avalon1025

Last year we had a wonderful cruise on Sojourn and a just ok cruise on Ovation. It was our first time on the larger ship and it just felt materially more crowded, staff overwhelmed and honestly nothing special. We had the some of the same crew from our earlier Sojourn cruise and they were so overworked on Ovation. The Ovation was beautiful, and perhaps it was the officers on board leading to a blah atmosphere, but we’d likely sail the smaller ships going forward

We had friends on your sailing. Our sailing was full, the TA wasn’t. Perhaps these ships can’t handle over 600 passengers? We found many untrained staff and when discussed with the leaders of these areas, they were dismissive. Seabourn seems to be in transition.

Our June/July 23 sailing on the Sojourn felt like a Seabourn Cruise, good service, happy crew, we were made to feel special. Our November 23 cruise on the Ovation felt crowded, staff were stretched and overall felt like a downgrade from the Sojourn. I feel Seabourn was more consistent pre covid.

Hardly anything to “huh” over or hard to comprehend. I was not able to order any food at the pool grill unless I was sitting at a table, there were no tables. So no lunch at the pool that day. In asking some of the crew we knew from Sojourn, all they had to say about Ovation is that it wasn’t the same and they were all overworked. Glad you are enjoying the Sojourn, we did too.

We disembarked the Ovation in Lisbon last week with our last Seabourn cruise being on the Sojourn in June/July. While the Ovation was a beautiful ship, the service seemed off. We also had the wrong key cards in our suite, simple requests were denied (our waiter from our last cruise was onboard and we asked if we could be his area and the hostess stated “we don’t do that”). We found new crew just aren’t being trained before being front of house with passengers. The ship also felt overly crowded, situations like wanting a hot dog and being told you have to sit at a table by the pool to order, but there were no available tables by the pool. No one had a solution for that one. Overall we love Seabourn, but this cruise was off. No one remembered our name, drink etc even through we sat at the same table in the observation lounge each night with the same wait team. Our cabin attendant never introduced herself and we ended up tracking her down three days later to say hello. Very much the opposite of our experience on Sojourn

Hmmmm, It’s great you think that and I’m sure the onboard product is amazing. It’s the details that impact a luxury vacation and if you are ok overlooking them, great.

I’d say wait a bit, I’ve placed some clients on the new crystal and though on board product is still great, there are still issues with this start up. Missing reservations on board for restaurants and shore excursions. No record of transfers. Etc. Bring all your paperwork and back up on board, not what I’d call luxury right now

I hope it works, as a TA I have some feedback about their home office and the lack of confidence about anything going on there.

Looks like a new Celebrity ship. Is there no separate tub and shower in the standard cabins?

I used to sail SS and enjoyed the Whisper, Cloud, Wind and Shadow. Our last cruise on the Spirit was so disappointing. Food was awful, service with a NO, etc. Returned to Seabourn last month and it was so much nicer, the staff seemed happy and everyone engaged with passengers.

We are back from a 12 night Med cruise on the Seabourn Sojourn. I had not been on Seabourn since the Pride and Legend. We had been sailing Crystal over the past decade (with one mediocre cruise on the Silver Spirit pre pandemic). Overall we had a wonderful time. Crew was great (some hiccups when there was a large crew turnover in Malta), loved the cabin, officers and crew were al so friendly. The CD was great. Food was very good, no issues with wine or cocktails. Even enjoyed the new DJ. Overall, looking forward to our next cruise on the Ovation.

Having sailed the last transpacific on the Westerdam and the prior month the Discovery Princess, I’d still choose Westerdam. Westerdam didn’t feel as crowded and felt like a ship vs a mall. Covered pool area and forward facing crows nest are great on the Westerdam

This may be ship specific, but honestly there is nothing special about this cruise. It’s starting to feel like a nice ferry ride where you make your own fun. The rolling stone lounge is fun, but that’s likely the one thing to do on this ship and they play a few songs then break and finish by 10:45. I’ve overheard many thinking of cancelling their future longer voyages or asking questions about how other cruise lines are in comparison. I do not regret taking this voyage, but I would think twice about sailing HAL over other lines.

Being on board Westerdam I could not see how anyone under 60 would consider this line. Friends currently on Celebrity Solstice are sending photos of cool entertainment and great dining. I don’t dislike this ship or cruise, but would never see how this line would attract a younger clientele. Come to the sad gallery bar around 10:30 to see all that’s hopping on this ship. I’m sitting in the ocean bar, it’s 6:30, listening to Muzak and watching a couple play cards. Whoopie!!!

When will carnival corp purchased my cruise line blah blah go away, it was 30’years ago that they purchased holland America

Seas have started to calm ; ). Seriously, not as bad as it could be, at least the spa pool reopened today (the closure wasn’t weather related but something that required a lot of the pool to be taken apart over the past few days) Yay! Something to do! Food is fine, entertainment continues to be laughable. Thankful for a drink package and the gallery bar, at least there, passengers can make their own fun! I can’t imagine how boring the 7 day Alaska cruises will be if all remains the same. Crew as always is lovely.

Spa pool is closing for the next three days. Rough seas

I call BS on staffing shortages, I know crew waiting to get back on board and the delay is the cruise line trying to save money. Try finding food on this ship (outside of room service) after 10pm. Entertainment is laughingly bad. My dinner last night took 20 min, I could barely swallow before they were taking my plate away. Cruise director? Who? No idea who she is other than today’s announcement for $2.99 deals in the photo gallery. Nope to HAL unit they get this fixed The one aspect of this cruise that hasn’t changed is meeting nice interesting people. Conversation, cocktails and sleep Is the new HAL

Boarding yesterday was a subdued event. I was even shown the crew gangway vs passenger which on the bright side meant I looked younger than my 53 years? Ha! First impressions: Westerdam looks lovely and fresh and clean, cabin steward is as usual, very nice. They asked if I wanted service once or twice a day. Started meeting some nice fellow passengers in the Ocean Bar. Ship was dead as we were in port. Not sure if it’s my gut, but the management on the ship just seems lazy and could care less. No fanfare for boarding a new cruise, no letter in my cabin about all the internet changes (thankful for CC!), nothing. The little band in the ocean bar felt like some nice high school kids playing for their parents. We will all make the best and make new friends and cocktail our way across the pacific. Food in the dining room was fine last night : )

Thank you!

Thanks for the update, waiting for you all to arrive the port of Yokohama. It’s been wonderful here for the last five days, weather, food, people. Boarding today with little to no expectations for this cruise which is sad given I’ve sailed HAL since I was a small child. Interesting that they are cancelling a port three days from now due to the weather which seems to change here daily.

The former Harmony!

Heard she’s not leaving, any cancelled crossings?