Stabilizer

On the Odyssey-class ships, all Deck 5 cabins are now classified as V1, whether they are midship or forward.

Noted. Thanks, Mr. Luxury.

Thanks wripro, rols, and cruising kirby for your sound advice. I'll pass on 746 and either go for a V2 guarantee or if I'm not comfortable with a roll of the die, choose a specific more midship cabin in a higher (though pricier--the down side) category. 

I am considering a V2 cabin on an upcoming Sojourn cruise. The only V2 left is 746 which is a connecting cabin to the Wintergarden suite. I know the veranda is smaller than those in other suites and I think the interior is smaller as well. I am concerned about possible noise from the living area of the Wintergarden suite, as well as noise from the pool area on Deck 8 which is directly above. 

Since I'm traveling solo, it may not matter, but before committing, I'd like to hear experiences or opinions from anyone who is familiar with 746 or its starboard twin, 745.

Thanks for any input!

Odyssey arrives in St.Maarten on November 16.

Barbados, Dominica, Antigua, St. Kitts and Nevis have been added. San Juan has been dropped. There are now 7 sea days.

Of course there are far fewer flight options than if the ship had arrived in MIA. From St. Maarten/St. Martin, Air France has nonstops to CDG, and United, American and Delta have nonstops to ATL, EWR, JFK, MIA, and Charlotte with connections to LHR. Unfortunately, the infrastructure in St. Martin/St. Maarten was heavily damaged during the 2017 hurricane season and the island is still recovering from the widespread devastation. The relatively new and efficient airport is still in the process of being rebuilt. By November 2019, the island should be back on its feet, assuming there are no more "hurricanes of the century" between now and then.

I am booked on the November 2-15, 2019 transatlantic from Lisbon to Miami. I called Seabourn this morning and was told that the St. Maarten to Barbados cruise, November 16-23 is accepting reservations. I asked how this was possible and the agent didn't have an answer. Odyssey will have to cover 1200 miles in about 30 hours or so.

If Seabourn is amending the itinerary, the information hasn't made it down to the level of reservations agents.

They were served at the Patio Grill on the Sojourn's 32-day cruise in October 2017. I don't know if it was daily, but I do know that it was served often. So was the Keller hot dog.

Give some of it to the Crew Welfare Fund!

I just returned from 32 days on Sojourn to Polynesia and Hawaii. On the three formal nights, there were more men in dark suits or sport jackets and slacks than in tuxes. And on the 29 elegant casual nights, most of the men in the MDR were in collared sport shirts and slacks. Some men wore long sleeved shirts, others short. There were men in polo shirts. Perhaps half the men wore sport jackets, and very, very few wore ties.

I never saw anyone in jeans after 6 in any of the venues, though I didn't see the diners in the Patio Grill. I think men (and women) might feel a bit out of place wearing jeans in the evening aboard ship.

We were in cabin 432 (category A1) on Sojourn for a two-week cruise to the Norwegian fjords. The cabin location was excellent and we heard no noise from the MDR or from public corridors, or staff stairwells. As others have mentioned, A1 cabins are along their own corridor, separate from the main hallway leading to/from the rear entrance of the dining room, so there is little foot traffic other than "local residents."

On a transat, chances are you won't be using a balcony quite as much as you might on a warmer weather cruise. Plus the sail on Deck 4 is much smoother than higher up. If having a balcony isn't important to you, go for an A1, as close to midship as possible.

Enjoy your cruise.

Thank you both for the helpful information. I will do a bit of mulling over

the next few days.

My partner and I are considering a 21-day segment of the 2016 Round South America "Grand Voyage" on Silver Spirit. I called Silversea to ask if there will be bridge instructors onboard as the website does not list the voyage as a bridge cruise. Apparently, if instructors are not on the ship, bridge games are informally arranged among like-minded passengers.

Would experienced Silversea cruisers have an idea whether bridge instructors (and a more formal bridge program) are generally offered on longer cruises? The agent on the phone was unable to say and that may be the indefinite definitive answer for now.

Thanks in advance for any input you may have.

All 2016 itineraries are published and on the website, as are early 2017 cruises.

The original thread was posted in June 2013 so the March 2014 date was correct.

I know, it's hard to steer clear of louts when they are in the way.

 

I thank my lucky stars I was born in the West. Those types of people have lots of attitudinal baggage and possibly feel that they don't fit in. Hence the aggressive behavior and defensiveness.

 

Thank you for your psychological insights into Russian group behavior, Markham. Along with you, I am glad I was born in the West (farther west than you, I take it). I knew it would be just a matter of time before certain nationalities were identified as being boorish (Mexicans and Russians) or thoughtful, caring and deferential (Japanese).

Unfortunately, group behavior of most nationalities and affinity groups can be loud and overbearing; that's what happens when large groups get together especially in a confined space. Obnoxious, I agree and I'd hate to be on a ship with any large group.

Noel Coward said it best: "Why do the wrong people travel, travel, travel and the right people stay at home?"

The wrong people will continue to travel, travel, travel, and the right people…well, they'll have to find ships and hotels that cater to others like themselves, or ensure there are no large groups aboard before embarking, or else stay at home in the West, with only the most appropriate and acceptable attitudinal baggage.

Deck 5 has a promenade that goes a bit more than halfway around the ship. You can go back and forth and it's shaded. The deck is fairly wide and it isn't cluttered with deck chairs as is Deck 9. It's not a bad place to walk or jog but it isn't 360 degrees.

We are leaving in a few days for what will be our 16th January visit to St. Martin. We rent a home in Terres Basses, on the French side, so I have no stays at hotels, but I've checked them all out. After Seabourn, these may seem a letdown, but here are two that have not been mentioned:

La Samanna, the most expensive hotel on the island, is located on a gorgeous and empty beach on the French side. Some say it is overpriced while others love it and return every year. And judging by the guests I see there, the hotel appears to be popular with middle-aged Russian zillionaires and their younger girlfriends. The hotel dining room is lovely, the prices high.

The Dawn Beach Westin, on the Dutch side, has all the amenities of a fairly new resort, and there is a casino in the lobby.

In general, the Dutch side is more built up than the French side, and has fewer zoning restrictions so the nightlife is more prolific and livelier especially if you like to gamble or dance the night away.

As a general observation, restos on the French side tend to serve better food so wherever you stay, be sure to eat in Grand Case or in Marigot.

Depending on time, budget, and your likes and dislikes, you might want to spend your post-cruise days in Anguilla or St. Barths. Anguilla is a fast ferry ride and St. Barths is a short plane hop from the island.

Enjoy the planning for your cruise.

Thank you GeneBK and medroots for the very helpful and smart observations in your posts.

It's the Intracoastal Waterway that Able Seaman H will be enjoying while in Florida. Have fun and watch out for manatees. Enjoy your cruise.

And the nationality of these animals?

Does the nationality of the noisy party matter?

No nationality has the market sewn up appropriate or inappropriate behavior. The best we can hope for is that fellow passengers are considerate of one another, no matter from whence they came.

We'll be on Seabourn Sojourn July 4 from Dover to Copenhagen. This is our first Seabourn cruise. If anyone has an extra coupon and would be willing to share it, I would be most grateful. Our final payment is due at the end of this week. Thanks.

Jonathan

jbateau@aol.com