Love dubai

Unfortunately there is no comparison between the free sauna in the changing room and the wet and dry saunas in the paid spa area 😀

I think it is peoples business if the system now means that by reducing a gratuity people are not even able to obtain an ok salary

I called in at the Spa this morning to check what I had been told. One of the masseuse I know well confirmed they now receive NO basic salary and all monies paid to them come from the 18% “gratuity” and they had requested the word gratuity not be used as it is NOT a gratuity and been told no by Head Office. This is nothing to do with people not tipping - this was a decision to increase overall prices and felt people would not be happy and thus came up with this “creative “ way for them to get their price increase and the staff to take the fallout! Staff very upset but cannot do anything and say many customers now challenging/ refusing to pay tip and this they will receive no payment for the work done. Same company still manage all Spas on ships,

Chatting to someone onboard who had just had a treatment. She said the staff member had stated that the previous Saturday there was a queue waiting at the desk in the Spa to have the gratuity removed - some very angry stating 18% a disgrace! The staff member then explained that although they had tried to explain the new system but that no one would listen and consequently all the treatments that had the gratuity refunded meant the staff members had worked for nothing. It appears Spa company wanted to increase prices and Seabourn said not happy about it. New system is that is NO spa employee receives any basic salary and that their earnings are now totally from the 18% gratuity figure on the bill with the Spa Manager taking a cut of that. She said under the old system they also received tips but now no one gives any tips as they believe they are giving an 18% tip. Staff have asked that the 18% be renamed but company has refused. Appalling really that they receive no basic salary. Thought people who use the Spa ought to understand the new system as heard many British people onboard stating they had refused to give an 18% tip.

All amenities other than the transport are given to an upgraded suite. Verandah cabin is 28 square metres whereas a Penthouse is 40 and a Penthouse Spa is 62-64. The middle ship Owners suite is 60. Penthouse Spa is very different from a Penthouse but note on Quest there is no elevator to these suites. The outside serene area rarely has anyone on the outside beds. They tend to know who are in the Spa suites and will ask anyone who isn’t to move or pay for a day pass, None of these in any way compare to the Wintergarden Suite which is 117. Stayed in many times and have never found an issue. As last poster said, if good upgrade price these will go fast 🥹

We join for 28 days - 5 formal nights

Help please. UK based and book with both UK and US agents but have never used a future cruise deposit with a US agent. I have seen a great suite at a fab price with a US agent but it is advertised as a non refundable deposit. Don’t have a problem with that as all UK bookings are non refundable deposit. I board in a couple of weeks and can purchase future cruise deposits in both sterling and dollar. My question is are they combinable with a US non refundable deposit booking. Thanks in advance for any response.

I book my spa treatments when I first board the ship. Reason being that on booking 3 massages they offer a package that gives 10% off first, 20% off second and 30% off third. I use my Seabourn free 25 minutes combined with a 75 minute paid for first massage and then have two paid 100 minute massage. Any pre boarding offers are always only on port days. I like to choose when I have my massages and not be forced into booking specific days. Also if you are a “good client” who obviously likes and spends money at the Spa, ask when you are booking what small freebies they can throw into your package ( usually have a free 25 minute facial plus a hair treatment thrown in ) 😀

We are also on the Ovation transatlantic and thus may meet you and your mum 😀 As said above we always book the Retreat for the whole holiday on sun cruises but on crossings we just utilise our balconies and the jacuzzi in our suite.

Although most posters on here don’t appear to like/approve of the retreat, I can only say that we have done two fourteen night cruises in the far east that we booked the full fourteen day package for the retreat and really enjoyed it. We also have it booked for a month for our sun cruise in February. We pay $1400 for the 14 day package and receive a $700 credit for the Spa ( which we use frequently). We appreciate having the sofa in the cabana when we want shade and having the nice sunbeds to lie in the sun and move between the two areas. The nice bottle of champagne each day costs approx 50 dollars so we actually believe the package to be a bargain for us. Service is excellent as there are 3 people working in the retreat. Although there is an additional menu in the Retreat we actually go the Restaurant /Collanade for lunch so can’t comment on it. As SLSD says you can only try it and see if it suits you 😀

I book with both UK and US depending on best deal. Mr Luxury is correct in saying UK has better safeguards but I book using a UK credit and the charge is always to Seabourn not the travel agency. If Seabourn ceased trading and couldn’t provide the cruise, a section 75 claim could be used for a cruise costing less than £30,000.

I did actually think this would work better if have a dollar FCC and book with an American travel agency as booking would be cancellable with no penalty for a period of time

Told by Seabourn UK yesterday that they are looking to introduce a new Future Cruise Credit commencing in October. The price you pay for the new FCC will be increased ( but still fully redeemable against future cruise) but the difference is: 10% off future cruise if booked ONBOARD 5% off future cruise if booked once departed ship. They see this as the way forward to increase onboard bookings.

Located in UK. If I book with my well known agent I receive a maximum 12 % discount. Sometimes I book with a US agent as they have special deals not available in UK - always also get an onboard credit. If you are going to do this you need to purchase future cruise credits on the ship in BOTH pounds and dollars as a travel agent can only use one that is in their own currency.

I already have 4 bookings with my TA. Just looking to pay some off my final payments in advance if offer works 😀