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Then stop reading those articles. Happy and healthy sailing!

Yes, a few days ago. BTW, we have found that Seabourn selectively sends out these questionnaires. Not everyone will be solicited for reviews. Happy and healthy sailing!

If a vendor of anything touts their wares enthusiastically and yet delivers far less the consumer of those same wares has every right to be annoyed. Vendor sold A, consumer expected A, bought A and got B. So cruise ship or otherwise, rules do apply, Silversea claims to be luxury, Kaiseki dinners are priced with a surcharge, and the menu’s contents and descriptions are a nonsense. As discriminating diners have explained. No one needs be surprised. Simple as that. Happy and healthy sailing!

Aha! If there ever was a question for Barbara Muckerman, well, this is it. How about “what is the value attached to the Venetian Society now that membership is, practically speaking, becoming more expensive?” That is a straightforward question and belies the truth and trust passengers have placed in the Silversea brand for a very long time. Another, somewhat related question, is “what are you planning to deliver in terms of a more visible quality entertainment element- as in port sail away parties with singing and a live band?” Those events create memories, literally so, in my opinion. And Silversea’s pedigree is Italian and their joyous music is fabulous, joyous and beloved. Happy and healthy sailing!

Remaining convinced Seabourn is anywhere near 6*? Yesterday we ordered Kir Royale at the Obs Bar. Big mistake, but revealing. What we were served was lavender colored, not the ruby you would see on any quality cruise line. I looked at the “cassis” and it was Mr Boston. Whereas the real thing retails in the US for $30 and up this fraternity party budget mixer is $6.99. You have got to be kidding me! Is it time to hands-on manage the managers onboard and scrounge around the cabinets for better brands? I shudder at the thought. The irony is Seabourn still pours a reasonable brand of house champagne and then ruins it. Happy and healthy sailing!

Ask Silversea. Ok? Buf if you don’t want to bother or believe them then no.

No

The nerve of all the nincompoops at RCL! Firstly, what Silversea customers give a hoot about Celebrity and RCL? And then RCL take their luxury Silversea cruise line passengers, their loyal, longer cruise and highest pay-per-day passengers for a ride, literally so. How stupid is that?! This story is only going one way. Down. And all that appalling but free press, … which leads me to ask if this is a generational thing. No one ie NO ONE in the Silversea demographic needs this nonsense. Was this ultimately a groupthink decision to aggravate guests for some childish, selfish, stupid and ultimately costly marketing event? If so, you get full marks in the race to the bottom for the 2024 Industry Awards contest for destroying brand value. Over to you, RCL. Happy and healthy sailing!

Seabourn is not 6*. Whoever said it was, as posters above question? Seabourn? And what about their competitors ie Silversea and Regent? If they are 6* Seabourn, and we all have our opinions about them and their particular ships, well, Seabourn just plain isn’t. (And I do not consider Viking, Oceania and Azamara contenders for this cohort at all.) The ships’ designs - apart from the fabulous Venture and Pursuit - are outdated. No walking track and the pool is tiny relative to passenger numbers. Here we are in Indonesia for a few days with 6 ports where it is very hot and humid. On all port days the MDR is closed for lunch leaving the Colonnade and poolside Patio the only options for lunch. In the past several days we have had the awful and cheap Philippine buffet in the Colonnade but at least that is regional. We have also had Scandinavian, Baltic and Norwegian buffets or dinners there, the same as on all the other Seabourn ships on the same days. Yesterday’s “Norwegian rice pudding” was so thick and dry you could not tip it out if you flipped the bowl and shook it. Like it or not this is the way it is and it’s been that way for many years no matter how ridiculous that sounds from here. Corporate’s laziness and/or craziness always rules. So we have lots of salad- Caesar, mixed etc and also soup. Fortunately, we have a fine, talented and resourceful French chef in charge of MDR dinners. He promises to have an Indonesian buffet at lunch with fish he purchased in Banda Naira yesterday. That is 5* initiative and I fully expect a delicious execution. On the positive side, Seabourn has the most engaging officers and crew complement I have encountered on any cruise line. Their engaging manner make Seabourn a “family”, and this helps explain the comfort levels we feel here. Our cabin is well maintained and comfortable. Our fellow passengers are well mannered on this long cruise. So all is well there. But to overlook the lack of creativity and the irony that we see at the Colonnade, virtually our only venue available with air conditioning at lunchtimes, is wrong. Surely Seabourn can do better if it wants to move up the ratings. Sadly, I doubt they will though. Happy and healthy sailing!

What a mess, an own goal if I ever saw one! I hope that Silversea makes a decision to compensate those who are stressed by this onward travel work with a sizable future cruise credit. And that the sum total hits the Marketing Department responsible for their decision involving this “celebration”. This is a loss-loss as best I can tell at this stage. Entirely avoidable at that. Happy and healthy sailing!

The easy answer is it depends. So that can be yeah, don’t go. Or maybe go and find out. Up to you. All of it. Happy and healthy sailing!

What butlers do and what cleaners do are entirely different. I have explained in earlier posts that if you like queuing up and explaining your issues to one of the young people who in turn will type it all into their system for actioning by someone else, and if you like returning there to check with someone, likely someone else for the status later, then you are all set with Seabourn. It’s all kinda “family style” stuff. There is no equivalence. Butlers on Silversea are one to one personal and direct contacts, much easier to coordinate with, IMO. And they are a luxury aspect of the finest hotels. Apples and oranges. Happy and healthy sailing!

Seabourn is cheaper per day in general. Of course the packages have many variables such as what’s included for the money eg are tours included. But these ongoing discount emails Seabourn pumps out just about every other week makes me wonder about how they can cut cut cut prices and hope to deliver on the quality front. IMO it’s probably best to keep your preferences vital with updated facts and book accordingly. I am not sure that it’s wise to exclude another line for your future cruises. I remember when that wasn’t so much the case when people boasted “we’re xxxx people”. Seems silly now. Happy and healthy sailing!

Silversea is more of a luxury line. Seabourn is more do it yourself and “get on with it”. How so? Butlers on Silversea handle lots of requests that on Seabourn you would queue up to discuss with a young person at Seabourn Square in that homely environment. Nothing wrong with that if you have the time, patience and don’t mind the distraction. Oh, and about suite maintenance, we love the Silversea same day laundry, which is 2 days on Seabourn. Another point is Silversea has more dining choices open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, especially on the newer 4 ships. And far more sophisticated menus and buffets. White table cloth sit down service is always available! On Seabourn it’s a buffet for breakfast and lunch most of the time in the Colonnade or a modified buffet at the pool. Why? The main dining room is often closed for breakfasts and lunches. Really. And no, the Colonnade will not deliver at these buffet venues “whatever you want” as I saw on another post. The kitchens of the Colonnade and poolside are very limited, more prep kitchen with the cooking done elsewhere. Seabourn is more fun as far as entertainment depth and staff mixing with passengers. We much enjoy those sailaway parties with a live band by the pool, singing and caviar service! Everyone mixes and is smiling. Silversea can be humdrum. Seabourn’s pool areas’ quality of sun lounger is cheap, old and poor- no padding, narrow, and not enough of them. Maybe good for discouraging the unhealthy habit? Anyway, I have heard for years now that better ones are on the way. And then there is the much longer and deeper pools and long walking/running tracks of the 4 Silversea ships. Puts Seabourn to shame- if you like to swim and want a circular long track to work out and to experience those sea views. Seabourn shorter pools are often used for bobbing about and chatting while holding drinks. No kidding. Not much to be said about walking on deck since the areas are small and encumbered. For us, consistency of service and quality is top at their Silversea 4 ship newer fleet. Seabourn’s appeal is very different, and for a long cruise with a similar itinerary we would probably prefer Silversea. Happy and healthy sailing!

How shortsighted of Seabourn Management… If one of the Seabourn current regulars can explain away this decision I would love to hear it. Happy and healthy sailing!