CLOU

I am one of the lurkers.  We cancelled two cruises that were to sail later this year  We cancelled them on our own, before Seabourn cancelled them.  Now the first has been officially cancelled by Seabourn. The December cruise is still currently slated to sail, but we are not comfortable sailing again until we see how things develop.  We cancelled Our September 16th cruise to Europe on the Encore on March 27th and our December 22nd cruise to the Caribbean on the Sojourn on April 13, so much more recently that most others.  Of course, we have not received our deposits back yet.

Here is my example of pretension at the TK Grill. We were all handed the menus opened to the reserve wine list page instead of the food menu. This corresponds to the attitude we have had there in the past that it is expected that we order a better wine, since the complimentary wines are not good enough. 

We have found they have put us on United or Star Alliance partners (except to Reykjavik where it was IcelandAir, a significant but not unexpected downgrade) but we fly out of Dulles. United is not great but we are used to it out of Dulles. Its European partners, such as SAS from Copenhagen, like most international carriers, are better.  We have learned to always check Seabourn air, since it is sometimes, but not always, significantly cheaper. Our last two cruises Seabourn’s fare was over $1000 per person lower for business class air to Europe on convenient flights. They also accommodated a deviation of a flight into a different Italian city than the embarkation port, so we could do some pre-cruise touring.

I tried on two separate cruises to get some better beer for my brother-in-law who was sailing with us. He too tends to drink IPAs. I contacted guest relations directly and through my travel agent. I asked for Sierra Nevada or some local beer such as Canadian beer on a Canadian cruise or Icelandic beer or something from Scotland on a Northern Europe cruise. No success.  He and we also had a hard time having anyone tell us what actually was available. On the Northern Europe cruise he asked for an IPA and got the Lagunitas. He probably drank them out of their supply.

Pulled up this thread because we are about to book a Christmas and New Year's cruise for this year.  We don't observe Christmas, but we certainly have no problem with being around others who are enjoying the festivities.  We also have never been on a Seabourn cruise with more than a few children.  I was a little concerned but this thread makes me feel that the presence of children will not be too intrusive.  I was wondering if anyone on a current cruise or perhaps just returning in the next few days can add anything new.

As for bar service, not the bartender himself, we had the exact opposite experience on the Odyssey last year.  Granted, we were in the Club, which is smaller than the Observation lounge, but Denys, who got off the ship with us, had three of our drinks ready as we were sitting down.  He never had my sister's drink because she ordered something different each night so he had to check with her.  He was the first person mentioned in my survey as someone who helped make my cruise more enjoyable.

We have eaten at both French Laundry and Per Se.  We ate at French Laundry, many years ago, before we had eaten at that many other fine restaurants with which to compare it.  We were actually disappointed.  Now, every place can have an off night, and occasionally we have given a highly rated restaurant a second chance and been glad we did.  However, we have not been back to French Laundry.   Our experience at Per Se was better, but still not as good as expected or as good as similarly priced and touted restaurants.  Also, on our last cruise, we found the Thomas Keller selections in the main dining room to be disappointing, as apparently did the couple dining at the table next to us.  On one night, after my husband ordered the TK appetizer, our waiter tried to dissuade him and asked him what his second choice would be.  He brought out both, which worked out well, because my husband found the TK appetizer inedible.  But, food is a matter of taste, literally, so other people may feel differently.  

As to the snottiness, we have ignored it, and it has certainly not ruined our dinner.  I just find it an anomaly on Seabourn, it and does take something away from the experience.

Interestingly, on our Caribbean cruise, we signed up for shopping with the chef, but the chef was diverted to be with a camera crew, in the same markets, taking promotional pictures and videos, with models instead of the ragtag passengers. So, instead we were accompanied by a representative from the TK restaurant group who was on board that cruise to ensure that the TK standards were being met on the ship.  He was delightful and informative and a great ambassador for TK.

Count me among the people not all that impressed with TK. We have had dinner there once on each cruise since TK was launched, for variety's sake, but have been underwhelmed.  I have had both steak and chicken and found them to be average. I agree the chicken was salty and I like salty food.  Last time, when I split it with by brother-in-law, he thought it was underdone.  Also, on the Odyssey class ships, it feels cramped, but so did R2.  It is a much nicer setting on the newer ships.  My biggest problem, however, is the attitude.  It is the only place on Seabourn ships where I find a snobbish attitude and an upsell effort.  I found it offensive that when they handed us our menus, they were all open to the reserve wine list and not the actual food menu.  We came in with our own bottle on our most recent trip (which by the way they refused to take from us in advance and hold for us so we did not have to fetch it right before dinner, when we requested that the night before), so we short circuited the upsell, but in the past  when the reserve wines have been pushed, I have been tempted to ask them if they thought their complimentary wines were too inferior for us to drink.

I have found the availability of Fever Tree can also be affected by the location of the cruise.  Maybe because it is made in the UK, it has been unavailable on our Canada and Caribbean cruises, while I have been able to get it on European cruises.  However, I have had less luck with getting Fever Tree Light, which has only been available sporadically.

It's interesting how different people's experiences and preferences can be.  Granted, we have taken ten Seabourn cruises and only one Silversea cruise, but that was partly because of our negative impression following the SS cruise.  Unlike Accessor, the food on SS was one of it smain drawbacks for us.  We sent our meals back once in the main dining room because it was inedible, not just improperly prepared, and I cannot think of any other time I have done that anywhere.  And our experience in the club was the exact opposite.  While Seabourn's passed hors d'oeuvres may have gone a little down hill in recent years, as I think have many things on many cruise lines, they are still far superior to what was served to us in the lounges on SS just a couple of years ago. Everythings was ice cold, including greasy fried calamari and soggy pigs in a blanket.  Each cruise can be different and everyone has different tastes.

Thanks for he info. I still have a couple of years but it is finally close enough to actually be realistic to think about. If Seabourn uses your average suite level it would be hard to give us anything but a v3, since that is what we have always booked, with the exception of two upgrades. I am not sure if you can choose any seven day cruise or how they determine the amount of credit to give you, but I can worry about that when I actually hit the milestone.

This may have been addressed before but I cannot find the thread.  We are actually nearing the 140 day benchmark to earn a free seven day cruise.  While it is likely two more cruises away, I am already planning the next one, so it is at least close enough to dream about. I have a couple questions.  First, how does Seabourn determine what level suite to provide?  Logic would tell me it would be the level you sailed the most, but that may not be true.  Also, somewhere in the back of my mind I thought I recalled that you could take a longer cruise and receive a credit.  Is this correct?  If so, does this only apply to cruises that also have a separate 7 day bookable segment, so Seabourn know how much of a credit to give?

Thanks Hallam. All of the restaurants we looked at were closed on Sunday. We are staying at the Marriott, if that helps with any additional recommendations. We were looking at a lot of foodie restaurants, although after a fifteen day cruise, I am not sure if that will be necessary. 

Okay, I just posted about Reykjavik, but I also need a recommendation for a restaurant for dinner in Copenhagen on a Sunday night.  We would like something nice, but it does not need to be fine dining.  Just looking for good food.  We are open to anything.  However, every restaurant I look at seems to be closed on Sunday.  We will just have gotten off a 15 day cruise, so I may be a little burnt out.  We will be four with one pescatarian.  Any suggestions, especially from a resident would be appreciated.

We will be in Reykjavik next Friday night before embarking on our cruise on Saturday.  I would be interested in any recommendations for a dinner restaurant, especially from any residents of the city.  Went to both Grillmarkadurinn and Fiskmarkadurinn last time we were there.  They were okay but I would like to try something different.  We would like something nice, but it does not have to be the finest dining, although we are open to anything.  We will be a party of four with one pescatarian.  Any suggestions would be appreciated.

hanks SKP946.  As I remembered, pretty limited for a beer drinker who likes interesting beer, and tends to drink iPAs.

Thanks SKP946 but I cannot open these links.

I have spoken to my travel agent and she spoke to Seabourn.  I asked for beers available in the UK or Iceland since those are the two countries which will be visited by the Quest right before our cruise starts in Reykjavik and so choices should be available.  We will see if anything comes of it.   

As I stated earlier, last time my advance special request was not met. Perhaps I will try again. What is a reasonable amount to ask for? This is a fifteen day cruise and my brother-in-law pretty much only drinks beer, water and Diet Coke.

I saw an old thread on this, but it did not mention what beers might be available on board.  I am not much of a beer drinker, so other than Grolsch, I don't remember what beer choices there are.  I am sailing in a few weeks with my borther-in-law and he drinks only beer.   Last time we cruised together, following advice form this board, I contacted guest relations and asked them to stock some pale ale readily available in the US (we were sailing from Boston).  Disappointingly, my request was not met.  I would like to try again.   This time we are sailing from Reykjavik, so I will request a common Icelandic beer.  However, In anticipation of disappointment again, can anyone tell me what beers are generally available on board?  You can skip any light beers, because I know that is not his style.  Thanks.

Thank you, Sucellos, for the reasoned and detailed reply.  I too had come to the conclusion that the responses on this board seemed to be a bit all over the place, just like the so-called travel information sources on line.

The one problem with the tip and the credit card is that for some ridiculous reason, most US cards do not have a PIN.  They finally have chips but the vendor has to print out a receipt for us to sign.  It is almost always just printed and presented to us, without a chance to change the number.  That means, when we tip have to  tip in cash.  I guess before they enter the bill number we could ask the if it is possible to add a tip, but that always feels awkward.

I will be going on a cruise in June to Iceland, Norway and Denmark, and will be spending some time independently before, after and off the cruise in ports.  I have noticed that some residents of these countries visit these boards and was hoping to get some advice on tipping in restaurants, hotels and taxis.  There is online information that seems to be all over the place - i.e.,  tipping is not common or expected in these countries, or, that is true but some people add something - a few Kroner extra for good service, enough for a cup of coffee,  or some people add five percent, or some people add ten percent.  I don't mind tipping for good service, but I also don't want to tip just because I am American and feel I should.  Years ago I saw an American insist on tipping someone in Tahiti, where, at the time at least, tipping was rare, and he tried to give it back three or four times before she finally relented.  It was a foreign concept to him.  I prefer to follow what actual residents do, so any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks for the reply Raphael, but like my confirmation, my final invoice only shows a final shipboard credit, and not a breakdown.  The credit does not match the dollars I expected from the promotional given by Seabourn on booking and my Carnival stcok credit, but would match if I added the value of the Silber wine package.  Since we have had issues with credits before, I was wondering whether that is what they did - add the value of the wine package, and also whether our actual account shows as the purchased wine package or if they just gave us an additional dollar credit in the value of the wine package.  Also, I do not see anything anywhere about the complimentary internet minutes.

And, yes, I know I can and have picked my benefit choices on line, but I need the answer to the above questions before I finalize those selections, because it will affect our choices.

Markham's response, which also echoes my thoughts on the  new website, seems to confirm my conclusion that I will have to check or have my trave agent check directly with Seabourn.

Does anyone know if there is a way to check on the Seabourn website to see what credits you have on your account for an upcoming cruise.  We are supposed to have a complimentary Silver Wine package as compensation (that was offered to us, we did not request anything) for some minor issues on a prior cruise.  Also, the cruise came with shipboard credits and complimentary minutes of internet.  On my final booking and final invoice I see account credits, which actually exceed what I was expecting. I think it may includes the value of the wine pacakge, but I cannot be sure.  Also there is no where I see to confirm the internet minutes, which affect which Seabourn Club benefits we select.  I think I recall being able to check some of those things in the past, but I cannot seem to do it on the current website.  If not, I will ask my travel agent to confirm the details, but if I don't need to bother her, I won't.

Thanks for the reply.  That's what I feared.  Do you remeber the name of the private guide and were you happy with him or her?