Jenwin

We have sailed with all the above on more than one cruise, including 40 days with Regent and 71 days with Seabourn. There is very little difference in the quality of service or cabin layout with any of these cruise lines. Personally we think the food is far better on Silverseas. The biggest issue we have is the smoking policy of Seabourn. They allow smoking of cigars and cigarettes on private balconies, three of the open deck areas and in the Observation Lounge. Regent and Silverseas has a very good smoking policy with a designated smoking room. The cabin sizes on Crystal are smaller than the other three cruise lines.

We really enjoyed our 40 day cruise with Regent and wouldn't hesitate to sail with them again.

Like you we have just completed a cruise with Seabourn and experienced the smoke/cigar filled den of the Observation Lounge. I wrote several emails complaining about Seabourn's out of date smoking policy and was told they had no intention of changing their current policy

That was our last cruise with Seabourn until the smoking policy is changed

We recently completed a 71 day cruise on the Quest, Valparaiso to Monte Carlo and our only major complaint, and in my opinion a huge one as we detest smoking and we are both asthmatics, was their smoking policy.

Seabourn allow smoking on any private balcony which means if your neighbours smoke you also get the smoke and it permeates into your cabin. On half of rear deck five which means the wind can blow the smoke across to the non smoking side. On half of rear deck seven where smoke is easily smelt as it doesn't even need to blow across as a smoker can be right next to you. On starboard side of deck nine which is where the sky bar is situated and also where the jogging track runs through, also the cabins on this level exit here. And probably the worst area of all is the Observation Lounge where the pianist plays, we only had a couple of very heavy smokers, both cigarettes and cigars and the whole room was filled with putrid smoke which stung my eyes, so much that it seeped out into the corridor and into the lifts and stair well. Our hair and clothes also smelled of smoke which meant the smell was brought back into our cabin. After just long enough time to order a drink we had to leave as I had a severe asthma attack.

I wrote several emails expressing the discomfort we experienced and how we were unable to have the enjoyment of so many areas of the ship, including our own balcony and Seabourn's response was that they had to be fair to all passengers.

Until Seabourn change their policy we will not sail with them again. We have never had any smoking issues with Regent or Silver Seas in past cruises.

Jenwin