CraftyEC

Try looking for ideas on the Port of Call section, and join your cruise Roll Call to find others on the same cruise

Try looking for ideas on the Port of Call section, and join your cruise Roll Call to find others on the same cruise

Try looking for ideas on the Port of Call section, and join your cruise Roll Call to find others on the same cruise

But I can see how pacheco18 would be disappointed if she was not able to try the tasting menu in R2. I think she would have to discuss this with the dining management staff.

With respect to Restaurant 2 -- I am a foodie and will eat almost anything so the menu will be fine with me. But my husband (former military) has a very limited palate -- he doesn't even eat chicken!

 

If we go to restaurant 2, can he get a simple pasta dish and salad while I enjoy the menu?

As far as I am aware this isn't usually done. Of course, being Seabourn, that does not mean that it cannot or will not be done! The staff will try very hard to come up with a solution for most situations, and as they do share a galley with the Colonnade, it may indeed be possible.

But our deposits are non-returnable, so it's not all in favour of booking on this side of the pond.

Restaurant 2 is all inside, close to the Colonnade (they share a galley) which does have outside tables. When we have eaten there we have just reserved a table, not specific seats.

I did read what you wrote, and I'm sorry if it appeared (as I had quoted you) that I was responding only to your posts. Other posters have intimated that they carry more considerable amounts of cash (for long tours for two or more that can be a considerable sum for starters). My point is that one has to be vigilant with cash or credit cards, and the cities you mentioned are notorious for crimes against tourists in various forms. We also carry some cash, in small amounts, and often get local currency from a bank ATM which we then carry and spend, but for 'planned' spending such as local tours or expensive meals we feel that we are safer and more protected by using credit (never debit) cards.

Why?

 

Pharmacists know much more about drugs than most doctors. The docs usually get their drug info from drug reps who visit their office, bearing gifts, to push their companies' products.

As a physician I would be the first to suggest that your pharmacist would be the best person to talk to about the administration of drugs.

However, I do take issue (and a little offence) at the picture drawn of doctors. I am sure that the situation is not vastly different in the US than in Europe. We study pharmacology extensively (but not as extensively as pharmacists, I agree) during our medical training and we have a legal and ethical responsibility to keep up to date on new medication, new information about established drugs and prescribing patterns. In Europe the role of the drug rep in providing pharmaceutical information to medical practitioners is declining so rapidly as to be virtually insignificant. Even if US doctors have more contact (I do not know if this is so) they will also be receiving more credible updates in the course of their CPD (continuing professional development) and everyday reading.

I would also say that there are some countries and regions where you are far more likely to get ripped off. Most of the Caribbean, Africa, and Russia are well known for their scams on tourists, as well as certain major cities like Venice, Barcelona, Rome, Paris, London, etc.

But those are the very cities where you are more likely to be pick-pocketed / dipped. Cash is not retrievable, credit is.

Obviously I would agree that you should use some caution - notify your credit card company of your travels, don't let the card out of your sight, if the place seems dodgy just don't eat / buy there etc. Chip and pin cards are considerably safer, but not perfect.

Interestingly chip and pin was in use in New Zealand back in the mid 1990s, at all supermarket tills and shops (EPOS) as well as ATMs. And I hear that the US is starting to catchy up :P

(No offence, intended, just a tease, as the US is 'usually', but not always, ahead on technological matters!)

As the review states that the sailing was in August 2014 it must be the same one.

Not that the nationality makes much difference as such, sadly when you get large groups of alcohol-fuelled revellers of any background you tend to get boorish behaviour and a loss of consideration for others outside their peer group.

I would be upset if there was such a large group on a mainline cruise ship, but would accept it. If I encountered it on Seabourn I would be shocked and devastated as it would change the experience from my expectation proportionately more.

There were bikes everywhere, but the area around the actual moat was jam-packed - and yes, some were trying to wheel bikes through the throng, which was not very successful! Definitely planning for a return, but I doubt it will be as sunny!

We went to see the poppies on Saturday too. They truly are stunning. Unfortunately the whole area was heaving with visitors, which detracted from the atmosphere as little. We will be back in London in October and will pay another visit then; hopefully it will be a little quieter.

I had dinner on Sunday at Le pont de la tour with friends from Australia and after we went to the ceremony of the keys at the Tower of London.

 

It's always a great location to take visitors to the UK

We think it's a great location for us country hicks too! It's even better if the bridge opens while you are sitting there (it now does this regularly for the 'paddle steamers') Even my native Londoner husband enjoys that greatly.

On this occasion we went to the Chop House, but we also like the Pont de la Tour. Great food and good value at lunchtime, not been to either in the evening.

And either would be good for viewing a visiting Seabourn ship, I'm sure.

We crossed Barcelona to Rio and the Crossing the Equator ceremony was great fun - and we all got a certificate to say that we had graduated from Pollywog to Shellback status.

On this occasion it was, I think, all crew and officers who were 'treated' to trial and tribulation, and many ended in the water, including the captain (who removed his shoes first) and the CD (who, unfortunately, didn't) All had great fun and it was taken in good spirit.

We ate lunch just by the bridge on Saturday (at Butler's Wharf) and were discussing how cool it would be to embark a Seabourn ship here.

Taxis are good value, clean, efficient and easily available within the airport. All taxis which ply their trade within the airport are licenced and the fees for transfers (e.g. to city centre or to cruise port) are fixed. There is no need for a cruiseline transfer for this port.

Well, obviously I need to cruise more, just to get free laundry!

Meanwhile I will continue with my mix of DIY and laundry service. With confidence that it will be returned in fine condition - unlike on a recent non-SB cruise, with no launderette on board, following which I am now in possession of a small bag's worth of grey underwear [emoji33]

I am saving my pennies for the spa. LOL

My husband will want internet for the entire cruise. Will mortgage house for same. LOL

 

I'm game for anything

On our last Seabourn TA we used our $400 OBC (from a referral) to pay for an internet package for the whole 19 days. Given the hourly / daily rate that was pretty good value and meant we didn't have to feel paranoid when emails took a while to download. Like all ships it's better to browse (and download) when fewer folks are doing so (e.g. early morning) and avoid the 'Pre-dinner Granny Skypes the Kids' time of day when it all crashes down!

We're hoping for a similar package for our next SB TA, that cruise is 29 days long, with nine successive sea days.

For a two week cruise, you get a free bag each week.

So, for a 28 day cruise would we get four bags, one each week?

Hmmm, might have to give up my 'Signature Massage' for that, if it was only one bag for the whole cruise I'd have skipped it, but that sounds much better.

Sorry, that was a touch tautologous (my mother rang while I was tying, I'm very easily distracted!)

What I meant was that if I specifically wanted a mid-ship suite / one in a higher deck / accessible suite or whatever I would take care to choose a particular suite and not risk an upgrade. As I'm sure I'll be happy enough in whatever veranda suite SB care to allocate I'll go with the GTY this time.

First SB cruise we booked a veranda guarantee suite and got a V5.

Second cruise we booked an A suite, very early and watched the prices. When the price of a V4 dropped to what we had paid we got upgraded to a V4.

Next cruise is a long one with a long TA section (9 consecutive sea days) so we decided to be a bit pickier and booked a veranda guarantee. Not too worried about where it is, all the suites are at least acceptable from what I've seen and the half=balcony doesn't bother us too much either. But if I had specific needs of my suite I would book a specific suite.

While I generally enjoy most things Seabourn, I do not look forward to some of the changes which seem to be being introduced on a purely cost-basis. I already have some concerns about a bigger ship which, it seems, will have significantly more passengers but without a corresponding increase in public space - one thing I love is that you can always find a quiet corner.

What I would like to see is an alternative to Restaurant 2. While I do enjoy the food an experience here I could well live without it for something like a pan-Asian restaurant or even an Italian or French speciality restaurant. This would not greatly increase the costs but would, I think, appeal to more passengers, especially on longer cruises where R2 is relatively underused compared to the waiting lists on short cruises.

Meanwhile, I'm still looking forward to a nice long cruise on the Quest next March ...

Interestingly I appear to be in the majority, not, as I feared, the minority.

However, many people here are experienced travellers and truly understand the need for, and benefits of, travel insurance, and the risks of going without.

I may seem hard, but this is why one should take out travel insurance. We have an annual policy now, but haven't always. In the past we would take out insurance for big trips like this, but perhaps take the risk of a hit on smaller (less expensive) vacations. If I couldn't travel because of family illness and hadn't insured I would be cross - but with myself, not with the cruise line.

I may be flamed ...