sfvoyage

10 minutes ago, Syd58 said:

Thanks so much!  So, if I understand correctly any onboard credit remaining can be given back to you in the form of cash or a refund to credit card?

Yes, any redeemable OBC can be returned to your credit card or cash at any time during your voyage.  Non-redeemable OBCs are "use it or lose it" during your cruise. 

If you pre-book an excursion using your credit card, the reversal of that charge will be a redeemable one.  If you swap that charge and use your non-redeemable OBC instead, and later you cancel that excursion, you will not get cash back because that excursion would have been charged under a non-redeemable OBC, so you'll have to use up the amount some other way.

What you were told is correct and applies to everything you need to book in advance (e.g. excursions, spa treatments).  It's a hassle but not a big deal.

Once onboard, you go to Guest Services to tell them you want to use your OBC instead.  They normally will then issue a credit to your onboard account instead of a credit directly back to your credit card, but it's the same thing:  the credit is a redeemable one, so you can get it back onto your credit card or you can cash it out at the end of your voyage (or at any time during your voyage upon your request).

Cancellation policy for shore excursions is 48 hours, IIRC.  So if you're pre-booking an excursion for the first couple of days of your voyage, be cautious about that.

12 hours ago, skybluewaters said:

 

Hmmm, looks like the suite host and the suite attendant are the two crew members who service your cabin.  I'm guessing that the host is the senior of the two, while the attendant does most of the work.

Typically the attendant cleans the bathroom, while the host takes care of the rest as well as being the primary customer facing one in terms of speaking with the guests and training the attendant, who is usually more junior than the host.

They are a team and support each other, working equally as hard.  I've also seen the host cleaning the toilet at times (e.g. when the attendant is off duty due to illness).

Flight Ease has fewer options.  They only have contracted rates with selected airlines and on specific routes, and more often than not their rates are higher.  I have only found good options through them 20% of the time at most.

40 minutes ago, MarciAnn said:

I apologize what I meant to say is that if you go early ( i.e. before the first night of the included hotel) they will only pick you up from the airport if you book the extra nights hotel through Seabourn.  (Didn't mean to say the air). I asked Seabourn rep about this spedifically.

in Post #10, she said that she had booked the extra night's hotel stay on her own, not through Seabourn.

Every guest should get an email survey a day or two after disembarkation.  You may want to call Guest Services again if it has been more than 3 or 4 days.

How much is a pair of custom shoe pads that the fitness instructor tries to sell at the end of the complimentary footprint analysis?  And are they durable & effective (in reducing foot pain)? 

I've mentioned this before, but for me, cruising makes perfect sense for coastal expedition voyages such as Antarctica, Arctic, Galapagos, and other island-hopping destinations.

For other travel involving more in-depth exploration and adventure, it goes without saying that land-based travel is more suitable.  After all, how much can one see and experience in a day or a half day at a port, rushing around from one place to another and rushing back in time before the ship leaves?

The worst is when people get off the ship for an overnight (or multi-day) overland journey and then rejoin the ship.  Talk about trying to fit a square peg in a round hole!

After all, most of the world's treasures, monuments and attractions are inland and not quickly or easily accessible from the coasts.

So for me, cruising is mostly a lifestyle and is mainly about relaxing, enjoying life at sea, and socializing with other guests and crew.  I don't bother running around doing and seeing everything at a port - I reserve that on land trips.

1 hour ago, jjs217 said:

Both times we were in Stanley, the shore excursions were not included.  You go in by tender, not zodiac.  Other stops in the Falklands, if you have them, are by zodiac and are included.

That is what I had thought.

On some other cruise lines, expedition voyages also include shore excursions that are land-based, i.e. not by zodiac.  (An example includes an Iceland circumnavigation voyage that I did on Silversea.)

Has anyone booked an extra night on their own at a different hotel and still got a free Seabourn transfer from EZE to that hotel?

49 minutes ago, jjs217 said:

The only place you will have a shore excursion to book is in Stanley, or if you are doing any stops in Argentina.  The zodiac excursions are included.

Did you mean that, on the Venture or Pursuit, even though all zodiac excursions are included everywhere (including Stanley/Falklands), there are other land-based excursions which are available and not included?

If you need special ingredients to be brought onto the ship, you need to email guest services ahead of time, ideally 2-3 months prior to sailing.

Otherwise, when you board, just talk to the assistant maitre d' who is in charge of looking after guests with special dietary requirements.

On the O-class ships, there are 1 or 2 public printers, on one or both sides in the middle of the PC stations.  You just select the print driver to print to and collect the printouts yourself.

On the E-class ships, the public printer is inside the little circular office behind the guest services desks.  You select the print driver to print to and ask the staff to fetch it for you.

Not sure what the setup is on the 2 expedition ships (but I'll find out soon).

1 hour ago, grandma*knows*best said:

We arrived one day before the official arrival day and paid for one night at the hotel and Seabourn paid for the next night (we were able to stay in the same room).  My husband contacted Seabourn in advance.  There was a Seabourn rep at EZE we checked in with and they sent us in a private car to the hotel at no cost. There were others on our cruise who did the same thing.

Did you book the extra hotel night on your own or through Seabourn?

7 hours ago, grandma*knows*best said:

We arrived a day early and Seabourn picked us up at EZE. The day before embarkation you will get your boarding passes with seat assignments at the hotel...

For itineraries starting in Buenos Aires, one night hotel (plus airport to hotel transfer) is included prior to the charter flight to Ushuaia on the next morning. 

Are you saying that you arrived on the day of the inclusive hotel, in which case, yes, the transfer from EZE to hotel was supposed to be included?  Or did you arrive an extra day earlier (so that you had to arrange for that extra night hotel stay), in which case did Seabourn still provide you with a transfer from EZE to your hotel (which may or may not be the inclusive hotel)?  I'm thinking in that case you would have been on your own to get from EZE to your hotel.

Another vote for stugeron (generic:  cinnarizine), which works well without side effects for me.  Not available in the US.  I buy them in Asia or Europe.

Seabourn terminated its contract with Tiffany last year.

22 minutes ago, Sunprince said:

My question is…now that Seabourn has partially chartered out its expedition ships to an Australian company, how does one book one of those cruises? Is it a partnership with Seabourn? Or must you only book those cruises exclusively through the Australian company?  For many, including myself, booking through an Australian company would not be the same as booking through Seabourn, and likely not an option for those outside of Australia. 
 

Perhaps someone has this answer to this….why would Seabourn build two new beautiful expedition ships only to turn around and charter them out? Is it solely a money play? If so, then I really question their corporate strategy. I wish Natalya would answer this glaringly obvious question. 

I have the same questions, and I would like to continue booking with my trusted agent.

18 hours ago, kej1 said:

Our 30 day cruise from Papeete to Guam on Pursuit starts on April 9th and no excursions are listed except for submarine and kayak

on Day 1.  I have called Seabourn as has my TA to ask and nobody seems to know anything.  
I understand it is expedition but it’s not Antarctica.  I would hope they would publish something soon as some of the ports have various 

things to see and do besides kayaking and the submarine which are both at a high cost.  We will likely do them both once on the trip 

and hope to do some snorkeling.  
I am about to give up so I did find a local tour company in Honaria, Guadalcanal and will likely book with them as we are there

overnight and my husband really wants to see the old WW2 things.  I’m so surprised Seabourn has nothing posted.  There are some places that are very remote but there are some with things we’d like to see and do so I’m now looking for private options since there is nothing posted.  I can find ideas on other

cruise lines that travel by expedition in these areas and have their tours posted to the public.  I realize some of the ports are new to Seabourn but some 

are on the bigger ship South Pacific trips as well.  If anyone has any ideas of who to reach at Seabourn I’d love to know a name!

Normally, expedition voyages on the 2 expedition ships will "include cultural and hiking tours, as well as zodiac tours. The submersible and kayak will remain optional."

I got the above answer regarding my particular Arctic voyage on the Venture this summer from Seabourn Guest Services.  Just email them to enquire about your particular voyage.

In general, excursions on non-expedition voyages (e.g. Mediterranean) on the expedition ships will not be included unless otherwise stated.

11 minutes ago, toseaornottosea said:

Latte is an Australian company and in all likelyhood that $18,395 price per person is in Australian dollars which translates to around $12,000 US.  On the US Seabourn website the price for the Venture,  August 16, 2024, 14 day Icelandic Saga Reykjavik return starts at $11,024.  Their early bird saving gets it down to $15,395 Australian or around $10,200 US.  So when it comes down to it it's not an elevated price.

Yes, if it is AUD, that particular price example, with the early bird special, is not out of line.

I'm not an industry insider, but this strongly suggests to me that Seabourn has determined that it needs outside help filling cabins on their 2 expedition ships, because they can't sell enough cabins at high enough rates for sustainable profitability.  Otherwise, why would SB enlist a 3rd party to help sell their own inventory?

In this article:  https://latteluxurynews.com/2024/01/19/apt-new-ships-in-2025/

The 14-day Arctic Explorer Small Ship Expedition Cruise Reykjavik Return explores the coastlines of Iceland and Greenland, giving an in-depth view of the landscapes and culture in this region. Prices start at $18,395 per person, twin share. Book by 30 April 2024 for an Early bird saving of up to $3,000 per couple.

The starting per diem rate is higher than Seabourn's recent pricing.  What's so special about APT that they can get their client base to pay a premium?  And if their itineraries will be unique and thus not offered through Seabourn, Seabourn customers will have to book through APT at their elevated pricing.

I guess I'll have to wait for APT to publish their voyage brochures to figure out how this will play out.

4 hours ago, BriSquared said:

I understand Bollinger champagne is no longer offered and given our weather may not  be cooperative, we are likely to opt for a one and done day pass rather than an entire voyage.

Do you know which is the current champagne for the Retreat?

If you try it for a day and like it (and the weather forecast for the rest of the voyage is good), you can always ask guest services about paying the difference for the full voyage Retreat acess (if that is being offered on your voyage, of course).

1 hour ago, BriSquared said:

During cold or windy weather, is the Retreat essentially unusable?

Thanks for any responses.

When the weather is bad, the Retreat is no fun.

During rough seas, it is also no fun.  (The hot tub in the center becomes a Seabourn Waterfall.  I have photos!)

7 hours ago, Stu UK said:

1) Do we pick items for mini bar prior to boarding.

One thing to clarify:  There is no "mini bar" on Seabourn, at least not like in hotel rooms with a variety of mini bottles.  You can request 2 full sized bottles of alcohol initially, which can be replenished (with same or something else) upon request.

They are nice enough to round up your allotment of bags, so that if your cruise is 4.5 weeks, you'll get 5 bags during your voyage.  (Not sure if your cruise is 4 weeks plus 1 day, if they will still round up, but probably.)

Also, no need to wait 7 days before submitting another bag.  You can submit any or all your laundry bags at any time (but not on the last couple of days, obviously).

The above information is from a few years ago, before I became eligible for unlimited laundry, but I doubt it has changed.