SDuckers

I primarily play blackjack, but I have not ever seen any perks for players in the Casino.

My DH and I really love the extra space that a PH offers. The layout of the bedroom through the closet to the bathroom is a little odd, but it didn't bother us. I like that the bedroom can be separated from the remainder of the suite, as DH tends to get up before I do. Other than the extra space, there aren't really any other "perks" to a PH vs a Veranda.

I am trying to decide whether the topic of tipping, or the topic of jeans in the MDR, is the most likely to blow up on this board on any given day.

I'll sit next to you! The only way I am doing a polar plunge is if the ship is sinking.

We are booked on this crossing from Miami to Lisbon next spring, and just got this notification that Handre will be on this cruise, with a new program. See this link: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CvvHPPOPFVm/?VID=5011917613&camp=082623_SE2339TRA&rmid=082623_SE2339TRA&rrid=172714302&stop_mobi=yes&XID=EXTSEM202308225ZEZDI7K2E

I'll be severely disappointed if they do away with Keller fried chicken nights! That is one of my favorite meals on Seabourn! We are doing a crossing in April, with only one port day. I do hope the restaurant will be open for lunch on this cruise, because I will get awfully tired of the Colonnade and Patio Grill for lunch every day if the restaurant isn't an option.

There was a comedian on our Alaskan cruise last fall. He wasn't "offensive." Just not funny. We walked out about halfway through because he just wasn't funny and we were not enjoying it, so saw no point in staying. I did feel a little bad in leaving, but not so bad that it kept me from doing so!

Requirements: Service dog must be on leash at all times. Service dog is to be with its assigned owner at all times and not left alone in a cabin. Service dog will not be permitted to sit on furniture in the common/public areas of the ship. Service dog will not be permitted to eat food off plates in the public dining areas or be fed "under the table" with guests' food in the public dining areas. Isn't the failure to comply with some or all of these pretty basic things the gist of people's irritation with the alleged service dog on a couple of recent cruises? This isn't about invoking US laws. Ships can establish their own rules of behavior, and enforce them, so long as they don't conflict with ADA rules and regs. None of the above requirements would have any such conflict.

Is there really any indication that this is a pervasive problem? I think I have read about it occurring twice (and some indication both occasions are the same person). If not, then it shouldn't be that hard for Seabourn to deal with this one outlier. Passengers get "evicted" from ships for failing to comply with ship policies all the time. Seabourn just needs to publish that anyone who boards with a purported "service" animal who does not comply with all requirements for such an animal will be disembarked at the next port. And then do that.

Yeah, you have to have a reason to go to Brownsville (although it really is a lovely city).

Every time I see a picture of myself wearing one I alternately cringe and giggle. Oh, and the same on the HUGE shoulder pads. I have kept my original Brooks Brothers suit that I got right out of law school. You know the old "dress for success" mantra of buying something timeless? LOL. Notsomuch. I keep it for nostalgia.

Still love Pappasito's! Ninfa's (the original one on Navigation) was the best for a long time. But I ate there recently and it's just not the same anymore. Although the "Ninfarita" is still delicious! The best Tex-Mex anywhere in the world (IMNSHO) is the Vermillion Restaurant in Brownsville Texas. Best enchiladas or fajitas you'll ever have. Outstanding ceviche too. Not on a Seabourn cruise port of call, unfortunately!

This is very similar for us. I keep telling my DH he needs to go thru his closet and get rid of all the suits he is never going to wear again. For "business" attire, he primarily wears a blue sports coat, and for something more formal (wedding/funeral etc) he does still have one good suit. The other ones are either dated in style or (shhh) don't really fit any more. He has a tux and and has toyed with the idea of bringing it on a cruise, but it's not just the tux then -- it's the cumberbund, French cuff shirt, cuff links, etc. Not to mention dress shoes rather than loafers. I still wear more "dressy" business attire (I'm a lawyer) but not so much the coat and skirt business suits (and thank God, no more floppy ties from the 80's!). I have a couple of dressy cocktail dresses that don't wrinkle and don't take up much space, so I tend to bring one along for formal night on a cruise, just because I have so few occasions to wear them any more and I do like totting myself up from time to time! I really don't pay much attention to what others wear on "formal night" other than I do notice if a man is in a tux or dinner jacket or a woman is in a more formal gown. That's just noticing in terms of admiration, I guess. I suppose I probably would notice if someone came in in ratty jeans or shorts too, just like I notice yahoos who wear a hat indoors.

I'll come sit next to you. But not too close, so we don't get all sweaty. <----Houston isn't as hot as Dallas, but it's WAY more humid.

From the beach at St. Kitt's.

We were on the same cruise as cruiseej (and his lovely wife!). We did the snorkling and catamaran sail prior to the caviar in the surf event, and we got back just as the event started. The food was FABULOUS and the entire event was a lot of fun.

Dh and I are booked on the April 14-26, 2024 crossing from Miami to Lisbon. There is only one stop (Funchal) so that may not be your cup of tea. We've always wanted to try one of the "repositioning" cruises, since the fares tend to be lower but the pampering the same. This cruise continues on from Lisbon to Barcelona, if you wanted to extend your time on board.

LOL. That could well have been me! I remember a friend inviting me to join her in going to a nightclub in Dallas (I was a summer law clerk back then too) and I had on khakis and a polo shirt. She had on a sequined dress. She considered it "casual" because she didn't wear heels.

Oh, one of my favorite hotels I have ever stayed at. I call it "Summer camp for grown-ups."

Texas is full of all sorts of fun idioms. My personal favorite is "That dog don't hunt." a/k/a "That's a bad idea.". And SLSD, I recall living one summer in Dallas in 1985 and being shocked at how women there (Highland Park of course) dressed up to go to the grocery store. I was just a simple Kansas girl unaccustomed to such high society, LOL.

I need to bookmark this post for when we book this cruise. Your reporting has me very excited to do this itinerary. Thanks for spending the time (and effort) to make such detailed reports of both your meals and the ports. Sorry you are back to the heat of Dallas now! That may be quite an adjustment.

Totally agree. Even if they don't want to pay the premium cost to carry ESPN, they could at least carry Fox Sports (since they already have Fox News). The PPV movie selection is pretty decent. I have not tried to connect my device to do streaming of Netflix or Amazon Prime, because internet has been so lousy much of the time. On our crossing next spring, I thought I'd give it a try.

Our experience on our first Seabourn cruise, in the Mediterranean, was similar. We mostly did our own excursions using Tours by Locals and much preferred the private guide (at a fraction of the cost) to what we heard our fellow cruisers experienced with Seabourn tours. On that cruise we did use the Seabourn excursion to go to Florence (because of concern that if there was an issue getting back on time, we were better off with a Seabourn-booked tour), but felt it was highly overpriced for what was essentially just transportation to Florence. Other Seabourn cruises (particularly in Alaska) have been a mixture of good/fair priced or unique experiences. I think it's wise to consider both Seabourn-booked, and book-on-your-own on every cruise.

If you want a good read before going to Malta, I highly recommend this book of historical fiction. It really helped me enjoy our visit there. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0304358444/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Title: The Kappillan of Malta

Not sure. The first time we used them, the bag was in our suite when we got on the ship. The second time, we boarded pretty early in the embarkation time so I think the LF bags got added to bags that were just checked in at check-in time on the pier, and everyone's bags were left outside their room (whether LF or just regular check-in time bags).