Utopia1

Call them directly for a current answer to your question

I've haven't experienced any problems-- EXCEPT

One new piece of luggage recently came back from Barbados damaged.  I immediately e mailed photos of the damage and a receipt for the suitcase to Luggage Forward..  Within 24 hours they offered me a refund for the bag or a replacement.  I received the exact  bag within one week from the place I purchased it

The only negative I find is the restrictions of the items that you are permitted to pack.  

I wouldn't hesitate shipping to/from any port that they ship to. 

6 minutes ago, Covepointcruiser said:

Sailed Ovation on the November transatlantic.    Everything was excellent, never felt crowded.    Service was great just like our April cruise.

I was on the Ovation transatlantic November 19-- the cruise was great- not crowded-  service was great.  We were surprised because even Thomas Keller wasn't busy and we were able to dine there almost any night without an advance reservation.

11 minutes ago, chatuga said:

On sailings with lots of sea days are watercolor or crafts classes offered ?

Yes--Art/craft

classes are usually offered  twice a day when there are many sea days

1 hour ago, tjcox9 said:

We  were in 747 last Jan/Feb on the Quest and loved it. We had no noise from above, however, we were in Antarctica and South Georgia, so activity there  may have been more limited than at other times. We loved the location and would happily book it again.

thank you!

I am looking at suite 748 on the Quest.  It is below the pool.  Does anyone know if it is very noisy in the morning and at night when they are moving chairs?

16 hours ago, temerarious said:

 

Back to the original thread topic:  I'm currently on the Silver Moon.  As a result of the itinerary changes replacing the Egypt ports, we spent two days in Rhodes (Dec 27 & Dec 28).  The dress code published when we boarded indicated the 27th would be Casual & the 28th would be Informal.  When we received our 'Chronicles' for Dec 28th, the dress code had been changed to Casual.  (I was one of the VERY FEW people who noticed.)  

 

The Hotel Director stopped by to chat with our Solo Travelers group the evening of 12/28, and I asked about the change.  She said that she personally made the decision to change the dress code from Informal to Casual because of the two days in port and our late departure time (6pm).  I asked if she was planning on making the same the change for Jeddah, which has exactly the same schedule.  She said she would NOT be making changes (which doesn't make sense - so we shall see).  I mentioned there was a great deal of online discussion, debate (and controversy) over the dress code.  She said Silversea is very aware of the various opinions.  I think the message ggo85 was sending in this post has been received (at least by this Hotel Director).

 

My only issue is that I packed for 4 Casual and 8 Informal nights.  If two of the Informal nights are changed to Casual, I really wish I'd brought one more sweater and one less dress. 👗

No one cares what you are wearing-- it is nice.that you care.  My guess because you care you will look nice in whatever you wear--- even if you wear it a second time .

Just now, Utopia1 said:

I was told that on a recent Seabourn sailing sometime btwn the lsat week of November and the beginning of December.  It takes several weeks to complete the conversion.  They will put in a new kitchen as well as redo the dining area.

2 minutes ago, sfvoyage said:

When were you told that?

 

On the Odyssey last month, I was told that TK Grill will convert to Solis during the World Cruise so that the full world cruisers will get to enjoy both venues.

I was told that on a recent Seabourn sailing sometime btwn the lsat week of November and the beginning of December.

It is my understanding that Thomas Keller Grill on the Sojourn will remain in operation until the end of the World Cruise-  They will begin renovations for Solis at the conclusion of the World Cruise.  I was told this from what I believe to be a reliable source--but this is my only source..

The cruise lines do not mention who operates their spas.

 Google One Spa World to see the ships  they operate the spas on.  Every line has their own name for their spas.

 I never thought of adjusting the gratuity that is automatically added on- but it has never stopped me from adding an additional gratuity., 

OneSpaWorld, a spinoff of Steiner Leisure, is the company that operates the spas on 19 different cruise lines.  Among the cruise lines OneSpaWorld operates the spas on are Seabourn, SilverSea, Crystal, Regent, Oceana, and Azamara.

I do not know how OneSpaWorld applies the mandatory gratuity on the other cruise lines.

but my guess is that it is similar to the way it is done on Seabourn.

it is the concession that operates the spa that adds the gratuity-- not the cruise line.

IMO there is no right or wrong about tipping after a service is completed in the spa.  In the spa the 18%  is required and any additional tip is the patrons choice.

I agree-  avenida palace is well located and comfortable

If you book your stay directly with the hotel there are some extra perks and discounts 

35 minutes ago, saminina said:

Samina-  Your reply is partially correct-" I was told" by the operator who was doing my hair and trying to sell products-- but I was not able to "verify" it with the corporation who operates the spa.

The spa employees are not hired by Seabourn nor do they share in the crew fund.  

Seabourn terminated their contract with Thomas Keller--- perhaps it is time to terminate their contract with Steiner (the company that operates the spa) Steiner was sold years ago and I may be using the wrong name for the corporation that operates the spa.

I am also annoyed at the hard push to sell the Elemis products (also owned by the same corp. that operates the spa.)  I tell the operators who I use at the beginning that I have my own inventory of Elemis products and will not be buying any.  Later, I was told that each operator has a quota of what they are expected to sell-- I was never able to verify this.

I agree that it is inappropriate and totally wrong to have this hard sell experience.  The idea of going to the spa is relaxation- not shopping.

. 

I have used the Steiner Salons on various ships for over 25 Yeats.  The automatic 18% mandatory gratuity is really an 18% price increase to the passengers.

 FYI the 18% was added sometime after the 2023 world cruise.  It was a surprise to me-- but I guess I am always (but shouldn't be) at sudden price increases.  I was on the ship for almost two months this fall and I never heard anyone complain about the 18% gratuity in the spa/salon .

I don't think this forum will settle anything because we are all entitled to our own opinion .  IF  an additional gratuity goes entirely to the person who provides the service I will be satisfied.

For those who disagree with me I think letters to Seabourn and Steiner will have more weight than airing your dissatisfaction on this forum. 

With all the "wisdom" of spa gratuities on this forum--- I still don't know know if the additional gratuity I add goes entirely to the person who provided the service.

Does anyone know if the ADDITIONAL gratuity added in the beauty salon for hair and nails goes entirely to the operator?

Yes, there is a shuttle bus

On 11/18/2023 at 1:42 PM, SLSD said:

I have never really understood why some people feel a need to know which nights are formal nights.  For us, it makes no difference.   We have gone to the TK Grill for formal nights as well as to the Restaurant.  It doesn't change our choice of dress.   We have also dined at Earth and Ocean on formal night and not dressed formally.  Just go with the flow.  It's easy to adjust what you wear--or what you expect.  

There are people who like to book spa and/ or hair appointments for the formal nights.  It doesn't matter to you- but it does matter to some.  t would like Seabourn to list the formal evenings

47 minutes ago, Mahogany said:

Are you saying the "restaurant look which is very very dated" was on the new ship Venture?

I don't understand what kind of dining people expect when they cruise.   I cruise a lot- if I want something special I have always found the chef is more than willing to prepare it if given proper notice. 

At home we have restaurants with top chefs- I seldom frequent them. I have dined at Thomas Keller restaurants because I was invited- but I would never want to dine there every night. Thomas Keller on the ship provides a simple menu that can be enjoyed often- unlike some of his restaurants in the USA

There are people who look for what is wrong rather than how good things are.

Sintra is a beautiful excursion-- another nice excursion is the train from Lisbon to Cascais.  It is a beautiful train ride along the sea passing through Estoril and last stop is Cascais.  Cascais is an easy city to walk around.

If you can go on a weekday it will be a little less crowded with pedesrians and cars.   The Hotel Albatroz is a lovely place to go for a drink in the late afternoon.  We have stayed there many times and watched this hotel expand and expand, but never loosing its quaintness.

The hotel is an easy walk to the train station.

Christmas in Madeira is magical-- and unforgettable 

Lucky you!