My husband and I were on this cruise this past holiday and we were also disappointed. It wasn't just that the ports weren't open due to weather - I think everyone understands safety issues - but there were no provisions and little information at the ports where we did stop. It didn't feel like a Seabourn experience at all. As an example, on New Year's Eve our meal was very rushed in the dining room to the point of being rude. We were in and out of there in record time - maybe 30 minutes - and the food was simply terrible because it tasted like it had been sitting ready at the wait for an hour or more. Blech. By the end of the meal we were really happy to get the heck out of there and back to our suite. Walking out of the dining room a waiter who was hurrying around practically knocked me down while he was rushing to clear a table.
The excursions were also hit or miss. One example was the EOCE - once a year opportunity hiking trip that turned into a very dangerous expedition with no one aboard the Sojourn or anyone with Seabourn having taken the hike before. The problem was depending upon who you asked about the hike, you got a different explanation for what to expect The service staff in Seabourn Square were absolutely clueless about it.
An older man with a cane who clearly had trouble with mobility was allowed to board the bus to take the hike. Halfway during the hike with passengers helping the man with the cane and each other there was a pivot point where the group splintered off due to dangerous conditions (driving rain, slippery and wet rocks and coral, mobility issues) and the leader of the hike as well as the leader of the Ventures Team went on while others simply stopped following this man thinking he was insane to continue and put passengers' lives at risk. Some passengers became confused and lost separating from the splinter group. One passenger helped others to get back on the path and to the bus only to find the bus driver had taken off to points unknown.
Later that evening during dinner, some of the passengers who took the hike discussed the treacherous and dangerous conditions hanging on to a coral cliff side in the pouring rain on a 5 inch ledge over crashing ocean waves and rocks below. Everyone generally considered the hike "technical" and were ill-equipped to manage it safely.
Most of the passengers on this excursion felt as though they had passed a survival test. As an apology, the excursion money was refunded and the Captain invited those who were on the excursion to a cocktail party on the exclusive deck 12 in which he failed to show up and no one provided any explanation.
Passengers decompressed with one another. The cruise and the excursions and the crew had that "missing something special" throughout the holiday but the ridiculous excursion and the bumbling of the apology was almost comical for such a dangerous experience. The Ventures leader, Juan, again showed no leadership during the cocktail party preferring to not engage the entire group but rather a few of his buddies in the corner of the room. What a waste of time.
The few islands we were able to stop were beautiful and most enjoyable. The water was amazing and the islanders were friendly for the most part.
All in all though, if you hope or think you will have a "special" holiday aboard this cruise to Fiji, I would recommend you skip it. Instead book Antarctica and South Georgia Island. They have many more things figured out onboard and you will have an amazing holiday adventure.
Encore Christmas South Pacific disappointment
in Seabourn Cruise Line
Posted
My husband and I were on this cruise this past holiday and we were also disappointed. It wasn't just that the ports weren't open due to weather - I think everyone understands safety issues - but there were no provisions and little information at the ports where we did stop. It didn't feel like a Seabourn experience at all. As an example, on New Year's Eve our meal was very rushed in the dining room to the point of being rude. We were in and out of there in record time - maybe 30 minutes - and the food was simply terrible because it tasted like it had been sitting ready at the wait for an hour or more. Blech. By the end of the meal we were really happy to get the heck out of there and back to our suite. Walking out of the dining room a waiter who was hurrying around practically knocked me down while he was rushing to clear a table.
The excursions were also hit or miss. One example was the EOCE - once a year opportunity hiking trip that turned into a very dangerous expedition with no one aboard the Sojourn or anyone with Seabourn having taken the hike before. The problem was depending upon who you asked about the hike, you got a different explanation for what to expect The service staff in Seabourn Square were absolutely clueless about it.
An older man with a cane who clearly had trouble with mobility was allowed to board the bus to take the hike. Halfway during the hike with passengers helping the man with the cane and each other there was a pivot point where the group splintered off due to dangerous conditions (driving rain, slippery and wet rocks and coral, mobility issues) and the leader of the hike as well as the leader of the Ventures Team went on while others simply stopped following this man thinking he was insane to continue and put passengers' lives at risk. Some passengers became confused and lost separating from the splinter group. One passenger helped others to get back on the path and to the bus only to find the bus driver had taken off to points unknown.
Later that evening during dinner, some of the passengers who took the hike discussed the treacherous and dangerous conditions hanging on to a coral cliff side in the pouring rain on a 5 inch ledge over crashing ocean waves and rocks below. Everyone generally considered the hike "technical" and were ill-equipped to manage it safely.
Most of the passengers on this excursion felt as though they had passed a survival test. As an apology, the excursion money was refunded and the Captain invited those who were on the excursion to a cocktail party on the exclusive deck 12 in which he failed to show up and no one provided any explanation.
Passengers decompressed with one another. The cruise and the excursions and the crew had that "missing something special" throughout the holiday but the ridiculous excursion and the bumbling of the apology was almost comical for such a dangerous experience. The Ventures leader, Juan, again showed no leadership during the cocktail party preferring to not engage the entire group but rather a few of his buddies in the corner of the room. What a waste of time.
The few islands we were able to stop were beautiful and most enjoyable. The water was amazing and the islanders were friendly for the most part.
All in all though, if you hope or think you will have a "special" holiday aboard this cruise to Fiji, I would recommend you skip it. Instead book Antarctica and South Georgia Island. They have many more things figured out onboard and you will have an amazing holiday adventure.