twochromic

I no longer fill in any so-called "satisfaction surveys", be they for cruises, car service, hotels, or whatever. I don't think the business uses the reviews to improve their services, but rather to discipline or punish staff.

This thread illustrates the problem: people have different likes and dislikes when it comes to entertainment. We do find the "Broadway" type shows repetitive and usually now skip them. The best entertainment I've seen has been from guest entertainers who come on board for a night or two, maybe give two performances, then rotate out. Doesn't matter if it is standup, magic, jazz, classical, even opera crossover. If they find a musician skilled in more than one genre, that's the best of all.(I realize they are likely budget busters, but the question was asked.) I haven't found SB's lounge performers, like the OBS, very good lately. I just don't know the answer to this one.

Taxis are just part of the cultural experience in the Caribbean!

Keeping the wine glasses filled is our number one complaint across many cruise lines. If it is a wine-inclusive bit like SB, I often can't help but think they are just controlling costs. However, I do find it better when all the waiters are allowed to pour, rather than just waiting for the Somm to make his way to my table. Crystal (the former!) always had wine folks and food folks, and never the twain did mix. SB thankfully has gone with the less formal approach, though it is still sometimes an issue. They also tend to avoid the lady, speak only to the man. I've a simple sure for this: "The lady will taste, please".

Living in Eastern Washington, I wouldn't consider Nine Hats a "fine" wine, and there are dozens of better wines at the same price range. I think is sometimes reflects the cruise suppliers' purchasing power and need for a large load of a given wine. On a recent SB, another diner suggested I do what they do -- have them decant the bottle, even for the modest wines. I did, and it works.

Seemed to me that most everyone on our recent SB was younger!

Well at least on SB if you book a fancy suite, you can bring along your little doggy, have it do its business wherever, and nobody will raise a "stink". (Except here on CC!)

This thread just cracks me up. Reinforces my thought that the ship's staff on SB are a lot more to my liking than the fellow passengers!

Obviously there's no way Seabourn was going to put their passengers off to Peru right now. How unfortunate. It is such an interesting country, and some of the kindest people I've ever met (been there 6 times!). On Sojourn in November there were several dining staff on board from Peru, and we struck up a great friendship. Luz, Alfonso, and Maria Elena. They have to be devastated by the current situation.

Almost never full. But if so, you might wait a few. Never had that happen.

Seville. Clearly.

Can you get lunch delivered to the gym?

Plenty of ways to download movies. I buy lots of old movies in the secondhand place and copy them to the computer -- that requires copy techniques beyond the scope of this forum, but it works. The simple and fully legal way is to download Netflix and/or Prime movies to your laptop or tablet, and either watch on that, or take along an HDMI cable and connect to the TV in your suite.

Agree with Wesport. In my opinion, CDG is the worst airport there is for connecting. Heck, I'd rather connect at Newark!

We were on Sojourn's TA in November. So we have talked to death the doggy issues and the MDR lunch closures. However, I cannot agree with the OP on the state of Sojourn and her staff. I saw nothing to suggest that upkeep and maintenance was being neglected. I found the staff universally friendly and willing to accommodate just about any reasonable request. Yes, a number of them are "in training" -- how else are they expected to re-staff after the shutdown? It's how the trainees are being supervised that matters. It seems people get all in a wedgy about their particular obsessions. Strawberry jam? Really? Is this the Caine Mutiny? A napkin here and there? Not the right 5-cent chocolate on the bed? I have my own: refilling the wine glass, and addressing the man and ignoring the woman when dealing with wine. It's gone on a long time, and is a persistent issue on most cruises. Now I handle this with a simple "the lady will taste the wine, please". I don't think Seabourn is back to their pre-pandemic standards yet. I understand why. It takes time. But I think they are making the effort and are on track. We hope to cruise again with them.

You pretty much have to use the Source app on board. That's where everything is done. Even the daily calendar of events (you can get a paper one if you prefer). They want you to load up the app before boarding, and complete your check-in there. That's where the glitches are. Sometimes it won't take your input. On our boarding day in November the app just failed to work for several hours. And then, when we got to the boarding, they ignored it completely and did everything manually. "Work in Progress".

I insist on a straw. You never know where that bottle has been.

Yes, I use a little blue night light with a usb outlet, and it worked fine on Sojourn recently. Mine has US prongs, but it fit into the odd shaver receptacle just fine, be it 110 or 220. Very important for us old guys at night. However, now that they installed motion-activated lighting in the entry vestibule, it wasn't so critical to have the blue-light.

It was D last week for the arrival after the trans-Atlantic. Clearly "subject to change".

In my opinion, the booking system for the TK is designed to have the diners think they are "special" to be allowed to eat there. So more access for higher level suites, the "one res per cruise"', etc. I suggest you go to the grill on the day you board, and ask for the wait list on a couple of cruise nights. Odds are you will get the day andtime you wish. Over-rated, for me.

What nonsense. Yes, there has been a shift in the nationalities. Far fewer Indonesian, Thai, and even Indian crew. And I miss them. But also fewer surly East Europeans. Instead, a lot of South Africans, Zimbabweans, and Peruvians. Of ALL "varieties". And for me, on the recent TA with Sojourn, they were all kind, joyful, efficient, and well trained to perform their tasks. SB hasn't missed a beat when it comes to getting their staff up to speed. I wish I could say the same for the passengers.

Pretty good review. My only differences are just preferences. I found the entertainment lacking variety. Mostly singers, and a style that doesn't appeal to us. No classical-style musicians at all. The speakers were pretty good, and chattable. The magician guy was pretty entertaining. so...just what floats one's boat. Didn't care for the Keller Grill. Loud, hot, crowded. Great service, but an appalling lamb chop dish there, mostly grizz. Odd, when the rib-cut lamb in the MDR was exquisite. We enjoyed this, our 3rd TA. But SB has a bit to go to return to its pre-pandemic quality.

My final dubious contrib to this thread: I don't think anyone on the recent TA thought that this was in any way a "service" dog. Rather, a somewhat odd lady fixed in her ways.

I am pleased to hear that the MDR has reopened for lunch. Perhaps they did indeed re-staff in Miami. On the 12 day TA the only lunch there was the Galley lunch, and while it is spectacular, it's not the same. For me, the lunch food in the Colonnade was actually very good. The problem is making your way past folks standing around, and also people reaching in to grab salads, etc, when we are still so close to our quarantine quagmire. And I was underwhelmed by the Keller Grill. Good service, meh food.

Allow me to apply a bit of perspective to this doggie story, both positive and negative. First, I don't know which cabin level Madame and Fru-Fru occupies, though I suspect it is above my humble abode. And in the doggie's defense, it is well behaved, doesn't bark, and doesn't investigate other passengers. Leashed every time I saw them. However, Madame is fully attached to the pooch. Including the Square, the Colonnade, and the decks. Don't know if they have been in the MDR. Make of this what you will.