plane7c

13 hours ago, MaggyCan1 said:

I have read this thread right from the beginning and I find the comparisons provided by various posters between Crystal and Seabourn to be fascinating.   I have very much appreciated reading them.

 

I have never cruised with Crystal, and based on the consensus that seem to exist among the reviews posted regarding the standoffishness/rudeness of fellow passengers, I never shall.    I am a solo traveler and have cruised now with SB five times, with the sixth booked cruise canceled due to COVID.   One of the most enjoyable aspects for me as a soloist is the friendliness of my fellow cruisers.   I have found, with very few exceptions, that everyone whom I engaged with at the bar, at a meal, around the pool, or during a tour, to be cordial and friendly.   That's very important to me, and the lack of those interactions would completely spoil the cruise, no matter the quality of the food, or drink, etc.   

 

I also really like the notion of the Hosted Tables and have frequently taken advantage of them.   The only time I feel slightly uncomfortable traveling on my own is when going into dinner, and having a lovely printed invitation with my name on it to dine with a member of the entertainment staff or an officer is wonderful.   I have heard some wonderful tales from these folk and had a good many laughs with other passengers seated at these tables as well.   Of course, one does not have to accept the Hosted Table invitation - I always call and either accept or decline the invite before the deadline given on the card.   The most important thing is to have the choice!

 

I have not yet booked a future cruise with SB; just waiting to see how everything pans out before taking the plunge.   But based on my own experiences as a SB passenger, I just cannot imagine cruising with anyone else.   And I would never, ever cruise on a mass-market ship again.   Too many people, too much nickel-and-diming to death.

I have taken 8 Seabourn cruises as a solo traveler.  I was booked for my 9th Seabourn cruise in April but it was canceled.  I have not booked another cruise yet.

I always accept the invitation to have dinner in the dining room at a hosted table. I like that their seating arrangements separate couples so that everyone gets to talk to someone new.  I agree that Seabourn cruisers are friendly and welcoming.

The staff is very accommodating.  I did one Silver Seas cruise and it was pretty good, but then I started with Seabourn and here I will stay.  

On 7/6/2020 at 8:15 AM, Reef Knot said:

 

Same here, I remember discussing the YF vaccination age conundrum back in Feb! 

I have now booked this same cruise on Silversea for March 22, was much the same price as our cancelled one. Hopefully the world will have got back on track by then.

The Yellow Fever discussion!  I had been booked on the Quest cruise from Manaus to Miami in April. I was very concerned about getting the vaccine because I am 78.  Then I found my original proof of the vaccination and learned that it was good for a lifetime.   

1 hour ago, Fletcher said:

Ponant have just published an extensive description of their new Covid protocols for passengers who book one of their cruises.  To summarise - all pax need a signed medical certificate before boarding; daily medical checks on board; pax must wear masks (provided) in corridors and urged to wear them elsewhere; no buffets; contactless dining, whatever that means; thorough medical checks on boarding after shore excursions; loads more stuff to make this a rather unpleasant experience.  Seabourn may well be planning something similar.  Full details, in English, are here -

 

https://fr.calameo.com/read/00013242371fe0f908d85?authid=ekgNT5Wj7RSN

Fletcher, thank you for this link.  I took 2 Ponant cruises several years ago.  Small ships and therefore easier to implement the protocols, in my opinion.  I expect and support similar protocols from Seabourn, but it certainly changes, maybe forever, my view of cruising as an exciting, fun, carefree, pampered experience.  

7 hours ago, crusinbanjo said:

It was posted on the Holland America board that HAL and Seabourn, both CCL lines are extending the operational pause until the end of November.  Not sure were this info came from, as he did not cite his source, but thought it worthy to pass along.  Maybe it can be verified or proven to be just rumors.

The Seabourn website has had that information.  Seabourn cruise pause through October, November 2020.

27 minutes ago, JPH814 said:

Hello all.  So good to see the valve is open at Seabourn.  

I appreciate all who have made  contributions to this thread.  I think we got out of it what we wanted...a sense of how fast/slow the refunds were processed and a sense of camaraderie for those of us  waiting. As such, I will not be adding any new cruises to the list. I will finish posting any refunds for the next few days.  it looks like we have 16 open cruises from 14 different posters.  I imagine some of them may have been refunded and the poster just has not gotten back to us.  Oh well...

As mentioned, I will be heading to the beach for two weeks and leaving this all behind.   Here it the latest:

	As of Date:	6/20/2020
	Cruise Fare	Cruise  Date	Refund Request  Date	Refund Received Date	Days since Request	Days between Request and  Refund
u	cruzluvers	3/22/2020	3/9/2020		103
u	TV24	3/28/2020	3/15/2020		97
n	Pilotapat	3/22/2020	3/16/2020		96
n	Ramses	3/14/2020	3/20/2020		92
	Foyt	7/25/2020	3/23/2020		89
n	remember66	4/5/2020	3/26/2020		86
u	Clou	9/16/2020	3/27/2020		85
	Laylam	5/9/2020	4/1/2020		80
u	Clou	12/22/2020	4/13/2020		68
	DC Traveler	5/2/2020	4/13/2020		68
n	Gilligan840	5/23/2020	4/14/2020		67
	Laylam	5/23/2020	4/16/2020		65
u	Whystayhome	7/31/2020	5/6/2020		45
u	Whystayhome	10/24/2020	5/6/2020		45
	labate	8/14/2020	5/7/2020		44
u	TV24	10/3/2020	5/7/2020		44
u	Klolson	4/8/2020	3/9/2020	6/17/2020		100
n	Mauzac	4/5/2020	3/14/2020	6/19/2020		97
u	Plane7c	4/15/2020	3/14/2020	6/18/2020		96
	canadalin	4/8/2020	3/15/2020	6/17/2020		94
n	rgaudet	3/28/2020	3/15/2020	6/16/2020		93
u	Jodiandfrank	7/18/2020	3/16/2020	6/14/2020		90
n	Reefknot	4/5/2020	3/17/2020	6/15/2020		90
u	Not Jaded	12/20/2020	3/20/2020	6/13/2020		85
u	Mark56	5/9/2020	3/16/2020	6/8/2020		84
n	Sunburned Tongue	3/22/2020	3/9/2020	5/31/2020		83
	Wire	12/20/2020	3/22/2020	6/13/2020		83
n	Daliowner	5/5/2020	3/11/2020	5/31/2020		81
n	joc123	4/29/2020	3/31/2020	6/19/2020		80
n	Flaminjune	3/14/2020	2/24/2020	5/13/2020		79
n	Scottie920	4/5/2020	3/16/2020	6/3/2020		79
n	Mauzac	4/20/2020	3/30/2020	6/15/2020		77
	SF Voyage	4/17/2020	3/9/2020	5/24/2020		76
	Teamflames	4/15/2020	3/10/2020	5/25/2020		76
n	Rambo Trout	3/22/2020	2/27/2020	5/12/2020		75
n	Sunburned Tongue	4/17/2020	3/9/2020	5/23/2020		75
u	Bobal	5/6/2020	3/11/2020	5/24/2020		74
u	jkwestlake	3/21/2020	3/27/2020	6/8/2020		73
	Hoosier74	7/18/2020	3/18/2020	5/29/2020		72
	JRS51	6/27/2020	3/25/2020	6/5/2020		72
n	astride	4/29/2020	3/30/2020	6/9/2020		71
u	Marazul	4/22/2020	4/2/2020	6/12/2020		71
	Phillipahain	4/22/2020	3/30/2020	6/9/2020		71
n	Sueweldon	3/14/2020	3/15/2020	5/23/2020		69
	Happyhoppies	3/22/2020	3/17/2020	5/23/2020		67
u	swaxxy	4/29/2020	3/30/2020	6/5/2020		67
u	jenudallas	4/20/2020	3/30/2020	6/4/2020		66
u	Westport	7/18/2020	4/3/2020	6/8/2020		66
u	Hencol	4/20/2020	3/31/2020	6/4/2020		65
	Twinkles	3/28/2020	3/15/2020	5/18/2020		64
u	crudoll	6/27/2020	4/15/2020	6/17/2020		63
n	MJN1	6/23/2020	4/13/2020	6/15/2020		63
	Wire	6/27/2020	4/16/2020	6/17/2020		62
u	Jcrobinson48	8/12/2020	4/5/2020	6/1/2020		57
	DuffyMcDuffy	5/31/2020	4/14/2020	6/9/2020		56
u	mhf	5/6/2020	3/26/2020	5/21/2020		56
n	ON Cruiser	5/31/2020	4/14/2020	6/9/2020		56
n	Astride	5/16/2020	4/15/2020	6/9/2020		55
u	chessie	5/23/2020	4/13/2020	6/7/2020		55
	oceanaire365	5/16/2020	4/14/2020	6/8/2020		55
u	Jcrobinson48	5/23/2020	4/15/2020	6/8/2020		54
u	jph814	5/23/2020	4/17/2020	6/10/2020		54
n	Zimflyer	3/22/2020	3/17/2020	5/10/2020		54
u	DFW	5/23/2020	4/16/2020	6/8/2020		53
	barcrab	10/10/2020	4/9/2020	5/30/2020		51
u	Flyfishingwidow	6/3/2020	4/15/2020	6/5/2020		51
u	Wyattsaubt	6/6/2020	4/15/2020	6/4/2020		50
u	Zelker	5/23/2020	4/15/2020	6/4/2020		50
u	Mmastell	1/13/2021	4/9/2020	5/25/2020		46

 

 

 My cruise date was April 5 (not April 15)  the same Quest cruise  as  Mauzac

I was booked on the Quest April 5 Manaus to Miami cruise.  Seabourn canceled that cruise as stated on their Voluntary and Temporary 30 Day Operations Sailing Pause memo dated March 13.  My TA called Seabourn on March 14 and requested a refund.  She was told by Corine it would be 4-6 weeks. On May 28, my TA called and was told refunds are being processed but it was taking time because of fewer staff available. On June 9, my TA called and was told they now had more staff working so my refund should be processed very soon.  On June 15, my TA called, said she was tired of excuses, and was told they would expedite my refund. On June 17, my TA called and politely but firmly said Seabourn needed to follow through on their promise.

I got my full refund posted to my Amex credit card the next day, June 18.                          96 days

1 hour ago, Mauzac said:

I'm about halfway there.

 

I have received the funds for our second cruise  (2 b2bs).  But not the first.  How strange is that.  

Embarkation 20th April.  Requested 30th March.  Received 15th June.  77 days.

 

Now waiting for my 5th April cruise after 94 days of waiting.  Please don't let me enter the 100 Club!  

I think ReefKnot who has been refunded, was on the same cruise (Manaus/Miami) so really hope this is on its way.  

It'll be nice not to bother with my banking app for a while 😁

I was booked on the April 5 Quest cruise from Manaus to Miami.  SB canceled it on March 13.  My TA requested refund on March 14.  No refund yet.  

16 hours ago, Reef Knot said:

Have been following this thread with interest.

My update:

Cruise 5th April, cancelled around the 16th March.

Refund requested 17th March and I'm happy to say that today all monies were returned. I had 2 payments of £1000 on 2 separate credit cards (sign up bonuses) and the £6400 paid with another CC which the TA has refunded onto my bank account.

Not sure how many days that is but I think I've flirted with a 100 days

But all good finally. 

Good luck for everyone else still waiting .

What April 5 cruise were you booked for?  My April 5 cruise was on the Quest Manaus to Miami.  SB canceled it on March 13.  My TA submitted request for refund on March 14.  No refund yet.  

On March 14, SB told my travel agent that my refund would take 4 - 6 weeks which meant April 11 - April 25.  

I am reading posts from others which indicate up to 12 weeks.  

2 hours ago, HappyFeet13 said:

I think their (smart!) strategy is to NOT cancel the cruises until the last minute. If Seabourn cancels the cruise, they have to refund all of our money. If WE cancel our reservations, we get their carefully-orchestrated FCC. They want as many people as possible to cancel and take an FCC before  Seabourn actually cancels the cruise. That is smart business on their part, as I'm sure they prefer issuing FCC's to sending back cash. I'm going to keep my 4-29 booking, and if Seabourn doesn't cancel the cruise, I will cancel my reservation and get an FCC on 4-24 or 4-25. 

My Quest April 5 cruise from Manaus to Miami was canceled yesterday.  Seabourn said they will credit my American Express card in 4-6 weeks.  Full refund.  

Earlier today at a press conference in Geneva, WHO Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declared coronavirus a global pandemic.  

27 minutes ago, Isklaar said:

On the topic of movement in that region, we had a conversation about Qatar and the U.A.E yesterday evening.We hadn't heard about any cases in that area. There are lots of migrant workers travelling between those countries and India and  Sri Lanka. Both destinations included in Seabourn's plans for the next few weeks.  As well as UAE and Oman. I think I saw a changed itinerary to include Doha too, I'm not sure if Qatar is a new destination for Seabourn. 

Worldometers.info     lists UAE  with cases

also  Bahrain, Oman, and Kuwait 

I am following worldometers.info      Countries with coronavirus cases are listed.

Saturday there were 28 countries

Sunday 33 countries

Monday 37  countries

Italy had 229 cases plus 72 new ones 

2/24  Quote giving opinions from WHO and others:

The tipping point-after which our ability to prevent a global pandemic ends-seems a lot closer after the past 24 hours.

In light of the U.S Centers for Disease Control Level 3 travel warning to China issued January 27, 2020, Seabourn has canceled a scheduled Seabourn Ovation call on Xiamen, China, scheduled for February 3. Instead, the sailing will include a visit to Sandakan, Malaysia, on February 10.

USA Today

scottie920 

Your "copied paste" is what prompted me to get that info from Seabourn.  It was not sent in an email but I was told how to find it online on my Seabourn account.  Our preliminary documents are available for review and printing.  Your Voyage. 20 pages.  Under Travel Planning is the Vaccination Requirements Yellow Fever statement.  

11 minutes ago, Mauzac said:

 

I got it via email forwarded on from my TA but it's a SB notificiation.  It's exactly as Scottie920 has pasted.  

Thanks.  My travel agent called me and said the preliminary documents are now available on my Seabourn account. I entered my user name and password and was able to view  20 pages of information.  The exact same Vaccination notice was under Travel Planning.  

scottie920

Mauzac

I am on the April Manaus to Miami cruise.  I made my final payment January 6.  I have not received the Vaccination Notification you both got.  How did you receive it?

My travel agent is calling Seabourn to find out why I didn't get it. 

On 11/6/2019 at 7:47 PM, MMastell said:

Is that $589 Brazilian Real or American dollars?  You can book an executive suite $117/night USD. I've stayed there and it's on par with a standard Sheraton or Radisson. It also had a nice Continental breakfast with a vast array of fruits, cheese and meats. We did find that a number of staff,even Customer Service, spoke little or no English. Thankfully my wife is fluent in Portuguese.

I would speak with Seabourn about that price and see if they lower it or cancel the hotel and book it yourself.

 

Take care,

Mike

Mike,  the $589 was American dollars and it included being met at the airport, transferred to the hotel, picked up the next day from the hotel, and transferred to the ship.  My issue was having to pay for a hotel at all because on other Seabourn cruises, if Seabourn wanted me to arrive early, they booked the hotel or day room and did not charge me for it.  I opted not to get to Manaus a day earlier and stay in a hotel I had to pay for.  Instead, Seabourn has changed my flights so I will arrive in Manaus on Sunday, April 5 at 7:45 a.m. and be met at the airport and transferred to the ship.  

I am booked on the April 5  2020 cruise from Manaus to Miami.  The first Seabourn air arrangement had me fly from Newark to Miami on April 3 then Miami to Manaus arriving at 12:10 a.m. the morning of April 4.  The cruise starts on April 5 so I asked what I was supposed to do until then.  Seabourn booked me in a superior room at the Quality Hotel in Manaus for $589.  I objected to those arrangements.  The second Seabourn air arrangement has me fly from Newark to Miami on April 4 and then from Miami to Manaus overnight arriving in Manaus on April 5 at 7:45 a.m. Group transfer from airport to ship.  

When I booked this cruise on August 1, Seabourn told me I needed a visa to enter Brazil but I informed them that as of June 17, 2019, US citizens no longer need a visa to visit Brazil.  Seabourn then confirmed that was so.  I am concerned about having to get a Yellow Fever vaccination for Devils Island.  Would those of you who have taken this cruise tell me about that?

Looking forward to sailing on the Amazon river and thanks for recommending the Amazon dance show. 

Yes.  When I booked my April 2020 cruise, I received the 5% Loyalty discount. I didn't know about it nor had I asked for it, so it came as a pleasant surprise.  

My April 2020 cruise is 8 months from now.  When I booked it I had no idea about an additional 5% discount, let alone whether or not my cruise was eligible.  I was delightfully surprised when I read on my booking confirmation that I had been given the extra discount.  

On my Seabourn cruise in June 2018,  I paid $500 as a Future Cruise Deposit.  This August, when I booked my cruise for April 2020, the Booking Confirmation included the following:  We love seeing familiar Seabourn Club members come back onboard.  To repay that loyalty, we have included an additional Seabourn Club Savings discount.  

So in addition to the 5% Future Cruise Deposit savings, I received an additional 5% discount off my cruise. fare.  

I have had an interconnecting suite on other cruise ships and river boats and experienced noise problems from "next door"  so when I had an interconnecting suite on Seabourn, the first day of boarding I introduced myself to the couple in the adjoining suite and we agreed to be mindful.  That worked out well.  

Potential noises:  hangers banging against the closet wall, TV too loud,  suite door slamming shut.  

Seabourn does not charge for any of its restaurants.  

I had a connecting suite once and I introduced myself to my next door neighbors and said that 3 things could cause a noise problem: loud TV, banging hangers against the wall in the closet, slamming room door. We all agreed to be careful and there were no problems during our cruise.