just back from sampler monaco sea dream 1.

[seabourndt]

HI JUST BACK FROM THE LONG CRUISE FROM NICE TO MONACO AND BACK.IN THE MESSAGES IN THE SEA DREAM QUESTIONS POST PEOPLE WERE EXPECTING ME TO BE CRITICLE OF THE SHIP BEFORE I WENT ON HER.

THURSDAY 20TH MAY

AS I HAD BOOKED AN EARLY FLIGHT WITH EASYJET FROM LUTON. IT IS A HASSLE AIRPORT AS YOU HAVE TO GET A BUS FROM LUTON PARKWAY. AFTER CHECKING THE TIMES I DECIDED TO BOOK A TAXI FROM MY HOME TO LUTON AIRPORT. IT COST 37POUNDS WHICH I THINK IS A LOT AND ONLY TOOK 30MINS, BUT IT WAS MUCH EASIER. AFTER CHECKING IN, AFTER A VERY SHORT WAIT I BOARDED THE FLIGHT TO NICE. I HAD MADE A SANDWICH AS THEY DON'NT HAVE MUCH ONBOARED AND YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR THEM. I HAD TO WAIT FOR AN HOUR BEFORE ANYONE BROUGHT ME ANYTHING. (I DROPPED OFF TO SLEEP AMND MISSED THE INFLIGHT MAGAZINE!) I PAID 60P FOR A BABY CAN OF COKE. WE LANDED AFTER 2 HOURS, A LITTLE LATE. BEHIND ME IN THE QUEUE THROUGH PASSPORT CONTROL WAS KAREN HAROLD WHO WORKS FOR VICTORIA TRAVEL WHO CHARTERED THE SHIP. I NEVER SAW HER AGAIN. I WAS HOPING TO SHARE A TAXI, TO SHARE THE COST, BUT COULD'NT FIND ANYONE. I PAID 30 EUROS TO GET TO THE PORT OF NICE. AFTER LEAVING MY LUGGAGE BY THE SHIP, AS IT WAS ONLY 11AM AND EMBARKATION WAS NOT STARTING UNTIL 3PM. I WALKED TO THE TOWN CENTRE, HAD A LOVELY LUNCH OF SIRLOIN STEAK AND CREME CARAMEL. TOOK AN OPEN TOP BUS FOR A TOUR OF NICE, WHICH WAS VERY INTERESTING. NO TIME TO GET OFF AND EXPLORE, SO I GOT BACK TO THE SHIP AT AROUND 4PM. I JUST GAVE MY TICKET TO THE LADY AND MY PASSPORT. THEN MADE MY MADE UP THE GANGWAY. I HAD A SPRAY PUT ON MY HAND, I GUESS TO WARD OFF THE NORO VIRUS. I WALKED INTO THE MAIN SALON FOR WELCOLM CHAMPAGNE AND SNACKS. I SAT ON MY OWN THE WHOLE TIME AS NO ONE EVEN TRIED TO SAY HELLO. AFTER A WHILE I FINISHED OFF MY DRINK AND LEFT. I FOUND THE STEWARDESS'S READY TO SHOW ME TO MY CABIN, WHICH WAS NICE. IT WAS 212 ON DECK 2. SHE TOLD ME EVERYTHING ABOUT MY CABIN. I UNPACKED MY LUGGAGE, AND HAD A LOOK AROUND THE CABIN. THE 1ST THINK I NOTICED WAS THE 2 PORTHOLES WHICH WERE FINE, BUT THERE WAS A SLANTING BIT BELOW IT. AS I LIKE TO DO SOME VIDEO FROM MY CABIN WHICH I COULD'NT LEAVE ANYWHERE. UPON OPENING MY MINI-BAR I FOUND A HALF OPENED CAN OF COKE THERE!!! NOT A GOOD START. THERE WERE SOFT DRINKS,BEER, AND A BOTTLE OF MOET AND CHANDON CHAMPAGNE WHICH WAS VERY NICE!! I HAD A CD PLAYER, A DVD PLAYER BUT NO MP3 PLAYER. I FOUND OUT LATER YOU HAD TO ASK FOR IT AT RECEPTION. I GOT IT BUT IT DID'NT SEEM TO CHARGE!! THE TV CHANNELS WERE NOT VERY GOOD, THE SHIPS CAMERA WAS OFF A LOT OF THE TIME!! WE HAD THE LIFEBOAT DRILL AT 1730HRS. USUALLY YOU WAIT UNTIL THE CAPTAIN SOUNDS THE ALARM!! I WAS SITTING UP ON DECK WHERE A LADY WHO SEEMED A BIT WORSE FOR WEAR!! SAID WHERE'S YOUR LIFEBELT?? I SAID NOT UNTIL HE SOUNDS THE ALARM!! SHE SEEMED OBSESSED WITH THE TITANIC AS SHE MENTIONED IT. THE LIFEBOAT DRILL WHICH WAS ON DECK 5 WAS THE QUICKEST EVER!! 10MINS. I'M NOT COMPLAINING!! I TOOK BACK MY LIFEBELT TO MY CABIN.THE SAME LADY AND MANY OTHERS WERE STILL WEARING THEM HOURS LATER! I THINK THEY LOVE THEM!! I WENT UP ON DECK TO SEE THE SAILAWAY WHICH WAS VERY QUIET APART FROM HIM SOUNDING THE HORN! I RETURNED TO MY CABIN AND DRANK THE CHAMPAGNE. DINNER WAS NOT BEING SERVED UNTIL 2000HRS WHICH I THOUGHT WAS VERY LATE. WE LEFT JUST AFTER 6PM ALONG THE COAST TO MONACO. THE SEA WAS DEAD CALM I'VE NEVER SEEN IT SO GLASSY!!!! I WAS ON THE PROMENADE DECK AND IT WAS DESERTED, I GUESS THEY WERE ALL AT THE BAR GETTING THEIR FREE DRINKS!! WELL AFTER 40MINS OR SO WE APPROACHED MONACO. I WAS HOPING WE WERE DOCKING THERE, BUT WE WERE GOING TO BE AT ANCHOR, AS THE SEABOURN LEGEND WAS IN. I HAD DINNER IN THE DINING ROOM AT 2000HRS. I WAS SEATED AT A TABLE FOR 2, SO NO ONE TO TALK TO. THE FOOD WAS THE BEST EVER! I HAVE TO SAY!

YELLOW FIN TUNA,SWEET AND SOUR SOUP WHICH WAS THE GREATEST!!, DUCK AND SOUFFLE WHICH TOOK THEM 20MINS TO DO. BUT THEY TOLD ME AT THE START SO DID'NT HAVE TO WAIT. DINNER WAS OVER IN AN HOUR. I WENT ON THE TENDER TO MONACO AT 10PM. AT LEAST IN THE AREA I KNOW. IT JUST LOOKED SO DIFFERENT FROM I REMEMBER A YEAR AGO. I REMEMBER WALKING FROM NEAR THE NEW CRUISE DOCK TO THE TUNNEL, BUT IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE. I HAD TO WALK ALONG PASSING ALL THE BEAUTIFUL YAUGHTS ON THE WAY. AS IT WAS DARK I COULD'NT REMEMBER WHERE THE CASINO WAS. I HAD NOT BROUGHT ANY MONEY!! WHICH DID'NT HELP!! SO I JUST HAD A SIT DOWN AND WATCHED PEOPLE GO BY. BEFORE RETURNING TO THE SHIP, PASSING THE GREAT SHIP (SEABOURN LEGEND). I WENT TO BED, I FELL ASLEEP, AND ACTUALLY SLEPT FROM 2AM.

 

FRIDAY 21ST MAY.

GOT UP AT 9AM, HAD BREAKFAST IN TOPSIDE RESTAURANT OF CEREALS, FRENCH OMLETTE,TOAST. TENDER TO ANOTHER PART OF MONACO, QUITE A LONG WALK TO TOWN, UP A LOT OF STEPS. IT WAS VERY BUSY IN TOWN, WITH GRAND PRIX SELLERS EVERYWHERE. I THOUGHT WE WERE GETTING TICKETS FOR THE PRACTICE SESSIONS BUT NO. I WATCHED SOME RACING FROM HIGH UP. GOT BACK ON THE LAST TENDER AT 12NOON TO THE SHIP. WE LEFT AT 1230HRS FOR VILLEFRANCHE, THE SHORTEST TRIP EVER! AFTER A LUNCH IN THE TOPSIDE RESTAURANT AGAIN!(THE DINING SALON WAS ONLY USED ON THE 1ST DAY? I WENT TO THE SHOP AS IT WAS THE LAST CHANCE TO DO SO. BUT I WAS VERY DISSAPOINTED WITH THE CHOICE THERE!THEY HAD A LOT OF SHIRTS THERE, SOME NICE ONES TOO BUT HARDLY ANY CHOICE OF SIZES. SO JUST GOT A BASEBALL CAP(WHICH I THOUGHT WAS VERY POOR QUALITY! WE ARRIVED AT VILLEFRANCHE AT AROUND 2.30PM. THEY AT LEAST HAD THE PLATFORM OUT FOR THE WATER SPORTS. I DID'NT USE THEM AS THEY SEEMED TO BE QUITE DANGEROUS AND AS I DON'T SWIM NOT FOR ME!! THE PEOPLE ON THE BANANA BOAT ALL FELL OF AS THE BOAT MADE A SHARP TURN, THEY HAD TO SWIM BACK TO THE SHIP. I GOT THE TENDER TO TOWN, BUT THERE DID'NT SEEM TO BE MUCH THERE. SO I GOT ON A TRAIN TO (GUESS WHERE!!!) MONACO AGAIN!! I BOUGHT A FEW DRINKS IN THE SUPERMARKET. THE NEXT TRAIN WAS NOT STOPPING AT VILLEFRANCHE WHICH I WAS QUITE SURPRISED ABOUT. SO HAD TO WAIT FOR ANOTHER TRAIN. GOT BACK TO THE SHIP FOR DINNER, AGAIN IN THE TOPSIDE RESTAURANT. I HAD CRAB MEAT,GARLIC SOUP,LOBSTER TAIL,TIRIMISU. PLENTY OF WIME, RED AND WHITE WHICH WAS VERY GOOD. IT GOT QUITE COOL ON DECK WHEN THE SUN HAD GONE IN. WOULD'NT THE DINING SALON BEEN BETTER? WE WERE SUPOSSED TO LEAVE THERE 1ST AT 4AM SATURDAY THEN CHANGED IT TO 0030HRS. WE ACTUALLY LEFT AT 2330HRS. I THINK WE WENT BACK PASSED MONACO. AS NICE WAS ONLY ROUND THE CORNER. NOT SURE WHAT WE DID FOR THE REST OF THE NIGHT.

 

SATURDAY 22ND MAY.

WE ARRIVED IN NICE AT 0730HRS, I HAD BREAKFAST IN THE TOPSIDE RESTAURANT AGAIN!! BAGEL, SCRAMBLED EGG AND CAVIAR!! AFTER PAYING MY BILL AND RETURNED THE MP3 PLAYER(MAINLY ALL OLD SONGS!) I LEFT THE SHIP. I HAD BOOKED THIS EXTRA ADD ON. COST 160POUNDS. FOR A TRANSFER TO MONACO BY BUS AND A TICKET TO THE STAND TO WATCH PRACTICE AND QUALIFYING OF F1. I COULD'NT BELIEVE HOW NOISY IT WAS!! WE WERE SUPOSSED TO SEE THE FORMULA 3000 RACE AT 1700HRS BUT HE SAID WE WERE LEAVING AT 6PM DUE TO THE HEAVY TRAFFIC, WHICH THERE WAS NOT ANY?? WE ONLY SAW 20MINS OF THE RACE. GOT TO THE AIRPORT BEFORE THE CHECK-IN HAD EVEN STARTED!!! I GOT HOME AT 0045 AFTER A HORRENDOUS WAIT IN LONDON FOR AN UNDERGROUND TRAIN.

 

MY IMPESSIONS!!!

 

CABIN

THE SOFA WAS THE HARDEST I HAD EVER HAD!!,

NOT IMPESSED WITH THE TV CHANNELS

DID NOT LIKE THE SLANTING BELOW THE PORTHOLES.

 

FOOD

WAS THE BEST I'VE EVER HAD.

 

STAFF

THEY WERE VERY FRIENDLY AND EAGER TO PLEASE.

 

NO SMOKING ROOM!!!

I DO LIKE ONE TO HAVE A CIGAR AFTER DINNER.

 

THE EXPERIENCE WAS OK I GUESS, BUT ON MY CRUISE ON THIS ONE I WON'T BE DOING ANOTHER ONE ON SEA DREAM.

 

MY FAVORITE CRUISELINE SEABOURN IS STILL THE BEST IN MY EYES, THE FACT THAT THEY SEND YOU AN INVITATION TO DINE WITH A STAFF MEMBER EVERYNIGHT WAS NICE. THEN SIT WITH SOME REALLY INTERESTING PEOPLE UNLIKE THIS ONE!!!

[Magwa]

Thanks Seabourndt, interesting. Why did they put you on a table for 2 alone? Was this an assignment or are you just sat where there's room when you arrive?

 

Pam

[luvtojump]

I don't know what to say after that review other than I can't wait to make my own assessment after July 31st.

Lisa

[paradise55]

I do have to agree with the above comments. The review certainly poses more questions than answers. I am, however, looking forward to your review Lisa. My wife and I are booking back to backs next summer and are very interested in any and all opinions. Have a great "yachting experience" and please do post upon your return.

 

Gary

[gene624]

I went on the old Sea Goddess II when Seabourn ran it. It was a great trip. Staff super nice, dinnner with ship officers very nice; free bottle of Scotch and bottle of Champagne in suite (which was pretty small) . I like a small ship and this one suited me just fine. I am sorry you did not have a spectacular trip. I did not have the chance to go ashore and have caviar and champagne served in the surf, but I cannot get around well enough. Instead, the ship did a special for me at poolside, including a fully clothed staff member (young man) who-- out of the blue-- jumped into the pool and swam across. Very impressive.

 

Gene in Birmingham

[cruisr]

Hi,

 

I just have to echo Seabourndt comments regarding being a single on Sea Dream. I also had the same experience in the lounge after embarkation. I was by myself and almost everybody was couples. I am pretty friendly but didn't feel very welcomed. I was also sat at a table for two by myself. I was never invited to an officer's table (in fairness, I never saw an officer's table & we did dine outside on 4 of the 7 nights) What I like about Seabourn is when I am traveling alone I (and any other single) are always invited to an officer's/entertainer's table. You can choose to go or not. Also, I liked the fact that if you wanted to dine outdoors (in the Verandah) you can or you can dine in the dining room. Unless they changed it on Sea Dream if the dining venue was outdoors, you did not have choice, there was no dining in the dining room and vice-versa.

 

Bon voyage