caviarforme

We will be disembarking Piraeus on a Sunday at the end of our next SB cruise and have a flight from Athens airport (ATH) at 4.00pm. Whilst SB have organised our flights and will therefore provide transfers to the airport, we fear we will be put on an advertised SB tours/transfers that departs 7.30am or 8.00am (which is far to early for us), include various sights we have visited before and state that include stairs, slopes rough ground and much walking (both deemed unsuitable for those with limited mobility (that's us!) despite one being classed as "easy"). We will discuss with SB but need a plan "B". Any suggestions/recommendations for a Sunday morning in Athens for a couple who have done the sights before, nothing strenuous, disembarking around Piraeus 9.30am'ish and getting to the airport by 1.00/1.30pm'ish?

We were also on the same cruise and had the same issue. I always check my account early in the cruise to ensure my onboard credit is showing, and it was missing. Seabourn Sqaure also demanded proof which I luckily had. A few days later the OBC appeared. No explanation and no apology! As to daily charging to the credit card, I have never experienced this, and I am staggered that SB do this without notification, which is probably in breach of the credit card conditions. If you get no response from SB to your complaint, claim from your Credit Card for a "chargeback", if that is available in Germany.

Last July we sailed from Venice. SB ships dock at the Fusina industrial port across the lagoon, but check in is at the old Marittima Cruise Terminal in Venice itself, where cruise ships used to dock. Passengers are then "bussed" to the ship - about 20-30 minutes. We also had Seabourn pre-cruise airport transfer, and whilst there was no visit from the Pope, our SB instructions said we would be transferred direct to the pier from the airport - we were not! We were taken from the airport to the old cruise terminal to check in and then transferred to the ship. Took about 2 hours. Also the cruise terminal is no almost empty of facilities - not a single shop etc and just a snack/cold drinks machine.

Second visit also excellent - 36oz Porterhouse sharing steak cooked to perfection and so full of flavour. Almost did not need a knife. Best steak I have had for years, and a lot better than TK, which I never liked. Service again excellent. Addresses by name, Try Solis, and if something is not quite right tell the Maitre D' who will always try to correct the issue before complaining here

1 Reservations for Solis are restricted to one per "Sector" - otherwise book on board whe required 2 Depends on what you like - try the Sushi a lunchtime 3 I am a traditionalist and would NEVER wear jeans in a restaurant, however it is allowed except on formal nights. 4 All suites have water and a stocked minibar - you are traveling at a different level from Celebrity 5 Wifi is good - never found the need to pay for a faster service 6 Not sure where you saw that excursions are included - they are normally at an additional charge and are listed on your online booking

Are we on the same Seabourn Quest? Our Solis experience was excellent - Salt Baked Fish was excellently filleted and tasty - never an empty wine glass - and wonderful polite service with humour (proper English spelling is a clue to my country of residence) - and also addressed by name. The menu can appear confusing, but once explained it all falls into place. Looking forward to our second visit tonight! On the question of knowing your suite number - I challenge the writers here to learn all 400+ guest names and suite numbers in a few days. We have been addressed by name throughout - we address staff by their names, take interest in them, and thank them at all times. Could be a link!!!

We did the Dolphin Swim at Carambola in 2022 - Coach left from Carambola and we were returned to Carambola in time for Caviar and Lobster lunch. Really enjoyed the Dolphin Swim BUT they make you leave at cameras and phones in the changing lockers and then sell you their photographs via download at an extremely high price. Seem to recall a full set was over US$120.

Stu UK, As far as I am aware that is the case!! If not we will be "in the same boat" as you next week - literally! See you onboard or maybe on the flight from LGW

Last Novmber/early December it was at Carambola beach on both visits in our 21days

So has mine even though we are not boarding until you disembark!

Stu UK, No need to worry - as a regular SB cruiser never needed or used a boarding pass. Just your passports and reservation info. Also, never use the pathetic folded paper baggage tags you print off that need a stapler/sellotape and rip off easily. On arrival at the port they will take your bags and add tags and write with your suite number on them. Are you disembarking in Gran Canaria or staying onboard? If the latter - see you when we join Quest there.

I love your humour (note British spelling!) I look forward to meeting you

John117, Our surname starts with S, so this could be the case! Good luck and hope to see you on land, sea and in the air, thoug how we will ientf each other I have no idea!

John117, We are also joining Quest on 4th and flying in to Gran Canaria on 3rd c/o Seabourn. I asked my TA to find out where we are staying on the night of 3rd and SB repied "The hotel you will be staying in is The Santa Catalina Hotel. Please be aware that this can be subject to change, however, this is the hotel that has been confirmed at this time. Once you reach the hotel, you will get more information regarding the times you will be collected for transfers. " Also - having downloaded my "Final Documents" from the Seabourn it states on the itinerary "Wednesday Apr 3 LONDON GATWICK In air 2:50pm Wednesday Apr 3 GRAN CANARIA 7:20PM Wednesday Apr 3 LAS PALMAS SANTA CATALINA (DELUXE SUPERIOR) CALLE LEON Y CASTILLO 227 LAS PALMAS, 35005 SPAIN PHONE: 35121381140 1 NIGHT STAY / DOUBLE OCCUPANCY Thursday Apr 4 LAS PALMAS, GRAN CANARIA, CANARY ISLANDS, SPAIN 5:00pm Friday" The itinerary also states boarding on 4th will be from 12.30 so I expect transfers to be around 11.30 - 12.00 from the hotel, which is close to the port. Obviously I cannot guarantee you are booked in the same hotel etc. but your documemts on the my booking pages of the Seabourn website or on Seabourn Source should show you the details by now. Hope this helps and see you onboard!

Press Reader is a post covid alternative to the good old newsheets we used to receive in our cabin. On our first cruise post covid I downloaded Pressreader before the cruise as instructed by SB but found onboard that you could access it via the Seabourn Source App. In fact I was told that you HAD to access it through the SB App whilst onboard to get it free! Logical!! Usual confused SB instructions! However only used it once - it is a pleasure to be free from the world for a few days

We are from the UK and am sure you will enjoy Ovation. We are modern traditionalists and have cruised Seabourn a lot in many parts of the world. You should dress as YOU feel comfortable, so long as you are smart in the evenings, wherever you dine. Following the crowd is not obligatory. Dress of the masses will vary slightly on where the cruise is in the world and the nationality of those aboard (I will not expand!) I will always wear a Dinner Jacket on formal nights if dining in Solis or the Restaurant, part of luxury cruising is occasional style. On other nights I will have a long-sleeved shirt (the AC can be fierce), sometimes a jacket, and sometimes a tie. Who needs a "loud" shirt - I do not see any "fun" in that unless you are an exhibitionist or on a Disney cruise. Dining in the Colonnade - short sleeved shirt and smart trousers, at Earth and Ocean - shorts and T-shirt/shirt if weather permits. For the ladies - whatever they chose would be wonderful! Dress as YOU see fit and feel comfortable.

We are back onboard 4th April - will ask for our missing ones! Wish us luck.

Realise they are not really sold out - SB just use that when they do not want to take any bookings online such as when they are offering upgrades etc. Also realise you need to be a club member, but there must be at least 90 different cruises, are we expected to telephone and ask for the price of them all? Our cruise choice is based on a mixture of location and price - and the latter factor is missing. Am I being to simple but surely if you log in as a club member you should be able to see the prices? UK TA' s can get special prices but also have to call SB in the UK (mostly closed at weekends). Also got this "Correction" - tried "spot the difference" but gave up!

Lucky you! we never got anything!!!

We were told when we were on Encore in November that we would be achieving 100 days on that cruise and would be publicly congratulated at the "club" reception a few days later unless we did not want to. We went and our name was read out. Never heard anything else from Seabourn and certainly no gift. Mind you we never get a guest comment email after our cruises If you do get a gift, please let us know and make us jealous!

Latest mailing this morning for new cruises September 25 to March 26 - shame that the link takes you those cruises over 6 pages of which all but one are "SOLD OUT" and no prices! So much for "Valued" Guest. When will they get their act together

Thanks all - for once on CC everyone seems to be of the same view! We have been traveller on Encore and Ovation in most of or recent years - it was pre-spa suites that we were last on Quest - and were not aware of the stairs on Quest and Sojourn, unlike Encore and Ovation, until we looked closely. All your contributions have been very helpful and it will be a Penthouse on this ship Thanks again

We are considering a Penthouse or Penthouse Spa suite on Quest but are confused about access to the Penthouse Spa suites - which we are being told is by a spiral staircase from the spa. We are not the most mobile of people and staircases can be exhausting. Can anyone with experience let us know approximately the size of the staircase and any other information on the Spa Suite?

Thanks Flying...... - anyone got a copy of the survey? Otherwise I will just send comments as suggested

Thanks all - nothing in the junk folder for either of us. Probably another IT hitch as we always get other SB e-mails. A shame as some excellent crew that deserved congratulations. I used the onboard Source comment after being ignored for 25 minutes in the Obs lounge for tea and it worked, but that is not the same as giving an overall view.