cruisr

The FBI will get involved in all cases to rule out foul play.

Not true. they do get involved if state lines are crossed. She boarded in MA and was found dead in ME waters. This crossed state lines and hence FBI is called in.

Just logged in... 249 days intact!

Bragger :).

Geir Arne is probably the best Capt I have ever sailed with and I have sailed with many in my 100+ cruises. The crew and guests adore him and he will handle this as well as he can. I can say the biggest thing happening now is all of the amateur Agatha Christies onboard with a new version of Murder on the Orient Express.

if the FBI is involved they will not release the ship until they want to. I wonder if the woman was American or another nationality?

I guess nobody from CC is onboard or we would have heard more details.

Edit: Ship departed Bar Harbor at 16:00 and is enroute to Halifax.

How does one just fall overboard? It's a pretty hard thing to do. I know on CCL there have been incidents of teens and twenty something's going overboard after drinking and doing stupid things like climbing over railings and leaning over.

It's sad to hear and I would be interested to know the circumstances.

Seabourn dry cleaning service is amazing. I once sent a pair of slacks to the dry cleaner and I knew the hem was ripped but I was going to pin it up. they came back clean with a note that the hem had been repaired at no charge. That is sooooo Seabourn.

As others have said supply and demand. Seabourn is extremely popular and extremely full.

They are also in the business to make money so if the prices have been raised and the ships are full their business plan is working.

Seabourn has been sailing full. I would not wait as it is very rare to see Seabourn with any extra space. Also ways to attract guests with lower fares are disappearing. Reduced single supplements (a sign there is a lot of space) or being available on Interline sites (TAs that only book airline employees and their immediate family members). Years ago Seabourn had lots of guests that were airline employees and booked through Interline agencies. Interline is a greatly reduced rate. they filled the suites without Seabourn dumping product. None of the Interline agencies have Seabourn so at 90 days prior to sailing Seabourn is going out full or full enough they don't need to offer the public lower rates.

Also, to follow up on what someone mentioned the most expensive suites and the least expensive suites always go first.

Apples and oranges. Personally I don't know why one would go on a line that is not all inclusive unless its a one off itinerary. I detest being nickel and dimed and also detest signing for a glass of wine or a bottle of champagne.

You get what you pay for and Seabourn is the best value out there In terms of being all suites, all inclusive and all fabulous. The size is perfect too

That being said, it's your money and your cruise and only you can decide. You have been given good advise here. What ever you decide, enjoy.

Hapag Lloyd?... a ship-load of Germans?! :D Seriously, wouldn't all the lounge chairs be taken by 6am every day and "reserved" for the rest of the day...?;)

 

Check this out:

OMG that is so funny. THat happened on every single cruise that I was on on the Vistafjord. There use to be fights amongst passengers. I was walking by when a Brit spilled a glass of water over a German because they got so frustrated with the "reserving"

The cruise now shows online and under "My Reservations". Not only has the price increased, it is no longer part of the double-upgrade promo.

Oh my. Well as long as you have the original invoice showing you had paid your deposit on a different fare and promotion I am sure your TA will get it resolved.

In any case I am glad that you are back in business.

I do not believe ANY cruise line has an obligation to refund ANY arrangements not book thru them (ie. Cruise Air)

 

Sorry I disagree with your statement but of course could be wrong (but am 99%)

Well, I am speaking from personal experience. In my 100+ cruises I have had 2 that I was booked on that were chartered. In both cases my non refundable expenses were fully reimbursed.

Perhaps my wording was to strong. I guess I meant "must" in the sense that it would be a PR disaster if a cruise line chartered a ship, upended the plans of their guests and then did NOT reimburse them. Wouldn't happen.

Hopefully the cruise isn't being chartered since some people booked on the cruise could have already purchased their airline tickets.

 

What would Azamara do in a case where someone had already bought their airfare on their own (not through ChoiceAir)?

The cruiseline, whether Azamara or any other, must reimburse any non refundable hotels or air that was booked predicated on the fact that the person was to sail on that sailing.

I gave Azamara a call and the person I spoke with checked with multiple desks and said my reservation is fine. It was take down off of the main website because they are analyzing that sailing for inventory purposes (not sure what this means). As for it not showing under "My Reservations", she said they have a bug in the system that causes some itineraries not to show.

Analyzing the sailing for inventory purposes is cruise line speak for looking at how many are currently booked (and prohibits additional bookings) that they will have to give move off offers to due to either a very large group/charter/incentive which could end up to be a full ship charter.

I hope I am wrong but not showing under my reservations at the same time the cruise is removed from booking doesn't seem like a "bug" . That's a bit too much of a coincidence, be interested if others on the sailing can not see their resevation.

They also have to take into consideration the demographics and psychographics of the area where the show is. London is the best market for Azamara to spend their £. They also have to consider the other tourism companies that will be exhibiting. Conde Nast Luxury Travel Fair will have similar exhibitors that will draw a more upscale audience.

Imo they made the correct marketing choice. It's all about ROI which they would not realize in Birmingham.

possible Charter? Cant figure any other reason for taking an 8 night cruise out of inventory.

I've sailed with Jan probably 20 times on the original triplets. I am surprised she has block parties. Geez, just typing those words is difficult as the idea of a block party is, as someone said, like the first day of kindergarten or camp. No thank you. I would never participate in such a juvenile ideas. This is not something Seabourn should do.

I have met the most wonderful people and have made friends that I have visited and stay in touch with around the world. I can make these connections on my own, maybe over dinner or a drink at Sky Bar and certainly not in a passageway.

Sailed with him many times including inaugurals on the QM2. Been to his lectures on land also. Very nice man and very knowledgable.

Thanks for the heads up Hazel. I had a look at the FCO website and it's issued specific information for Istanbul. I intend to see this city, but will avoid public transport as recommended.

 

Phil

Having been to IST 6 times may I recommend the trams. Yes, I know they are public transportation but they are the best way to get around. I guess there is just something about being above ground and being able to get off quickly, if needed, as opposed to a subway, that makes me OK taking them.

If not please be prepared for massive traffic, no matter where you go. The traffic is awful in IST. I am a walker and I walked from the port to the Old City.

Not quite right.

I worked on Royal Viking Star until she briefly became NCL's Westward. Soon after that she was sold to Royal Cruise Line and became Star Odyssey (1993??).

Then when Royal went under, the ship was sold to Fred Olsen and became Black Watch.

She is still there.

 

Norwegian Star was built by Star Cruises in 2001, shortly after they bought NCL. It was originally planned to be a gambling ship in Asia, but instead they gave it to NCL. I worked on that one as well, in Hawaii and Mexico.

 

Knut Kloster, who was running RVL in it's later years, vowed that he would never cheapen his product - even if it killed him.

It didn't kill him - but it killed his company.

By the way, he absolutely detested American passengers, and blamed their demand for cheaper and cheaper cruises for his downfall.

Royal Cruise Line did not go under. it was closed by Adam Aron and Kloster. Aron said that when he was hired his first job was to close RVL, which he did and then his next job was to close RCL which he did. RCL was an amazing cruise line.

the other wonderful line was Home Lines and the Oceanic.

I did the last segment of the inaugural WC of the Odyssey in 2010. It was one of the best cruises, out of the 100+, that I have ever done. The full WC guests were fantastic. Friendly and welcoming to the people who boarded in Dubai.

I have read on other boards that WC guests do not seem to be welcoming to segmenters but my experience with Seabourn was the exact opposite.

I was part of a Trivia Team that had done pretty well as 4 people were on the FWC but when they welcomed a couple of Trivia fanatics our team won every day and there were a lot of sea days, so a lot of play. I think it was Marla and David who were the moderators. Great fun.

Sad but true.

 

To borrow a phrase from Jon Stewart who has used it when referring to South Carolina, I now refer to all of them as "whooppee cushion" states. Sorry, but my bucket list is waaaay too long to contemplate visits to them. Maybe in 20 years, maybe never.

 

That said, there is a subset of these states that were acquired along the way from France, Spain and Mexico. Are petitions useful and/or effective as a first step in making divestments a reality? Just sayin'...

 

Happy sailing!

Sad as you missing out in meeting some of the nicest people I have ever met. I fell in love with Charleston and the low country area and am actively looking at purchasing a second home there.

GO! GO! GO!

 

The 15 person expedition team were amazing and their lectures were educational and entertaining. We were so busy that we had to give up afternoon tea/nap:eek:

 

The 6 days in Antarctica were so beautiful that you never get bored...you are looking at the mainland not just icebergs. Looking up at an iceberg from a zodiac is indescribable. And those penguins - you feel like you could sit on the snow and watch their antics for hours on end.

 

We have traveled all over the world and been fortunate to have experienced many amazing places but nothing compares to Antarctica.....we would do it again in a heartbeat!

Wow. Thanks. Too busy for afternoon tea???? That's gotta be a great itinerary.

keji - while I agree that the dining room should be open for all meals, when it is open for breakfast and lunch it is so empty that the atmosphere is very lacking.

 

It has been said many times before that you do not have to use the buffet for lunch in the Colonnade if you wish to be served. From our experience, if you want a really leisurely lunch there it is good to go early, at noon, when you can find a quiet table for 2 or 4 or whatever, especially outdoors in the summer - we love it. Then, someone will serve you a glass of wine, and you have no need to order food until you are ready. We personally actually enjoy going to the cold buffet for our first course, to choose small helpings of favourite salads etc. I am not saying it is the same as being in the dining room, but we personally prefer being outdoors, with the view, in the shade, in hot weather. And when tempura prawns and veg. are on offer, usually once per cruise, oh boy!

That is always my course of action. It's the best way to enjoy all the wonderfulness (is that a word) that is Seeabourn.

TAs are not the ones who designate what line is a luxury line. They may use the term to help sell a product but that's not the same, any more than a Hyundai salesman telling you that his product is a luxury car.

You obviously haven't owned or driven the Genesis. I will no longer drive Lexus or Mercedes. The Genesis is just as luxurious and drives better.

JD Power says it IS a luxury car so the salesman is correct

TAs are not the ones who designate what line is a luxury line. They may use the term to help sell a product but that's not the same, any more than a Hyundai salesman telling you that his product is a luxury car.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I'd rather have the opinion of a luxury specialist then some random passenger. I unfortunatly had to go on a Princess Cruise. I thought it was equivalent of the Staten Island Ferry. Random peoole I talked to thought it was luxury.

So who sets the luxury standard? some random passenger with no frame of reference? A cruise ine marketing department? Let them all say they are luxury.

For those that have been on the itinerary I need some advice. I love cities. I have done safaris. Have done Galapagos and about 50 US National Park BUT none of these were as long as the Antarctic cruise. I am afraid that after day 3 I will be bored with icebergs and penguins

Did you get bored at any time? How were the lectures?