malaga to San Juan, Transatlantic Nov 14th to Nov 27

[Host Dan]

I have a suite (in steerage) booking on hold for this cruise.  This would be the first time sailing as a solo, so I'm wondering if typically the TA crossings have friendly passengers and staff!  I've done 8 crossings on the little Seabourn ships  (now Windstar) and loved every one!  The last time I was onboard was in 1998 when SDII was Seabourn Goddess II, so its been awhile.  I plan on getting to Malaga the day before (after traveling for 18 hours).  Is there a preferred hotel that SD uses?

 

Anyway, as soon as I talk myself out of the first class sticker shock (airlines), I plan on biting the bullet!  Getting back on the ship has been on my bucket list for a very long time.

 

Happy Friday all!

[Zimmy]

We don't do crossings so I can't answer your questions about that, but I can tell you that there is no steerage on SD. We've been on all three decks, and they're all great. Our favorite is deck 3 because of it's proximity to the outdoors, but if we were to do a crossing we might choose deck 2 for stability in case the ocean was rough. You will have a ball.

[Host Dan]

Thank you!  I booked on deck 3, purchased my flights, and have something to look forward to!

[Carnac767]

On 6/3/2022 at 3:44 PM, Host Dan said:

Thank you!  I booked on deck 3, purchased my flights, and have something to look forward to!

Dan, check out the Wandering Hillbilly's YouTube channel.  He's done a couple of crossings on SD and has some good video.  He also has an awesome Aquila 54' Cat and lots of great info and vids on boat charters in the Caribbean.

[TrapperZimmy]

Dan, I am assuming you are kidding when you ask if there will be friendly passengers and staff.  I've been told that anyone who isn't friendly is put off the ship mid-cruise.  That's why sometimes you will see the yacht arrive in the Caribbean short one lifeboat.

[Host Dan]

Thanks for the clarification!  Hopefully no grumpy people onboard!

It's coming up fast!  I can't wait to board!

[Host Dan]

Well the cruise is almost a reality!  I plan on doing a travelogue, so stay tuned!

[Zimmy]

Looking forward to following you. We will be doing our first crossing this spring.0

[Host Dan]

Onboard.  Magic.

[Zimmy]

3 hours ago, Host Dan said:

Onboard.  Magic.

Details please!

[Host Dan]

The only device that works is my phone, so reports on this cruise is limited.  All I can say is this cruise is like true cruising from days long gone.  Truly magical.  Service incredible.  I'll be writing an in depth review when I get home!

[Host Dan]

The cruise is over, and I'm getting back to reality!  It will be a few days before I get my review written!

[Piaa]

On 11/28/2022 at 11:35 AM, Host Dan said:

The cruise is over, and I'm getting back to reality!  It will be a few days before I get my review written!

 

Can't wait to read it 

[Host Dan]

With everything going on right now, and the memory of the cruise in the rear view mirror, I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have. From sleeping under the stars to the slide.  Ask away!

Please believe me when I said I wanted to do a travelogue.  The internet was mostly non-existent, even though they charged $179 for 1 device.  The travelogue idea had to be squashed.

Thanks!

[TrapperZimmy]

Dan, I probably have a hundred questions.  Zimmy and I have sailed SeaDream many times in both the Caribbean and Europe, but we are doing our first crossing in April.  I don't know how similar eastward crossings are to westward, so maybe someone else can tell me.  My biggest concern about the voyage is the length of time we will be at sea.  We have one stop in Bermuda on day 4, and that is it until we get to Lisbon on day 16.  The most consecutive sea days we have had on SD was 3, and I said at the time that I could never do a crossing.  This year, however, I decided to give it a try and the timing worked out for us.  I've got a book of 200 Saturday New York Times crossword puzzles and will have a few books on my Kindle.  But what else is there to occupy my mind?  Besides eating, that is.  Please describe some of your typical days.  Was the internet non-existent because it just isn't available at sea, or was there some problem?  Did that mean you had no contact with the rest of the world all that time?  (That can be a good thing, I suppose.)

[Host Dan]

All I can say is that the sea days go by very fast!  Yes, a lot of your time is spent eating, but not just that, it's getting to know your fellow guests onboard.  For me, my table seemed to be the last to leave!  So often in port intensive itineraries, you don't get to really know others.  The lectures were excellent (especially Jim Wurtz), and trivia was "blood-sport for bookmarks!  (Trivia was extremely rushed, to the point that you couldn't really discuss with your team.  Also, when Garrett was hosting trivia, it was very hard to understand what he was saying)  The piano bar and casino were very busy in the evening, as was the TOY bar.   Sleeping under the stars was fantastic.

 

Bring a book or 2.  Take in a movie.  Sunbathe at the pool.  Take a lovely nap.    Anton, at the TOY bar, will make the perfect drink.

 

Internet was not available for most of the crossing.  Not really a bad thing!  (Except being charged for something that simply didn't work in the middle of the Atlantic ocean.)

 

Enjoy the crossing.  You'll be so glad that you did!

[Jim Avery]

17 hours ago, TrapperZimmy said:

Dan, I probably have a hundred questions.  Zimmy and I have sailed SeaDream many times in both the Caribbean and Europe, but we are doing our first crossing in April.  I don't know how similar eastward crossings are to westward, so maybe someone else can tell me.  My biggest concern about the voyage is the length of time we will be at sea.  We have one stop in Bermuda on day 4, and that is it until we get to Lisbon on day 16.  The most consecutive sea days we have had on SD was 3, and I said at the time that I could never do a crossing.  This year, however, I decided to give it a try and the timing worked out for us.  I've got a book of 200 Saturday New York Times crossword puzzles and will have a few books on my Kindle.  But what else is there to occupy my mind?  Besides eating, that is.  Please describe some of your typical days.  Was the internet non-existent because it just isn't available at sea, or was there some problem?  Did that mean you had no contact with the rest of the world all that time?  (That can be a good thing, I suppose.)

Hi Trapper.  We have done many TAs but not SD.  You asked about the difference EB/WB.  Mainly it involves time zones.  WB you gain an hour several days and EB you lose an hour several days.  We personally enjoy 25 hour days over 23 hour days.  Ymmv.  Have a great trip.

Jim & Lois

[ctbjr1309]

I would a couple of other differences between EB and WB.  Usually, heading EB the weather gets chillier as you go.  On the other hand, heading WB the weather warms up over time.

 

This TA starts in West Palm Beach which is 1,000 miles or so north of where most SD TA's originate (San Juan, Barbados and St. Martin).  Also, with the stop in Bermuda and ultimate destination of London, the ship will likely take a more northerly track than the usual SD TA's with the result being that the air temperatures should start to cool down quicker than they otherwise would on a traditional SD crossing.

 

Finally for those of us living in the US, it's so nice on the WB trips to disembark with a relatively short trip home and little or no jetlag to deal with.  Of course, the opposite is true going in the other direction.

 

 

Edited December 10, 2022 by ctbjr1309

[TrapperZimmy]

Nice to hear from you, Jim and ctbjr.  We wish the four of you were sailing with us.  The cruise is ending in Lisbon, not London, so it might be chillier at the end, but not as bad as London would be.  Isn't that pretty much where all the TAs begin or end?  We are hoping that we will still be able to get some sunbathing time on deck.  The counter to your last paragraph, ctbjr, is that it is easy for us to get to the yacht, which is why we were interested when we saw it was sailing out of Palm Beach.  It's nice that we won't have jetlag at the beginning of our vacation.  We are doing a few extra days in Europe before flying home, and we'll plan on dealing with the jetlag at the end of the trip on our own time.  We were in Scotland in October, and I think we are still a little jetlagged from that trip.

 

To a pair of some of our favorite SD couples, Zimmy and I wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy (and healthy) New Year.

[ctbjr1309]

On 12/10/2022 at 2:33 PM, TrapperZimmy said:

The cruise is ending in Lisbon, not London, so it might be chillier at the end, but not as bad as London would be.  Isn't that pretty much where all the TAs begin or end?  We are hoping that we will still be able to get some sunbathing time on deck.

 

To a pair of some of our favorite SD couples, Zimmy and I wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy (and healthy) New Year.

Yes, of course you are right on the ending port of that trip.  SD did end a TA in London a number of years ago but at this point it looks as if currently scheduled TA's do conclude either in Lisbon or Malaga.  Sorry for the fake news.

 

I'm sure you'll have plenty of time sunbathing on deck and equally sure that you'll have a wonderful trip.  There's plenty to do and what could be better than SD 24/7 for days at a time?  Wish we could join you on the voyage and can't wait to hear about it.

 

Best wishes to you both for a wonderful holiday season.  We wish we could properly celebrate NYE in St. Bart's with you in a few weeks!