MJN1

Many thanks for all your inputs! To illustrate the difference for a Deluxe Verandah Suite in our case: D2D (ex London) is GBP 4700 more than P2P. D2D without flights is GBP 3900 more than P2P. This is still a huge difference vs P2P for basically just four "executive" transfers... I was not aware, and don't find it on the SS website, about the discount for Venetian Society members for D2D. Thanks @ Host Jazzbeau for mentioning the extra discount when paying in full for D2D. I did find a reference to this on the SS Website, but one has to ask for a quote and it may not apply to all cruises. Will ask my TA about this discount and report back. PS: while flight cost comparisons are always tricky, SS basically budgets GBP 800 for the flights ex Londond (difference between D2D with and without flights). We fly ex Salzburg for GBP 903 so this would be similar.

This is partially driven by (previous) exchange rates when the prices are set, but also by different consumer rights (cancellation/refund policies) and "cost of doing business/what the market will bear". You can always use a TA in another country to book your cruise at a better price. We always look at USD, GBP and Euro prices. In the past, USD were most advantageous, right now GBP are best for a SS cruise in September. Euro prices have always been the highest ones. Yes, the credit card company does take a cut on the Forex rate, but this is minimal compared to the difference in cruise prices. The cruiseline's cookies sometimes prevent you to go to its website in another country to see those prices, but using a VPN usually allows you to get around this by picking a server in the respective region.

As we love the itinerary we are looking at a SS cruise on the Dawn in September (Copenhagen to Copenhagen). However, this is with quite some trepidation, - as we fled from SS several years ago due to the constant cost cuttings (replacing the sugarcoated ginger with ginger candy after pouring Prosecco instead of ordered Champagne was the straw that broke the camels back...) and have been happily encamped on Seabourn ever after; and - because we always book our on flights and don't like SS recent focus on door-to-door pricing (the rationale for door-to-door without flights also escapes me). What didn't help to reduce this trepidation is, that port-to-port is apparently a "special promotional price reduction promotion" only offered for all Verandah suites (and below) and not for SilverSuites (and above). Thus the door-to-door SilverSuite vs port-to-port Verandah price differential is a King's ransom! Does this exclusion apply to all SS cruises or is this used selectively/can change over time (there seems to be plenty of availability at all Suite levels for this cruise)?

Maybe a bit outdated.... https://www.cruisington.com/stress-and-time-melt-away-on-a-day-at-seabourn-sojourns-spa/#:~:text=Seabourn's by-reservation Serene Area,at a cost of %2430. or ask your TA.

Dave, maybe do call SB or better your TA and ask what they will do for you given "this 35% off Seabourn Expedition Exclusive offer.* , mention code: PresCrs23"

Those cabins are still being flogged and an further enticements on board have been added! "less than 2 months away from my inaugural President’s Voyage aboard Seabourn's newest and most innovative ship, Seabourn Venture. As one of our top Seabourn Club members I hope you can join me on this Arctic Expedition sailing on June 17th. Not only will members of our staff be on board along with our 24-member Expedition Team, but we are pleased to also have famed jeweler Hubert Gesser joining us with his gorgeous gem-set treasures" 🧐

Looks like there are still plenty of cabins available for this President's sailing given another (the 3rd) email on this offer today: 'Dear Valued Valued Guest, I am counting down the days to my Arctic Expedition sailing on June 17th. As one of our top Seabourn Club members I hope you can join me on my inaugural President's Voyage aboard Seabourn's newest and most innovative ship, Seabourn Venture. I'm also excited to let you know that our very own Robin West, leader of our Expedition Team, and Gerald Mosslinger, Senior Vice President of Guest Operations will also be on board. Accept our invitation and receive an exclusive offer to save 35% on this 15-day Icelandic sailing.* Bring a friend, and they’ll enjoy the same special savings. I would love the opportunity to sail with you on this incredible voyage, but if you can’t join us for this sailing, apply the discount to any Arctic or Seasonal Migration Expedition voyage in 2023. Either way, learn more and book your voyage today to take advantage of this 35% off Seabourn Expedition Exclusive offer.* Call your Seabourn Team at: 00800-18721872 or contact your travel advisor and mention code: PresCrs23 to redeem this offer when booking. I look forward to creating new travel memories together."

We got an e-mail offer on this Presidents cruise a few weeks ago and a reminder on March 30: "We are so thankful for your loyalty over the years. I would love the opportunity to get to know you, so I’m excited to invite you to sail with me on a Seabourn Arctic Expedition beginning June 17th. Please join me for my inaugural President's cruise aboard Seabourn's newest and most innovative ship, Seabourn Venture, and receive an exclusive offer to save 35% on this 15-day Icelandic sailing.* I look forward to creating new travel memories together. Bring a friend, and they’ll enjoy the same special savings. I really look forward to sailing with you on this incredible voyage but if you can’t join us for this sailing, apply the discount to any Arctic or Seasonal migration voyage Arctic or Seasonal Migration Expedition voyage itinerary in 2023. Either way, learn more and book your voyage today to take advantage of this 35% off Seabourn Expedition Exclusive savings.* This is exploration elevated. Call your Seabourn Team at: 00800-18721872 or contact your travel advisor and mention code: PresCrs23 to redeem this offer when booking."

les37b, I can't answer this. Theoretically, you need to prove that this is your QR Code and this is why it is connected to the App on your mobile phone and anyone could show someone elses

Just to clarify some of the points above: You do need to download the Visit Japan App, complete the registration and fill in all the Info required. The hotel adress can be a challenge sometimes as the App only accepts what is in its system and that may be different from the info on the hotel Website. But frankly, you can provide any hotels adress, no one checks if you do stay at the Imperial .. You can do all this well in advance of your arrival to get this right and your uploaded vacination Info approved. Once your App Mark changes from Red to green, or rather BLUE, and you can access your QR Code, make screen shots of both the blue OK and the QR code! Haneda does have free WiFi, but it takes time to get into it and you want to be able to show your App being blue and not Red as soon as you get off the plane so you are not taken 'aside' and have to fumble for it (and there will be many asking to see it). There are no Auto gates. You line up at the Non-Japanese immigration counters, the person checks your QR Code, stamps your passport, gets your fingerprints, then waves you through. The blue App and the QR make all this faster. If you don't have them you are taken aside and I don't want to know what happens then... The lines do vary. Early November they were quite long at Haneda and despite cutting in with the excuse of a 90min connection we missed the flight. This time, March 9, there was no one in front of us. It really depends on what other flights arrive at about the same time as you arrive. A few planes from China and Vietnam ahead of you will make a huge difference. Of note, even if you do have the 2nd QR code for Customs, there are stations next to the baggage belt where the machine reads your QR code and you have to scan your passport. Then the same procedure with the customs officer at the exit....🙄 The filled in yellow customs form paper is faster, but not all airlines have them on board as you are supposed to use the App. As of mid March it is 'up to the individual' where to wears masks and only 'suggested' for crowded places incl crowded public transport. In reality, "all" Japanese keep wearing them, even while walking on the streets. Any staff definitely has them on. Hotels may insist you disinfect your hands when entering the restaurant. Buffets provide plastic gloves. You can get on buses, trains, planes without masks, and people will not frown on you. But taxi drivers clearly do not like it if you don't wear a mask! So, do bring a few, and any mask will do! And like everywhere else, staff is short in many places. But otherwise it is normal and enjoyable right now.

Yes, you go through Passport AND Security control in Frankfurt (and there will be no passport check upon arrival in Bergen). Yes, your luggage will be checked through to Bergen and go through customs there. You can use the Green channels if you have nothing to declare. Customs officials will, however, know from your luggage tags that you come from outside the EU. The only watch out is the transfer in Frankfurt. Lufthansa does allow a minimum 50 min connection time and you arrive and depart in Terminal one. However, you do have to pass not only through immigration, usually not a big issue, but through security, where lines can be quite long. In addition, your flight to Bergen most likely will depart from an A gate in Terminal 1, but your USA flight will arrive at a Z or B gate in Terminal 1. Going from Z to A is relatively easy: you go through (potentially long security lines) and then two floors down to immigration and you are right in the middle of the A gates. B to A is more of a hassle as you pass through immigration first, but then can end up in the main concourse for the security lines if you take a wrong turn. Net, you may want to allow for 90min transfer time in Frankfurt to avoid any transfer panic.

We have been there last June. We did a short walk through the town. Frankly not much to see (remnants of some old mosaic) and did not take any of the excursions offered. Unless you are interested in one of those I would call it a port day. The town beach was a 5min walk from the berth, if you fancy a swim.

Needless to say, one needs to compare apples with apples and thus the cruise fare without flights. USA ($), UK (GBP) and European (Euro) prices do vary and changing exchange rates increase/decrease the difference. We always look at all three before making a booking and always use a TA. Frankly, the Euro prices were always the highest ones and until now not competitive at all. However, we NEVER had a problem using a USA/Canada based TA to book US$ fares or a UK based agent to book a GBP fare, both while living in the UK before and now in Austria. And SS (and SB) obviously know our home address...

Assuming that you have not yet been to this region, Athen to Istanbul wins hands down! On this routing, Bozcaada is the only one we have not been too. You won't regret vising any of the other ports on this cruise. Except for Bodrum, rather big sea side town, I would have to google all the other ports on the Istanbul-Athen leg. But maybe others have personal experience and can advise better.

Don't know, but one can always ask @ the SB Square. Also not sure how many App users actually are aware of this function. The "button" looked like a "chat with a staff member/robot" one to us. I only found out that it is pax-to-pax when a CC member on board replied to an old fashioned hand-written note (sent to her via the Square) via the App.

No booklets any more. On the Seabourn Source App there is a chat function for guests onboard. You can type in a first name, e.g. Ann and the full names of all Ann's on board will pop up. So one could take a note of the last name and/or send a message (or make your own passenger list by trying a lot of first names.... 😘. ) However, that function shuts down on disembarkation day.

As Flyertalker mentioned, you only go through passport control in Vienna and 1h 15min should be enough. Time needed for passport control depends on the number of non-Schengen flights (i.e from the UK, USA, Middle and Far East, etc.) arriving at the same time. E.g. Austrian Airlines from Newark arrives at 7:50 a.m. during the summer months and the earlier non-Schengen arrivals should be out of the way by then. (I can't check other arrivals in November when your flight arrives at 8:15 a.m. , but you can do that in early November). The bigger issue may be going through security required for all connecting flights, which can be lenghty if you don't have access to the priority lane. Do ask to get to the front of the lane in this case (although we had shouting matches to do so in the past...) The one unknown in November will be the weather, i.e. potential snow and or fog upon arrival and thus potential delays. Unfortunately, the next flight to ATH is only in the evening (or the next morning) in case you do miss your connection. I assume you do plan to arrive at least one day earlier in ATH before the ship departs, so this won't be a problem in such a - hopefully unlikely - case.

Here is another news-snippet. Those so-called 'group tours' arrivals are miniscule! https://loyaltylobby.com/2022/07/21/japan-tourism-trial-disaster-tight-entry-requirements-continue-long-term-goals/?omhide=true

Or maybe the Norwegian Sun?

In all our travels within Europe (and to Japan) over the past 2 years the govermental rules have always been "within 72 hours" and changes in time zones were exactly calculated. I would not risk verbal advice which can not be proven afterwards, nor a different POV by the person checking your documents at embarkation.

The last day didn't start well at all. CD John had the great idea to wake all up at 7 a.m. by making his announcements via the speakers in the cabin. Yes, we need to vacate the cabin by 8 a.m., but I don't need one hour for that... 🥱 Arriving at the Colonnade an elderly lady way flat on the floor I front of the elevator with one staff trying to assist. It took well over 10 min for the request for the stretcher team to go out via the Trannoy system, followed 5min later by the request for the medical team. Don't these folks have pagers and can be summoned immediately? Most pax were assigned to buses going to the various airports and Venice. We thus leisurely made our way down to the gangway after 9.15 a.m, but found the line stretching all the way through the MDR. The poor lady was parked next to the gangway and nothing moved. What a bummer to be sent to the hospital instead of going home. We hope she will recover quickly! We had asked the evening before whether we need to order a taxi to go to downtown Ravenna and were assured taxis would be there and local staff could call more anytime. Yeah, zero taxis outside the luggage area. We were told to go to the taxi line and the taxis would arrive "soon". After 15min of nothing, we found a nice girl at an information shed, she suggested she would call also and found us one arriving in 15min. So finally off to the garage to pick up the car. The Quest is scheduled to go on a 10days charter with a Spanish Supermarket group, we for a visit to San Marino. Content and safe sailing to everyone (and apologies to Markham to adepting his line!).

Packing nearly completed it was time to say and wave good bye to the wonderful SB staff yesterday afternnon, who seemed to outnumber the guests on deck by far. Dinner at the MDR with CC-roll-call members, Kate&Scott: hope your flights work as planned and have a safe trip home! With this good night from the SB Quest (the disembarkation Review will follow tomorrow)!

FlyerTalker-great invisible cloak! Didn't know you are on board. Yes, we did get seconds after they found another tin. Beautiful, dark blue sea as we sailed out from Vodice last evening: followed by a nice dinner at the MDR. Couldn't resist another caviar order (being less humble as Mr. Luxury...), Ms. liked her escargot, me the sole. Service good as always. Last breakfast at the Patio today. We still need to determine why bed- and bathroom are not in perfect order when we have finished breakfast at home, as it magically happens here every morning without fail.🤔 2min walk into Kotor's well kept and "living" old town, a real jewel. Now the dreaded suitcase bed-sheet has appeared, so we better fortify ourselves with the satays at the Colonade.

Apparently everyone on board read my comment about Earth&Ocean being our favourite dinner place yesterday and showed up for dinner. The place was PACKED. They asked the SB destination expert and her guest to vacate their table after the appetiser to accommodate other guests and we waited more than 1h for our main course 🙄. Took the tender into Vodice today. Nice, clean, small town to wander around for about an hour. Beautiful islands vista from the balcony. Here just a few more pics from yesterday's sail away. Unfortunately the video does not load to give you the vibe of the band.

😋🥂🥰