survey

[jozi]

I just got a Seabourn survey about route preferences, length of cruise etc. But then a lot of questions about a proposed fancy private cabana area for 30 exclusive people. Did others see that? Reactions? Just curious.

[Laylam]

I just got a Seabourn survey about route preferences, length of cruise etc. But then a lot of questions about a proposed fancy private cabana area for 30 exclusive people. Did others see that? Reactions? Just curious.

 

Yes, I got one as well. I really dislike the idea of Seabourn creating an "us" and "them" divide.

[Catlover54]

I got the survey and completed it. I am not sure what a cabana could do for me that my balcony or other areas of the ship could not, except for maybe if the ship is full of kids or loud groups ( not likely to be common). If there were special bites of food I might "bite" for a day.

[markham]

I have to say that the fusspot in me got wary when I saw "amenities" misspelled in the introduction.

 

My view is "good enough": Seabourn can offer a new option and earn revenue and passengers have a treat.

 

But this has to be done smartly and thereby preserve the one-class, simple style that sets Seabourn apart. Sort of as they do discretely for Diamond Seabourn Club members.

 

They must NOT drift into the business of exclusivity for the sake of pandering to a new customer base or other instincts that are the trademark of other lines: priority restaurant reservations for premium passengers, tiered quality and availability for drinks, other off limits areas for hoi polloi, standard and executive level tour buses etc.

 

So if this is about a new spa option, fine with me!

[adoctor]

The proposal/idea of a "two class "ship is in my view ill conceived. Do you the folk at HAL understand this Brand?

In my survey responses I was pretty blunt.Still always nice to be asked.

[frantic36]

I don't want a two tier system either but I didn't take this from what I read on the survey.

 

To me it is just a query about upgrading the Spa Retreat Package to have some more amenities and make the package more appealing. My only question is price as the asked for input into price but did not indicate whether the figures they gave were per day, per week or per cruise.

[Nigella]

I wouldn't want a two tier system.

If it's about upgrading the Spa Retreat, surely this could be detrimental to other spa users if a boisterous group of up to 30 is in the vicinity.

 

However I haven't received this survey yet.

I've just realised that I've not received any email at all from SB since completing my post-cruise questionnaire after the less than stellar experience on Sojourn in September.

Probably just coincidence, or perhaps I'm completely in the dog house and they're planning to keelhaul me when I'm on Odyssey soon.:p

[frantic36]

I wouldn't want a two tier system.

If it's about upgrading the Spa Retreat, surely this could be detrimental to other spa users if a boisterous group of up to 30 is in the vicinity.

 

However I haven't received this survey yet.

I've just realised that I've not received any email at all from SB since completing my post-cruise questionnaire after the less than stellar experience on Sojourn in September.

Probably just coincidence, or perhaps I'm completely in the dog house and they're planning to keelhaul me when I'm on Odyssey soon.:p

 

I am not sure why the group would be boisterous?

 

My husband often will take the Retreat Package on a cruise just to have another quiet place to go.

[rafinmd]

While I am still 369 days away from my first Seabourn cruise I did get the survey and became more and more unhappy as I made my way through it. With regard to that last question I was VERY explicit in my reaction. I was forced to choose one of the "amenities" for the response to be accepted but my entry for "other" began with "NONE OF THE ABOVE" and went downhill from there.

 

Roy

[Nigella]

I am not sure why the group would be boisterous?

 

My husband often will take the Retreat Package on a cruise just to have another quiet place to go.

 

 

Hi Julie, as I said, I haven't even received this survey so my only knowledge of it is what I read here on this thread. Perhaps I'm completely misunderstanding the concept they're referring to? We also use the spa retreat package and that's why I'm concerned about exactly is being asked on the survey.

 

I read 'a private cabana area for 30 exclusive people'. That sounds to me like guests can get together a group of up to 30 to use the cabana for a social spa-themed event. A bit like how a group can take over R2 for dinner. I've seen this poolside in hotels and when more than 4 people are together in a cabana it can never be described as peaceful and relaxing for other pool users close by!

 

If what SB means is more along the lines of 'capacity for up to 30 people' ie 30 people who just happen to be using the cabana at the same time, but aren't actually socialising together, then that's a different scenario.

Edited December 4, 2015 by Nigella

[jenidallas]

I'm reading this to be more like the pay-up cabana retreats that mainstream lines like Princess and NCL offer where capacity is limited to a specific number of guests. Those lines sell "full cruise" access first and then will sell one day passes if they do not sell out capacity after departure.

 

I've taken advantage of that service on those lines. The ability to have an assigned lounger (upgraded from what is at the main pool) and other amenities is something I'd pay extra for., even on Seabourn.

 

I haven't ooened the survey yet though so perhaps I'm off base.

[sassyw]

Terrible idea. Just a nickel and dime idea on a ship supposedly all-inclusive. KEEP it that way!!!!:confused:

[Nigella]

I'm reading this to be more like the pay-up cabana retreats that mainstream lines like Princess and NCL offer where capacity is limited to a specific number of guests. Those lines sell "full cruise" access first and then will sell one day passes if they do not sell out capacity after departure.

 

I've taken advantage of that service on those lines. The ability to have an assigned lounger (upgraded from what is at the main pool) and other amenities is something I'd pay extra for., even on Seabourn.

 

I haven't ooened the survey yet though so perhaps I'm off base.

 

Do these tend to be situated in the spa area of the ship, or a separate area of one of the pools?

[Jim Avery]

From what I can glean from this, it seems to be an extension of what they have done on all Carnival brands. This proposal is similar to other "Special Areas" that Suites access. Guess what" on the mass market lines Suites sell out first these days for the most part. We have done this on several mass lines and had a good time with it. I as well hate to see them try it on Seabourn but the ships do keep creeping up the passenger size scale so I fear it is inevitable. Some will pay extra for the new "Seabourn Experience". The experience will be just as you are "nobody" on Cunard unless you are sailing in The Grills Suites.

[Able Seaman H]

Is this a slippery slope ?

 

Public access areas so busy that more affluent guests are forced to pay for somewhere to settle in the sunshine. Surely the whole joy of Seabourn is that the entire ship exceeds that offered as premium experiences on mainstream lines.

 

I have never struggled to find a quiet place to rest my bones within a few steps of some water to immerse myself in from time to time. If that changes then we might as well just return to mass cruising and ferret ourselves away in key card protected haven, venturing out only to partake of entertainment interspersed with premium dining venues.

 

Henry :)

[lincslady]

If - heaven forbid - this should happen, does anyone know if it could be on the existing ships,or just on the newer larger ones? I cannot imagine where they might be on the ship.

 

Many of us love Seabourn simply because it does not have butlers, private areas, etc.

[markham]

I am not at all concerned that Seabourn is taking something away. This looks like

a new or upgraded service, maybe in the 2 new ships, for those who like this kind of thing amd want to pay extra for it.

 

I don't see any parallels with Carnival and Cunard and other mass market lines. There they can squeeze the punter for exclusive VIP areas simply because those ships ARE mass market products e.g. even QM2 is 400 Grill Class and 2200 remainder. The Seabourn Odyssey class ships have much more space per passenger literally everywhere so there is no habitual turf claiming. Who needs that? And assuming the hotel manager enforces the "No Reserving Deckchairs" rule on decks 5, 8, 9 and 10 there are virtually always deckchairs to be had.

 

Apples and oranges. And if the survey shows Seabourn there is a market for this retreat concept, and given that Seabourn will build for it, the idea is fine to me.

That said, it is not for me.

 

Happy sailing!

[Roxburgh]

I also got the survey. It seems to me that Seabourn is floating an idea and looking for feedback. Nothing wrong with that! If there is a market for such a thing then it would be wrong for Seabourn to ignore that market.

[Harvey2442]

In the survey there is an artist impression of what such a sanctuary might look like - it may just be a generic impression but part of could be modelled on the Retreat on deck 12 of the Encore and the latest shots of the ship does have a similar canopy over it. This is where the putting green and table tennis are on the Odyssey class. If this idea ever gets of the ground it would represent a further tightening up of space on the Encore Class over the Odyssey class of ship as the pool deck seems very little larger for 150 more passengers. The whole concept of a ship within in a ship is alien to Seabourn and would represent in my view a significant backward step.

[Nigella]

In the survey there is an artist impression of what such a sanctuary might look like - it may just be a generic impression but part of could be modelled on the Retreat on deck 12 of the Encore and the latest shots of the ship does have a similar canopy over it.

 

Very helpful description, thank you.

[markham]

Harvey2442,

 

Yours is a useful and important observation, as Nigella suggests.

 

If that's what's being offered I would agree that this cuts down on what appears to be common space for everyone- as shown on the Encore's deckplan, deck 12.

 

Consequently, I would not be in favor of Seabourn constructing and selling such an exclusive area.

 

Happy sailing!

[Host Dan]

I responded to the survey as well. I seem to remember a pay to use spa area on Odyssey when it was new. Was rarely used as I recall.

[Emperor Norton]

I wonder how one is selected to receive the survey.:confused:

[wripro]

It's all moot to me as I never use the Spa anyway.

[Nigella]

I wonder how one is selected to receive the survey.:confused:

 

I wonder too.

I haven't had one but my husband has.