grandma*knows*best

On 3/30/2024 at 7:31 AM, kbnovak said:

I have very wide feet (4E).  Would the supplied boots be suitable for such a fit, or do they run narrow?

They are big; they do not run narrow.

On 3/29/2024 at 2:53 PM, 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.

Still not true.  We booked the first hotel night on our own.

You get a Helly Hansen waterproof pack and a beanie as well. The pack does not have a drink holder; it’s a dry bag with backpack straps.

https://www.seabourn.com/en/us/packing-list/arctic-antarctica

It looks like this:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/285652804551

1 hour ago, MarciAnn said:

They will only provide the transfer from the airport to the if you book your air through them.  

No, not true.  We booked our own air travel and Seabourn provided us transportation to

the hotel.

They provide wooden trekking poles.  I suggest bringing a pair of your own collapsing poles.  I found them useful.

Your cruise line should be providing binoculars which are fine, if you do not want to purchase these.

There is no need to bring boots or buy your own.  The Bogs boots provided are perfectly comfortable.  If you are on the Pursuit, boots are provided for free.

On 3/6/2024 at 5:00 PM, Kane said:

I don't think you can change the TT number at the airport.  According to Google:

 

"No, you cannot change your trusted traveler number at the airport. These programs, like TSA PreCheck and Global Entry, are managed by separate government agencies and require updating your information online or through their designated channels."

No, this is wrong.  I work for a major airline and we can easily add or correct your Known Traveler Number on your reservation at the counter or a kiosk or you can do it yourself on the app.

20 hours ago, sfvoyage said:

 

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?

No.  Not on the cruise I took, but it did not visit Stanley/Falklands.

Yes.

 No need to book kayaking twice.  If your trip is cancelled, they will try and accommodate you.

i was recently on the Pursuit and there was no need to prebook dining. There are also no shore expeditions to book.  This is an expedition cruise.

Seabourn Antarctica ships do not carry 300+ passengers. The Pursuit and Venture hold 264 passengers.

You will not do any camping in Antarctica, but the other activities you mentioned are available.

We booked the first hotel night in our own.

On 3/12/2024 at 10:55 PM, Woodrowst said:

If you have booked air through Seabourn and have a night flight Seabourn will take you out to a nice restaurant for dinner and return you to EZE at about 5:00pm.

 They do this for some passengers, but not all.  Perhaps related to your Seabourn status?  One couple did not get this benefit and they were very annoyed.  We were staying an extra day in Buenos Aires, so didn’t do this.

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.

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; Seabourn checks you in for the charter flight to Ushuaia. The day of embarkation, passengers are divided into 2 groups and take busses to the airport (AEP), for the charter flight to Ushuaia.  Seabourn then busses you to the ship. On the way back, you fly into EZE and then are on your own.

The pools are small.  You might want to lower your expectations.

I recently was on a Seabourn cruise to Antarctica and we got lucky; good weather through the Drake passage both ways. There is plenty to do on the ship during sea days. I would not choose the fly cruise.

I cruised the Galapagos on the Celebrity Flora in October 2019 and the food was average to not very good.  The issue is all the restrictions to bringing food into the Galapagos; for example, beef must be precooked.  There was a good selection of fish at dinners. 

I was recently on the Seabourn Pursuit and caviar was available 24/7.  You only needed to ask.  Champagne as well.

Download the Seabourn app.  You can book spa, kayak expeditions and submarine trips there.  Also you can do it on the Seabourn website.

Mid day or evenings after 7 pm are usually safe times to book spa appointments if you don’t want to miss the excursions on an expedition cruise. Also if you have a conflict, there is usually no issue in going out in a different group.

You never miss breakfast; there is time to eat before the first zodiac tour leaves.

If schedule changes are so upsetting to you, expedition cruises would not be the best choice.

On 2/7/2024 at 2:13 PM, cruiseej said:

 

I wasn't sure in advance, so I had one pair of both lined and unlined! I found that with a base layer underneath and waterproof pants on the outside, the unlined ones were perfect; the lined ones with the base layer were actually a little too warm on active excursions! I used the lined ones a few times on zodiac-only outings, knowing I'd be sitting still in the zodiac for about 90 minutes. If you were going to get one, I'd get the unlined. 

 

(I did not do kayaking, as I was more interested in getting ashore and doing photography.)

 No, it does not replace your zodiac trip. They will reschedule the zodiac for another time that day if there is a conflict with the sub trip.

I can tell you on the Pursuit, VPN needs to be turned off.

There is a motion sensor light which comes on under the nightstands when it is dark.