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Host Dan

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Posts posted by Host Dan

  1. 49 minutes ago, CJANDH said:

    I think we need to give all the cruise lines a bit of slack. They are struggling to get back to their pre-pandemic quality with staff shortages, undertrained crew and ships that have had limited maintenance for two years. It will take some time, but I am convinced they will get there. I have cruised with Regent and Silversea in the past 6 months and there were shortcomings on both. If you are expecting quality like it was before covid, do not cruise right now. If you are willing to excuse some slippage, book now and help the recovery

    I appreciate your optimism!  However, I will say that I was on Silversea Spirit this past December, and the food and hardware was at the luxury level.  4 Months later, SB is still not up to snuff?  I think the pandemic excuses need to be in the rearview mirror.

    • Like 1
  2. 11 hours ago, dalliowner said:

    I have sailed with Seabourn for the last 16 years and every year I read that thing are going down hill , but every cruise we have been on has been superb . We were on the Oddyssey in January and thought the food was the best we had ever had. So unless things have changed in the last couple of months , which I doubt, those due to sail soon go with a positive attitude and do not listen too much to the doom laden criticism

    It is not what goes wrong , nothing is always perfect, but what they do to correct things.

    I hope I'm not bundled in with guests with doom Laden criticism.  As most of you know, I've been labeled A cheerleader in the past.  I too have been sailing Seabourn for 24 years, am a diamond member (love the free laundry).  I would have agreed with your assessment, had I not been onboard those 3 weeks.  I found the service, for the most part, wonderful.  (Thanks Goren, Carolina, Kelvin, Paul, just to name a few).  The hotel director, Jan, the CD, and Le Roux van Dyk, the Guest Services Manager were stellar for making my scattering of ashes ceremony so special).  But, surprisingly enough, the flaws and inconsistencies were boiled down to the ships condition, and the mediocre food.  It seemed like nothing was cooked to order (dinner wise), and would come out on ice cold plates.  I expect this on the mass market lines.  So yes, after all my years sailing, this voyage was a surprise.  I hope dalliowner never experiences this, from my favorite cruise!ine.  Also, sadly, this was the first time I ever heard SB newbies state how disappointed they were, and that they would never sail SB again, given the fare paid.  

     

    Like I said before, I will continue sailing SB, as long as this is not the new normal for SB.

    • Like 2
  3. 10 minutes ago, MightyQuinn said:

     

    Host Dan, thanks so much for sharing your observations, both good and less so.  I know you have many days onboard Seabourn ships, so I'm curious how your recent experience has influenced your overall view.  Would you sail with Seabourn again?

    Yes I would.  I'm hoping this was not the new normal!

    • Like 4
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  4. 13 minutes ago, SusieQft said:

    Sometimes if the internet connection goes out for technical but non-nefarious reasons, you will get the message "This website is not available."  Perhaps there is a benign explanation.

    I thought that at first, until an officer tried to log in, contacted someone at IT, and confirmed the block.

    • Like 2
  5. 7 hours ago, galeforce9 said:

    I think some do read cruise critic and put two and two together.  

    Yes they most certainly do.

     

    The first few years of Hosting on Cruisecritic, I developed personal relationships with many of the execs at SB, who not only encouraged my travel-logues, but actively posted to the boards.  Unfortunately policy changed at SB and employee participation is forbidden.

     

    Policy change at SB would definitely be a step in the right direction.

     

     

     

     

    • Like 1
  6. Great to see that CC has been unblocked!  I disembarked in Los Angeles on the 19th of May.  Maybe it was unblocked for the Los Angeles to Vancouver segment.   BTW, I had the Diamond internet package, as I am a Diamond member on SB.

    • Like 1
  7. Hello all!

     

    I just disembarked Odyssey in Los Angeles after a 3-week Panama Canal cruise.

     

    My intention was to create a travel-logue on board, towards the end of the cruise.  I was shocked and disappointed to find out that the log-in link to CC was blocked by SB's IT dept.  This was verified by an officer, after she tried to log on to the CC site, called someone in IT and was told of the block.  Too bad.  I was ready, willing, and able, (at the time), to go in-depth with observations, crew comments, and other general issues.  Now, after a hectic flight home, getting re-acclimated to home life, etc., I don't have the time or desire to write a full review.  (Could this be the reason SB decided to block CC on board?)  One can only speculate.  I wondered why there were no more (ship side) on board travel posts after April 14, from the ships.

     

    I will post a few observations from the 3- week cruise.  Please post any questions you may have, and I'll be glad to

    respond on this thread.  

     

    Jan Stearman, cruise director.  What can I say about Jan?  Only that in my years of sailing SB, I feel Jan is the very best at what she does.  Her interaction with guests, confident demeanor, and just plain professionalism shined through most of this cruise.  (I say most, as Jan was laid up for about 6 days.   James, the ACD, took over beautifully, in Jan's absence.)  Hat's off to Jan!

     

    The constant scraping of paint and varnish.  The constant smell of paint.  The condition of deck 5 aft. (Garbage on the floor, staining, and just unkept) was not acceptable.  This was a huge annoyance throughout the journey.  What did they do when in dry-dock?  The ship should have been sparkling.  Far from it.  The public bathrooms, (off the Club especially), were in need of a deep clean.  Some were even "gross".

     

    The breakfast and lunch in the Colonnade were consistently good.  The food in the restaurant was mediocre at best.  Entree's seemed to be "convention" quality, and not up to par for a luxury experience.  The food was on par to any mass-market cruise.  This is not the Seabourn way, IMHO.

     

    Trivia with Jan and the entertainment staff was brutal (in a good way.)  It seemed like most of the passengers participated.  I was part of a small group (4 to 6 people at any given time).  Most groups had 10 players.  I was part of the Bar Fly team.  We won.

     

    The Thomas Keller Grill was hit-or-miss.  The tableside Caesar salad was delightful.  the entrees were either excellent, or just plain bad. No in between.  We dined at TK 3 times.  Dined at Earth and Ocean and Patio Grill.  Not memorable.

     

    I did not participate in any SB shore excursions, but heard quite a few complaints.  Swim with the Dolphins, great experience, but not told that if you want photos of the experience, its going to cost $300 per person.  This was not disclosed up front.  A couple was left behind on a city tour.  (They were right on time for the motor coach, but the guide forgot to do a head count).  Overall the feedback from the Shore excursions were not good.  Especially the fact that the tour operators and official shore ex. were not vetted.

     

    Of course I met some wonderful people on board.   A shout out "hey" to one of our fellow CC members, she knows who she is!  Making new friends is never an issue on SB.

     

    The on board entertainment staff was excellent!  (when not in quarantine for COVID).  Some of the guest performers were Roy Tan, excellent pianist and artist, and Lou Gazzara, American Idol finalist on season 2 of the show.  They both were very approachable, very talented and very down to earth.  The lecturer was excellent throughout our Panama Canal voyage, and beyond.

     

    There is a lot more to report, and I'll try to answer any questions anyone might have.

     

    Sante!

     

     

    • Like 2
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  8. 21 minutes ago, rkacruiser said:

     

    I was not aware of this.  Once, I (and others) thought there was a PM icon available on this site.  

     

    Why does CC want to discourage such off the boards messaging?  I am a member of Amtrak Unlimited Forums which does permit such messaging.  I can communicate with another Member of the Forum about a very specific item that would have little or no relevance to others who participate on that Forum.  

     

     

    I believe it is because the CC message boards are intended to be an inclusive forum  rather than exclusive!

    • Haha 1
  9. 47 minutes ago, cruiseluv said:

    I’m booked on a Splendor cruise in February which unfortunately it’s already paid for. If Regent gave me the option of taking a FCC in lieu of it, I would in a nanosecond. There is nothing relaxing about 100% masking and Covid tests every couple of days as conditions of passage 

    I just disembarked Silversea Spirit.  Masking in indoor areas, (other than when seated with food or drink), some social distancing in the show lounge etc. and testing at the beginning and end of the cruise.  It seems like a real hassle, but in reality it isn't!  Just getting on a ship, listening to the sea, and great conversation was a nice distraction from life on land.

    • Like 3
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