Isklaar

Yes, to echo cruiseej, I too wish you all a fabulous cruise. 

@kjbacon, sorry to read your update. I join Fletcher in alarm about that excursion.Wishing you both a speedy recovery.

40 minutes ago, frantic36 said:

 

We are on Sojourn at the moment and have had no upsell pressure from the Sommelier the few days we were out on the ship. At Colonnade at lunch yesterday for about 1 hour there was a table set up with some wine and two assistant sommeliers where you could sign up for a degustation lunch next sea day. This wasn't what I call a pressure sale as you actually had to stop and ask about it, they didn't approach you at all.

That's in line with our previous experience, but of course for us the most recent  was two and a half years ago. 

We can usually find a couple of wines we enjoy from the included list. We drink those with lunch. For dinner we usually choose from the list. The head sommelier gets to know our taste in wine after a few days and  will sometimes make suggestions which is great as we're always open to trying something new.  

27 minutes ago, Mr Luxury said:

I have always chosen wines from the list and very rarely drunk from the included pour.

Try to be upsold sometime,you will be drinking far better wine.

We frequently select from the list,  especially at dinner, but I do not want to feel pressured to do so.

Oh boy, the wine upselling appears to be a new thing. Previously only experienced it in TK, and only one time. I have no idea when our next cruise will happen but we won't take kindly to upselling if it comes across as it sounds when reading these posts!

2 hours ago, frantic36 said:

We do as well and are sad she isn't onboard.

 

Good news...Keith has tested negative as well today. Even the head nurse was surprised because luck hadn't been going our way. So we will be able to go explore the Citadel caves in Melilla, Spanish Morocco. 

Great news Julie. Enjoy your freedom! 

21 minutes ago, tjcox9 said:

And, unless it has changed, there is also a special at breakfast and lunch that is served as well as the menu items. 

This is a good point, especially as the person serving your table frequently doesn't mention the special.

So, unless it's changed, advice to new SB cruisers is take  a look at the specials board which is placed adjacent to the galley as you enter the Colonnade. This applies to O class ships, I can't remember if it's in the same location on Encore/Ovation.

Good news Julie, fingers tightly crossed for Keith's test tomorrow!

10 minutes ago, highplanesdrifters said:

The Truffle Hunters- A truly wonderful and visually stunning film .

Unfortunately you don't get a handful of truffles after watching it.

 

https://www.sonyclassics.com/film/thetrufflehunters

Great recommendation! We watched it recently. We found it very interesting and for sure, visually stunning.

Glad to hear that you are both still feeling well Julie. 

We have gone for that option several times and have always been happy with our allocation. The locations have been ones which we would have chosen if booking a specific suite. 

On the O class ships 95% of cruises we have been allocated deck 8 midships.  The remainders have been deck 6 midships.  

But it really is the luck of the draw. Despite our positive experience so far, I would not take a chance for long cruises.

Sorry to read  your update Julie. Good to read that you're being well looked after.

Wishing you both a speedy recovery.

Sorry, I didn't actually finish my post.

So pre-Covid we usually sailed the holiday cruise, most often on Sojourn.

In 2019 we had more time off from work so were able to take the 25 day cruise, combining the 11 day cruise and the 14 day holiday cruise. The 11 day cruise left Miami 10 December. I didn't notice that it was  different to any other SB cruise. As tv24 has posted, the cruises at that time are usually well priced due to less demand. 

Just now, johng75370 said:

Usually prices are lower right before the holidays.  We’ve sailed early and mid December and found that to be the case (even around Thanksgiving).  If you’re on in mid-December you get to see the ship getting decorated for the holidays.  

I was posting at the same time as you!

If it's the cruise preceding the Holiday cruise that one is often well priced. 

31 minutes ago, twodjs said:

Bummer... I agree that would have been a nice addition. We were on Odyssey in a Spa Penthouse Suite and there are no additional spa areas exclusive to spa suites. That "water walk thingy" didn't have any water in it (so what's the point?), towels had holes in them and they couldn't even get the spa music to work half the time. Hopefully, if the line is sold, the new owners spend some money and bring the spa up to the level of at least the better hotels in Vegas. It really needs an upgrade!

We have yet to stay in a Spa Penthouse as they are always booked, never available when we make our reservation. They are popular!

Sorry to read about your experience in the spa, there's no excuse for the issues you mention. 

2 minutes ago, cruisr said:

It was on Odyssey when she came out.  It was removed a couple years after.  I don’t know why they removed it.  It was a great addition to the spa.

Thanks for this. So They went with the Kneipp walk thingy on Sojourn and Quest from launch instead? Then added that to Odyssey? I was told years ago that the only differences between the O class ships was something in the spa...I guess that was it!

7 minutes ago, kjbacon said:

Saw this picture , caption Seabourn odyssey:

 

Oh, well I have hundreds of nights on SB and have never seen that!
 

It could  be on Odyssey in place of the therapeutic pool which is on Sojourn and Quest. Or perhaps it's a recent installation and they removed the Kneipp pool .

Or for the use of the penthouse spa suites?
 

Which ship will you be on?

18 minutes ago, twodjs said:

You must be thinking of another cruise line. There is no spa pool.

The only 'spa pool' I can think of is the small therapeutic 'Kneipp' walk pool which, IIRC, is only on the O class ships. But the water is only ankle deep. It's absolutely not an actual pool that one can swim in. 

1 hour ago, Mauzac said:

Everyone has different opinions, don't they?  I so much prefer the TK Grill to Restarant2.  I found the former restaurant tasting menu (which it really was) a bit rich.

I also like the TK menu and the fact there's always two 'specials' ... the thing is, I have my favourites in the current TK Grill and I'd be disappointed if they changed it greatly!

I've also never heard or noticed the music at all !    

 

We're all different aren't we?!  😁

We are all different and I actually have one foot in each camp! If forced to choose between the two I would say R2. But I do like TK Grill too.  One of each would make me happy 😄 

Catlover, it was Restaurant 2. Overall I too preferred it overTK, apart from the decor.

7 minutes ago, Ken the cruiser said:

No. I just wasn’t sure how the specialty dining worked after our initial complimentary visit to the TK Grill went. But if the food is that tasty in the MDR as we’re hearing, we probably will continue to eat there. 
 

Also talked with our son today, who is 41, and he’s good with wearing a sport coat on the two formal nights on our cruise. So, thank you all for your insights. We really do just want to blend in while experiencing all that Seabourn has to offer, as we are looking for a new go-to luxury cruise line to treat ourselves every once n awhile when they have a new exotic itinerary gets released.

No problem.No extra fee for any of the dining venues as Mr Luxury said. I haven't been on Seabourn since January 2020 so I wondered if there had been a change when I saw your comment!
 

I hope that you all have a wonderful first Seabourn cruise.

31 minutes ago, Mr Luxury said:

That's what other lines charge to eat in some restaurants for an all inclusive experience.

Indeed. I though SB had introduced a fee when OP mentioned it!

What is the 'additional fee'? 

Have a fabulous cruise Julie! After the past couple of years I'm sure embarkation day is rather more exciting even than before.

Have a wonderful time.