Just off the Quest - any questions?

[digtexas]

And when passengers board early (around noon) are they treated to a nice lunch and champagne like on Crystal, while they wait for their cabins to be ready?

I also have a second question regarding cabins. We are only going on a two night sampler so I am not really worried about it, but we have been assigned a V1 near the bow on Deck 5. Of course I know that most people prefer midship, as do I, but I cannot imagine a big problem in a forward cabin on a short journey from FLL to Nassau. Any thoughts on this?

[markham]

There is no lunch and as embarkation is at 14:00 I wonder why you would expect lunch. You get a drink in the lounge and then an escort to your cabin. That's it.

[MarciAnn]

Not so Markham. I am just off the Quest. I boarded abut 1:30 and there ws a lovely buffet lunch in the Colonade. When lunch was finsihed our bags were waiting in the cabin!

[markham]

Sounds good to me. When I board in Venice in a couple of weeks I arrive at the dock earlier than Seabourn says is boarding time and see what happens. If I can board and have lunch before 2:00 then that lunch is a bonus!

[kiawahdon]

If the lunch in the Colonade was in Athens, that makes sense as lunch is available for the B2B passengers also. However, since Athens is not usually an embarcation/disembarcation port due to Greek laws, you will not have B2B passengers in Venice. Therefore, I wonder if the Colonade will be open. Anyone have any experience?

[digtexas]

Our embarkation is actually at 5 PM from FLL. Although Crystal literature states that embarkation begins at 3 PM, regular Crystal pax know that they can board at noon and enjoy a nice Champagne lunch in the main dining room if they so choose. I was wondering if we could expect the same from Seabourn.

[kiawahdon]

Markham-

Are you staying in Venice before the cruise?

[wripro]

digtexas,

 

No, you cannot. As a rule Seabourn does not provide lunch for embarking passengers. However, you can check to see if the Colonnade or Patio Grill are serving.

[shefinch]

During the 4 weeks we were on the Quest in the summer lunch was provided each week for embarking passengers. In fact everybody was escorted to the Colonnade for lunch and told to wait there until their suite was ready but who knows if it still applies!

[markham]

Kiawahdon,

 

Yes, our group of 6 will be in Venice for 2 nights before the sailing and stay at the hotel Antiche Figure which has received great Tripadvisor reviews.

 

See you on board at the most magnificent port for any sailaway!

[wripro]

Thanks, Shelagh. Good to know.

[shefinch]

Gunter said it was an experiment, Henry. Maybe the hierarchy has been reading CC and all the adverse comments about SS serving lunch to embarking guests and SB not doing the same!

[stamfordian]

However, since Athens is not usually an embarcation/disembarcation port due to Greek laws,

 

Hi Kiawahdon - sorry to disagree with a fellow CC'er and Seabourn fan but Athens is a regular embark/disembark port. We embarked Odyssey there to go to Rome last fall, and Seabourn are offering 7 day Venice to Athens trips in next year's (2012) brochure in April, May and June currently being promoted in UK newspapers.

[wripro]

I've always thought SB should serve lunch upon embarkation. I used to sneak up to the sky bar and order room service instead of sitting in the lounge. That first cheeseburger always tasted the best.

[Host Dan]

I've always thought SB should serve lunch upon embarkation. I used to sneak up to the sky bar and order room service instead of sitting in the lounge. That first cheeseburger always tasted the best.

They won't serve burgers at the sky bar any longer(via room service). Only shrimp cocktail or caviar... :(

 

Host Dan

[Martita B.]

Upon request you can order bouillon in the mornings ~talk to the Hotel Manager.

MB

[digtexas]

After many comments in response to my question re: meals upon embarkation, I must admit that I am still confused as to whether or not there will be anything satisfactory to eat once we board in FLL. My wife and I will arrive at the airport at 1:15 PM with only carry-on luggage and will be picked up by our friends from Fl. who are joining us on this little "sampler".

As a frequent Crystal cruiser who is sampling Seabourn for the first time, I find it surprising that we might be herded into a lounge at 2 PM with little or nothing to eat, after we have just gotten off an airplane.

Do we really need to drive through Jack in the Box before boarding a luxury cruise, or sneak out of the lounge and surreptitiously make our way to the burger grill?

I get it that the main dining room is not serving, but am still not clear whether or not we will be welcome to eat something in the Colonnade or the outdoor grill.

Thanks to anyone who can clarify this situation for me.

[Martita B.]

Might be easier to stop by the Bimini Boatyard (SE 17th St) for

lunch before going to Port Everglades. On the water and excellent food!:p

I doubt a full lunch will be served 2-2:30 if you sail at 5 pm.

MB

[Martita B.]

Not sure if the Club Desk MG in Seattle can advise you as to luncheon on your date of embarkation in Ft Laud but you might consider calling.

MB

[Hoosier908]

Just off the Odyssey and embarkation was a very bad start to a nice cruise. Got on in Istanbul at approximately 2:15 and instead of going to our cabin we were escorted to the Grand Salon. It was a beautiful day in Istanbul but all the drapes were closed and they were showing a bizarre reality show from the BBC. We waited for over an hour and they eventually escorted everyone one group at a time to their cabin. Those who complained were miraculously taken first. My advice is don't show up before 3 or so. Things did get better from there!

[digtexas]

Thanks for your advice everyone.

[wripro]

HostDan,

 

Yes, I know about the change, That's why I said I used to do this. I suppose a lunch of caviar will have to do.

[Chairsin]

Danny,

Whether at the very least Seabourn always has sandwiches and cookies (along with champagne) in the lounge when you check in while waiting for your suite to become available -- at least this is better than fast food.

[Oceans&Rivers]

After many comments in response to my question re: meals upon embarkation, I must admit that I am still confused as to whether or not there will be anything satisfactory to eat once we board in FLL. My wife and I will arrive at the airport at 1:15 PM with only carry-on luggage and will be picked up by our friends from Fl. who are joining us on this little "sampler".

As a frequent Crystal cruiser who is sampling Seabourn for the first time, I find it surprising that we might be herded into a lounge at 2 PM with little or nothing to eat, after we have just gotten off an airplane.

Do we really need to drive through Jack in the Box before boarding a luxury cruise, or sneak out of the lounge and surreptitiously make our way to the burger grill?

I get it that the main dining room is not serving, but am still not clear whether or not we will be welcome to eat something in the Colonnade or the outdoor grill.

Thanks to anyone who can clarify this situation for me.

 

Danny, I haven't cruised on Seabourn before, though I considered a Sojourn voyage for later this year (it would have fit in nicely with another Oceania cruise we booked) and decided against it due to the lax smoking policy, but you didn't ask about that, so to the subject you did ask about.....here's what I was just told when I just called Seabourn, regarding the welcome aboard food:

 

In a nutshell, they really don't want anyone on the ship until at least 2:00PM, and "most of our guests arrive at 3:30 PM" and "sandwiches and snacks start at 4:00PM, and dinner starts at 5:00 PM. I was told there "may be a hospitality area prior to boarding with "some cold items, definitely nothing hot", but again, it was emphasized that you can have a hot meal at 5:00PM.

 

I don't understand their reasoning for the lack of a real meal of some sort immediately upon embarkation (most lines do buffets and those can be quite nice, too), but apparently Seabourn clientele just accept things the way they are.

 

Nevertheless, I hope you have a very enjoyable sampler cruise on Seabourn, and I look forward to your comments when you return.

 

I know you will be fair.

[pakitin]

We were on the Odyssey from Buenos Aires to Manaus last February and had a similar problem regarding the boarding process. I will repeat my comments regarding this subject which I sent to the president's office in Seatle.

 

Embarcation/first impresion-The port terminal in Buenos Aires was under construction.When we arrived and cleared Seabourn's front desk we were scorted to a waiting area that had around thirty dirty chairs.The area was unfinished. All the chairs were occupied by Seabourn cruisers waiting to go to the ship.The only beverage available was fruit punch.There was no water.After waiting over one hour we were escolted to the theatre and asked to wait again. After 30 minutes I decided to leave and check if our room was ready, found that it was and all our luggage was there. I went back to the holding pen and got my wife and returned to the room to unpack.

 

I sugested that all cruisers should be allowed to the common areas and wait for an announcement of rooms ready on each deck.

 

We had a great time but feel that what happen was unnecessary and gave us a very poor first impression on our first Seabourn cruise. We are Crystal regulars and will continue to be but we would not mind cruising Seabourn again on any of the new ships.

 

As a reference you can board Crystal ships at miday and wait anywere for your cabin to be ready and go to any of the restaurants for lunch.

 

Paco