tv24

21 hours ago, scamper said:

Isn't that what room service is for?

And it depends if you can wait for room service delivery.  Many of us become desperate for caffeine and cannot wait.  Addiction is a terrible thing.

7 hours ago, molecrochip said:

This was a Covid cleaning procedure not usual Southampton procedure.

 

Nothing to do with zeroing passengers but instead fogging the ship.

 

Customers with mobility needs were given somewhere particular to wait which was fogged before and after.

Thank you for your post, but this was not what the Cunard staff explained to us.

We were on the Elizabeth in September in Queens Grill with a drinks included package.  We had to sign for every beverage.

I think procedures in Southampton have been inconsistent.  A year and a half ago we were on a Hamburg to New York crossing with a day in Southampton where some passengers disembarked and some boarded.  We wanted to stay on board and have a relaxing day on the ship.  100% of the passengers were required to completely disembark.  We had to sit in the passenger terminal in Southampton until the ship could reach a zero count of passengers on board before we could re-board.  Hopefully you will not have to go through this procedure.

In general, the drinks package is a good buy only if you plan to drink a lot.

My few ideas:  Don't give up on the idea of a QM2 return sailing.  First, if you can, book with a travel agent who will be better able to navigate through the dodgy Cunard website than you are.  Second, if the crossing is sold out, have your agent put your name on a wait list.  We have done this a couple of times within the past 2 years and we moved off the wait list to a booking fairly quickly.  And finally, yes you will probably have a lot of equipment and luggage from your incredible European adventure, but if you are willing to book Princess Grill or QG on QM2, remember that you will have a lot of storage space in your stateroom.  You seem to be energetic and clever, so don't give up.

Have you tried the flambe granola for breakfast?  We too have enjoyed a special Indian dinner in PG.  It was good, but not as good or adventurous as Coriander.  I am often bored with the lunch menu so order a simple sandwich for lunch.  Burgers and hot dogs yes, but a tuna salad request got a big no.

In my limited Crystal experience (2 cruises), the passengers were on the average 15 to 20 years older than on Seabourn.  Both lines provided very kind service to the older folks.

We disembarked from the Sojourn yesterday and ate at the TK Grill twice.  Not impressed.  In fact for our party of 4, several of our main courses were close to inedible.  By the time we were served, it was very late and not worth an effort to send them back.  I did discuss this with the Hotel Manager.  We also note that the menu bears little resemblance to Keller's Buchon restaurant in Napa Valley (the Buchon coffee table book sits on a table in the reception area of the TK Grill).  And worst of all!  The quality of the Yount-Wurst and TK Burgers at the Patio Grill had gone downhill.  It was the end of the world!  So for me, buh-bye Thomas Keller.

We are on the Quest's Grand Voyage in April to August.  We have received notice from Seabourn that the 2 ports in Israel have been replaced by Rhodes and Anatalya.  Not overly disappointed and quite willing to enjoy the ports that are safe and available.  Still waiting to hear about Tunisia and Egypt.  If these were cancelled, we would be disappointed.

Yesterday we disembarked the Sojourn in Miami, 4 of us with a lot of luggage.  We had a lot of OBC that we had no other use for, so while on board, through the excursions office, we booked a big van.  The Seabourn staff were on shore directing us to our driver who loaded all of our luggage for a very short drive to MIA.  Then she unloaded at the airport.  Our transition from ship to airport was as easy as possible, and quick.  Expensive, but we had that OBC just sitting there.

We are usually not in a hurry to leave and arrange to depart with the last of the PAX.  The last 3 times (December, 2020;  June, 2022;  and June 2023), this sort of backfired as the back up of PAX waiting to get through passport control was so bad that Cunard kept PAX in a queue on board waiting to leave.  Folks who tried to disembark around 8:30 were still waiting in line after 10:30 to get through passport control.  In 2022 we had to beg and plead to get off the ship because we had a 1:30 flight from JFK.  They let us off the ship at about 10:45 while hundreds were still waiting, we picked up our luggage and used a porter to get us into the express line through passport control.  The cab ride to JFK took almost an hour so we barely made it.  Not a relaxing end to a cruise.

If you walk off with your luggage at the first moment you can, usually around 7:00, you can get through passport control and be in a cab by 8:00.  If you wait until 8:00 you will be in the passport control line with lots of other passengers who have retrieved their checked luggage.  You will be in a cab no later than 11:00.  Driving time to LaGuardia is 45 to 60 minutes.  I hope this helps.

No room service available at any level including QG on disembarkation day, but you can go to the QG restaurant early.  Otherwise you have to deal with Kings Chaos.  I recommend that you book your car to JFK while on board and if you have OBC, you can use that to pay for it.  The driver will meet you just outside the Brooklyn terminal and help you with your luggage.  Passport control in Brooklyn is usually a nightmare and if you are in the general line the wait is very long.  The secret is to hire a porter to help you with your luggage and then you get in the express lane.  I wish that Brooklyn disembarkation were better, but it's not.  I'm not sure what Cunard can do to improve it as the biggest bottleneck is US passport control.  Even outside can be a disaster with a very long wait for a cab.   Often not a good end to a crossing.

Great pics.  Thanks for posting.

The last time I got a pin, I received it from the cruise sales staff who also supervise the World Club.

My DH and I continue to have many chuckles about Seabourn's dress code guidance on elegant jeans.  As US guys who spent their youth in the 60s and 70s wearing Levis 501 jeans, we cannot for the lives of us understand what "elegant" jeans are.  Now that I am of a certain age, I dress more age-appropriate, but on my next Seabourn cruise I intend to wear my favorite black Levis 501 during the day.  But for dining in the evening I will wear slacks and a coat, and probably a white shirt and tie for the formal nights.

I guess I am in the middle on the question of concern for what other passengers wear.  While I do make snobby remarks about people on cruises who look like slobs and should know better, in the end I really don't care and would rather just have a good relaxing time.

But I am still amused and challenged by the concept of "elegant" jeans.  And I appreciate the light-hearted intent of this thread.

About 15 years ago, we flew into St. John's for a 5-day stay.  It was great fun.  We went whale watching out on the sea, visited the Rooms, ate delicious fish and chips and found a terrific Irish bar where musicians gather regularly to jam.  I have very fond memories.  Been back on cruise ships and had a always had a good time.

We have booked the Grand Voyage on the Quest for 2024 and the first segment goes to Israel, specifically May 7 & 8.  Before that, the ports include Tunisia and Egypt.

It's way too soon to predict what will be possible 6 months from now, but we would not be surprised by an itinerary change.  There have already been 2 minor adjustments.  I am sure that Seabourn will want to ensure our safety.

For us, it's all about the real estate.  In other words, we fully use and enjoy the extra space in our PG stateroom.  And the PG stateroom on the QM2 is noticeably larger than PG on the QE or QV.  On the QM2 we do take advantage of the Concierge, as well as the Concierge Lounge and the Grills Lounge, although I do admit that the interior design of both of these lounges is far from luxurious.  As to dining, to each his own.  We find the Britannia restaurant more grand in design than PG, and we find the food comparable in both restaurants, with a few extra choices for dinner in PG.

Whatsap over wifi would be the way to quickly communicate.  Polo shirt on gala night?  A big no for most of the ship except the buffet.

This is what I recommend:  Make your chips purchase by using your on board account.  You will be charged in Dollars and there is no extra percentage or service charge.  Buy $100 in chips, and you on-board account will be charged $100.  Then at the end of your cruise, when you settle up, all of your on-board charges not covered by OBC will be charged to your credit card.  The Dollar-to-Euro conversion rate on your credit card should be fairly advantageous, certainly more advantageous than exchanging Euro cash for Dollar cash, and then using the cash in Dollars to buy your chips.

My little opinion on this:  I will not miss the Thomas Keller Grill.  It was fine, but I have never been a steak house fan.  If the Napa burger and Napa hot dog disappear at the deck grill, I will mourn the disappearance, but somehow get over it.  The Solis menu looks OK, but honestly does not seem too much of a change from the MDR.  I would have liked something totally different such as Asian fusion, especially since Seabourn's Asian food in the Collonade has been disappointing in the past.  But we will see how this rolls out, and I'm sure I will not go hungry.

25 minutes ago, skybluewaters said:

I sure wish that Seabourn would begin or end some of their cruises in San Francisco!

 

Me too!  We would happily jump on board!

25 minutes ago, Lilly55 said:

Does your travel agent normally have upgrade offers?

Yes and no.  This is the first time for Seabourn.  We have had offers on other lines like Cunard and Princess.