Shipless in Seattle

We noticed this too yesterday on the app. However, the website login was saying we were leaving today. Usually they send an email if there’s an itinerary change but haven’t received one so could be a fluke in the app. It’s odd also that we are not dock boarding Manaus rather tendering on board. That will be a mess for the staff, trying to unload and load luggage and provisions.

2 minutes ago, markandjie said:

 

They have them set up on monitors throughout the ship on Venture. I like to find entries from Antarctica in 2015 or Alaska in 2018 as I'm in the photos... 😜

We’ve been going through all of our cruises over the last six years posted to see the pictures. Quite enlightening.

38 minutes ago, markandjie said:

 

Based on the narrative in the Seabourn Voyage tracker they did indeed make that stop. You can find the writeups here: https://www.seabourn.com/en/us/experience/voyagetracker/index.html

 

Just select pursuit and 2023 and it's the top voyage listed. 

 

My experience with the writeups is that they're pretty transparent about any issues with locations or conditions, and I didn't read anything about making modifications to the itinerary. It does seem from the photos that the river is low, but they still got out kayaking.

Thanks for posting this link! Tells us a lot. Didn’t realize they had these great daily journals with photos. 

We’re in Manaus looking forward to getting on in a few days all the way to Ushuaia. We’ve been thinking of taking local tour to the jungle and river, but expect Expedition team may do that on the ship during the Amazon trek so might wait. If anyone on board can comment on some of the “Amazon experience” activities it would be appreciated. Kent and Jeffrey 

We’re seriously considering this one too but it will come down to price and availability. I am not worried that the experience won’t be amazing as I’m sure there will be lots of senior management on board and that the staff will be at its best. I think though it may be more expensive since it is the farewell. Really like this ship so would be nice to join on the final goodbye. 

I’m so glad to see that Seabourn has added this, as it was really missing compared to Silversea. Hopefully they expanded to include more raw fish at lunch and other venues.

We were just on Seabourn Odyssey a few weeks ago an Alaska cruise, and spent about $3000 on tours through the ship. I did think the prices were higher than I was used to, but when I tried to look at booking independently in the various cities, there wasn’t much savings, so I think the pricing has just gone up for everything overall. We’re getting on Pursuit shortly in Manaus to Ushuaia and have been nicely surprised there are complementary tours in nearly every port so getting on their new expedition ships has that advantage. Silversea and Regent include the tours but Seabourn seems to be having some more aggressive prices on their cruises lately so you’re still paying for probably the same price overall wherever you go.

6 minutes ago, jmsheehan1 said:

Kent and Jeffrey! Hi there -- hope you had uneventful trip home. Quick question, would love it if you guys have a link to the video that was created from the Alaska trip -- we've tried multiple times to download it and it isn't working. Best to you both, Joanne and Mark

Hey guys, nice to hear from you. Stay in touch. I never tried to get the video. I don’t think I saved the link from the presentation so I don’t have it. If I do find it, I will post. Kent

We were just on Odyssey in Alaska and ask the same question of the seabourn ventures tour guides. We’re getting on pursuit for an Antarctica in November. She said the most important things are waterproof pants, several layers, no cotton. We were originally going to buy the layers you need package on the Seabourn website, but then realized we have a lot of it already. Synthetic fabrics or wool are best. She explain cotton gets very wet and will make you cold. Good polarized sunglasses also recommended plus sunscreen   Hope that helps. Kent

Here's video that includes Polar Plunge in Antarctica off the M/v Venture 

We use 2 travel insurance companies CSA and Travelguard. Key reason they cover pre-existing conditions provided you pay for the policy within 24 hours of making final cruise payment. Most either don't cover pre-existing or require you buy the day you make deposit, not final payment. We would not travel without due to some medical issues plus since we are retired but only in our 50's private insurance won't cover you if you are out of the country (policies from employers if you are traveling WILL cover you). Thus if you break your leg while traveling, if you don't have travel insurance it will likely be on you. As for evacuation insurance, I wouldn't travel without as it is a $250K-500K taxi ride off the ship if you need it for not a lot of money. We're going to Antarctic shortly and our policy would cover that evac up to 500K as it doesn't limit it to where you are. Now could you get someone to get you there? that's the unknown.

FYI we did learn yesterday at our travel clinic that the vaccine is now considered good for life not 10 years as it was in the past. The WHO ruled this several years ago with new data. I got the vaccine in 2006 that don’t need to get it again and my vaccine card was updated. We are going to the Amazon in October. They also did say that yellow fever has expanded in Brazil into the major cities over the last decade so if you don’t get vaccinated, make sure you wear lots of bug spray. This will help protect against all mosquito borne diseases, such as Zika and Dengue fever.

Hi

can you let us know the key staff on board? (MCaptain, SCaptain, HD, F&B, CD, ACD)?  We’re on it a few weeks and just wondered who we know. I think it was mentioned it MCaptain Tim is on board who we sailed with before last December.  Thx Kent

Seabourn just sent me a notification that the visa requirement is delayed until January as we are booked on an October cruise with them on Mv Pursuit. Kent

9 hours ago, adoctor said:

Well here we are again on Seabourn Pursuit making its way at a leisurely pace from Valletta to Citivechia.

After a couple of sub par trips post covid on Ovation and Odyssey and really hacked off by the cost saving culture that had infected the line we joined the sparkling new ship with some trepidation.Would the new smaller design work for us? Would the nickel and dimming still be there?

How would a ship designed for the extremes work in the med in a stuffy August?

I am delighted to report that after the first four days things are looking good.Here’s why:

1 The ship is an outstanding piece of design and is surprisingly elegant.

2 The staff are extremely proficient and motivated.I came on board expecting teething problems on its first voyage but apart from the odd exception the team on board have hit the ground running.

3 The food has improved significantly since last years endless menu recycling on Odyssey.Imagine the largest sword fish you have ever seen sitting on the Colonade counter with a French chef cooking freshly cut steaks to order.Today it was Grouper. Other tasty dishes have been prepared (Maltese sausages anyone?) but rest assured the favourites in the MDR ate still there.Yes it’s open for breakfast but not lunch so far.

4The challenge will be to maintain standards once the excitement of the new ship wears off but to me there seems to be a new attitude on board

I only hope this is a new dawn led by the new CEO and not just a flash in the pan alongside that delicious swordfish!

Great to hear it’s starting off well. We get on in Manaus in October for an adventure all the way to Antarctica. Can you let us know the management on board as just curious who we might know (ie Captains, HD, F&B, CD & ACD)?  Thx Kent

I’ve enjoyed reading all these posts and some of the back-and-forth. A couple of you need an act at the Apollo. We have 100+ days each on Seabourn Silversea and Regent each and love all three for different reasons. I spent a lot of time on Holland in the 90s but ships are too big for me. I started sailing Regent (Radisson) back in 2000 and Silversea in 2004 than Seaborn ~2010. We love being on a ship.  A cruise has always been a specific snapshot moment in time of a line so sometimes you have not so good experience on one cruise just because the captain isn’t the best or the financial condition of the cruise line isn’t as good or the food isn’t optimal but I’ve always tried to I have a good time and find the things I i like. The main thing on all of them is the staffs are so attentive to help you have a good experience. The more you sail a particular cruise line the more you get to know the staff from multiple cruises  I remember one cruise on Regent a long time ago. We had a knock at the door early in the cruise, and it was a housekeeper who had been our housekeeper a year before on another cruise. She was in tears really sad because she had tried to switch her floor so she could be our housekeeper again because she liked us so much but couldn’t . Still makes me feel humble today that she wanted to clean up after me. The staff on these lines have always treated us with absolute genuine emotion that is probably one of the biggest pluses of being on any of them.  Seabourn Silversea and Regent. The holy trinity of cruising 🙂  I have no issues with booking any of them and find them all amazing.! 
cheers Kent & Jeffrey 

On 7/7/2023 at 1:49 PM, commodoredave said:

According to a variety of sources, effective October 1, 2023, Brazil will require nationals of the United States, Canada, Japan, and Australia to obtain a visa prior to entering the country for tourism, business, and other purposes. The announcement reverses a visa waiver policy that had been in place since 2019 with the goal of promoting tourism. If you are taking a cruise that begins or ends in Brazil starting October 1, this means you apparently will need a visa. However, the online platform that will allow visitors to apply for these new Visas does not yet appear to be operational. Our cruise departs Barbados October 10 and arrives in Manaus on October 24.

Anyone in a similar situation, and if so, do you have any advice?

We are on the Pursuit cruise after yours from Manaus to Antarctica so have the same concern. We don’t leave our home until October 19 to fly to Brazil so we’ll have a bit of time. Hopefully it’s an easy process. I remember going to Brazil back in 2006 I needed a visa and part of the process included a proof of yellow fever vaccination run at a state agency. That required some extra hoops to get.  Hopefully they make it easy. I was going to ask my TA about this    Kent

14 hours ago, cruiseej said:

 

I, on the other hand, bought in spring 2021 as cruising was about to resume. CCL stock was around $30 — far off its highest in the upper $60s a few years prior, so seemingly poised to move upward as the industry recovered. Instead, it sank to under $10! My three Seabourn cruises since then have earned back only a portion of my (paper) loss on the stock, so we need to keep cruising to get to break even! 🤣

Ouch. I rarely buy individual stocks just that reason, instead just cheap index funds. I figured for $690 for 100 shares it was a good bet given the SBC program. CCL is sitting on so much debt from the pandemic which likely is what drove the price so low. I’d hang onto the stock as cruising is seeing strong demand. 

13 hours ago, cruiseej said:

 

Included?! Ha! Seabourn lists the sub excursions as "starting at $999". That's per person. For a 45-minute dive. People have reported purchasing them for a bit less on some cruises, but they definitely aren't included.

Yes, I saw they were $1000 pp so definitely won’t be going, but if it’s worth it to you go for it. For me I would skip even if included. 

This has been the best little deal ever. Bought the stock in the toilet last year at $6.90. It’s tripled in value AND we’ve received $750 so far in SBCs. I hope they extend to next year cruises. Kent

We are on Pursuit in Antarctica in October and November so had to take a look at this thread about the subs. I’m sure they are quite safe BUT I am also sure if I was on board I’d be thinking about the Titan the whole time and wouldn’t be able to get the thought out of my mind. 😳.  It’s like that old line about skydiving….why leave a perfectly good airplane (or cruise ship)!  We will be skipping the subs even if included. I do scuba dive which is riskier I’m guessing but you go with your comfort level. 
 

cheers Kent

Hi Mauzac 

I have experienced this in the past with Seabourn. Not so much Silversea or regent. We’ve had cruises booked at one fare and then later on the fare drops significantly. Fortunately, in our case, the fare drops have usually before final payment so you can cancel the cruise and rebook. We are in the process of booking on one of the expedition ships had incredible discounts. I spoke with my TA and Seaborn is being extremely aggressive with pricing right now on a lot of their upcoming cruises with 30-50% extra discounts but it goes nonrefundable immediately. He speculates that they are trying to fill the ships for financial reporting for carnival even at a loss to create revenue. I agree with you that because of your status they should at least do something nominal like some shipboard credit. I don’t think they should be required to give you the lower price simply because you got the advantage of choosing from a better cabin selection earlier on but a small amount of goodwill goes a long way. the last thing they want is you angry at them. I would think they might at least split the difference. I had amazing experience with silversea where because their air flight was canceled and our luggage was lost and didn’t make the ship they reimbursed $2300 for the clothes I had to buy for the cruise. I received that unexpectedly after sending a nice detailed note to their customer service. We have lots of loyalty to them because of that.  Good luck. 
kent

17 hours ago, travel4b said:

David Price?  He was the CD on Venture in March.  I’ve never seen a CD less on a Seabourn cruise!  It was downright odd.  In contrast, John Barron was everywhere when we were aboard a few weeks ago.

Yup. He was very good to us as acd on our group on Odyssey  Aimee was was most amazing cd. Hopefully he just needed a little to adjust to the position as we thought he had some talent. John Barron is a natural anomaly you don’t find very often. One of the Best cd in the entire world. I sailed with him the first time on Radisson Mariner in 2002 when he was an acd and have never seen anyone do lying poker better. Thanks for helping us with device on this ship 

Kent 

Thx! I’ve sailed with John and Handre many times. I thought Handre had moved to a land based position securing the great entertainment on board so glad to hear he is also sailing again. 

Can you let us know if David is CD? We met him on Odyssey last December as ACD but he was excited to be joining venture as cd this year. Was real good. Kent & Jeffrey