markham

I am now at the Marriott in Copenhagen before tomorrow’s Silver Dawn cruise. The Marriott here is a dated 1980s solid 4 star hotel. Rooms could sure use a reno. You can see its ground floor reno is underway. They have a big, now noisy, Exec Lounge with a breakfast buffet and evening wine hour with snacks. Very busy. Very much a solid 4 star inasmuch as any higher rating would simply not be credible. Hardly a luxury product, but we all know that. You get what you pay for here. Reminds me of Seabourn Odyssey, Sojourn and Quest. (Have they gotten new deck loungers yet?) Happy and healthy sailing!

Someone should tell the maître d’ to tell the HM to tell Seattle to tell whoever does provisions that Seabourn has 5 classic ships needing 5 pizza ovens (or soufflé ovens) AND that they are available this week via Amazon. No prob. Happy and healthy sailing!

Provisions is not complicated, and yes, Seabourn ran out of the main attractions offered. That we can all see. Who has to apologize for what now and what difference will it make? In the long term maybe but until there’s a real shakeup in Seattle I would not count on it. I wish it weren’t so. Happy and healthy sailing!

Thank you for the kind words and support. I am just trying to make sense of what so see through the eyes of others who may see more than I do. What Seabourn has lacked sorely in the past several months is a consistently remarkable product and a credible public persona/image after some years of slippage, IMO. Until, of course, they can remodel what they can of these older ships. We shall see. Happy and healthy sailing!

While we’re talking about who pays what for dining on different cruise lines, does anyone know how much the TK Grill outposts on Seabourn cost the line and how their obviously high costs are offset? I am thinking that these “free” TKG restaurants on the classic ships operate to the detriment of the MDR, Earth and Ocean, and Colonnade. Another way of looking at this is to ask why Seabourn does not invest more in these three outlets than they can do now with the weight of TKG expenditures dragging things down. So that might round out the discussion of why the MDR sponsors $250 pp dinners inclusive of fancy wines. I have thought a bit about it myself when I determined that our first quarter 2023 Colonnade lunches on Quest were downright cheap and mournful, and the MDR lunches were extremely limited as well, sadly based on the same few courses found not only at the Colonnade but Patio lunches: think black bean soup, hake, and chili con carne at all of them on one date that was absurdly ridiculous but also indicative of poor quality and thoughtless catering. And believe it our not on the same day we suffered the Mexican themed stuff the Sojourn endured the same menu. Why? Had both ships run out of all other provisions? Back to the question, I believe the TKG concept has run its course anyway, and the expenses question may be more pressing now than ever. One idea is to get rid of it, share the budget fully, offer up steaks and chops in the MDR, and use the space for a high end Italian or Asian concept restaurant. And moving over to Silversea, we can question how and why they make a surcharge for dinner at Kaiseki and La Dame. I found the former on Silver Dawn very poor value since the meal was a hodge podge of a bland presentation (fusion?) not at all resembling a Japanese meal. I refused to pay. (This contrasted with Silver Muse whose Kaiseki has a good teppanyaki, well worth the upcharge.) About La Dame at $60 on Muse and Dawn, I thought it was a treat, and it was largely. What interfered with the ambiance, frankly speaking, were some of the other diners’ raucous behaviors, more befitting a sports bar. Which kinda spoiled it. So not sure that the premium is “entirely” worth it - although the food, decor and service certainly were. Happy and healthy sailing!

You want great pizza on a cruise ship? Far superior to the mediocre stuff on Seabourn? How about sailing on Silversea Dawn, Muse or Moon where you get the real thing - 10 selections plus salads - with authentic ingredients in legitimate pizza ovens in a designated restaurant? It’s called Spaccanapoli on deck 11 when you pull up the deck plans. Just sayin’ Happy and healthy sailing!

SLSD, What I am hearing is that these consultant-questioners are more interested in marketing messages and dress codes than in substance which is, after all, what both intuitive and authentic service means eg by way of examples, by seasoned luxury sector cruisers. And there was no ad hoc conversation to draw ideas from this group, some of whom were undoubtedly prepared and eager to share their ideas. And why was that? Who knows what the brief was. I just hope you feel your time spent was worthwhile. If not, well, that’s a shame… Further, I hope there is followup, and that you and others are included for their views, hopefully on a broader range of issues. In any case, thank you for participating in the session and telling us about it. Happy and healthy sailing!

A Michelin Star star, you say? For only $250 per punter on top of what you’ve already paid for your feeding? After all, as caviarforme explains this is a $177 meal for $250. Sounds rich, non? Ans where does the action happen? If this dinner is not in a private dining room what about protocol for hoi polloi who may be seated in the MDR nearby? Do they get any nods of acknowledgment, photo opps and/or maybe autographs? Is there a waiting list? Do you need to first buy a pass to the VVIP Retreat to get a ressie? All too exciting. Happy and healthy sailing!

Whoa! Since when do executives at the head offices of cruise lines know what is best for passengers? This forum is chocker block of complaints caused by the head offices of cruise lines who are responsible for their policies and rollouts of “innovations” they want to upsell. (Hint: no need to think too hard about it.) Now that that’s outta the way the other viable answer is TAs. Or at least that’s my opinion and that of many other long term luxury sector cruisers. Our TAs know us, we trust them: great relationship. Now, what were you saying about these “executives”? Happy and healthy sailing!

Does this show what happens when a cruise line appears to put profit over safety. I hope not. Then what could the HD say to justify such disinterest regarding public health when there was in fact a spare cabin for the spouse to use - thread #1 shows she was offered it - and all the same she was allowed to circulate among others apparently without concern… Ok, maybe the HD can point to head office nonsense about relaxing former Covid precautions, and then we know where any blame resides. Further, we can also wonder about the spouse, but then there are always selfish people on cruise ships. Just consider the indulgence shown by cruise lines to their sun loungers bullies. Happy and healthy sailing!

Nobody cares? Really? No precautions for spouses likely to be infected? Again, a known threat on a cruise ship with high concentrations of passengers in close quarters which can be mitigated with a few precautions and 5 days of isolation? Pleeeez. Happy and healthy sailing!

How does the HD explain this away? If passengers are annoyed, and who wouldn’t be after the scourge of Covid we lived through, Seabourn has a lot to answer for. Just pathetic. Now all you need is a dog off leash either sitting bare-bottomed on an upholstered chair in some lounge or relieving itself in a lobby by the lifts. Happy and healthy sailing!

Not sure that the “ship within a ship” wedge can work on a <600 person ship (and note that Ody class ships are 450 to boot). That model is a margin grab for the mass market large ships that are trying to have it all by pretending they can duplicate the ambiance of Seabourn. Mass market is just that, no matter how you shine up its top decks with “perks”. Another point: what is this “discarded” ships from Seabourn nonsense? The 3 original sisters were sold off some years ago to Windstar but that is the end of the original Seabourn brand story. If you do have some information about Seabourn’s product strategy eg new ships I would like to hear it. Happy and healthy sailing!

SLSD, I know dining in sit-down restaurants with full service for breakfast and dinner is important to you as you do not care for buffets. We have migrated to your camp, and we found the Colonnade buffets of Quest in our winter South America Grand Voyage 2023 crowded at breakfast and downright cheap, repetitive, stodgy and (yes) even more crowded at lunch. So we generally ate these meals in the MDR which was open much of the time with perhaps a dozen tables occupied daily. We had many many sea days and some bad weather, so unlike Med, Alaska and warmer places cruises, the MDR was thankfully open. But back to you. If you expect 5 star service and sit down restaurant choices, well, maybe Seabourn is just plain not the best option for you. That is why I strongly recommend you sail on Muse, Moon or Dawn for a trial. The continental Atlantide restaurant is sort of their MDR and offers elegant breakfasts and lunches every day in addition to the buffet style service of La Terrazza. The menus and choices of both are deeper ie more choices and are far higher quality than the Colonnade. And for lunch who doesn’t like an outdoor sit down dedicated pizza and salad restaurant- such as Spaccanapoli? This Seabourn dilemma must be down to smaller food budgets, less capable suppliers, hidebound management and more limited kitchen prep and cooking space at Seabourn’s kitchens. I am sure that Natalya Leahy is fully aware of the challenges. If you do take a cruise on one of these 3 Silversea ships you may well miss the more numerous, lively and professional events delivered by Seabourn’s entertainment. We do on occasion. But you will also get a much longer swimming pool and a top of ship delineated wrap around track which is sorely missing from Seabourn’s classic ships. Our current thinking is we are primarily three ship Silversea people until Seabourn ramps up the sophistication of their dining. We can do plenty of exercise on shore when we are on a port intensive cruise with them to compensate for the pool and walking limitations. But why should we make any such trade offs? It is indeed time for the line to deliver on the luxury promises bumph with some new classic ships - if they want to be competitive in the luxury segment. A look at the Silversea Nova and Ray and the 3 new Regent ships on their respective websites will impress. On another note, we were extremely pleased with our recent Venture cruise and have another one booked. We are keenly anticipating the release of 2025 itineraries on it and Pursuit. Seabourn has a hard to beat targeted product that meets all of our expedition ship interests. Happy and healthy sailing!

Apparently the conflict resides within Seabourn which has yet to take action against abuse of their shipboard hospitality and passengers’ patience. How so? Seabourn has yet to codify the rules of behavior you listed and has yet to enforce them. So what is Seabourn afraid of? Are HD instructed to leave these owners to do what they like? Does it take convening a committee in Seattle a week to hear the facts on board and rule on a finding? Common sense on a perpetual vacation? Maybe Staff Captains are all afraid of poodles and Maltese dogs? …some public relations and disinterest for public hygiene in the ships’ common areas. Truly sad. Happy and healthy sailing!

Is Seabourn really going to the dogs? Does Seabourn disclose how many “service dogs” it accommodates in the past quarter and how many it will accommodate on future near term cruises including those you happen to have reserved? I ask on the basis that while Seabourn may not know what it is allowing on board and/or care how that effects you, well, you may. Seabourn may have to start paying attention - at the risk of compromising their brand and their future bookings. (This is a topic for the newish president Natalya Leahy to pick up). Which leads me to ask alongside what other luxury cruise lines are doing to discourage this fad for badly managed pet dogs doing what dogs do in passenger areas, irritating or downright annoying as it may be. Who needs these dogs on board when their owners care more about their “service dogs” than what others think? And who needs to sail with their owners? There are other lines and ways of travel, after all. Here we go. Happy and healthy sailing!

Now we know more about the situation at the hotel. I am amazed that the cruise line did not step up to deal with the issue of the wrong room problem then and there via its representative but even more amazed that the hotel chose to put a guest of the cruise line in that room. If Seabourn chose that hotel then that hotel owes the apology and Seabourn might need to refund the hotel cost to the passenger. Now it is late in the day but everyone knows the guest’s situation. A TA could be handling this for the passenger but there is no TA involved. I hope that Seabourn does compensate, and in the future avoids this hotel. Otherwise any cruise line passenger would be better off choosing the hotel or having a TA advise and book one. Happy and healthy sailing!

Yes, the Arts Cafe is a superb cafe, and one with excellent service. It opens at 6:30 am as I recall. Happy and healthy sailing!

FWIW, this is one of many reasons that I recommend only Muse, Moon and Dawn to my friends. Happy and healthy sailing!

I see no response to the question of what the “horrible” hotel arrangements were. So I am starting to wonder if there really was any such problem that would merit Seabourn’s attention and/or that of a TA. Happy and healthy sailing!

What I meant by upper classes is queens or princess grill cabins vs Britannia cabins. They are separate classes in terms of dining rooms and cabin sizes. But not drinks and laundry pricing. Happy and healthy sailing!

Mauzac, Well done you! Happy and healthy sailing!

PS- we book in the UK. Maybe some drinks are somehow included for US bookers?

The “upper classes” on Cunard do not include much of anything you get included on Silversea eg drinks (unless you buy a package) or internet for the full cruise. Even as top tier Club members (450 days +) in Queens grill you will only get a derisory 20% off laundry while after 100 days you get laundry included at Silversea. Internet is included at Silversea too. But of course Britannia class at Cunard is cheaper per day by far but those extras do add up. Happy and healthy sailing!

SLSD, This sounds like a good reason to book independent tours and avoid such foolish and crude behaviors. Life is way too short. Happy and healthy sailing!