2seabournsailors

45 minutes ago, kjbacon said:

I hope so but I bet they would have a tough time legally. 

Many years ago there was really delicious fried chicken on Seabourn but I only remember it from the Galley Lunches. I’m sure they could do it again but probably have to buy new fryers as the ones they have been using were TK Fryers.

1 hour ago, frantic36 said:

 

It will be an interesting experience as we are on the first and last segments. I am wondering if they will change the decor or just the menu during the world cruise. I have heard a rumour Sojourn is due for a big refurbishment next year some time. But time will tell.

We board Quest in April for 79 days, so will be trying the new Restaurant a few times.....I hope!

All I can add to this "News" is that E&O and Sushi have both become very popular on the Seabourn ships, and the new "Solis" is another creation by Chef Tony Egger, and also Chef Franck. Hopefully this new one will prove just as popular! Odyssey of course won't be getting the new Restaurant. Those on next years World Cruise will have the first half of their Cruise with TK and the second half with Solis!

https://crweworld.com/.../seabourn-announces-new-and...

The Anti Viral stuff was close to $1000USD when on the WC. We can’t get it in Australia for “just in case “ situations. We have to already be Positive for COVID-19 to be able to get it. I only know one person who took it on the WC.

I was under the impression that Seabourn NOT sending us printed documents  any longer was to save trees etc. etc. so for that reason I won’t print them either. They can just handle the Check In and luggage paperless. Don’t need to carry tape or stapler.

37 minutes ago, Cantara24 said:

So enlighten us ... that move helps ...

Handre finds the East Coast easier for the work he has to do in contacting Entertainers etc etc in the rest of the World. Apparently Seattle Time Zones didn't work too well for him and Miami is a lot better. I have no idea of the difference I'm afraid....

10 minutes ago, SLSD said:

I've spent some time reading about each port and it looks promising.  Thank you for your comments.  We would arrive in Hong Kong several days early if we decide to book this cruise and see the most interesting things.  We would probably hire a private guide as we did in Beijing when we were there.  We would also spend some time in Singapore.  

we went to Disneyland in Hong Kong LOL...... 

36 minutes ago, SLSD said:

Very disappointing to hear this.  We've found very spotty service when dealing with Seabourn's home office.  Sometimes the person we talk to doesn't have a clue, while others are very professional and take care of things.  

The complaints we have also heard concerning the Seabourn Office is another discussion we had with President Natalya during our Meeting. I think she was quite aware that there was a problem as she wasn't happy that no one seemed to know anything about the upcoming "Presidents Cruise"..... she thought everyone had been emailed about it.....seems whoever was supposed to do that job didn't get on to it....we told her that we very rarely get emails from Seabourn, and never any advertising.....NOW we do......She told us how there is going to be lots more Staff Training ON the ships, and I think OFF the ships as well.....

8 minutes ago, SLSD said:

I've spent a good bit of time today looking at itineraries on Seabourn--and on Silversea, Regent, and the new Crystal.  

 

Thank you to 2seabourn sailors for suggesting I look at Vacations to Go to ferret out the itineraries since the Seabourn website is so painful to use.  I've looked at Vacations to Go in the past, but since I would never book through them (should we?  ever?) I had not looked at the site recently.  

 

One of our friends, who doesn't cruise now due to age, has been urging Mr. SLSD to book an Asian cruise during the winter.  We had looked at those and I had dismissed the idea, perhapas prematurely.  

 

I went back  to the Seabourn website today after looking at the whole panoply of choices on Vacations to Go.  January is a very good time for us to cruise.  Christmas with the family will be behind us, and our next domestic trip will not be until April. 

 

We're looking at a January 20th 14 days cruise from Hong Kong to Singapore.  I wish it was longer, but it is what it is.  We have not been to Hong Kong (have been to mainland China and do not consider it a vacation spot).  I know Hong Kong is changed now due to being part of mainland China now. 

 

Here are the ports which are nicely space among sea days.  I really like sea days sprinkled in among ports--never more than one sea day at a time. 

 

Hong Kong

Halong Bay, Viet Nam

Da Nang (Hue) Viet Nam

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) Viet Nam

Sihanoukville, Cambodia

Ko Kood, Thailand

Laem Chabag (Bangkok) Thailand

Singapore

 

My questions concern the ports.  Are they good ports in terms of things to see and do?  Or, are some of them a long way from things to see and do.  Have any of you experienced this itinerary? 

Plenty to see in Hong Kong, just google all the ideas and easy to get around via taxis and train. We even tried the bus, but got very lost and saw parts of Hong Kong no Westerner has ever seen before. 

Halong Bay is just beautiful....do one of the boat tours, its a spectacular part of the World.

Ko Kood if the very BEST of Seabourns Caviar in the Surf....gorgeous beach.

Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh are very busy Cities, but again lots to see, I would only do these places on a Tour, as I'm not too adventurous these days. I'm sure there would be tours that would be of interest.

Don't think we got off the ship in Da Nang, I seem to remember it being a very wet day so we had a lazy one onboard.

And Singapore is one of my favourite Cities in the World, again lots to see, just google to see what interests you. Also has to be about the safest place in the World......we were once going to eat in a very very busy Food Court for local food.....as soon as we spotted a spare table, we grabbed it, then took it in turns of going off to collect our food. Couldn't believe our eyes when a group of young girls came in, put their purses down on an empty table, then all went off to look for food.....10 minutes later, they were back and their purses were still where they had left them Imagine that happening ANYWHERE else in the World? Really nice place to visit.

If you look at VTG and select the dates April to August and select Quest, hopefully that will show you all the choices…..I haven’t looked yet so hope I am right! LOL

2 minutes ago, SLSD said:

I have always been reluctant to book a segment(s) on a WC or a Grand Voyage.  I don't like to be those passengers that the long haulers are looking at with disdain.  Talk me down from that--if you can.  

We didn’t really think the last WC felt like a WC as there were quite a few segments to begin with and then more were added. The Grand European already has 17 Segments so to me is just the same as a lot of back to back’s 

42 minutes ago, SLSD said:

I'm actively searching for an appealing itinerary and I am about the throw up my hands.  The Seabourn website is terrible.  First, I have to change browsers to use it --from Chrome to Safari--and even then if does not work well.  How can Seabourn do business this way?  I am not having difficulties with the websites of other cruise lines.  

Have you tried looking at Vacations to Go for itineraries? So easy to find the dates you want the ship and the itinerary. Then head back to Seabourn for the finer details.

3 hours ago, SLSD said:

This looks amazing, but is probably more adventurous than we are---I say this rather sheepishly.  Just being on a ship with Fletcher would be great.  I look forward to his commentary.  We'll have to ask him to post it over here too.  

Although I am glad I have seen The Gambia and Dakar, (on the WC) they are not places I would want to see again. The 2024 Grand European has something like 17 Segments of varying lengths. Some great itineraries in there. Starting Late April through to July/August.

3 hours ago, Khareef said:

Age and nationality? 

That is not happening.

3 hours ago, frantic36 said:

 

Lola we have to be a bit careful I think with what we say. I can say for some reason a number of years ago she didn't sail on Seabourn for awhile and but then returned where she was comparatively low key for a short time but this has now changed to current standards. Hopefully in the future she will calm down again or have another break from Seabourn. 

Yes I am sure that’s the same person and we were told why she and another went missing for a while. It should have been permanent.

27 minutes ago, nancygp said:

Wow..another level of person for sure…Not doubting you..unfortunately I’m no longer able to read the info in your “other” group.  Her friend is certainly an enabler.  Glad you got support from other WCer’s.

 

nancy

 

 

try rejoining now.

1 hour ago, SLSD said:

  I know that the crew takes notes about guests.  When we sailed in June on Ovation,  our waiter brought me a glass of the included wine that I always order at our first lunch on the veranda of the Colonnade. When I asked if they knew this--Cristian just smiled.  

 

I am always amazed at the Crews memories of different likes and dislikes of so many people, but when the Captain on the WC walked past me at the patio one day and said "where is your mojito" I almost thought it must be time I gave up drinking!

1 hour ago, nancygp said:

the whole thing is bizarre…can’t understand why seabourn tolerates this type of behavior and harassment of crew and passengers.  Some people,are bullies both in person and online.  I sailed another lux line for many years and never witnessed anyone so bad…a select few came close but nothing like,this particular guest.

 

Nancy

I have witnessed demanding and very pushy people but this person was just another level that I have never seen before.....I actually wrote a piece about this person on my "other" Group page and although she is not a member, her "one" friend is, and he obviously showed her the post. He was with her when she started taking the photos and I actually believe he was the one who suggested that to her. After her second meeting with the top brass she was told she was on her last warning.....lots of us now kid each other about our next cruises "have you checked to see if so and so is booked"......when I wrote my piece in the other Group, I was swamped that day on board with people coming up with congratulations and thank yous, so the MAJORITY were well aware.....being a World Cruise, the majority were probably also long term Seabourners and had seen her behaviour previously.....

3 hours ago, markham said:

SLSD,

 

No, she wasn’t.

 

Happy and healthy sailing!

this person was most perturbed that I actually didn't have a clue who she was!! Guess we are just lucky to have avoided her until recently. (we have been around for quite a few years).... we also reported her behaviour concerning treatment of Crew, and she was spoken to by the HD. To repay me for that, she then went around taking photos of me and then showing the pic to other Guests and pointing me out...LMAO, would love to know what juicy gossip she told about me. This even happened in TK's....took pics of me, then went up to other tables pointed at me, and showed the pic......so, again I reported her for harassment this time. She was again spoken to, this time also by the Captain. One thing I DID take as a good sign is that she wanted to extend her cruise, but wasn't allowed! The rest of the Guests had already planned for a "Ding Dong the Witch is Dead" Celebration Party for that day, so she just HAD to leave! We were even getting blow by blow reports, like, "she is packed and bags are off the ship"....."she has just been escorted down the gangway"..... HOPEFULLY  Seabourn will eventually wake up and put a stop to people like this. 

14 hours ago, markham said:

Then you have those renowned prima donnas eg the one who commands compliant Colonnade staff to carry her lunch plates for her to other decks. Which sorta gives the impression that Seabourn allows/encourages somehow an “anything goes” atmosphere that either Silversea or its passengers do not want/wouldn’t tolerate. 

 

 

 

 

THIS comment made me giggle. I am pretty sure you weren't on the World Cruise, but this person you are mentioning was.....(only for part of it thankfully) . She had certainly graduated from the carrying plates to other decks, it also became, fetch 10 towels and 10 cushions, then turn a chair into a sultans lounge. Two or three staff just to serve her lunch. The majority of the Seabourn passengers didn't tolerate her antics, but there were a couple sided with her or made excuses. Those who drank Evian water weren't happy when supplies ran low, but of course ~one particular person~ had many bottles delivered to her suite for hair washing! Yes, I have seen the odd Prima Donna, but this one really took the cake!

6 minutes ago, 2seabournsailors said:

They don't have tablecloths at E&O, just place mats. We dine there so often we were presented with  E&O hats! 

11 minutes ago, SLSD said:

To each his own.  To me, the Colonnade is the more contemporary style of dining and I don't care for it at all.  I do enjoy dining at Earth and Ocean around the pool in the evenings--which is an informal venue.  At this point, I can't remember if tablecloths were included.  I'll have to check some photographs I took.  

 

They don't have tablecloths at E&O, just place mats. We dine there so often we were presented with  E&O hats! 

On 7/7/2023 at 1:26 PM, SLSD said:

We would be happy to explore, but there are some elderly cruisers that this would not work for.   I do understand that times are given to make the boarding process run more smoothly.  

and I fully agree with this statement! On Embarkation Day, we don't have either the interest or stamina to go off exploring, or visiting Restaurants, and THEN facing all the embarkation stuff. We will head to the Port as soon as we have to leave our Hotel. IF we then aren't allowed to board, we will just sit in the Terminal and wait till we can board. We either sit in the Hotel Lobby and wait, or head to the Terminal and wait....

1 hour ago, Khareef said:

 

We should all write to Seabourn and complain, hopefully they will change the system.

In 17 years or so of sailing with Seabourn we have NEVER ordered the Course by Course Room Service, as we wouldn't dream of expecting a Crew Member to climb up and down the stairs three or four times to deliver each course. We just opt for the same old Club Sandwich or Burger.....hoping the new Menu will be an improvement as Room Service can be relaxing after a long day.