Rare Lois R Posted August 3, 2019 #1 Share Posted August 3, 2019 Hello friends, after going back and forth and forth and back, I have just given myself a BIG retirement gift and my first Seabourn cruise is it. (my boss does not know I am leaving yet). It is also my first TA Crossing! And I am staying on board for all 22 days...Miami to Rome in April. I have sailed with Silversea twice and once with Azamara, along with years of cruises on Celebrity. Once I moved up to luxury, I don't know that I will go back to mass market. Anyway, I have been on a river cruise with AMA and have another booked on Uniworld, sailing in October in Venice. So my cruising experience is varied and I am very much looking forward to my first cruise on Seabourn. I sail solo and have heard they treat solo guests very well. Any input from you folks would be appreciated!!! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Lois R Posted August 3, 2019 Author #2 Share Posted August 3, 2019 I tried to fix the paragraphs on that first post but for some reason it won't let me....it is sort of choppy....sorry about that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mauzac Posted August 3, 2019 #3 Share Posted August 3, 2019 Great! See you on the first leg of your cruise! Do hope you enjoy it. We go on lots of hosted tables and meet many solo travellers and they're always great fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLSD Posted August 3, 2019 #4 Share Posted August 3, 2019 21 minutes ago, Lois R said: Hello friends, after going back and forth and forth and back, I have just given myself a BIG retirement gift and my first Seabourn cruise is it. I sail solo and have heard they treat solo guests very well. Any input from you folks would be appreciated!!! Lois, I have some confidence that you are are going to enjoy this cruise. Our nextdoor neighbor passenger on Sojourn in May/June was traveling solo. She told us that solo travelers can be invited to a hosted dinner every night if they desire it. She felt very well taken care of on Seabourn cruises. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ibnoland Posted August 3, 2019 #5 Share Posted August 3, 2019 Dear Lois, My wife and I are booked on the Miami to Barcelona portion of this cruise. We would like to compare notes, etc. You can email us at odyssey2018@icloud.com Do I understand that 2 flying scot sailers will be aboard also? I believe we were together on a crossing in 2018! Look forward to meeting you and all the others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Lois R Posted August 3, 2019 Author #6 Share Posted August 3, 2019 Thanks for the quick replies and I must say the gal who helped me at Seabourn gets big kudos! She was helpful, cordial and we chatted for quite a while. Very good customer service....I had a lot of cabin/pricing questions and she could not have been kinder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artlee Posted August 3, 2019 #7 Share Posted August 3, 2019 We are also taking our first Seabourn cruise with a TA this coming April from Miami to Barcelona. So excited to try Seabourn. We have taken many cruises, mostly on the mainstream lines. Two cruises on Seadream several years ago which were great. Newly retired I can now take the longer cruises like this one that we could only wish for before. I really enjoyed reading the thread about the wow moments. Can’t wait to have mine!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isklaar Posted August 3, 2019 #8 Share Posted August 3, 2019 Lois, don't forget to visit the Referral coupon thread which is a sticky at the top of the board. Someone who posts on there will be happy to offer you a referral coupon for $400 OBC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Camillus112 Posted August 3, 2019 #9 Share Posted August 3, 2019 Hi Lois, DH and I have enjoyed cruising with Seabourn more than five times. I have found that the ship has quite a lively vibe and passengers tend to be very friendly. You will have a blast! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Lois R Posted August 3, 2019 Author #10 Share Posted August 3, 2019 2 hours ago, artlee said: We are also taking our first Seabourn cruise with a TA this coming April from Miami to Barcelona. So excited to try Seabourn. We have taken many cruises, mostly on the mainstream lines. Two cruises on Seadream several years ago which were great. Newly retired I can now take the longer cruises like this one that we could only wish for before. I really enjoyed reading the thread about the wow moments. Can’t wait to have mine!! Congrats on the recent retirement and that is my goal too. Looking forward to meet you. I don't think there is a roll call started for this cruise yet. Maybe I will start one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Lois R Posted August 3, 2019 Author #11 Share Posted August 3, 2019 7 minutes ago, Camillus112 said: Hi Lois, DH and I have enjoyed cruising with Seabourn more than five times. I have found that the ship has quite a lively vibe and passengers tend to be very friendly. You will have a blast! Hey stranger, good to see you!!! Thanks for the reply. I didn't realize you had sailed with them that many times Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Camillus112 Posted August 3, 2019 #12 Share Posted August 3, 2019 52 minutes ago, Lois R said: Hey stranger, good to see you!!! Thanks for the reply. I didn't realize you had sailed with them that many times Yes, and we have sailed SS just as much or more. Recently we sailed Crystal on Serenity for the first time and liked it as well...except the breakfast/lunch venue. One thing I particularly just LOVED is that they have an ambassadors program, providing gentlemen hosts who will dance with you if unescorted, or if husband does not like to dance. I love to dance and took advantage of this. I don't know if Seabourn or Silversea provide this perk. I will be cruising Regent for the first time early next year. So great to have so many choices!! I'm sure you will enjoy Seabourn!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoyaheel Posted August 3, 2019 #13 Share Posted August 3, 2019 Lois - I'm so excited for you and more than a little envious ;-) We do have a future cruise deposit on the books, so we're keeping our eyes open for something fun. Can't wait to hear about your experiences!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MHF Posted August 3, 2019 #14 Share Posted August 3, 2019 Hi Lois, congrats on the retirement! I retired this past April and have 3 cruises booked over the next year. SS in November, my first SB in May in Arabia, and with some friends on Princess in August to see Glacier Bay. My TA talked to SB on Tuesday and got a 125% solo rate and a great business class air deal. Wish more cruise lines would offer 125% instead of 175-200%. I always wait for the 125% or better solo now. Best wishes! Missy in Maryland Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Lois R Posted August 3, 2019 Author #15 Share Posted August 3, 2019 39 minutes ago, Hoyaheel said: Lois - I'm so excited for you and more than a little envious ;-) We do have a future cruise deposit on the books, so we're keeping our eyes open for something fun. Can't wait to hear about your experiences!! Hello there.....I am looking forward to it for sure. My boss will probably not be very happy when I tell her the news but I have given nearly 30 years to this company and I am just tired of working and for the past 6 months things have changed. If I didn't have any scruples, I could really just quit but that would be burning a lot of bridges. So, I will get through it and leave as my folks would expect me to do (they would be looking down very disappointed if I "just up and quit"....). I have 7 months and will just get through it. I will go to the boss at the end of January and let her know at the end of March I will be leaving....so I am really giving them 2 full months notice. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Lois R Posted August 3, 2019 Author #16 Share Posted August 3, 2019 8 minutes ago, MHF said: Hi Lois, congrats on the retirement! I retired this past April and have 3 cruises booked over the next year. SS in November, my first SB in May in Arabia, and with some friends on Princess in August to see Glacier Bay. My TA talked to SB on Tuesday and got a 125% solo rate and a great business class air deal. Wish more cruise lines would offer 125% instead of 175-200%. I always wait for the 125% or better solo now. Best wishes! Missy in Maryland Hi Missy, thank you and if you read my previous post you will see I am really ready to go now but I will to wait until I am 62 and that is in March. SS will kick in at that point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MHF Posted August 3, 2019 #17 Share Posted August 3, 2019 Just now, Lois R said: Hi Missy, thank you and if you read my previous post you will see I am really ready to go now but I will to wait until I am 62 and that is in March. SS will kick in at that point. SS=Social Security I assume. I gave about a month's notice and my boss and I "spun" it to HR that we needed that much time for an orderly transition of clients. I think HR believed I was going to a competitor. Nope. SS=Silversea too. Doing Whisper in November. Prefer that size to smaller Cloud/Wind (which are both going to be expedition anyway next year). 125% solo of course. Really liked Whisper thru Baltic and Shadow in Alaska. Congrats again and we will keep in touch as we plan for our SB firsts! I'm on the Encore. M in M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Lois R Posted August 3, 2019 Author #18 Share Posted August 3, 2019 14 minutes ago, MHF said: SS=Social Security I assume. I gave about a month's notice and my boss and I "spun" it to HR that we needed that much time for an orderly transition of clients. I think HR believed I was going to a competitor. Nope. SS=Silversea too. Doing Whisper in November. Prefer that size to smaller Cloud/Wind (which are both going to be expedition anyway next year). 125% solo of course. Really liked Whisper thru Baltic and Shadow in Alaska. Congrats again and we will keep in touch as we plan for our SB firsts! I'm on the Encore. M in M Yes, I meant Social Security. And Human Resources knows me and they know I am not going to a competitor. I really am wanting to leave but I am not going to stay home all day every day though. I would like to eventually work part time at my own choosing. But I want to be able to travel too. And I have sailed Whisper and Spirit....enjoyed both very much. As for the job, to make a long story short, I was in the same office for 28 years. Started in 1990 and right before Christmas (2018) I was informed my position was being dissolved and they were moving me to HQ. (which is about 200 yards across the parking lot). But I was given no choice and had NO CLUE this was going to happen......the transfer started at the end of Jan so it has now been 6 months. It is just waaaayyyyyyyy different and my boss is not an easy person and I just feel like I am financially able to retire and so I am doing it. I probably have felt more stress in the last 6 months than the previous 28 years Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
florisdekort Posted August 4, 2019 #19 Share Posted August 4, 2019 Hi Lois! I’ve followed you on the X board for many years and always enjoyed your reports and observations. I moved to Azamara in 2010 and then Seabourn in 2016 and have never looked back. I’ve cruised solo for 12 years or so including my first Seabourn cruise and then met my now husband on my second Seabourn cruise so... who knows what might happen 😝 As others have said Seabourn takes very good care of solo travellers. When you first board the ship, go see the people at The Square (Guest Services), tell them you’re traveling solo (they’ll already know but still) and tell them if you’d like to join a hosted table every night, every other night or whatever. I found this approach helpful as I hate declining invitations. You can also tell them that you would really like to dine at The Grill one night at a hosted table (should you want to) or even solo (I sometimes enjoy my own company best haha!). Happy to answer any questions you may have. Cheers, Floris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Lois R Posted August 4, 2019 Author #20 Share Posted August 4, 2019 Hi Floris, thanks for the input. I would enjoy dining with others for sure. The gal on the phone told me dining room hours are 7-9. I do need to eat near the 7 range and hoping that will not be a problem. (I have to take meds so timing for me is important). Dinner on the late side doesn't work for me anymore...….guess I am getting old. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hencoll Posted August 4, 2019 #21 Share Posted August 4, 2019 So glad to see this thread. I will be sailing the same cruise except the 15 day Miami to Barcelona leg. I'm also traveling solo, leaving my husband and daughters at home. I've been a SAHM for the last 19 yrs. My oldest just graduated from college, my middle starts college in the fall and my youngest will be a Junior in HS. I've started to do a bit of traveling alone since the youngest started HS. I love transatlantic crossings especially the sea days, have done 3 on Disney and 2 on NCL. This will be my first Seabourn cruise. Looking forward to trying Seabourn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Lois R Posted August 4, 2019 Author #22 Share Posted August 4, 2019 4 minutes ago, hencoll said: So glad to see this thread. I will be sailing the same cruise except the 15 day Miami to Barcelona leg. I'm also traveling solo, leaving my husband and daughters at home. I've been a SAHM for the last 19 yrs. My oldest just graduated from college, my middle starts college in the fall and my youngest will be a Junior in HS. I've started to do a bit of traveling alone since the youngest started HS. I love transatlantic crossings especially the sea days, have done 3 on Disney and 2 on NCL. This will be my first Seabourn cruise. Looking forward to trying Seabourn. Hi, it is funny how different we are all but all have a love of cruising......I have no mate/partner, whatever it is called these days and no kids so I have always been in the fulltime work force. And this is my very first TA crossing! I started a roll call if you want to chat over there 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fudgbug Posted August 4, 2019 #23 Share Posted August 4, 2019 On 8/3/2019 at 10:54 AM, Lois R said: Hello friends, after going back and forth and forth and back, I have just given myself a BIG retirement gift and my first Seabourn cruise is it. (my boss does not know I am leaving yet). It is also my first TA Crossing! And I am staying on board for all 22 days...Miami to Rome in April. I have sailed with Silversea twice and once with Azamara, along with years of cruises on Celebrity. Once I moved up to luxury, I don't know that I will go back to mass market. Anyway, I have been on a river cruise with AMA and have another booked on Uniworld, sailing in October in Venice. So my cruising experience is varied and I am very much looking forward to my first cruise on Seabourn. I sail solo and have heard they treat solo guests very well. Any input from you folks would be appreciated!!! Be prepared to be spoiled and enjoy! Congrats on your retirement! Have been retired for 12 years now and have loved every minute of not being a "slave". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Lois R Posted August 4, 2019 Author #24 Share Posted August 4, 2019 14 minutes ago, fudgbug said: Be prepared to be spoiled and enjoy! Congrats on your retirement! Have been retired for 12 years now and have loved every minute of not being a "slave". I would not use that term...…...but I get your point. My boss is a Micromanager...….after years of having a very easy going boss this is not what I want to do anymore. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
florisdekort Posted August 6, 2019 #25 Share Posted August 6, 2019 On 8/4/2019 at 9:28 PM, Lois R said: Hi Floris, thanks for the input. I would enjoy dining with others for sure. The gal on the phone told me dining room hours are 7-9. I do need to eat near the 7 range and hoping that will not be a problem. (I have to take meds so timing for me is important). Dinner on the late side doesn't work for me anymore...….guess I am getting old. I’ve found that most hosted tables are at 7:30 pm and finish around 9 pm... Floris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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