Greek islands cruise: new updates from Seabourn?

[Hlitner]

On 8/1/2021 at 9:57 PM, HRPro said:

Hank, were you on a Seabourn transfer from the airport to the pier or did you arrange private transportation?  We arrive very early and are hoping we don’t have to wait at the airport until closer to our assigned boarding time.  Have a great cruise and update us when you are able.

 

Susan

We did all of our transportation including flights, hotel and transfers independent of Seabourn.  We did talk to SB but we’re not happy with any of their options.  arriving at the port in our own taxi turned out to be an advantage as we were quickly processed without having to deal with a bus load.

 

Hank

[Catlover54]

20 hours ago, A Tucson Guy said:

I was curious what the cost was on Luggage Forward from AZ to Dubai and then Delhi back to AZ and 2 50 pound bags was $2,000. That is not cheap and we can still handle the luggage.

 

TUCSON GUY: That is high. It was cheaper for me per bag (CA to Athens) but that was a couple years ago.  

 

I know some pax just use Luggage Forward one way, or just for one bag (to avoid the risk of being totally weighed down with more than you can handle, even though they would still have to stand in the checkin line for the one , e.g., if they are returning from an overseas airport they either know is difficult or unreliable, or don't know at all), or they mix and match.   It also minimizes the risk of having both of a couple's bags disappear in misrouted checked luggage, and pax then being stuck only with their carryons and what they are wearing, such as when luggage goes to Frankfurt  but  you are in Amsterdam, and then having to wear tennis shoes or loafers and stretchy airplane comfort pants  to the dining room because that's all you've got from the plane and your carryons that are already overloaded with stuff like camera, electronics, medications, etc. .  We unfortunately landed up having to meet a VIP for a pre-cruise upscale dinner  in such attire because of seriously delayed luggage and no time to first go shopping, because stores were closed 😲 .

 

Having  luggage with 4 wheels certainly helps a lot if the surface below cooperates and there are no stairs or broken escalators and elevators.  

 

MARKHAM:  I fondly remember Handre, his engagement, and his music.  

And of course I remember the included caviar 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

[SLSD]

1 hour ago, Catlover54 said:

  It also minimizes the risk of having both of a couple's bags disappear in misrouted checked luggage, and pax then being stuck only with their carryons and what they are wearing, such as when luggage goes to Frankfurt  but  you are in Amsterdam, and then having to wear tennis shoes or loafers and stretchy airplane comfort pants  to the dining room because that's all you've got from the plane and your carryons that are already overloaded with stuff like camera, electronics, medications, etc. .  We unfortunately landed up having to meet a VIP for a pre-cruise upscale dinner  in such attire because of seriously delayed luggage and no time to first go shopping, because stores were closed 😲 .

 

 

 

 

 

I always pack my carry on so carefully---a black dress that can be rolled up, a pair of nice  shoes (usually flats),, an additional casual outfit and something else that could be worn to dinner. My husband takes a sports coat and tie and dress shirt on the plane as well as another pair of pants.    Fortunately, our luggage has not been lost, but it is a concern.  I'm sorry this has happened to you. I've heard of it happening to others as well.  I would find it very difficult shopping abroad to replace clothing.  

Edited August 12, 2021 by SLSD

[cuddles115]

I realize that this question has been hijacked immensely and that I am just as culpable as everyone else.  I I know the cost of forwarding luggage is not cheap.  But, you pay for convenience and ease of traveling.  I will use them  for the SB cruise in a few weeks...Athens to Athens. The most expensive was JFK to Athens  and the Dubai to JFK. Tucson Guy's AZ to Dubai and the then back to AZ reflects this.The cost is determined  by the mileage from destination to destination.  The forwarders all have a 100% guarantee that the luggage will arrive safely and on time.  It's  a pleasure to find our luggage awaiting us in our suite and just to leave it in our suite and to never see it again till we arrive home. You're on vacation and part of the experience  is to take it easy and not have to worry about lost baggage, delayed flights and LBDs. You've spent big money to be on a luxury cruise such as SB and now to "suffer" on shore is crazy.

.

 

 

[SLSD]

11 hours ago, markham said:

I guess that is what the SS loyalists like:), lots of smoking (the starboard side tables, 10 of them, are all smokers' tables all day long),

This alone is enough to dissuade us from booking a Silversea cruise.  Ten smoker's tables?  Seriously?  In the year 2021?

[A Tucson Guy]

17 minutes ago, SLSD said:

This alone is enough to dissuade us from booking a Silversea cruise.  Ten smoker's tables?  Seriously?  In the year 2021?

What are they smokin'.

[A Tucson Guy]

Just now, A Tucson Guy said:

What are they smokin'.

Don't worry as I never inhaled!!

[markham]

SLSD,

 

The Moon's smokers tables poolside were occupied by the same sets of people much of the day, believe it or not. And yes, this is 2021, which after weird 2020 I still can't quite believe.

 

That area and certain other designated areas at the stern make me think of a 1950s American country club when people and the institutions that catered to them apparently thought and decided that either smoking is not so bad or even that it is somehow good for you. I hated the wafting smoke outside the Art Cafe every morning which put that entire deck area off limits. The pool was less of an issue since I just kept to the starboard side.

 

Silversea is maybe the last refuge of that generation of smokers.

 

Happy and healthy sailing!

 

[Hlitner]

Since this thread has become somewhat a comparison of the SB Ovation to the SS Moon here is a real time description of the Ovation.  It is nearly 10 pm and our vessel sits in the cauldron of Santorini with the island as a backdrop.  The ships quartet band ( and singer) just finished their rock set at our deck party.  They were quickly replaced with our 5 piece showband (plus singer) also playing rock.  At least half the passengers are out here dancing and drinking.  Meanwhile there is an ongoing piano bar entertainer (Bruno) entertaining inside while the soft jazz duo of John and Josie entertain at the observation bar with Santorini as the backdrop.  ThIs is SB.  We have been on ships much larger with nothing near this level of energy.  And all this for only 300 passengers.  This ole guy is loving it all. Kudos to SB for pulling this off during a strange pandemic where a country locks down a city for a single case and another isolates from the world.  Tis strange times.

 

Hank

[HRPro]

Can’t wait to be on board in September to experience some normalcy and great cruising again.  

[Heather White]

Thank you, Hank, for all your interesting and helpful posts. Enjoy your last day at sea and good onward travel.

[TD_Cruiser]

Yes, thanks Hank for your informative posts.  It gives us a good idea of what to expect on Ovation in October.  Happy cruising!

[Mr Luxury]

I have just left the Moon and really enjoyed my twenty days.

The entertainment is lacking and so is the CD in comparison to any Seabourn cruise that I have done.

The food is generally better but I did have a few lack lustre moments that were quickly rectified.

The pool and the track on deck eleven as Markham says are excellent as is the gym that I used twice a day but still the steam and sauna have not been operational and  nobody has been able to give me a reason for it.

The SALT bar serves the best drink in any bar on any ship so far for me.

After trying all of the restaurants I went on every night of the second cruise to Atlantide which provided the best choice and best service.

I will try Silversea again on this class of ship but I still wonder what it will be like when the ship is sailing full.

Edited August 17, 2021 by Mr Luxury

[markham]

Mr L,

 

Glad to hear you enjoyed Moon, much as I did. Moon and its sisters Muse and soon Dawn, are a good choice number 2 after Seabourn but can inch their to the top depending on the itinerary. They have a certain character from the brand and I have decided it’s best to accept all of it as it is. That said, I wish I had some better memories as of disembarkation and through today about our cruise which ended 3 weeks ago in terms of passenger engagement. It’s just stuffier, and I am not referring to the smokers on decks, maybe due to the way Silversea passengers prefer to spend their time. It’s very much like a fine hotel where privacy and understatement prevail.

 

Happy and healthy sailing!
 

 

[Hlitner]

4 hours ago, Mr Luxury said:

I have just left the Moon and really enjoyed my twenty days.

The entertainment is lacking and so is the CD in comparison to any Seabourn cruise that I have done.

The food is generally better but I did have a few lack lustre moments that were quickly rectified.

The pool and the track on deck eleven as Markham says are excellent as is the gym that I used twice a day but still the steam and sauna have not been operational and  nobody has been able to give me a reason for it.

The SALT bar serves the best drink in any bar on any ship so far for me.

After trying all of the restaurants I went on every night of the second cruise to Atlantide which provided the best choice and best service.

I will try Silversea again on this class of ship but I still wonder what it will be like when the ship is sailing full.

I am still trying to get past the “gym” twice a day but thanks for the post 😋.  I will hang my head in shame since my main form of cruise exercise is rotating my wrist to handle drinks and food.

 

Hank

[tv24]

Hank:  Thanks for your great descriptions of life on board.  Just reinforces all my reasons for loving the Seabourn experience.

[Mr Luxury]

On 8/17/2021 at 1:11 PM, markham said:

Mr L,

 

Glad to hear you enjoyed Moon, much as I did. Moon and its sisters Muse and soon Dawn, are a good choice number 2 after Seabourn but can inch their to the top depending on the itinerary. They have a certain character from the brand and I have decided it’s best to accept all of it as it is. That said, I wish I had some better memories as of disembarkation and through today about our cruise which ended 3 weeks ago in terms of passenger engagement. It’s just stuffier, and I am not referring to the smokers on decks, maybe due to the way Silversea passengers prefer to spend their time. It’s very much like a fine hotel where privacy and understatement prevail.

 

Happy and healthy sailing!
 

 

I agree Markham with your observation of Silversea passenger stuffiness.

For me the stuffiness was evident in German and Dutch guests but not from US and other British guests.

There is a sense of snobbery around the ship which I have never seen on a Seabourn ship.

The lack of interaction from officers and to some extent the cruise director was a contributing factor that would have made the ship seem like a fine hotel where some people tip toe around and avoid eye contact.

Other than all of that I really enjoyed the experience.

[markham]

Mr L,

 

Yeah, it is a very different vibe over there. But now that we know what is what we are going to return for the food, track, pool and service quality when the itinerary beckons. So we have one in Aug., 2022 and in Nov., 2022, both on the new Dawn. We are going eyes wide open on the socialising front, but we do hope the smoking is further restricted especially poolside. I feel sorry for those people anyway.

 

See you on board somewhere when this madness gets under control (whatever that may mean), and let's hope for the best. We do have 3 Seabourn cruises in the meantime, and we should know in a couple of weeks what is what with the ones scheduled this winter. No worries in any case because we have some other options reserved, but we need the US to allow in fully vaccinated Europeans to make them work.

 

Happy and healthy sailing!

[Mr Luxury]

Yes Markham we will see what the reality is when the dust settles.

I'm looking at the Holiday cruise on the Ovation,not for the itinerary but for just being on the ship at Christmas and New year.

I also met a lovely couple from Cornwall on the Moon who are regular Regent sailors and they maintain that Regent is the best by far after trying everything else.

I am looking at what they are offering but do not like the marketing style of "Free everything" that they try to get past you.

I understand that many of the Moon crew are going to open Dawn so that is good for us that are looking to sail on the new ship.

[lincslady]

Having done quite a few Regent cruises in the past, and one just a couple of years ago to see if we now liked it as much as Seabourn (or to a lesser extent Silversea) we decided that we definitely did not, for various reasons.  To me, there is no comparison apart from some of the specialist Regent restaurants providing excellent meals.  Otherwise, no.  I suspect you would feel the same, but  unfortunately there is only one way to find out for sure.

[Mr Luxury]

You are correct Lincslady.

You never know if you don't go.

I also think that 750 guests is a little too much

[Covepointcruiser]

I never noted any deficiencies in the gym on the Seabourn Ovation.    The exercise equipment was varied and well maintained.   We also never noticed a crowd on our Greek sailings.   What additional equipment is available on The Silver Moon?

[Mr Luxury]

The Silver Moon has a very well equipped gym and has more equipment than on Ovation.

It is bigger and has a large studio.

 

[mcondition]

On 8/19/2021 at 9:09 AM, Mr Luxury said:

I agree Markham with your observation of Silversea passenger stuffiness.

For me the stuffiness was evident in German and Dutch guests but not from US and other British guests.

There is a sense of snobbery around the ship which I have never seen on a Seabourn ship.

The lack of interaction from officers and to some extent the cruise director was a contributing factor that would have made the ship seem like a fine hotel where some people tip toe around and avoid eye contact.

Other than all of that I really enjoyed the experience.

Mr Luxury apart from the stuffiness of some  of the passengers, is there also age difference between SB and Silversea passengers? Thanks. 

[Mr Luxury]

Not much of a difference on my trip between the two.

There were 40-50 60-70 80-90

There were a few 20 somethings who were with their parents and grandparents.