texanaust

The newer Silversea ships are beautiful and we are going on one in three weeks.  Silversea definitely has the edge with the quality of ships but Seabourn has better crew (at least they used to).  I would like to try SB's smaller expedition vessels but at the current price point, we simply cannot justify the cost (the exception being the Antarctic someday...).  We then sail on Ovation right afterwards so it will be interesting to compare and contrast.  I don't mind the u-shaped walking track on Ovation as no one uses it, but Silversea's top-deck track beats it hands down.  

Can you confirm that Venture has no tenders except for the zodiacs?  I was reading a review and they said that even at regular tender ports (in the UK for example) they have to use the zodiacs and everyone has to dress in waterproof gear and wear life vests.

9 hours ago, markham said:

About the food, we see far deeper menus and more quality choices and ingredients than we encountered on our recent poorly-provisioned Quest Grand Voyage.

Perhaps Seabourn is moving to a two tiered system where the expedition ships (costing almost double per diem) get better provisioning than the older 'cruise' vessels?  

On 5/29/2023 at 1:04 PM, texanaust said:

I think there are about five options for lunch plus a very limited basic sushi selection.  From recollection there is a Ramen/Udon bowl, then there are bentos.  One has salmon, one mushroom and one potsticker/dumpling.  There could be a fourth bento option, but I don't remember.

 

If you are looking for good sushi, then don't go for lunch.  Dinner has a normal selection.  

I was missing the chicken bento.  Seishin on Silversea has a much better sushi lunch.

11 hours ago, cruiseej said:

 

And this evening's replacement bottles are Aqua Panna, for the first time this cruise. I suppose if you have a favorite, and they have it on board, your cabin attendant can get it for you. And if you don't care which brand you get, you may get several, as we have. 😀

You have Aqua Panna without special ordering!!!???  Hopefully its not my order for July! 😇

I think there are about five options for lunch plus a very limited basic sushi selection.  From recollection there is a Ramen/Udon bowl, then there are bentos.  One has salmon, one mushroom and one potsticker/dumpling.  There could be a fourth bento option, but I don't remember.

If you are looking for good sushi, then don't go for lunch.  Dinner has a normal selection.  

IMHO the Nordaq water is terrible (taste) and the plastic bottles definitely leak.  I special order Acqua Panna, but Evian is normally available and San Pellegrino if you want sparkling.  

So this did turn into another dress code thread after all...

17 hours ago, Tallante said:

Current wine list on the Encore I received today.  I believe the highlighted ones are currently not available.

A very limited list especially if the bolded are out of stock. 

As for 'natural' wines, they certainly will not be on the complimentary list.  Your only hope is to befriend the F&B manager and ask him to purchase you some at one of the ports on your itinerary.  

On 4/20/2023 at 12:39 AM, galeforce9 said:

Think it has already been stated in this thread. If it’s an experience marketed section they are included except for kayaks and submarines.  

...and helicopter flights and private car trips.

20 hours ago, adoctor said:

I am booked on the first cruise ex Valetta. All the details are as expected in my booking when I log on.

I was told that it's sold out and the wait list is long and is now closed.

I can only presume (and hope!) that this is the reason it has morphed into the ether on the web site. I will of course double check before parting with the final balance.

It could very well be that all the Pursuit itineraries are fully booked until Oct 10.  Seabourn will have done very well in promoting the new ship if this is the case.

All Pursuit cruises are showing as waitlisted for all categories up until the 10th of October.  The 10th of October has availability.  I suspect a delay in the launch and they don't want to take any further bookings at this time.  

Does anyone know if Silversea stocks Acqua Panna bottled water as a regular drink or if I need to request this in advance?  Thanks.

5 hours ago, purpleally said:

Where is that

Some crew went to Viking but its not a line that we would choose.  Some also went to Windstar and Scenic.  

48 minutes ago, purpleally said:

hold up towels so their partner can take off their swimsuit and then don a robe?

Some don't even bother doing that!  

40 minutes ago, bitob said:

I don’t want to cruise without a butler. One of the reasons seabourn is my last choice for a luxury cruise is there are no butlers. Seabourn regulars told me no problem. Stateroom attendants do the same thing.  Not even close 

And yet I find the stateroom attendants on Seabourn far superior to our butler on Silversea.  Our butler on the Moon was totally useless and when we received the mid-cruise survey, he asked for us to give him a five star review.  When we didn't fill it out within the prescribed five minutes, he then hounded us for several days asking if we had given him a good review...finally I had to waste my vacation time to meet with the HD and give him our butler review in person.  

This butler was new and certainly did not have any formal 'training'.  

Is Seabourn still compensating passengers for quarantine days?  Most cruise lines are no longer providing any compensation so it is normal to have lots of hacking people wandering all about.  I found this out most recently on QM2.  Lovely trip but given a parting gift of Covid-19 upon disembarkation.  

4 hours ago, Stumblefoot said:

SS sells t-shirts on board now?

They sure do.  Buy yourself a 7-diamonds shirt next time you are onboard-most comfortable t-shirt I've ever owned.  

We were on the Moon last summer and thought it was very average.  No way is it the best restaurant at sea.  TK on Seabourn is much better and that venue is free.  

To be honest, you can pretty much get everything on the menu at La Dame in Atlantide.  If its not on the menu, you can always special order.  Of course we had obc and had to try it...I wish I'd spent the credit on a couple of T-shirts now.

Yes.

51 minutes ago, Mr Luxury said:

The Colonnade does have staff that are training and when they are trained they can progress to the MDR.

I like the look of some of the menus but after many attempts I now stay away from dinner in the Colonnade.

Until last summer we had never ate dinner in the Colonnade.  However, we went to all of the TK nights and they were wonderful.  The service and food were excellent, no doubt in part due to the Maitre'd (Corne) on Encore.  

Markham is spot on about the lunches.  At least on his voyage, the Restaurant was open for breakfasts and lunches, unlike the Med cruises in 2022.  But the reality is that Seabourn is not really 'doing' lunch in the Restaurant, they are just plating up what is in the Colonade. 

Markham, I hope you special ordered a few lunches.  We often use that option when dining in the Restaurant.  At least Seabourn's poor lunches make for a healthy if not happy sailing!

11 hours ago, SLSD said:

I think the issue with debt is that payments come due and the money has to come from somewhere.  

It still seems like a drop in the bucket though.

Surely the sale of Odyssey won't make much difference to Carnival's 34.55 BILLION dollar debt.  Rather than death by a thousand cuts, would it not be preferable for Seabourn to be sold off as a going concern like Azamara was?  

Surely the 'bean-counter' cutbacks (and there have been many) do not help with keeping its existing clientele coming back, nor make the brand as appealing to sell.  As SLSD said, the Venture/Pursuit are too expensive for some and the larger ships too crowded.  Perhaps a better business plan is in order?

3 hours ago, Sir PMP said:

So is it DJ's from now on or still a dance band on board?

Both, it just affects the trio I believe.  

I think I mentioned this previously, but Handre said SB was getting a full-time DJ to replace the trio on all the ships.  It is supposed to be implemented this summer but with the new CEO who knows.  The impression I got was that the genre of music was to be modernized skewing more towards the 80s,90s,00s.  

As for Belinda King, I think we are stuck with her for a while.