oceanviewer21

Thank you all. The denim skirt/dress is an elegant fashion designer item (not the grunge kind) but we won’t waste time testing the maitre de.

My wife is asking would a denim skirt be allowed for dinner on the Grandeur?

May I ask if the usb outlets on the Grandeur are the old A type or the new C type? Not sure which cables to bring.

New to Oceania

Oceania adds gratuities to drinks bills do they also add a tip?

Cruise 14th March
Cancelled by Seabourn 10th March

Refund from Southampton UK 11th March

Refund for tours from Holland America Seattle 13th March

I tried one on our last cruise and honestly I do not know what the fuss is about. I didn't taste any different from a burger that you would get in ny good restaurant.

15 hours ago, jenidallas said:

 Are they coming and going or sitting docked?

 

Its hypothetically possible that some of the lines that have cancelled their winter Asia itineraries and didn't reposition are holding in dock at the closed port until they start their Med season.  

 

On a broader note, how much capacity exists for inactive ships to go to dry dock?  If they have lengthy suspension periods, it isn't economically feasible to keep all the ships sailing aimlessly, even with a skeleton crew.  I know with the airlines, they will park planes in the desert in Arizona... but what about ships?

No lights on last night and still there this morning. I wonder if the Ovation will do the same thing in Colombo.Sad isn’t it.

37 minutes ago, Flamin_June said:

Glad to hear you had some advanced warning of the cancellation before setting off. Hope you have as pleasant a stay in Dubai as possible and return in good health!

Thank you. Here’s a snap oh Dubai port today. I wonder what these liners are doing there. Hope to meet you all one day.

Bob

When the 14th March Ovation Cruise was cancelled partly because of Dubai not allowing cruise ships, we decided to have a small break in Dubai anyway (our nearest guaranteed sunshine after a very wet year in the UK). We arrived yesterday. The usual long lines for passport control zigzagging back and forth. We were next to the same people and families with young children from all over the world for more than 20 minutes. There were NO health checks of any kind, NO thermal imaging either. And to add insult to injury I can see from the beach FIVE cruise liners in the docks.

11 minutes ago, fdnycruiser said:

I spoke to Seabourn an hour or so ago. No useful information whatsoever. I asked exactly where it was now going, being most of the ports are now closed . The response was, “ give them time “. Not acceptable in my mind as I’d have to leave Wednesday evening. Also, was told whether I cancel, or they cancel it’s going to be a FCC ! They’re definitely not being proactive, or doing the right thing ,
SilverSea just cancelled their March 15th cruise from Mumbai- Dubai- Athens . They gave a full refund and 25% FCC ! Sorry Seabourn, I love you, appreciate the difficulty of your situation, but leaving us hanging. We’re in a difficult situation too !



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Same here we leave in 17 hours with no inkling of what they are thinking. The back office seem particularly unhelpful. I know it must be a nightmare for them, but it is for us and we are the customers. I personally think the company has made too many cutbacks and is close to breaking point as far as organisation is concerned  As someone said earlier "Fourth Seabourn cruise for us. Great cruise and great ship with jerks running the corporate office."

Still no news from Seabourn and the website is still letting me book and pay for tour in India?

26 minutes ago, rols said:

So where are we now? Ovation is due to embark passengers in Colombo in a few days and then sail to India and finish in Dubai. However India has banned ships and the letter from Celebrity earlier in this thread was at least a good indication that Dubai has banned them too. 

 

Then Encore's Asia stop is still a month away however they changed the embarkation port from Bali to Darwin, which is still ok, however the disembarkation port was changed from Singapore to Columbo .. and that's not going to work if Sri Lanka continues to refuse ships? After that leg I assume Encore was also due to do the India/Dubai leg. 

 

So it would seem all those cruises are going to have to change again. Problem is if you can't stop in Dubai, it's a week of sailing to reach anywhere you might possibly be able to get off. 

 

I think Sojourn is now free and clear as it's heading down towards Australia having stopped but not allowed anyone off in Colombo. 

We are due to leave tomorrow to join the Ovation on the 14th after a two day break in Dubai. Seabourn are unable to tell us or our travel agent anything. So we have packed, the hound is in kennels and we look forward to Flamin-June's" Magical Mystery tour" or not. Thinks to self "are they thinking of doing Australia?" !

I wish Seabourn would put something on their website if only to say these ports have closed and we are working on a way forward. Their last entry was the 27th February. Without Cruise Critic we wouldn't know about these looming problems. Communication is not their strong point.

I have had no recent communications from Seabourn about this cruise nor any documents/labels and we leave on Tuesday. I wonder what is going on?

1 hour ago, 3418ahl said:

Personally, I worry far less about cruising, especially on small ships like Seabourn, than I worry about the flights, numerous airports, numerous people handling the luggage I eventually pick up, security pat downs that have patted down hundreds before me, etc.  The cruise is not my main worry, but the trip to the ship is.

Agree with you 100%. Our main worry too. Why is this not mentioned more?

Whats that?

3 minutes ago, skybarshrek said:

Apparently this Seabourn Policy only applies to Holland America Line. Your thoughts please.

 What Policy?

Can anyone onboard tell me how the Colonnade works now? Does everyone get their own serving spoon?

Very reassuring video message from Seabourn chief medical officer on Seabourn Press and media page https://www.seabourn.com/en_US/news.html?source=122648

21 minutes ago, Mulberry08 said:

Is there anyone on here still going on the 14th March Ovation from Sri Lanka?

We are still going and was wondering what Pre cruise hotel if any people have booked? Obviously not paying in advance again!!! 

 

We have Transit visas because when arriving on a cruise they are acceptable.  Now because we are arriving in Sri Lanka by plane we have to have Tourist visas. I cannot order them online because it says we already have valid visas. It would be great to arrive at Colombo and not be able to leave the airport!!!! not.

Lots of calls to Seabourn, TA, High commission here and to Sri Lanka.  I have been told to send an email. Stressed now.

Says ETA Colombo 13th. So are the crew already on board?

On 2/22/2020 at 9:51 AM, Fletcher said:

I notice the Ovation did a slight move overnight, from the end of the pier at Sembawang to berthing alongside the main harbour.  Could be significant, might not be . . . 

It’s just moved back to the Marina  cruise terminal 

I have just been told to get a Tourist visa by our agent and not a Transit visa for Sri Lanka because we are now departing from Colombo and not Singapore.

I already have a Transit visa and the online application will not let me apply for the Tourist Visa because it says I already have a valid visa.

What do I do now? Its all getting too much hassle

Flamin_June. I'm with you all the way, exactly our thought processes except that we have decided to go, mainly because the way things are going there will be nowhere to go on holiday soon. We so wanted to go to Yangon it was our third attempt to get there. You say that the ship is going there now but we have not seen or heard anything. Fingers crossed, if we will just enjoy the sun and the sea. 

They are obviously saving fuel by pottering around Oman.We so wanted to go to Myanmar but I think we are going to go just for the sunshine its sadly been lacking here for months. And who knows where in the world we will be able to go within the next year if we take the FCC.