commodoredave

I am just letting you all know that my letter of late was sent to Thomas Carlson, VP Hotel Operations in Oslo. Will let you know what comes from it

 

J

Thanks. I look forward to hearing the response.

It cost me $400 for internet on my last cruise on Seabourn, so they also have some catching up to do.

What I like about both Crystal and Regent is they have recognized internet charges are a major irritant to most luxury cruisers.

Hopefully this will create some pressure on other luxury lines to take similar action.

As a gold member I get free Wi-Fi with Regent, so not a big deal for me. But I do like the fact that Crystal is giving significant free access to anyone with just once cruise under their belt. I also like the fact that they have invested significantly in improving onboard internet access and capability.

Having just finished a SeaDream cruise where the internet was both pricy and none existent, I value reliable access.

Is Crystal offering a better deal here than Regent? Does Regent need to respond? What do you think?

LOS ANGELES, January 21, 2014 – Crystal Cruises announces the newest perk to its All Inclusive luxury cruise experience: Free Wi-Fi for Crystal Society members, the line’s “club” of repeat guests, beginning Fall 2014. Effective with Crystal Serenity’s September 19 New England/Canada sailing and Crystal Symphony’s October 15 Panama Canal cruise, each Crystal Society guest will receive 60 minutes of complimentary internet access for every day of the cruise. For example, a 10-day cruise will offer 600 free minutes per person (or 1,200 free minutes per couple), a 12-day cruise offers 720 free minutes per person (or 1,440 free minutes per couple), a 14-day cruise offer 840 free minutes (or 1,680 free minutes per couple), etc., which can be used any time throughout the voyage.

Society members can use the new complimentary access time wirelessly via iPad, iPhone, laptop or other wireless device or on Crystal’s own Computer University@Sea 27” dual-compatible iMac computers. A multi-million dollar Wi-Fi upgrade rolled out in recent months helps guests enjoy maximum onboard connectivity.

Can't say as to the present situation, but on the Athens Mumbai crossing, we had onboard a 3 man British crew called the Oily Rags. They were there to work on something specific in the Engine Room as we sailed along. We dined with them the night the whole crew joined us for dinner Topside.

 

Possibly in the category of Best Ever of our 20-some voyages with SD.

 

This is the reason I find the "critical" aspect of this forum to be so tedious sometimes. People ( maybe with too much time on their hands) get caught up in the minutia of Oslo and Miami, and they totally miss out on the true experience onboard. The reality for me is that for the days that I am privileged to be onboard, the crew spoil me from morning to night, the food is generally wonderful, much better than I would be serving myself at home, and the company is often delightful.

 

Have things changed over the years? Of course, and so have we changed. In the beginning the caviar was nonstop. Obviously people took advantage. Is the wine quaffable?' Certainly, but its also free. What do you expect? We can upgrade to a better bottle if the mood strikes, just like anywhere else. Its not such a big deal, really.

 

You have noticed that there aren't as many potato chips in the package as there used to be, the leather on your Volvo seats isn't what it used to be. Adjust to it.

 

It is happening in every aspect of your life, and certainly that includes SeaDream. The balance between cost and fares is ever changing. Even though a few seem hell bent on pushing their Demise of Sea Dream conspiracy theory, the reality for me remains that for the time I am onboard, it is pretty damn good. I don't need to agree with every policy to enjoy myself just the same.

 

But everyone is different..... Cheers

Just my opinion, but this kind of attitude misses the main point and only encourages further bad management by SD. Almost everyone loves the crew and product, but wants to know more about key issues and when they will be adequately addressed. To ignore this point only encourages more bad management.

I'm sure Windstar staff is very good. But at this point the fares are no different from SB which makes it a lesser value. It will probably take a while for Windstar to realize they are losing bookings due to these higher fares before they lower them to make up for the loss of all inclusiveness. Or I could be all wrong and people will flock to these ships regardless. In either case for me the value is no longer there and I'll say with Seabourn.

I agree for the present. But I would really like to see Windstar step up its game a notch and make sailing on the triplets a great experience for many more years to come. As Mr. Luxury said, we shall see in due course.

But don't get the wrong impression -- I will continue to sail with Seabourn on the larger ships even if I occasionally cheat with a different line on a small ship.

Variety is indeed the spice of life and this board should be no exception. Just as it shouldn't be only negative as SD has many good qualities that brought many of us now with concerns back for many multiple voyages at least until now, neither should it be a puff piece for SD either. Thankfully people can start and join specific topic threads that interest them and skip those that do not, keeping in mind that after all the word "critic" is in the name of the underlying web site!

I heartily agree with you, JES.

Almost all of the criticisms have been of the nature "we love the SD crew and product, but just wish management would do a better job of letting us know what's happening so we can have more confidence going forward with bookings."

That's not very negative, and is extremely easy for SD to address.

Remember,the smaller Windstar make the fares,the more likely you are to get what you pay for.

 

You can't run a business on fresh air and expect to have riches to show for it.

Very true, but I think there is a happy place somewhere between not charging as much as Seabourn but still charging enough to be profitable. Windstar is very good, but still does not equal Seabourn yet. They will have to prove they are as good before they can ask for the same money.

Would love to read the thread. Any hints on how to do a search to find it?

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1557818

We did consecutive legs on the voyager from Singapore to Sydney to Auckland in January of 2012.

The first leg was a dog -- so bad it was nothing like any other Regent cruise we had ever been on. I documented it all in a thread you can find here that even FDR commented on.

The second leg was fabulous -- top notch in every way like it was a completely different cruise line.

We have not cruised with Regent since because of this inconsistency. So I can fully appreciate the OP's position.

I'm sure you'll enjoy your cruise on Windstar.

I've enjoyed them all to date. Add the lovely Seabourn triplets to the equation, and all we need are some smart fares to make it a winner.

I disagree. The crew on our Windstar cruises have been absolutely delightful. I hope they can provide the same level of service when they take over the triplets. There is nothing like sailing on a small ship.

To all SD lovers,

 

Having sailed SD2 20+ voyages, our first on SD1 and the old and elegant Sea Goddess prior to Cunard destroying them.... we are very familiar to the excellent product SD is capable of.

 

The SD1 voyage was unlike anything we can remember. Fond memories of the original "cross-over" cruise when Mr. Brynstad and his team when they purchased Sea Goddess from Cunard.....we were on that sailing - crew was stressed, food atypically mediocre but the memories of the birth of a new line, the new spa, the absence of the green astroturf on the upper decks, the loss of the sauna wrapped around the funnel, real candles in the dining room, whote gloved service at the jacuzzi at 2am....how decadent, now all but a memory albeit a fine one!

 

As JANIEAB & JES4845 have stated, it is perplexing why management has all but ignored any questions, complaints, compliments etc. It was my understanding that Pamela Connover [ the brainchild of Seabourn ] left after only 9 months with SD. All executive decisions were moved to Oslo and Mr. Bynstad's office. An email to Bob Lepisto, "who was the easiest CEO to talk to and had lightning fast email responses" went unanswered.

 

Now to my cruise review:

 

Ship was lovely and felt as it always has an elegant ship without all the people, changes of fabric or bedding, a little worn here and there, but who was to complain - the crew & officers easily made up for the lack of glitz and glam of bigger ships.

 

Pierre & Ennis worked their magic during the "salad spinner" week we were aboard, the Captain "I forget his name" was courteous, though affected by his need to leave the ship and go home to Spain to work on his sports cars, the new Captain " I forget his name also" all but hid somewhere on the ship, engaging nobody in conversation waiting with baited breath for us all to disembark in San Juan.

 

Any conversation about the "engine issue" with the other officers was returned with an abrubt change is conversation [ full stop ]

 

The best part of SD1: the spa services, the crews eager desire to try to fix the mess of management with good food and an eager desire to please.

 

The middle ground: the seemingly lack of crew in other areas, I even tried to find out if there were indeed 95 crew on the ship ... dining room waiters seemed stretched, housekeepers overworked and bar staff with little or no knowledge of mixology. Asking for a San Pellegrino often was often met with a glass of Pinot Grigio or a Manhattan met with a Gin Martini, a scotch whiskey with a bourbon, all delivered with love and care and a desire to please - language may be an issue and I am certainly patient, I guess this is simply a training issue or my lack of the use of the english language.

 

The opposite end of the spectrum [ at least for me ] was the bottom of the barrel wines and standard liquor on offer. Crane Lake Merlot [ purchased this for my staff party and was $3.50 a bottle at BevMo ] an Albarinho form Spain that was listed as a below 70 point wine for $4.40 a bottle at Vons, Absolute Vodka and Johnny Walker Red Label was the best available, mind you Grey Goose could be had for $10.00 and ounce [ the 4 seasons hotel in NYC for $20.00 throws in a silver platter with enough fixings it could be called a "light lunch" ] SD website calls this "five star offerings" ...

[ Open Bar with selected premium brands ]

 

The quandary: 3 half kilograms of Caviar [ at NYC prices a whopping $7,500.00 at the low end ] spooned out over the course of 6 days, lovely and very expensive - perhaps this $$$ could have benefited the bars and menus in a more positive way. I am a fan of caviar and love every spoon, though, times have changed .... move with the groove, buy USA caviar or import perfect smoked salmon, King Crab legs on every lunch buffet, filet/rib steak instead of strip loin....

 

The bottom line: no more room service of anything hot, the lack of the little things that we all loved about SD [ an engaging Captain, an open bridge, an unexpected stop at an unexpected port due to poor weather the day of arrival, a head office that sends more than a chain letter to concerned guests many of whom were the bread and butter of this line in its infancy

 

Indeed, it seems as though and dare I say it, SD is in financial turmoil [ maybe its the caviar ] or being run by an owner who has lost his way?

 

The 15% plus 35% discount on future cruises was a nice offer, however, that discount is now being calculated at 35% and then 15% which is in fact only 43%. SD Club director, a hard working, eager & courteous young fellow named Garreth, had his hands tied trying to get answers from that "black hole" known as head office. Our future cruises we tried to book on-board are still unconfirmed and perpetual requests go unanswered, none the fault of this young man.

 

------

 

It is with a heavy heart that we will bid farewell to Christophe, Pierre, Ennis, Werner and all those other very special people that we have grown to love over our many years with SD 1 & 2. The fond and funny memories like the day we were in NYC on SD and Ivana Trump visited the ship and fell out of the hammock that was once on the "top deck", all that blond hair and makeup face down on the teak decking....a media nightmare but a fond memory for a nobody like myself or Mr. Brynstad engaging guests with his beautiful wife and 2 very well behaved children, asking what SD could do better than what Cunard has so undone. I felt "listened to" if that is the correct grammar?

 

The new Seabourn Sisters, Odyssey, Sojourn, Quest will be our new home at sea....at least until SD figures themselves out and management can step up to the plate & take some responsibility for their companies promises.

 

Having just completed a 14 day Seabourn Legend trip, these little ones have their own issues too [ on the Seabourn forum ]

 

Engines break, things fall apart, management changes... we get that - but this indignant silence is unacceptable.

 

If SD does come to the plate or builds a new hull...we will be back in a nano-second because after all "its the people that make the company and that company the experience"!

 

JNJATSEA

Could not have said it better. We too will be sailing elsewhere until Oslo learns not to take its patrons for granted and starts to communicate.

Having sailed recently on the Pride (2nd time), I can endorse your recommendation to sail on the triplets while part of Seabourn. However, as someone who enjoys small ships and trying different cruise lines, I would sure like to sail on one of the triplets in future at Windstar. I will just have to wait until they offer better rates.

Not interested at that price. If they offer better pricing, I will certainly take a serious look.

I toast you all with my half FULL glass of champagne.

Why is the glass only half full? Are they running out of champagne?!:D

Is Ho-hum smoking before posting?:eek: It would explain a lot.;)

I really hate to say this, but I smell serious financial issues at SeaDream. I say this as someone who spent 30 years working for a large international financial institution, and who was involved in many commercial restructurings and bankruptcies. I hope my smell sense on this is totally off base and that SD will go on for many years offering a unique and wonderful small ship cruising experience. But the early signals are there and it is up to SD to clear the air.

Yes that's what we do all the long, long day...........

 

As Commodoredave kindly attempts to explain; there may be a tad of eccentricity in my short offerings. But at least I do not have the condition of "lacofhumerus".

This manifests in a person taking themselves and life way too seriously and who erroneously feels personally grievously upset by a general (funny) remark that was not actually intended to be directed at that individual or group of individuals but was in fact an attempt at levity/humour/amusement. Refer also to paranoia.

 

WIPRO: "Oh, so you were trying to be funny"

Ho-hum: "yes"

WIPRO: "it was'nt funny. I thought you were attacking me personally

Ho-hum: "me so soolly: no offence meant. May I buy you drink at TOYB"

WIPRO: "but they're free !"

Ho-hum: "me trying to be funny"

WIPRO: "still not funny"

 

THE END

 

But (a bit) seriously I consider there are a significant number of (mainly regular) posters with years of great experience, that have considerable business expertise as well as life experience and numerous cruising days who also love the Sea Dream experience (especially the marvellous crew).

I generally value their contributions and look out for their postings.

Sadly CC does not have a spam filter that you can use for my generally very short offerings.

So live and let live: maybe move to Colorado and lighten up bro'

Ho-hum, as usual, a very entertaining and non-routine response!!

I was hoping this episode could be the start of a new communication policy at SD where they tell people the truth and communicate in an open and positive fashion. Or it might just be a continuation of the old Norwegian stick your head in the North Sea policy that has worked so well! :rolleyes:

If the pricing is reasonable I will definitely give the Star Pride a try.

Great news. I look forward to reading the story about the engine issue and its repair on the SD blog.

..........not enough engines !

Ho-hum, at least you didn't say they are crazy. This is a huge improvement over your previous posts! :D

........now you're completely crazy !!

Ho-hum, most of us on CC are crazy -- get over it!

Wripro, Ho-hum is a bit eccentric and should not be judged on words alone. There's a deeper message there, although I have to admit I do not yet understand it!