BasandSyb

Great pic Fletcher. We have put to sea (crane launched) from Cascade for fishing many times. It looks like a wonderfully calm day. I believe the pier has been upgraded. We were last there about 7 years ago. One of the lasting memories is locals being called on the radio to come to the docks to assist in off loading supply ships. We have seen cars perched on planks stretched across two long boats in heavy seas brought into KIngston together with local supplies. Real heart in the mouth stuff. Hopefully the new facilities have improved supply transfers (and the safety of locals). A great excursion would be deep sea fishing, if offered. Using multiple hooks and small boulders for weights, the haul is prolific. Very satisfying.

Mauzac - being the holiday researcher at this end I can appreciate the additional work this will bring - I’m sure you will enjoy the cruise given it is new territory to explore. Glorygaf - we are GC also. We thought the same about Norfolk Island. Seabourn included it twice in its last two full season itineraries down here. Haven’t heard what the success rate was for landing, although NI has improved some pier facilities in the last 5 years for the purpose. I’m sure it’s still Russian roulette. Haven’t heard back from Head Office as yet, but the acknowledgement was to allow 2 business days - will follow up on Monday. SLSD - friends through their TA (after lengthy calls) have been promised a refund, but had to leave behind significant $ held as pre-payment for a future cruise. Note, we deal with the Sydney office here. While accom and flights can be cancelled with some cost involved, in the meantime the cost of business class travel now exceeds the old 1st class price. Not sure if it’s the same case in the US. Therefore, the other “knock-on penalties” for cancelling and looking to make other travel arrangements start to mount - including for insurance changes. It never ceases to amaze how Seattle central continues to fail in its customer service - they just leave it to regional offices to deal with the fall out, rather than do it in a planned, coordinated and conciliatory way.

Mauzac - can understand your sentiments and we wish you a fabulous trip.Unfortunately the changes for us are in our own “backyard” visited many times. Covepointcruiser - cancellation means 50% loss of fare paid, 75% in a few days. The advice of the changed itinerary was received within 2 weeks of final payment, which meant we were throwing another bucket of money their way in good faith for Seabourn to keep 1/2 to 3/4 of it. We are waiting for Aust Seabourn to communicate with Seattle in terms of options going forward other than loss of fare. The ports are not COVID restricted. Cru Doll - we hope changes for your leg work out. It will be interesting to see what they are as we are wondering if an option for us might be to move our cruise start to Vancouver and disembark in Auckland. DTTravellers - yes, it was a brilliant snorkelling itinerary - which was one of the attractions. Copy of the changes below: NEW ITINERARY ORIGINAL ITINERARY DATE DAY DESTINATION DESTINATION 27-Oct-22 Thu Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia 28-Oct-22 Fri Cook's Bay, Moorea, French Polynesia Cook's Bay, Moorea, French Polynesia 29-Oct-22 Sat Uturoa, Raiatea, French Polynesia Uturoa, Raiatea, French Polynesia 30-Oct-22 Sun At Sea (Pacific Ocean) At Sea (Pacific Ocean) 31-Oct-22 Mon At Sea Arutanga, Aitutaki, Cook Islands 02-Nov-22 Wed Cross the International Date Line Avatga, Cook Islands 03-Nov-22 Thu At Sea At Sea (Pacific Ocean) 04-Nov-22 Fri Suva, Vitu Levu, Fiji Alofi, Niue 05-Nov-22 Sat Levuka, Ovalau, Fiji Cross the International Date Line 06-Nov-22 Sun Savusavu, Vanua Levu, Fiji Nuku'alofa, Tongatapu, Tonga 07-Nov-22 Mon Dravuni Island, Fiji Neiafu, Vava'u, Tonga 08-Nov-22 Tue At Sea (Pacific Ocean) At Sea (Pacific Ocean) 09-Nov-22 Wed At Sea Dravuni Island, Fiji 10-Nov-22 Thu Easo, Lifou, New Caledonia Savusavu, Vanua Levu, Fiji 11-Nov-22 Fri Nouméa, Grande Terre, New Caledonia Suva, Vitu Levu, Fiji 12-Nov-22 Sat At Sea (Pacific Ocean) At Sea (Pacific Ocean) 13-Nov-22 Sun Kingston, Norfolk Island, Australia Inyeug Islet (Mystery Island), Anaton, Vanuatu 14-Nov-22 Mon At Sea (Pacific Ocean) Port Vila, Efate, Vanuatu 15-Nov-22 Tue Russell (Bay of Islands), New Zealand Luganville, Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu 16-Nov-22 Wed Auckland, New Zealand Ureparapara, Vanuatu 17-Nov-22 Thu Tauranga (Rotorua), New Zealand At Sea (Coral Sea) 18-Nov-22 Fri At Sea (Pacific Ocean) Tavanipupu, Solomon Islands 19-Nov-22 Sat Gisborne, New Zealand Honiara, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands 20-Nov-22 Sun Napier, New Zealand Ghizo Island, Solomon Islands 21-Nov-22 Mon Wellington, New Zealand At Sea (Solomon Sea) 22-Nov-22 Tue Kaikoura, New Zealand Alotau, Papua New Guinea 23-Nov-22 Wed Nelson, New Zealand Kitava, Papua New Guinea 24-Nov-22 Thu New Plymouth, New Zealand Conflict Islands (Panawal Group), Papua New Guinea 25-Nov-22 Fri At Sea (Tasman Sea) Conflict Islands (Panawal Group), Papua New Guinea 26-Nov-22 Sat At Sea At Sea (Coral Sea) 27-Nov-22 Sun At Sea Cairns, Queensland, Australia 28-Nov-22 Mon Hobart, Tasmania, Australia Cairns, Queensland, Australia 29-Nov-22 Tue Port Arthur, Tasmania, Australia Townsville, Queensland, Australia 30-Nov-22 Wed At Sea (Tasman Sea) Airlie Beach, Queensland, Australia 01-Dec-22 Thu Phillip Island, Victoria, Australia At Sea (Great Barrier Reef) 02-Dec-22 Fri Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Brisbane, Queensland, Australia 03-Dec-22 Sat At Sea (Tasman Sea) At Sea (Coral Sea) 04-Dec-22 Sun Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 05-Dec-22 Mon Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

We have requested information as to why as we can’t fathom it. A review of the relevant countries tourism websites has them open for business. Everyone is having the same COVID issues and getting on with it. The Seabourn website shows the itinerary as per the original. Yet, they are cancelling and re-issuing booking numbers. So, it’s only an updated cruise in terms of us withdrawing, but their system requires a re-booking process and a new number. Go figure.

Wondering what the general feeling is about the just advised itinerary changes to the Papeete - Sydney 38 day cruise in October 2022? We have just received advice this morning of "updates" and roughly two thirds of the itinerary has changed. It's not what we signed on for - and of course advised 2 weeks after final payment. Instead of travelling west and north to the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea, it's travelling south to New Zealand. A tropical cruise is now a cooler weather cruise to places we have traveled before and have done so with Seabourn for a much lower price than this "Grand Voyage". Contact with Seabourn Australia was as predicted: 1. we've only just found out an hour ago (clearly no scripting yet in place) 2. no options for passengers, normal cancellation arrangements now apply with payment forfeiture We have no issues with, and understand the need for changes to itineraries. However, these things don't happen overnight. To have been working on what are significant changes and allowing the final payment date to pass without notifying an extension of time predicated on advice of potential changes we believe is unconscionable. Have sent an email of our concerns and hope to receive a more considered response.

On one of our cruises a passenger’s hair caught fire from a lit candle. It’s a safety issue. Thanks for the comparison info. We are Diamond SB and have about 60 days booked later this year on Odyssey (also found the most recent Odyssey reviews a little alarming). We booked with trepidation, hoping post pandemic the contract with Keller would have expired as we find the offerings pedestrian and to the detriment of the other eating venues - sucking the life out of the line - a perfect partner for HAL. Would prefer the Exec chef had free reign and was able to show case talented staff. We might book a shorter SB cruise as a tester and then revisit our decision. We too have seen some good deals on SS and were wondering.

A passenger on one of our cruises purchased an expensive item from the shop for a crew member they saw gazing in the window - their interpretation of no tipping. It made things very uncomfortable for the rest of the trip. The crew member was fawning and the other crew were jealous/livid and vying for attention. Created an awkward atmosphere for everyone. Hate to think how it was below decks. No tipping is a leveller for crew and passengers. We are all on the same footing and receiving the same excellent service, well executed and well intentioned without ulterior motives. An observation - interesting when you consider this in the context of one of the other current threads about dress in the MDR. The cruise line has guidelines and everyone is poking at the boundaries. Why have dress codes/no tipping policy? Perhaps to ensure the same experience for every passenger?