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Seabourn Sojourn Alaska


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Have been on many Seabourn cruises but never to Alaska. Do people dress as nicely for dinner on an Alaska cruise as they do for a Mediterranean cruise, for instance? Or do they dress in more casual clothes?

 

 

 

For formal dress, dress was still formal. Other nights people still met the dress code. On my cruise the only issue was with a contractor and that was once.

 

 

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Have been on many Seabourn cruises but never to Alaska. Do people dress as nicely for dinner on an Alaska cruise as they do for a Mediterranean cruise, for instance? Or do they dress in more casual clothes?

 

 

 

Just got home from our 12 day Inside Passage tour. I was surprised that most people met the “casual elegant dress” code in the Colonnade every night (as well as the MDR). At least half the men wore sport coats. No one wore jeans per Seabourn’s rules. I enjoy dressing for dinner after an easy day. However, considering Seabourn is pressing their Venture excursions, it seems contradictory to have nowhere to eat but poolside (or your room) after coming back in from kayaking or being in the zodiac. The temperatures on our trip were quite cool (highs in the low to mid 50s) and the lack of casual dining availability was frustrating. Poolside dining was only tolerable with the heaters and too few tables had them.

 

We came back from a 7 hr excursion to the grizzly bear preserve out of Prince Rupert (I think my favorite excursion) and were too exhausted to dress for dinner. We went out to the pool and all the tables were full. Finally someone took pity on us and asked us to join them at their table. Service was slow because the facilities seemed overwhelmed.

 

Now I realize the cold weather influenced our situation on this trip. However, if Seabourn is going to try to attract new customers with active participation excursions, then they should expand their “casual” dining options.

 

 

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Do people dress as nicely for dinner on an Alaska cruise as they do for a Mediterranean cruise, for instance?

 

 

 

Yes. We were on the trip this time last year and there was no difference to the Seabourn cruises we have taken in hot climates.

 

 

In any case the rooms are the same temperature and for those few going out in kayacs and zodiacs it is a relief to change into different clothes no matter how exhausted they feel.

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Sorry. One hour on that sounds a bit unkind to the poster who was too exhausted to change. I apologise. I was not intending to be rude.

 

But my point is that indoors you'd not notice any difference when comparing with a hot weather cruise. And outdoors my experience is that it only needs one request for an extra table to be set up and it will happen.

Looking back on our trip I do remember a couple that wore their freebie Seabourn overjackets for breakfast and lunch indoors - and everywhere else until 6.00 pm. We wondered if someone had told them they were compulsary !! NO, they did not wear them for dinner in the MDR !!

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Just got home from our 12 day Inside Passage tour. I was surprised that most people met the “casual elegant dress” code in the Colonnade every night (as well as the MDR). At least half the men wore sport coats. No one wore jeans per Seabourn’s rules. I enjoy dressing for dinner after an easy day. However, considering Seabourn is pressing their Venture excursions, it seems contradictory to have nowhere to eat but poolside (or your room) after coming back in from kayaking or being in the zodiac. The temperatures on our trip were quite cool (highs in the low to mid 50s) and the lack of casual dining availability was frustrating. Poolside dining was only tolerable with the heaters and too few tables had them.

 

We came back from a 7 hr excursion to the grizzly bear preserve out of Prince Rupert (I think my favorite excursion) and were too exhausted to dress for dinner. We went out to the pool and all the tables were full. Finally someone took pity on us and asked us to join them at their table. Service was slow because the facilities seemed overwhelmed.

 

 

 

 

Now I realize the cold weather influenced our situation on this trip. However, if Seabourn is going to try to attract new customers with active participation excursions, then they should expand their “casual” dining options.

 

 

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there is certainly no need for jackets etc in the Colonnade. If its too cold for the Patio, the Colonnade is the best place for a casual dinner. A pullover, or long sleeved shirt in cold weather would be fine.

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I was surprised that most people met the “casual elegant dress” code in the Colonnade every night (as well as the MDR). At least half the men wore sport coats. No one wore jeans per Seabourn’s rules.

 

I am completely confused by this.

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Ok, I'm going to try again because I deleted my earlier post which was too confusing.

 

 

I don't understand why someone would say they were 'surprised' that most people met the elegant casual dress code. That is the minimum dress code that SB has (currently) decided that is appropriate on SB ships after 6pm.

 

 

 

 

From the website :

 

"

ELEGANT CASUAL

 

  • Men: Slacks with a collared dress shirt or sweater; Jacket Optional. Ladies: Slacks / skirt, blouse, pant suit or dress. This is the dress standard for all dining venues"

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And what is confusing about casual elegant - if that was the poster's problem.

 

I may be reading it wrong. English isn't my mother tongue and now and again I do struggle. Hold my hands up.

 

So anyway, it's coming across to me as if the poster found that they couldn't meet the elegant casual dress code, because they'd had a long day on expedition and didn't want to dress for dinner, and so they felt they had to avoid the Colonnade and their only option was to dine at the patio grill or in their suite. But a sweater and slacks would be fine in the Colonnade, surely?

 

Happy to have it explained to me if I'm misunderstanding.

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I was tired last night after a day of travel and didn’t explain myself well. I was surprised because while the official dress code is the same for the MDR and the Colonnade, as a first timer, I did not expect the reality to be the same. Some blogs from the previous year had indicated a slightly more relaxed attitude in the Colonnade. I did not see that so that is why I was surprised. Alaska, traditionally with other cruise lines, is a little more relaxed. I thought, like the initial poster here, that it might be the same.

 

As to comments about how difficult it is to change clothes... it may be simple for many ...but for myself, coming in from an active excursion, to look casually elegant, I need to shower, wash my long hair which takes forever to dry, apply make up and then change clothes. To do all that meant giving up time socializing with new found friends during the cocktail hour. I talked to a number of people eating out by the pool and they felt the same.

 

I understand that many don’t want to “lower standards”. That is fine. But if Seabourn wants to attract active new cruisers, I think they need to provide a more hospitable place on cooler Alaskan cruises for the casual diner. The staff was indeed willing to set up an extra table by the pool, but all sheltered locations with heaters were already full. Sitting out in the 48 degree wind was not really an option despite the blankets they would provide.

 

Maybe when cruises get warmer this won’t be a problem. But for this cruise, it was for us. This is just my personal opinion and needs no argument.

 

 

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I was tired last night after a day of travel and didn’t explain myself well. I was surprised because while the official dress code is the same for the MDR and the Colonnade, as a first timer, I did not expect the reality to be the same. Some blogs from the previous year had indicated a slightly more relaxed attitude in the Colonnade. I did not see that so that is why I was surprised. Alaska, traditionally with other cruise lines, is a little more relaxed. I thought, like the initial poster here, that it might be the same.

 

As to comments about how difficult it is to change clothes... it may be simple for many ...but for myself, coming in from an active excursion, to look casually elegant, I need to shower, wash my long hair which takes forever to dry, apply make up and then change clothes. To do all that meant giving up time socializing with new found friends during the cocktail hour. I talked to a number of people eating out by the pool and they felt the same.

 

I understand that many don’t want to “lower standards”. That is fine. But if Seabourn wants to attract active new cruisers, I think they need to provide a more hospitable place on cooler Alaskan cruises for the casual diner. The staff was indeed willing to set up an extra table by the pool, but all sheltered locations with heaters were already full. Sitting out in the 48 degree wind was not really an option despite the blankets they would provide.

 

Maybe when cruises get warmer this won’t be a problem. But for this cruise, it was for us. This is just my personal opinion and needs no argument.

 

 

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Thanks for coming back to the thread, SoBay, I understand now.

 

I remembered that you had some dress code worries prior to your cruise and it's a bit concerning to think that we (ie the 'experienced' Seabourn CC cohort) aren't communicating well to new cruisers who are asking for our help regarding the reality of how people tend to dress on the ships.

I've taken a couple of cooler weather cruises with SB (although not Alaska) and although people were following the dress code, they didn't appear to be as 'dressy' as they would be for example on a Mediterranean cruise, in the Colonnade at least. This may have been the same for others who have cruised to Alaska. Obviously this wasn't the case for your cruise.

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Just a tip for others on an active cruise as I have long hair and did Alaska last year. To cut down on needing to wash my hair every day, as I hiked or kayaked most days we were in port. I needed to shower as I get sweaty :), but I used a good dry shampoo every second day. It really helped with the issue of "hat hair". Then I tied it in a low bun or sleek ponytail.

 

My husband likes to wear a jacket most of the time but other friends don't and we happily dine and socialise together. I wouldn't worry, especially when dining in The Colonnade.

 

Julie

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Have had no trouble with my better half slipping on a nice dress sans makeup. One only dresses to please herself, not others. And I for one find freshly showered, wet hair quite alluring in a wild, unadultered way.

 

We’re on a Med cruise in early August and aiming to pack one 7-10kg hand carry suitcase only for a one month trip.

 

Would our colleagues or fellow guests mind if we wore the same thing every night?

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