Expert Help for Seabourn Newbie

[Tall Guy]

Thanks to all of you for some expert help on Seabourn, but if someone has a moment I would appreciate some help with some more basic questions.

 

Is it better to book through Seabourn or a travel agent?

 

How are upgrades determined? Most frequent cruisers seem obvious, but do early bookings count?

 

When is the best time to book? I'm looking at the Spirit's Aegean and Adriatic Odyssey departing August 14th, and note that Seabourn is offering for the same voyage in June a 35% percent discount and 2 nights in Istanbul. If I wait will that same offer come up for August?

 

While the web site shows children are permitted, are kids common on the summer sailings? I have well behaved 8 and 9 year old boys.

 

Thank you for your help.

[LaPaloma]

Welcome to Seabourn...and a lifestyle you will love.

Waiting always means that the ship could fill up. Upgrades are given to people who take "run of the ship"..which means..they will assign you to a suite before your trip. We have always chosen our suite..but this April we are trying this..will let you know how we fare. In Oct. we took our grown daughter and booked her in this manner. She was assigned a suite diagonally accross the hall from us as a nice savings. Quite frankly, it is my opinion that you could not go wrong in any suite. If this means anything...our friends took our recommendation and spent the last two weeks on the Spirit and e-mailed us...'THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU?'....they have had the experience of their life..and they are world travelers. Again....we never feel good WAITING to make our reservations...we act on it!

[LaPaloma]

ps...we like to book through SB..they are easy to work with. Always us your American Express and ask for the 300 on board credit. We also book through Am Ex Platinum...they do a good job..and can do hotels and air res. as well. The credit can be used in the shop, spa, or for tours.

[TootyJane]

Welcome :) I have only been on one Seabourn cruise but am now spoiled for life! My Mom took me on my first Seabourn cruise last February and we will be going on the Dubrovnik & Italian Romance + Italian Isles & Classical Greece on the Spirit in August. She has been on several Seabourn cruises and prefers to book directly with Seabourn and then transfer over to her TA. As LaPaloma said, if you wait to book you may find out that the cruise is fully booked. The question as to bringing your boys. I have three boys of my own (16, 14 and 10) and wouldn't hesitate to bring them on Seabourn -- when they are older. Seabourn is a wonderful cruise line but they really do not cater to children. There are no children's activities and quite frankly I know that my boys would be bored after a couple of days. So, until they are older we'll stick with Disney, Princess and Royal Caribbean. HTH

 

Lisa :)

[bgood]

The triplets do get some kids in summer--but I would say that if your kids are happy being with adults they could be happy on board--which brings me to the main point. On that cruise, like others in the Mediterranean, you aren't ON BOARD very much! Look at the itinerary--you're in port most days, which means the kids are running around having the time of their lives and learning about the world in the very best way, day after day. At night, if they want, they can order hamburgers and pizza from room service , watch TV or movies and have cookies and ice cream for dessert and live like rock stars! What an experience!

 

bgood

[garycarla]

Please do not slam me folks, but 20 year olds MIGHT not be comfortable. There tends to be a 'mature" group onboard. There are no kids programs, period.

[Martita B.]

As I dearly love my grand boys (my daughter has triplet boys, 14 yrs old) I would not consider inviting them to sail with me on the Seabourn ships. They would not enjoy being there........they would however, LOVE the Carnival ships! In fact, we all took a Carnival Caribbean cruise a couple of years ago. They were in heaven! The only part they really didn't enjoy were our evening dinners. Their Mother insisted (of course) they come dressed...... their khaki dockers and navy jacket, with neckties! They could hardly wait to finish and "head for the disco!" We are planning another Carnival cruise just for them.

The Seabourn Yachts and the activities and entertainment are geared for adults. But, as bgood said, "on a sailing that has many Ports, children would enjoy being aboard." I have only seen 1 little girl (about 7 yrs old) on board since I started cruising with Seabourn. She was with her father.

I agree with the above poster.......

MB

[CruisinMatt]

Martha - I can't picture you on a Carnival cruise - but what a great grandmother nonetheless! ;)

[mcboo]

Martha,

We have done the exact same thing with my partner Ollie's grandchildren.

They had a blast on Carnival and I was pleasantly surprised at the level of service.

I would definatly do another Carnival cruise with the grandkids but they are not ready for the Seabourn experience yet. They are well behaved and have lived in Europe and are very well travelled. There just isn't enough for 2 teenagers to do on the triplets.

Carnival does serve a purpose.

The scariest thought though is that we may bump into each other on Carnival with all the kids. That would be a really different experience.

We have fun no matter were we are.

 

mcboo:):):)

[Martita B.]

Mother and I "treated" my daughter, her husband and their triplets boys a few years ago and we all went on a Carnival cruise. One of the boys, Stuart, ask me to be his date and could he wear a Tux? I, of course, told him, "we can certainly arrange for you to wear a Tux!" We talked several times on the phone......and visited about "our visions of ocean grandeur"......."Honey" in a long gown and Stuart in his Tux escorting me into dinner!" WELL, his 'ole Mother vetoed that! Said, "Sturart, you'll wear your khiki's and your navy blazer just like your brothers! That was that!

We had a marvelous time.......I arranged for 3 CABINS side by side......by the elevator (for Mother's convenience) and for a table by the window for us......Mother kinda looked funny when all the waiter's started the congo line during dinner!! (I think I saw her eyebow raised! hahaha) Wouldn't you know ALL three boys danced right a'long with the crowd?

And yes, we loved the cruise......it was seeing and being with 3 very happy Grandboys! There were so many fun activities for them.......

And yes, we are planning another Carnival cruise for them some summer.

MB

[CruisinMatt]

Martha, after your book about "Cruising with Momma" - you really need to do your second on "Cruising with the grandkids"

 

Great stories!! :)

[Martita B.]

Matt~~~I would need to title it, " Honey and the Dirt Dobbers!" When the boys were small I visited El Paso quite often to babysit, especially when their parents were gone and OH, they loved to "see me comin'"......we would plan all kinds of fun things to do! Needless to say, it was an ordeal to raise 3 'lit ones, all the same age and size.........cute as buttons! One year at Halloween we dressed them as "Dalmations"......my daughter and I took pictures of them climbing a 'round on her Baby Grand piano! Looked just like in the movie "10001 Dalmations!"

I must confess, though, the tales of "Cruisin' With Mama" needs to be written. She was some character!

MB

[kitty9]

Seabourn will pamper the heck out of you with their food and service. But, as others have said, unless your boys can endure 2 1/2 hour dinners every evening, if they can keep themselves occupied and don't mind being with much older people, then fine, bring them along. Seabourn has never catered to families and in my 5 cruises on them, I've maybe seen all of 6 kids, and I cruised during the summer months in both the Med and the Baltic. Seabourn is very geared to adults in every aspect of cruising including tours, dining, and entertainment. Even the pool isn't really large enough for the kind of swimming kids are used to.