CLOU

There is really only a tiny bar with about 4 seats right the bar in TK on the Quest. It is not a bar area like on the larger ships with tables and a piano player. I have not seen people there except those waiting briefly for their table.

I tried going through my itinerary and got the same message that the function was currently unavailable. anyone else try it ?

Has anyone been able to make advance TK reservations on line recently? I have cruises booked for January and June and have not been able to make reservations for either cruise. I keep getting a message that the function is currently unavailable and to try again later. This has been going on for months. In the past, not only was I able to book well in advance but many time slots would fill up well in advance. I could speculate that the TK contract will be up by then and not being renewed but I think I am reading too much into just another Seabourn website issue.

We got some tape from our hotel but it wasn't necessary. Seabourn put on its own tag when we got to check in. I wouldn't stress about it.

Sauncy, how were you able to change the tv input to the HDMI? Is there an input or source button on the remote?

Interesting to hear there was an HDMI input. That differs from what was previously said. Thanks for the info.

Can someone tell me how much the enhanced wifi costs?

Nice to hear. I have cruises booked in January and June. If no one else reports back I will update as to whether the soaps have returned after either cruise. However, I would love to hear from someone else if they make an earlier return.

I am curious as to the source of the “supposed” come back of the offering of multiple soaps. I thought that offering was minor but a really nice touch. I miss it and would welcome the return of this custom.

That’s my main question. Is there an HDMI port and ir a USB port you can access and can you switch the source or input? Or, can you cast from a phone or iPad? sorry, I seem to have hijacked this thread.

Has anyone tried streaming through their own device. Is there an HDMI input one can use / would think there are international restrictions on streaming outside the US for a US account. What about viewing from a thumb drive? Is there a USB port and can you switch the source using the remote?

This really is a matter of personal taste- to each his or her own. We have not found we have had to line up for much on Seabourn, so that is not an issue for us. The few times we have sailed other lines and had a butler we didn't rally know what to do with him. Once, on Silversea, he asked us early on what we needed, and we didn't really need anything. Later in the cruise, when we actually needed him once or twice, I can't remember what for, he was nowhere to be found and did not respond to messages, at least not timely. I know some people really make use of a butler and miss having one on Seabourn, but I for one am fine without one. We have had bigger issues on Silversea than lining up, so for now, Seabourn is our first choice.

I would take a day tour of the Golden Circle. There are lots available. They go to Thingvellir National Park, the Geysir geothermal area and Gullfoss waterfall. We had a car and drove the route so I cannot recommend a company, but the sites, especially to the last two, are pretty cool.

Also, the OBC from travel agent may be refundable to you so if you don't spend it you get a credit on your credit card statement. The promotional credit will not be refundable, and in our experience, OBCs from travel consortiums that the agents belong to have not been refundable, but credits from the travel agent themselves have been refundable if they are not spent. When you get on board, before making any final decisions about how to spend your credits, you can check with Seabourn Square to see if any of the credits are refundable. Of course, if there are things you would enjoy by using the credits, such as excursions, spa treatments, reserve wine or gift shop purchases, you might end up enjoying the use of the money that way, as I often do, rather than just looking for credit on my charge card.

If you have a travel agent you could ask them to find out which credits are combinable. If not you contacting Seabourn directly to ask, but considering the experience you just had, there are no guaranties on the accuracy of any response. You can definitely ask at Seabourn Square after you board.

You might or might not have quite as much credit as you listed. Last time I had what I thought was both a promotional credit from Seabourn and a referral credit I found out they were not combinable. I only got the higher amount of the two

Yes, every time you cruise.

I boarded the Ovation on January 7th in Barbados and no one looked at my boarding time or my papers. They asked our name and cabin, looked us up, and escorted us on ship. I did not use the paper luggage tags, either. They put on tags when we arrived at the port.

We are currently in Barbados waiting to board the Ovation tomorrow. We were pleasantly surprised on our arrival yesterday to be greeted by people holding Seabourn signs who guided us through fast track immigration control, even though we had not booked our air travel through Seabourn nor paid for the fast track service. This let us avoid a line containing three planes’ worth of people. Of course, while we didn’t need to wait in the frustratingly long line, it was all for nought since our one piece of checked luggage was one of the last to come down the belt, along with several other people’s priority tagged luggage,

I agree that it can be hit or miss. In one cruise, the announcement was left out of the Herald, but we had been told about it, however only three of us showed up, so they were grabbing people walking near the meeting point and convincing them to join us. On another cruise, I found out only because I asked the chef about it when I saw him in the dining room. Once again, it never appeared in the Herald, but somehow the tour was full. As it turned out, the chef had to take a tour with a marketing group, so a Thomas Keller representative who was on the ship to make sure that TK was being operated as required, took us on the shopping tour. He was great. We saw the chef at the open air market with the marketing group, photographers and a group of models posing as passengers because we, the actual passengers, weren't good looking enough.

Sorry, I hit enter before I had typed my post. I started to say that I am really getting psyched for my cruise that leaves Saturday. I used to cruise once or twice a year but this is my first cruise since the pandemic hit. Anyway, I am now posting a variety of questions. This time, I was wondering if anyone knows if they are still doing shopping with the chef. If so, has anyone had recent experience as to where they might go in the Caribbean. Also, is it still just listed in the online Herald? And, what time does the Herald become available for the following day? Thanks for any info.

S

I am chiming in on jeans. I fit, by age, in the grandma demographic, although I have no kids or grandkids, am still quite active and well traveled, and I am taking classes at the local university. I wear jeans most days. I rarely go out to dinner in jeans, except to the most casual restaurants. I will follow that habit on Seabourn, wearing jeans, or shorts since I will be in the Caribbean, during the day, and nicer slacks or a dress in the evening. I see nothing wrong with jeans at any time before 6:00 pm, and this is also in keeping with Seabourn's prior guidelines, even before the change.

Just checking again to see if people recently have still been able to board prior to the boarding time assigned by Seabourn. Since even with a late checkout we will be evicted from our hotel well in advance of our assigned time, we would really like to board earlier. In the alternative, has anyone had success with having their travel agent contact Seabourn to revise the time?

I remember reading somewhere on this Board that a choice of soaps is no longer offered by your stewardess upon embarkation. While I will miss having a choice, that's okay, as long as some bar soap is available. At a recent stay at a Four Seasons only bath gel and liquid hand soap were offered. I prefer bar soap in the shower and just want to make sure that some bar soap is still provided, especially since Seabourn has now gone to the larger containers of other toiletries. If bar soap is not provided I will have to bring my own. Thanks.