PaulMCO

No cruises stop in Jerusalem... Either Haifa or Ashdod. Ashdod is in the south where the terrorism is currently focused. It really depends on the Israeli's as to whether they will lock down the port of Haifa as they did last year in May (many cruise lines including NCL cancelled port stops). In those cases they ended cruises in Cyprus.

Try asking to take your meal in a doggie bag at TK on Seabourn and you will get 1000 reasons why it can't be done.

What ever she said verbally has no bearing on what are in the terms of the booking and unless you have it in writing the first 15% of any DP belongs to SS. That is the point of the P to P discount. If you want a refundable DP you have to do D to D less the air, hotel, transfers and blacklane..

Then again Toasting is only done to a stale NY Bagel.

@Hlitner Hank what are the hours of Crema do they stay open after dinner for a late night coffee. That is one thing I love about Seabourn.

You are 100% correct. It is all about the grind. With grinding, every brand and every lot has a different best grind. But that O machine coffee is really the pits. Espresso is better/passable than the lattes. Whether it is in the concierge/suite lounges or up in the terrace -- those machines definitely produce undrinkable coffee. The beans are good quality so it has to be how the machines are adjusted (grind and temp). Barista's is the best on the ship. We actually prefer the barista coffee on Seabourn as it is freshly roasted every week. The Illy coffee on O and Regent is already roasted (when??) -- yes it vacuum packed in an aluminum tin container but fresh is best. Not knocking O the machine coffee is bad on Seabourn too. Since I work for a Wien based company for 22 plus years - I really got used to good coffee. That despite the fact that Starbucks across from the Hotel Sacher sells more coffee. 🙂

I have found my good TA is perfect in these battles. They know the senior sales people and can get management attention though that chain of command.

We did the same three times with bookings each and 2 COVID cancels. Pre COVID we chose Oceania from Hong Kong to Japan and Onward to Alaska and San Francisco. This was a unique one time itinerary and was cancelled at the start of COVID. We would not chose to sail on Oceania any more as had several issues on our last two cruises with them. Next we evaluated SS and Regent for just Japan. For an April 2022 cruise we chose Silversea that was ultimately cancelled as Japan was closed due to COVID. We were not impressed with SS as they waited until one month prior to cancel and it was obvious months earlier that Japan would not open until at least the summer (and actually did not until very late 2022). For 2024, we chose Regent. We have sailed both lines so it was a matter of price/value. Pay attention to the included air and the Pre Cruise land portion (which is usually included). If you want neither you can get credits on both (air about $6k pp and pre cruise $750pp). Regent also has occasional sales for 2 class upgrades -- which will allow to get a PH3 cabin for a Concierge fare. We have our tickets, some private tours. We elected to decline their air, and using FF miles to and returning via Hawaii. We will spend 5 days there. I guess a possible fourth choice is Azamara. But I really dislike their (and Oceania) R class ships as they are just plain old with small cabins.

Here is why Explora is offering people a chance to leave the ship on the 12th and stay in a hotel. Looks like it will be a zoo with all of the TAs onboard.

Good to hear all of the positives. My TA stated that corporate is working on the OBC conversion. It is a EU banking issue. Seabourn of course is very good about this. Disappointed about the back to back bookings and specialty reservations. Going to push that button with my TA when I book my first reservations. How is the coffee quality -- my DW is a coffee snob. Yes it is Illy but good beans can be killed by a bad grind or too much heat. She was teaching the barista on our last Seabourn cruise 🙂 Enjoy the Lobster Rolls....

Wifi has always been 1 login per cabin unless you were in an OC, OS or VS cabin and you received 2. It has not been xx minutes since 2007.

Even cruise line like Regent that "include a free" pre cruise, offers a credit if you decline it. Basically they are a hotel with some 1/2 day tours. You can do better on your own booking the hotel and then doing a private tour with tours by locals.

Yes but from the OPs post -- THEY NEED HELP. Yes many people like you and me can do things on their own (been getting visa for 50 years of travel - many times in person at overseas foreign consulates) - but some need help and a VISA service for a couple of hundred dollars is nothing compared to a 20K plus trip.

Their new Simply more gives you $$ towards excursions but not totally inclusive On concierge and above a bag is free

Silversea uses Pinnacle for their visa service. https://www.pinnacletds.com/tours/tours.aspx?agency=2 Of course there is business to make money so they do charge a surcharge. You can call them or use them to process the visa In the past the port agent was listed as: ON BOARD SHIP (for address and name of hotel) GULF AGENCY CO. (for reference, name address, and phone) 30 MANOHARDAS STREET MUMBAI, INDIA 400001 91 22 4030 7800

Just ask for the Internet Manager. On Splendor they were located directly across from Reception on Deck 5 in the "Business Center"

There are several threads in the past -- this was the most recent,, We are booked in March.

It was $25 per day last Nov on Splendor. If you speak "nicely" to the Internet contractor from EMC /Marlink, they have been known to increase it to 4 login at no charge. Sort of sad that an inclusive line like Regent charges, when starting next week a extra login on Oceania is no charge.

The Assignee has been very thorough in finding the money. Of course the 10% finding fee helps. The most recent was getting the insurance companies to pay for the wrong doings and poor management of the past directors. A $15M settlement without admitting any wrong doing on the part of the directors -- gets a 1.5M fee. All of this helps pay the priority claims to the maximum the law allows. I will post anything on the FMC bonds if I get an answer from them. There is too much conflicting info on how this works.

That is not entirely correct. The ABC has not completed the all of the objections. Nor has the court approved all of them. Further some cruises are covered by a Federal Maritime Insurance bond that OC had to provide covering those cruises in 2022 and 2023 leaving from a US port. These were to be covered differently and not lumped into the other assets and were supposed to be handled after the initial distribution of assets (as reported in the media). However I have an unanswered question sent several weeks ago to the Assignee as to the process. I have one claim that fits this category.

You should buy an Abaya and wear it. The law has changed and since 2019 it is no longer a requirement to wear one. But as a Westerner you will stand out. As a Westerner without an Abaya you will stand out even more. Jeddah is a more relaxed city than the capitol Riyadh, but there are still very conservative elements within the city. Alot of good things are happening under Prince MBS. But alot of crazy projects like the new city/region of Neom,

Jeddah -- yuck. I remember my first flight into Jeddah in the 70's and the immigration issues. I know the Kingdom is trying to expand tourism along the red sea with new ports and cities but who is Crystal trying to attract to these Dubai - Jeddah - Doha cruises -- rich Russians that are sanctioned from going other places. Anyone of you interested in booking....

Maybe some of the Genting people deserve to be Cons.

Causing issues with my HF radio communications -- another K5 geomagnetic storm yesterday and today. Enjoy the show should be magnificent tonight.

LOL -- they ship for free.. It is not that bad... The big issue was finding a taxi that knew where they were going.