Sololux

Given how repetitive my home cooking is EJ is still a win win!  I actually like the idea that I will enjoy a specific course and will want to enjoy it again two weeks later!

I don’t need every dish for every meal to be different.  I just want each course to be so good that I want to eat it again!  Bizarrely that’s what I’ve been doing where I’ve had to stay when visiting my 101 year old mum.

Ahhhhhh, don’t know what to do.  
To get back to Toulouse from Athens my main option is to fly BA Athens - Heathrow - Heathrow - Toulouse.  My big problem is BA.  Yet again they cancelled my flight, this time last Saturday.  People I’ve talked with say KLM isn’t much better.  I need to fly business as I’m away for more than 20 days so will have two suitcases.

Prior to joining the cruise in Istanbul I’m flying Turkish airlines with a direct flight from Toulouse.  I’m staying a couple of nights in a quiet modern hotel on the Bosporus but quite away from the tourist areas.

i could get a Turkish airlines flight from Athens to Istanbul stay three nights and get another direct flight from Istanbul to Toulouse.  the cost is considerably reduced if I add more flights onto my first flight.  I’ve found a quirky hotel in the tourist area - Sirkeci Mansion Hotel - the top floor rooms come with an outside terrace overlooking the park.  I’ve always wanted to return to the Topkapi Palace and it’s closed on Tuesdays, which is the next 

have you seen the price of gold bags lately!
 

Ahhhhhh, don’t know what to do.  
To get back to Toulouse from Athens my main option is to fly BA Athens - Heathrow - Heathrow - Toulouse.  My big problem is BA.  Yet again they cancelled my flight, this time last Saturday.  People I’ve talked with say KLM isn’t much better.  I need to fly business as I’m away for more than 20 days so will have two suitcases.

Prior to joining the cruise in Istanbul I’m flying Turkish airlines with a direct flight from Toulouse.  I’m staying a couple of nights in a quiet modern hotel on the Bosporus but quite away from the tourist areas.

i could get a Turkish airlines flight from Athens to Istanbul stay three nights and get another direct flight from Istanbul to Toulouse.  the cost is considerably reduced if I add more flights onto my first flight.  I’ve found a quirky hotel in the tourist area - Sirkeci Mansion Hotel - the top floor rooms come with an outside terrace overlooking the park.  I’ve always wanted to return to the Topkapi Palace and it’s closed on Tuesdays, which is the next port day after boarding, so this would be my opportunity.

So, do I fly back home or spend some time in Istanbul - my head is locked into a loop!

1 hour ago, Queen of my Heart said:

Thank you all for your replies. Can I ask what a resort hotel vs cruise experience is? This is only my second ocean cruise as my husband and I used to do villa/home swap holidays and I've only ventured into cruising since he died. Also, are any events put on for solo travellers? Seabourn offered a daily dinner hosted by a member of crew or guest speaker, but nothing further as far as I know.

Regarding dis/embarkation I think I read that someone said that there was little assistance from the ship's crew? They don't seem to offer the door to door experience of Seabourn so is it the case that you're on your own until you cross the threshold?

That’s why I was thinking of using Blacklane for the taxi from the ship to the airport, booking well in advance.   I think some of the cruise lines use this taxi company and their website makes it clear that they operate globally.  Perhaps some of the CC’s can provide input.  I suspect they won’t be much cheaper than if the taxi was ordered by the ship though.

Many thanks Uktog.  I was thinking of booking with Blacklane.  We’ve had some hiccups with some taxis in the past so I’m feeling a bit more vulnerable as I’m travelling alone this time.

Hi, I’m going to disembark next May at Athens.   Will I have sufficient time from disembarking to get to Athens airport for a noon flight?

unfortunately I need to change to get home to Toulouse and it looks like BA is my best option.

3 minutes ago, uktog said:

It’s not helped when it would appear our conditioner bottle has been filled up with the body cream. What a mess my hair is. It also reacts badly to the desalinated water so I look like I’ve greasy straw on my head tonight 🥲. Bring your own even if it means one less pair of shoes 

Thanks for that tip.

I’m back in the U.K. for this week and have my Twinnings chai tea bags with me!

4 hours ago, bobothecruiser said:

Re the Explora Lounge "snacks".  There is a menu.  Salads, mezes, club sandwiches and the like.  All freshly made to order.  Excellent.  Waiter swerved.  Why fight in the buffet?   Here is the tuna salad I had today.

Wow, that looks really good, and healthy at the same time!

9 minutes ago, bobothecruiser said:

We're on the same cruise(s) as UKTOG on Explora I.  Yesterday evening my wife drank her customary Chardonnay while I had the NZ Sauv Blanc with my 1st course.  No indication of any shortage, unless the "hosts" are hoarding them for us  I like a red with my main course; I was told they've run out of the Argentinian Malbec but have Italian Malbec.  I prefer the Chilean Cab Sauv.  This is our first time on Explora Journeys.  We've been with 10 other cruise lines including Regent and this is the best ever in our experience.  By the way, the Explora Lounge is on Deck 11 not Deck 10.  (Perhaps UKTOG doesn't want folks to find it - joke)   Our only disappointment has been with the buffet - I hate buffets.  We used the buffet when coming aboard on 13th September but sine then have had lunch every day in the Explora Lounge which serves excellent "snacks".  They are too wonderful really to be named mere "snacks".   When we used Regent we considered it was better than most, but not really worth the extra price - with Explora Journeys we think it IS worth the extra price.

Glad to hear that somethings are working.  Thank you for the tip regarding Explorer Lounge.  I hadn’t realised there was snacks available.

Perhaps my first words, when I board in May, should be along the lines of…..

“Good morning, have you ensured that all bars are fully stocked and that you have a full complement of wines for the next 19 days.  Are you specifically aware if there will be any issues over the next 19 days and have plans to manage them.  Will you be running this as a 19 day cruise or as two separate cruises.”  Depending on the response I’ll either be saying it’s great to be here or give me the phone number for the head office in Geneva now”

Like everyone else, I’m paying a shedload of money for this cruise.  I have realistic expectations that not everything will be 100% perfect but I would not expect to come across all of the issues you have been reporting.

I’m sorry that it’s turned out like that.  Your expectations were realistic given you had cruised with them before.  I hate it when my holidays are different to what I had  expected.  Do you think HQ in Geneva was too focused on the second ship and/ or more competent staff had been sent to the new ship?

“I’ll be back!, in a minute.”

I'm definitely going to take a couple of written cards and bulldog clips with me!

I know it sounds confrontational but I’m now of an age where I don’t care.  I would approach the group, seeking out the probable lead, and tell them I don’t want to hear loud conversations in public.  If they don’t get it I would use my phone to pretend I’m calling someone then shout loudly in the phone, smile really nicely and say, sorry, am I disturbing you.  Then do it again.  Etiquette needs to be demonstrated before it is learned.

sorry, I did say I’m at an age……

I hope you’re able to provide feedback - they need to understand that this type of service is unacceptable.

Hang on a second.  I can understand it might not be easy to get European rosé wine at short notice however there’s this country called Turkey that sells Turkish rose wine.  Whilst I expect it would taste different I recall seeing it on the price list of a five star hotel.

It sort of sounds like “listening to feedback” isn’t working.  I.e they’re listening but not hearing as it doesn’t fit in with their management concept.  This is not uncommon.

This will only change when someone extremely senior in the management structure  starts to ask questions on why the ships are consistently under booked.  Then the management in Switzerland will have to acknowledge feedback issues.

I found that I was still getting oriented for the first seven days, by fourteen days I was in the groove and didn’t want to disembark.  I’m hoping that by nineteen days, plus two beforehand in Istanbul, I’ll be a happy camper disembarking in the right frame of mind!  Let’s face it three weeks of no cooking, cleaning etc is a joy.

Your feedbacks are very helpful in managing expectations so please continue.  I hope that, despite the entertainment issues, you continue to have good holidays/vacations!

To be fair, when I was doing my research, the Seabourn cruises were often structured as 7, 14 and 21 nights.  I found it confusing at first in searching itineraries until I realised how it worked so EJ is probably no different.

I wondered about that as well.  I’m booked on a 19 night cruise but, in reality, it’s a B2B of a 10 nights and a 9 nights cruise!

Very good points raised, as always.  Due diligence cannot be overlooked but need to be matched with realistic expectations.  

Thanks for warning.  I have some travel size products I put aside, just in case, from last years Liberty advent calendar.

Thank you Dr Cocktail.   Have a good time.  I’m now busy organising flights and hotels for next year!

I’ve looked in their app and it has the list of room spirits you can request.  However I would like the following:

Pimms - which I’ve seen in some of their bar pictures

carton of milk - I’m a really big tea drinker and take chi teabags whenever I fly!

zero alcohol white wine 

zero alcohol beer

Daily - small dish of orange, lemon and cucumber slices - for the Pimms!

Do you think this will be a problem?  If not, should I talk to customer services before boarding or wait and sort out on board?