Odyssey Review

My wife and I took our first (and unfortunately probably last) cruise on Seabourn last week on the Odyssey on an 8 night Mediterranean cruise. Here is my personal review, starting with the good things:

Embarkation in Monte Carlo: Excellent. We arrived at about 12:30 and embarkation took no more than 10 minutes. We proceeded to the Colonnade for lunch (which was average to good). Nice that they have a bag check available next to the Colonnade for your carry-on bags. Everyone was extremely friendly and wonderful. Staterooms were ready pretty much right on the dot at 2 pm.

Stateroom: Excellent. We were in a penthouse suite (1016) right next to the observation bar. I thought that the location might be a little loud, but although we could here the activities in the observation bar if we listened for it, it was never a problem. The room is gigantic compared to other cruises we have been on and was well furnished. The bed was comfortable and we have no complaints about the amenities (although my wife thought the Molton Brown toiletries smelled too "manly". That is personal preference though and not a complaint). Our stewardess was great, very friendly and the room always looked great.

Ship amenities: Excellent. While we are not big drinkers, we did have a few drinks in the observation bar and the pool bar. The bartenders were friendly and efficient and the drinks were good. My wife had coffee a few times from the Square and had the same experience. The library is nice and well stocked, as is the game room. The casino is small, but never overly crowded (in fact it was near empty most of the time). The dealers were pleasant (although they took my money :) ). Pools looked nice, although it was too cold to partake. I like the informal feeling of Seabourn Square as opposed to standing in line at a desk somewhere to make reservations/excursions etc. I also like the small size of the ship and feel that Seabourn might be making a mistake in getting larger ships (Encore).

Tours/Excursions: Excellent. We did the galley tour and loved it. We also went to the cooking demonstration. The chef is part comedian and we had a great time (as did everyone else there). We did one excursion (to Pisa) and it was well run and the tour guide was friendly and knowledgeable.

Fellow Guests: Excellent. Everyone was very friendly and we had some interesting conversations at the dinner tables. Seemed like the mix was about 60% American, 30% English, and 10% Other.

R2: Excellent. We decided to do R2 last minute and asked at Seabourn Square at around noon if they could fit us in. We were wait-listed, but called at around 6 to see if we wanted to join another couple at a 4 top table. We decided to join and had a great time. Many of the items I would never order on their own, but I ate all of them. Some were better than others, but overall I really enjoyed the experience and the food.

Food: Average. We had heard so much about the food on board and were really excited. Unfortunately, with the exception of our one night in R2 and the Indian night in the Colonnade, we were disappointed. The food was not bad, it just wasn't up to the level that we were expecting. Breadsticks were awesome though.

Hosted tables: We got invited to 3. We went to 2 (CD and a singer). We declined the 3rd (with the Asst. Capt I believe) because we wanted Indian in the Colonnade. Great conversation all around.

Restaurant service: Poor (and the reason we probably won't sail with Seabourn again). The service in the restaurant and colonnade was horrendous. Everything took forever. (I understand that fine dining is a slower pace, but this was far beyond that.) On the first night, I ordered a diet cola with my meal and had to ask multiple people before I received it. This continued the second night. On the second night, we were at a hosted table with the CD. I would have thought that the service would be better, but I was wrong. Once again I asked our waiter for a diet cola. Then I asked the assistant waiter, then the wine steward, then the waiter again. From the first time I asked until I received my drink took 45 minutes (I looked at my watch). It wasn't just the drinks though, everything took forever: we had dirty plates in front of us for over 15 minutes without the table being pre-bussed. The attitude in the dining room seemed to be "not my job". On the third day, I went to Seabourn Square to make reservations for R2. At that time, I informed them of my problems in the dining room. While they were apologetic and took notes of the conversation, nothing changed and the atrocious service continued throughout the rest of the cruise. It got to the point that I would bring a drink from my stateroom because I didn't know how long it would take to get one in the restaurant. Even water glasses would sit empty at our table. We usually joined other people in the restaurant and it seemed everyone was having the same issues. I understand that you can have an 'off night', but this happened pretty much every time we went to a meal, and actually seemed to get worse throughout the cruise. The colonnade for breakfast and lunch was no better. We would be done with our buffet food before we were even asked if we wanted coffee or eggs. I have seen others post about having their plates carried from the buffet for them. This only happened once the entire time we were on the boat. (We don't need our plates carried, but this is indicative of the service we received.) We asked for hot sauce one time. Not only did it take a while to get it, the waiter actually came over 5 minutes later to take it away to another table before my eggs even showed up. (do they really only have one bottle of Tobasco sauce on the ship?). On other (supposedly lower class lines such as RC and Celeb) ships, not only do they automatically refill glasses in the main restaurant before you have finished them, they seem to learn what we drink and have them out without even asking. I was scared to ask for a refill in the restaurant or colonnade because I didn't think it would show up before we left. Dining is a very important part of a cruise and I feel that we were really let down in this regard. I don't believe the problem was due to understaffing. We saw numerous people in the dining venues just standing around talking to each other. I really think the attitude was "not my job, let someone else do it".

It will be a while before we cruise again, but unfortunately I think we are going to have to look elsewhere on our next cruse.

Thanks for your objective review. It is unfortunate that the restaurant service was not as expected. Maybe it's time for another dining experience on another line.

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Sorry you had these problems. Not at all comparable to our experience on Odyssey out of Istanbul in June[emoji6]. Colonnade, 2, MDR all most satisfactory. Staff in all these areas faultless.

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Problems in the MDR appear to be a constant theme with quite a few passengers. I wonder if SB listen to passengers concerns ?

Kind regards,

Tony

No longer looking forward to our first Seabourn cruise on the odyssey in a month. Dreading it now Seems like one option is to do room service every night

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Agree with Muddle.. We were on the same June cruise and the service in the MDR was wonderful. Here are some tips for getting good service in the MDR. If you can try to sit in the section each evening where the section waiter will get to know you and then he she will also get to know your preferences. Our terrific section waiter, Milos, quickly ascertained that we enjoy a leisurely dinner, the we like San Pelligrino water with lime and ice and that we enjoy interacting with the waitstaff. Also, and I am not implying the OP did not do this, in my experience I have found that if you are pleasant with the waitstaff, address them by name, say please and thank you and make light of any little glitches they will go the extra mile to give you good service.

Bitiobob, I hope you don't let a couple of poor reviews color your perception before you even get on the ship. If you can keep an open mind and go in with an attitude that it will be wonderful I think you will find it will be..

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Agree with Muddle.. We were on the same June cruise and the service in the MDR was wonderful. Here are some tips for getting good service in the MDR. If you can try to sit in the section each evening where the section waiter will get to know you and then he she will also get to know your preferences. Our terrific section waiter, Milos, quickly ascertained that we enjoy a leisurely dinner, the we like San Pelligrino water with lime and ice and that we enjoy interacting with the waitstaff. Also, and I am not implying the OP did not do this, in my experience I have found that if you are pleasant with the waitstaff, address them by name, say please and thank you and make light of any little glitches they will go the extra mile to give you good service.

 

Bitiobob, I hope you don't let a couple of poor reviews color your perception before you even get on the ship. If you can keep an open mind and go in with an attitude that it will be wonderful I think you will find it will be..

 

 

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I will have open mind and lower expectations.

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You might get some comfort from reading 2sailingnomads thread on the Odyssey. He is on now and has many many days on Seabourn with which to compare his current cruise.

We are aboard the Odyssey at present and will be disembarking in Lisbon.

We have sailed on Seabourn many times and this cruise is just as good as ever.

There will always be small issues but the staff are great and last nights welcome dinner was as good as it has ever been.

If you look for the positives you will not be disappointed, we are very happy!

We are aboard the Odyssey at present and will be disembarking in Lisbon.

 

We have sailed on Seabourn many times and this cruise is just as good as ever.

 

There will always be small issues but the staff are great and last nights welcome dinner was as good as it has ever been.

 

If you look for the positives you will not be disappointed, we are very happy!

Heartening

I will remain hopeful and judge for myself

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I was on Ody in sept and oct this year, and found it to be significantly better service than last summer.

In fact the only thing i took issue with were the only thing OP liked, the breadsticks. Which are now less salted with no accompanying flavoured butter.

I would also add, that if i had received bad service in a particular area in MDr i would complain, and make sure i was seated elsewhere next time. My drink,which had to be fetched from the bar was always at the table before i had even ordered it. Yes, there are some staff better than others, but i would make sure i didnt have to deal with them again.

Bitbob, yes SB is not perfect, but no line is perfect.

We are aboard the Odyssey at present and will be disembarking in Lisbon.

We have sailed on Seabourn many times and this cruise is just as good as ever.

There will always be small issues but the staff are great and last nights welcome dinner was as good as it has ever been.

If you look for the positives you will not be disappointed, we are very happy!

Exactly! We should meet, email me: SailingNomads at outlook dot com if you'd like to get together.

Thanks for your review. Your opinions are sincerely appreciated.

Dear bitbob, I totally agree with Chairsin. We spent 20 days on Odyssey in July/August dining service was impeccable, through out the ship. Please do not be apprehensive, you will have a wonderful cruise.

Good to hear. Getting excited again. I will ignore the naysayers

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My wife and I took our first (and unfortunately probably last) cruise on Seabourn last week on the Odyssey on an 8 night Mediterranean cruise. Here is my personal review...

 

 

Restaurant service: Poor (and the reason we probably won't sail with Seabourn again). The service in the restaurant and colonnade was horrendous. Everything took forever. (I understand that fine dining is a slower pace, but this was far beyond that.) On the first night, I ordered a diet cola with my meal and had to ask multiple people before I received it. This continued the second night. On the second night, we were at a hosted table with the CD. I would have thought that the service would be better, but I was wrong. Once again I asked our waiter for a diet cola. Then I asked the assistant waiter, then the wine steward, then the waiter again. From the first time I asked until I received my drink took 45 minutes (I looked at my watch). It wasn't just the drinks though, everything took forever: we had dirty plates in front of us for over 15 minutes without the table being pre-bussed. The attitude in the dining room seemed to be "not my job". On the third day, I went to Seabourn Square to make reservations for R2. At that time, I informed them of my problems in the dining room. While they were apologetic and took notes of the conversation, nothing changed and the atrocious service continued throughout the rest of the cruise. It got to the point that I would bring a drink from my stateroom because I didn't know how long it would take to get one in the restaurant. Even water glasses would sit empty at our table. We usually joined other people in the restaurant and it seemed everyone was having the same issues. I understand that you can have an 'off night', but this happened pretty much every time we went to a meal, and actually seemed to get worse throughout the cruise. The colonnade for breakfast and lunch was no better. We would be done with our buffet food before we were even asked if we wanted coffee or eggs. I have seen others post about having their plates carried from the buffet for them. This only happened once the entire time we were on the boat. (We don't need our plates carried, but this is indicative of the service we received.) We asked for hot sauce one time. Not only did it take a while to get it, the waiter actually came over 5 minutes later to take it away to another table before my eggs even showed up. (do they really only have one bottle of Tobasco sauce on the ship?). On other (supposedly lower class lines such as RC and Celeb) ships, not only do they automatically refill glasses in the main restaurant before you have finished them, they seem to learn what we drink and have them out without even asking. I was scared to ask for a refill in the restaurant or colonnade because I didn't think it would show up before we left. Dining is a very important part of a cruise and I feel that we were really let down in this regard. I don't believe the problem was due to understaffing. We saw numerous people in the dining venues just standing around talking to each other. I really think the attitude was "not my job, let someone else do it".

 

It will be a while before we cruise again, but unfortunately I think we are going to have to look elsewhere on our next cruse.

I had similar issues back in Jan/Feb. They were resolved (thankfully) by changing sections.

Thank you for your very detailed review. I'm really hoping I don't run into similar issues on Quest as I'll be sailing her for 57 nights starting early February. Food and service in the restaurants are most important to me when selecting a cruise line, if more than one luxury line operates the itinerary I'm interested in. Clearly "average" and "poor" is not what I would expect in these categories from a premium brand such as Seabourn. I have cruised 27 times on Azamara and was expecting a step up; was that wrong?

Floris

Floris - each of the three ships has had some problems in the past few months, as you no doubt will have read on this forum. This was entirely, IMO, due to having too many new recruits on at the same time as experienced staff were poached for Encore. All reports suggest that this has improved enormously, and from what I was told by a staff member recently Quest suffered the least.

There will have been a couple of months for new staff to settle in completely, so all should be well. You may have Captain Dag in charge, the latest 'wonderful' Captain on Quest, and everything should be ship shape and Bristol fashion, as they used to say years ago.

Floris - each of the three ships has had some problems in the past few months, as you no doubt will have read on this forum. This was entirely, IMO, due to having too many new recruits on at the same time as experienced staff were poached for Encore. All reports suggest that this has improved enormously, and from what I was told by a staff member recently Quest suffered the least.

 

There will have been a couple of months for new staff to settle in completely, so all should be well. You may have Captain Dag in charge, the latest 'wonderful' Captain on Quest, and everything should be ship shape and Bristol fashion, as they used to say years ago.

Thank you, that's very reassuring, much appreciated! I remember from when I was younger with a lot less money to spend how when Celebrity launched its first Solstice class ship service on the other ships dropped because all the best crew and staff went to the new ship. I guess this is similar and indeed hopefully solves itself very quickly. It's still a shame though for people who spend the big $$$s on sailings that were impacted.

I read about Dag but since he joined early November I'm going to assume he's gone by early February, otherwise it would be a very long contract. It would be great however to have him at the helm for the Antarctica segment!

Cheers,

Floris

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