whatnot Posted June 2, 2012 #26 Share Posted June 2, 2012 I did not get the email either. I just think Jim gets special emails that WE don't get! I went in and did some research on Windstar which I think is the major competition for Sea Dream in the small ship Panana Canal/Costa Rica market. In late 2013 they are only doing back and forth Panama Canal cruises. No extensive Costa Rica cruises. Their first cruise is from Colon to Puerta Caldera on Nov 24. Then they quote back and forth Canal cruises with the last one being on Dec 29 2013. I would assume they will return to their Costa Rica/Nicaragua tours in Jan. but who knows! So that may be giving SD an opportunity in the Costa Rica market in December when Windstar is only doing the southern part and the canal. At any rate those Nov/Dec cruises were priced for Cabin B 2199 to 2699, Cabin A 2399 to 2899, and a Suite from 3499 to 3999. And they were advertising 2 for 1 prices! I have sailed on Windstar once in Costa Rica and loved it! It is not Sea Dream. I do prefer the SD all inclusive, better outdoor spaces in a warm climate, and think the food and service on SD is much superior. Windstar has larger cabins, a naturalist on board to help you with tours and wildlife, and the ability to go totally under sail power if the winds are right. I just hope SD doesn't over price these cruises. Some of us dedicated SD'ers might go, but in the long run to make this work they have to be competitive. I'm really interested and ready to bite the bullet if the price is right! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare knotheadusc Posted June 2, 2012 #27 Share Posted June 2, 2012 Seems to me Paul Gauguin's new ship, Tere Moana, is also supposed to do the Panama Canal. I could be wrong, though. That could be why we're getting new itineraries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Avery Posted June 2, 2012 #28 Share Posted June 2, 2012 I have a deep cover spy in the organization.:eek: That I pester.:eek: A lot.:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare knotheadusc Posted June 2, 2012 #29 Share Posted June 2, 2012 Yep... Moana has a Caribbean itinerary that includes Costa Rica and Colombia. And two weeks onboard is going for $4995 a person. It will be interesting to see how PG's newest vessel affects SeaDream. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Avery Posted June 2, 2012 #30 Share Posted June 2, 2012 It could happen this weekend.:eek: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CDreamer Posted June 4, 2012 Author #31 Share Posted June 4, 2012 It could happen this weekend.:eek: .....or not. :rolleyes: Keep scouting though, Jim. Seems like you seem to get more first hand info than the rest of us, despite our own SD "spies." ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Avery Posted June 4, 2012 #32 Share Posted June 4, 2012 I think they were loading the information this past weekend. It must be getting near.:D Cant wait to see the details. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Avery Posted June 6, 2012 #33 Share Posted June 6, 2012 With the new CR itineraries out, and most sailing from Caldera, I wonder if SeaDream will have some type of transport from San Juan to/from Caldera? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zqvol Posted June 6, 2012 #34 Share Posted June 6, 2012 With the new CR itineraries out, and most sailing from Caldera, I wonder if SeaDream will have some type of transport from San Juan to/from Caldera? That was one of my first thoughts when looking at them, plus I wonder how most passengers are going to react to a sea day going up the Pacific coast? Cost of getting to the ship is going to not be inexpensive either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Avery Posted June 7, 2012 #35 Share Posted June 7, 2012 SD is now offering 2 night pre/post stays at a hotel, including some meals, and transfers. Assume it means to/from airport and yacht. No pricing mentioned yet. Having a hard time picking a favorite itinerary as it will all be new to us (except the Panama Canal, but would do that again).:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zqvol Posted June 7, 2012 #36 Share Posted June 7, 2012 Looking at the schedule it seems that they are going to keep one yacht in the Caribbean all the time (in season) and let the other go off,, so while II is in Brazil and the Amazon, I will be in the Caribbean, and while I is in Costa Rica II will be in the Caribbean. Not good for my schedule. I think I need to retire to open more flexibility in my travel dates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Avery Posted June 7, 2012 #37 Share Posted June 7, 2012 Looking at the schedule it seems that they are going to keep one yacht in the Caribbean all the time (in season) and let the other go off,, so while II is in Brazil and the Amazon, I will be in the Caribbean, and while I is in Costa Rica II will be in the Caribbean. Not good for my schedule. I think I need to retire to open more flexibility in my travel dates. That's the spirit, we all need to put cruises before that old mundane making money thing.:eek::D Still trying to figure out just how to do that. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whatnot Posted June 8, 2012 #38 Share Posted June 8, 2012 When we did Costa Rica on Windstar we spent 2 nights in San Jose on the front end at the Marriott Courtyard and one night post cruise. It was a very nice hotel, the price was reasonable, and there were some good restaurants in the area. We were traveling with another couple and I booked a full day tour of the area before the cruise, transport to Puerto Caldera, return transport back to San Jose with tours to the Butterfly Farm and a Coffee Plantation with a company I found on CC called Coach Costa Rica. I don't remember what it cost but I thought they provided excellent , quality service for the price. I would highly reccomend them. That trip from San Jose to Caldera was about 3 hours when we did it because the roads were TERRIBLE! Hope this helps anyone thinking about doing Costa Rica. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Avery Posted June 12, 2012 #39 Share Posted June 12, 2012 We booked November 30th.:D Understand bookings are going quickly and we have long wanted SD to do this region. It is a long way off but that gives more time to pay the bill.:eek::D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frequent traveler Posted June 12, 2012 #40 Share Posted June 12, 2012 We booked November 30th.:D Understand bookings are going quickly and we have long wanted SD to do this region. It is a long way off but that gives more time to pay the bill.:eek::D and you can cancel and rebook on board when on board in Dec to get that 15% Discount! FT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Avery Posted June 12, 2012 #41 Share Posted June 12, 2012 and you can cancel and rebook on board when on board in Dec to get that 15% Discount! FT Wicked!:eek: But a great idea.:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Avery Posted June 12, 2012 #42 Share Posted June 12, 2012 We are assigned 212, one of the last non Commodore units. Looks like SeaDream has a winner.:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Avery Posted June 12, 2012 #43 Share Posted June 12, 2012 and you can cancel and rebook on board when on board in Dec to get that 15% Discount! FT FT, thought we were on in November??:eek::D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frequent traveler Posted June 12, 2012 #44 Share Posted June 12, 2012 FT, thought we were on in November??:eek::D no cafeine when I typed this am . . .. forgive me. thinking about when we could do the Panama canal but probably going to have to pass - betting the owner will be on board then! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vandrefalk Posted June 12, 2012 #45 Share Posted June 12, 2012 Jim, We're in 212 from 9-23 Nov! I'll keep it clean for you :) And, yes, suspect you can rebook on board -- that's what I plan to do!! Sailed with the owner last year in Norway and have sailed with his daughters a couple of times. It was only a little disruptive with him on board, but we were doing so much in Norway that I probably didn't notice much. He did have several social events with business people in Oslo, but we were off the ship visiting his glass factory (complimentary, no less!). Have seen no details on the package in San Jose, but may have to consider it. Airfare to Barbados and from San Jose should be interesting! Vandrefalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Avery Posted June 12, 2012 #46 Share Posted June 12, 2012 Jim,We're in 212 from 9-23 Nov! I'll keep it clean for you :) And, yes, suspect you can rebook on board -- that's what I plan to do!! Sailed with the owner last year in Norway and have sailed with his daughters a couple of times. It was only a little disruptive with him on board, but we were doing so much in Norway that I probably didn't notice much. He did have several social events with business people in Oslo, but we were off the ship visiting his glass factory (complimentary, no less!). Have seen no details on the package in San Jose, but may have to consider it. Airfare to Barbados and from San Jose should be interesting! Vandrefalk Airfare is tough all over. Hoping for some relief with fuel coming down a bit. We are in 212 next year, Nov 30th 2013. Someone is sure to leave it crummy after you go to all that trouble to be neat.:eek::D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CDreamer Posted June 12, 2012 Author #47 Share Posted June 12, 2012 (edited) We're booked!! :D Same b2b cruises that Vandrefalk mentioned, Nov. 9-23. Is it too early to pop the champagne? ;) Edited June 12, 2012 by CDreamer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zimmy Posted June 15, 2012 #48 Share Posted June 15, 2012 It is definitely not too early to pop the champagne. We just booked this morning for the back-to-back cruises. And our travel agent confirmed with Seadream that we can cancel and rebook when we are onboard in October for a fifty dollar fee. Of course, should the price rise significantly between now and then, the savings might not look as good as they do this morning. But should that happen, we can congratulate ourselves on booking early. There are no losing strategies here. The only downside is that it is so far in the future! But it certainly will make it easier to leave the yacht on our cruises prior to Costa Rica because we will know for sure when we are returning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zimmy Posted June 17, 2012 #49 Share Posted June 17, 2012 SD is now offering 2 night pre/post stays at a hotel, including some meals, and transfers. Assume it means to/from airport and yacht. No pricing mentioned yet. ).:D Jim, did you see this somewhere on the website where I'm too dense to see, or is this inside information, which you are so good at obtaining, and we all thank you. Normally we don't use cruise line's transportation or hotels, but I'm thinking about how we're going to get from Caldera to San Jose to fly home. It would be lovely if Seadream would transport us. In Europe we're comfortable jumping into a taxi - not so much in Central America, however. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Avery Posted June 17, 2012 #50 Share Posted June 17, 2012 We feel the same about transport. I think I saw the info on the SD blog. Or maybe an email from Bob Lepisto. Know I saw it somewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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