skybluewaters

19 hours ago, GTO-Girl said:

Just saw a post where someone said the reviews give this company 1.5 stars.

 

So I would read the reviews before I counted on them for testing…

On 7/2/2022 at 4:57 PM, ewildcat7 said:

 

I was just about to write a post asking exactly the same thing!  I am trying to find some reviews of this company and all I can find are extremely negative reviews about their in-person testing; nothing about the online testing service.

Where are these reviews?

2 minutes ago, madera1 said:

My biggest gripe is that the tea is not made with boiling water so it never brews!

Many tea connoisseurs prefer not to use boiling water for green or white tea.

With black tea and with herbal tea the use of boiling water is recommended.

Since we're talking about food, perhaps someone (especially someone currently on Odyssey) can comment on the fact that it appears that Lobster Thermidor, which was on the TK Grill regular menu, has vanished.  In anticipation of my upcoming Odyssey cruise, I've been checking the Odyssey menus daily on the Seabourn Source app, and I believe that Lobster Thermidor was on the regular menu every day until ~ 2 weeks ago, and then poof. 

I wonder if this is permanent, if it has occurred across all Seabourn ships, and if I would be missing out on a great entree or not.

On 6/30/2022 at 2:19 PM, Isklaar said:

 

My point is that  those who have  tried SB and have commented here don't seem at all keen on the line. From what I read of CC posts it would not have made one jot of difference to their opinion had this offer been available to them. 

Seabourn isn't reading the room  very well! 

1. The number of ex-Crystal cruisers who (a) know about Cruise Critic, and (b) who have also gone on a recent Seabourn cruise, and (c) who bother to comment on their cruise here is vanishingly small compared to the total number of ex-Crystal cruisers.  Of course you will hear complaints (after all, this is called Cruise Critic), but that is a skewed population and most likely not representative of the totality of cruisers who don't post comments here. 

2. Attracting new passengers to Seabourn seems essential for this cruise line to survive.  The large bolus of ex-Crystal cruisers who have been abruptly injected into the pool of possible new clients for Seabourn is incredibly fortuitous.  It would be malpractice for Seabourn not to make an aggressive move to attract them.

3. I can understand that some faithful, longtime Seabourn cruisers would feel somewhat betrayed by newbies being able to skip the line, but this will only be an issue if Seabourn provides an excellent cruise experience, otherwise it will be one-and-done for those newbies at Seabourn.

4. If one has to wait a day longer for laundry, or has to put up with a slower internet, that may be an acceptable price to pay for securing more revenue for Seabourn and, thus, allowing it to continue as a financially viable cruise line in the future.

16 minutes ago, Xerxes10 said:

My wife and I had status in the Crystal Society, but I can't figure out how to prove it. We had a reservation at the time of the bankruptcy, but I deleted my copies after we received our refund. I know our Society numbers, but I don't see anywhere to look them up online. Thoughts?

If you previously sent an email requesting your refund either to your credit card company or to the organization that is processing refunds for jilted Crystal cruisers, you could check your email's "sent" folder to see if you used the Crystal invoice as proof of being owed money.  If so, the invoice may be attached to that email.

This is a savvy move by Seabourn.  It's a rare opportunity to nab a large group of disenfranchised luxury cruisers who are looking for a new cruise line. 

Now that Manfredi Lefebvre has purchased the two Crystal ocean ships as well as the brand name, the marketing lists and all the intellectual property of Crystal, Seabourn is looking to attract Crystal cruisers before the marketing arm of the new Crystal gets going.

It will be interesting to see if other cruise lines match this offer.

2 hours ago, KenzSailing said:

Ok, I've tried to show restraint, but tell me this doesn't slap

Outstanding!  I saw the Stones perform this at the Cow Palace near San Francisco in the late 1970s.  However, I seriously doubt that A & K will be choosing this song to replace "What a Wonderful World" as the Crystal sailaway song. 

12 hours ago, notjaded said:

Just off the Odyssey, YVR-YVR 14 days. Our first pandemic-era cruise. If one looks at the Odyssey review thread in a day or two, my review will be there.

I just read your review, and thank you for it. 

To me, it seems the predominant theme in your review centered around the lack of experience of the crew.  By definition, this is something that should be resolved with time, assuming Seabourn has been hiring the right personel and the training staff are doing their jobs properly.  This doesn't excuse Seabourn from delivering anything other than excellent service, but perhaps is an explanation.

I understand the frustration of having a novice servicing your penthouse suite, and you are correct that when spending that much money you should receive stellar service.  But every passenger on Seabourn probable expects stellar service regardless of how much they paid. 

There was a report on one of the major television business channels just this morning detailing the difficulty cruise ships are having with hiring staff.  They mentioned that some cruise lines are limiting passenger capacity because of the staffing shortage (not because of Covid, as they previously did).  And one of the major cruise lines is shutting down two restaurants on each of its ships for this same reason.  So this is an industry-wide issue and the solution is time.

A question for you:  You gave the dining experience 3/5 stars.  I would be interested in your reasons for this. 

Thanks again for your review!

17 minutes ago, SLSD said:

I would be very embarrassed to tip a crew member at the beginning of a cruise.  I would see it as a bribe and me expecting better service than other guests.  Why would I think I was more deserving of that than others?  Because I was willing to pay for it?  How low class (and that has nothing to do with money) can you get?  How tawdry.  How cheap.  Need I say more?  

 

We have sometimes left some cash in an envelope for our cabin attendant on the very last day.  We do this never really expecting to see her again, but hoping that we can give her something to brighten her day, make her optimistic about the future, etc.  

 

We would be mortified if any crew member thought we were trying to bribe them.  That is not who we are--or would ever want to be.  Those of you who do this might consider how others see you.  Maybe you don't care.  That is my best guess.  

Very well said!

2 hours ago, westcoasttech said:

The COVID test result is a requirement of the cruiselines, and as I understand it is currently a requirement for them to be able to operate in Canadian territory. 

If the Covid test result is "a requirement of the cruiselines," how is that compatible with it being "a requirement for them to be able to operate in Canadian territory?"  Whom is it required by?  The Public Health Agency of Canada?  If so, then it isn't a requirement of the cruiselines if it is necessitated by a government agency. 

2 hours ago, forevertravel said:

I agree with MRLevin. No testing requirements will be great. Too much anxiety if you have to worry about testing. People who are vaccinated and boosted can get Covid so requirement a booster makes no sense. I believe it is the cruise line the ones requiring the pre-cruise test. Has nothing to do with CDC or countries.

Actually, Canada requires a negative pre-embarkation Covid test in order to board a cruise ship.  This is a government regulation.

1 hour ago, julig22 said:

Sorry but NO.  The cruise line might require a negative test and they may require passengers to have the results uploaded to their specific application, but ArriveCan is a Canadian requirement, not related to any cruiseline. And you do not upload test information into ArriveCan.

I actually cruised to Canada in May and there was no requirement to upload a negative test - only vaccination information.  And I had a very valid ArriveCan receipt when I boarded my ship - which you can only get if you complete your application.  The Canadian requirements changed late April I believe.

This is from the ArriveCan website (updated 5/26/2022):

Before boarding your cruise ship: all travellers must submit their embarkation test information into ArriveCAN within 72 hours of boarding a cruise, including Canadians and those who just used ArriveCAN to enter Canada

Although tipping is primarily done for the benefit of the recipient, it also can benefit the giver by rewarding him/her with a sense of satisfaction for doing a good deed.  When a tip is already included, that benefit no longer exists as the choice to give has been removed.  So giving a tip over and above the included amount is good for the recipient as well as for the giver.  In our zero-sum world, it's nice that there are still some win-win situations.

1 hour ago, julig22 said:

You need to update your application.  You do not upload covid results because Canada does not require them.  ArriveCan is simply to let Canada know when you are visiting. 

Canada no longer requires documentation of a negative Covid test to enter the country. 

They do require documentation of a negative Covid test on ArriveCan for all passengers embarking on a cruise in Canada.

2 hours ago, julig22 said:

You do not have to upload your covid test results, regardless of how you are entering Canada.  Rules changed in early May I believe.

As far as I know, you only have to fill out the ArriveCan info once - which would be when you are flying, not when you are boarding the ship.

I believe this is incorrect.  You do need to upload a new ArriveCan (including Covid test results) when boarding the ship.

2 hours ago, jenahfor said:

My daughter is working in Ketchikan this summer.  I would like to take a cruise and visit with her.   While many ships stop in Ketchikan, few, if any, start or end there.  Does anyone know of a cruise line that would allow be to either begin or end my cruise in that port and not do a round trip option?  I seem to be hitting a brick wall. 

You can get off the ship in Ketchikan by testing positive for Covid the day before you arrive there.  You could then quarantine in your daughter's residence.  But I wouldn't recommend it.  😛

1 minute ago, saminina said:

Have been on for eight days.   Always access to CC.  I've never been so happy to get off a ship.   

Some satisfactory aspects, but too many unSeabournish things.   That, plus government induced aggravations wear on me.  

Thank you for your comments.  Could you please expand on your reasons for being so happy to get off the ship?  In particular, what were the problems on SB rather than what the government induced aggravations were.  Thank you.

23 hours ago, saminina said:

Honestly, I'm currently on a SB ship and it is the most disappointing cruise ever taken with this company.   Under HAL/Princess, there is no future for SB.   Sooner sold off, the better.  

Please elaborate.  I'd be very interesting in the details of your dissatisfaction.  Thanks.

The iHealth tests that were/are given out by the US government have expiration dates of July and August, apparently because they were rushed out before testing of the kits could demonstrate a longer life.  However, the US government has issued a statement saying that the tests can be used beyond the expiration date stamped on the box.

If my test box has a July expiration date and I do a telehealth monitored test in September, will it be disqualified? I do believe that they ask what the expiration date is when you do the telehealth testing.

Thanks!

21 hours ago, Thecat123 said:

And of course perfect Crystal would have handled it different with the rules changing each day with different rules for entering different ports.   I wonder how any cruise line can keep up with the latest daily covid conditions let alone weeks in advance?

Wow.  Quite a leap for you to assume that just because I previously sailed on Crystal that I was implying that Crystal would have done things differently.  Go back and read my comment.  I mentioned that I was previously cruising on Crystal to make the point that a new would-be passenger to Seabourn might not be impressed by this recent change of terms.  If I had previously sailed on Princess or HAL, I would still have the same opinion that changing the terms after accepting a deposit is not customer-friendly.  Is it "legal?"  Maybe...but that's not the high bar of excellence that a luxury line should aspire to.

I believe a reasonable solution would be for Seabourn to initiate this change for all new bookings and to still provide pre-disembarkation tests for existing bookings.

2 hours ago, cruiseej said:

I'm wondering if anyone — particularly folks on the Odyssey now — have been able to find out from officers in the know why Seabourn isn't offering testing prior to disembarkation.

 

Seabourn has been doing end-of-cruise testing on the Odyssey for nearly a year now, so it's obviously not something they can't handle. Even if they decided to charge customers rather than doing it for free, most people would be happy to pay rather than to have the stress of trying to figure out a way to get tested on their own. So if Seabourn has the staff and technology to do it, and if they could do it at no cost to the company by charging passengers who need such a test, why aren't they offering it? It just seems strange to pull the plug on this service customers need in order to get home from a cruise. 

I believe if Seabourn does the test and if the test is (+), then Seabourn would be responsible for paying for the quarantine.  This new policy effectively shifts the responsibility to the passenger. 

Seabourn had promised currently booked passengers that they would do the test (and do it without charge), but they have now unilaterally changed the contract.  It's a breach of contract and, furthermore, a poor way of doing business.  I guess their "Worry Free Promise" program actually isn't meant for the passengers to be worry free, but for Seabourn to be worry free. 

As others have stated, we are also former Crystal cruisers, and this introduction to Seabourn leaves much to be desired. 

7 hours ago, toseaornottosea said:

Have you tried calling 800-442-4448.  I have called several times in the last week or 2 and have had no problem reaching an agent to answer my questions and resolve any issue.

Thanks so much for providing this phone number!  I got through to a very helpful Seabourn representative who answered my questions.  I'm not sure what department this is (it's not Guest Services), but they restored my faith in Seabourn.

I hope that Seabourn recognizes and addresses the deficiencies in its online Guest Services department or they may end up losing new or potential customers.  Perhaps this phone number should be given to new customers when they book their first cruise so that Seabourn's reputation isn't harmed by Guest Services' poor service.

9 hours ago, gwesq said:

I've written Guest Services 3 times in the past 7 weeks, but there has not been any response.  I did get a canned auto reply: "Thank you for contacting Seabourn. We have received your inquiry and sincerely appreciate the opportunity to deliver the highest quality service to you. Due to the large volume of emails we are receiving, it may take us longer than usual to respond. We are working hard to make sure every request is handled accurately and efficiently."

 

I can understand taking a week or so to reply - but not over a month!  

 

Have they closed their Guest Relations Dept?  Or is it just their policy to ignore customers' comments and inquiries?

 

 

 

I agree with you 100%.  After waiting two weeks for Guest Services to reply to my query, I finally received a worthless response that merely listed a few links to their website that I had already seen.  Their email response was seemingly written by a bot.  It was generic, it was of minimal use, and it didn't directly address my issue. 

Having previously cruised extensively with Crystal, I am used to a big discrepancy between the shoreside and the onboard experience with a cruise line.  I hope that the onboard experience of Seabourn is likewise much better than what Guest Services has shown to me.

Looking forward to starting another thread in early July - I won't give the game away but, it's possible the cruise destination might rhyme with "flamaska".

Got it.   Enjoy your cruise to Nebraska!