SLSD

I have noticed that the ceiling in parts of The Restaurant on Encore and Ovation is rather low.

I guess that is what I would say--we don't love the food--except for some dishes. It is ok.

This is good to know Nancy. I am not all that impressed with the food on Seabourn--but it is not bad. The ambience really suits us.

I agree with you that the ambience may be the most important thing. I've spent a number of days looking at other cruise lines and I'm just not willing to book them.

I just checked with Mr. SLSD about how we obtained assigned seats on Air Canada (purchased through Seabourn) for our return flight from Copenhagen in June. He says he WAS able to get assigned seats right after getting the confirmation from Seabourn that they had purchased our flight for us. Mr SLSD said that by joining the Air Canada Frequent Flyers Club, he was able to get into their website to get the seat assignments. I thought he had to pay a fee, but he says he did not. It was on SAS that he paid a fee (about $50/each) --but he obtained assigned seats there as well for our flight into Copenhagen. He says on SAS he would not have had to pay a fee if we had accepted middle seats. So--on Air Canada, join the Frequent Flyers Club and see if that works for getting seat assignments right away.

There were probably four or five people on our cruise who wore masks most of the time, We took masks with us, but did not wear them on the ship, or on buses or anywhere else. We did wear them for our flight to Copenhagen (most of the time), but not on the return flight. We heard, while on Ovation, that there WAS some Covid onboard, but just heard that once. We didn't see any evidence of it--and there were no announcements. We did not see anyone in Norway or Denmark wearing masks. Just want to make sure that you know that you can dine at lunch out on the veranda of The Colonnade and order from a menu. We did this on the first day, but did not dine there afterwards. We could have. We enjoyed lunch in the Restaurant and at the Patio Grill. Some lunches were at Norwegian restaurants in various places.

We waited a long time to cruise again after Covid. We finally took the leap in June and did not become ill on the cruise or upon our return--with anything. We did distance ourselves if someone fairly close to us was sneezing and coughing repeatedly. We had to do that a few times. We also avoided the public restrooms and did not partake of the buffet. This was not a hardship as we do not do buffets anyway.

It doesn't take much for me to feel like I am in a zoo at a meal. This is probably due to the pandemic and not being in spaces with several hundred people at a time for a few years. For the first time, I did not enjoy the ambience in The Restaurant in the evening. Perhaps it is because our favorite server's tables were in the middle of the restaurant. His service was so good that we always asked for him. On past cruises, we have preferred (and asked) for a table along the edges of the room--and it seemed less zoo like. The inside seating at The Colonnade ALWAYS seems like a zoo to me. We have dined there, but not in several cruises and do not plan to dine there again. The outside veranda is ok. We preferred Earth and Ocean on our cruise in June--OR The Restaurant for breakfast and lunch. The Patio Grill is also pleasant at lunch.

If your flight is oversold, not having a seat assignment will be an issue. We saw this on one of our return flights from Copenhagen. We had seat assignments. We made them ourselves. I think we had to pay extra which was annoying, but course we paid. Our flights were booked through Seabourn. It was not ideal, but the price was right. We are going to try to use miles and handle our own flights next time---we'll see what the situation is.

They did. It could have been something like whoever had paid port fees up front was in and others were not. We will never know. There is a limit on the numbers of cruise passengers per day in Flam now--and not everyone will make the cut. Our guide told us that everyone would rather have the small ship passengers, but that is not always what they get.

I'm just stating what we were told by a Norwegian guide--that it was first come, first served in Flam. The first cruise ships to book the port had their passengers counted and there was a limit. Seabourn booked later and the limit had already been reached. I don't know the ins and outs--but Silversea was going to Flam and SB was not.

I think there is not consistency.

We have asked at least twice that all emails go to me. I do get the occasional email, but my husband gets all of them. He has NO interest in doing the trip planning and forwards the emails to me WHEN he sees them.

What?

I continue to be annoyed that Seabourn sends all emails to Mr. SLSD and not to me--even though we have requested that they be sent to me instead. My husband does none of the trip planning. I guess I will have to call them AGAIN!! I think it's time for Seabourn to move beyond their outdated idea that men are in charge of travel plans and the purse strings...

Bumped? Was your Seabourn cruise cancelled?

For our recent trip on SB to Norway, I actually packed some cooler weather tops and well as some for warmer weather--so I would pack the same ones if we book this itinerary.

Dim sum is always fun. And I have no idea what a hawker food hall is. It might be noisy? But fun.

Hmm... I've been checking weather norms for January/February and most sites say there is a high of 65 degrees in SE Asia. Were you there in different months?

Mr. SLSD sends his regards. We were just talking about how we would enjoy cruising with you again. Keep us updated here on what you are choosing in terms of itineraries. After 2004, we'll try to keep our autumns and springs more clear for cruising. If you have restaurant recommendations for Hong Kong and Singapore, please offer them. And yes, our cruise was quite friendly. We started out just hoping to stay well and not contract Covid, but soon put that to the side. Without trying to meet anyone, we did meet people and enjoyed and that enhanced our cruise. I'm so glad you spoke up when you suspected who I was.

We are still considering booking this itinerary. It is good that so many have enjoyed it.

We will take a look at those. We are able bodied and capable of expedition cruises but don't always want to exert ourselves on vacation. I'm following exactly what is involved. The photos from Venture cruises have been fabulous.

Thank you. Very helpful.

Do you think Seabourn's penchant for selling blocks of suites to travel agents has affected the kind of clientele--when you mention needy and grasping. I'm assuming you are referring to people who try to wring every dollar/pound of value out of each day. Sooner or later, Mr. SLSD and I need to at least try SS again. He is resisting this but I am interested in seeing what the new SS ships are like.

Mr. SLSD and I are still thinking about our great Norwegian itinerary we shared with you. And I agree--Seabourn is behind the eight ball in not setting its itineraries early. That is the reason we could not go to Flam --as by the time SB chose it as a port, the maximum number of cruise guests for the day had already been reached. I applaud towns who limit the number of cruise guests allowed. A lower number is better for everyone. Can you explain why you prefer Seabourn over Silversea?