SDuckers

On 12/10/2023 at 10:54 PM, Vineyard View said:

Fair response/question for sure. Thank you. 

Cancelled flights. Re-routed flights and inability to book seats on transatlantic flights. This question did not necessarily pertain to Flight ease at all,  but experience in the past several months with BA specifically being more so than other lines. I truly realize that this occurs with all airlines, but I was told by more than one person in the travel industry that they have experienced more than normal with BA. 
On an aside, friends who recently travelled independently on a land trip to the British Isles via BA, that we spent this weekend with, had a flight cancelled -  their return flight at the last minute. It was not a well handled situation - so that combination prompted my question. 

Not a cruise-connected trip, but this past September we flew BA from Houston (IAH) to Heathrow, first class both ways.  Our out-bound flight was cancelled about 18 hours in advance (the flight from London to Houston had been cancelled so the aircraft was not available) and we were booked on a flight leaving about 6 hours later.  Our return flight was cancelled about 12 hours in advance, and the initial rebooking had us leaving at approximately the same time, on American Airlines business class, with a connection through Miami, getting home about 5 hours later.  I was able to change that to rebook on an earlier BA flight to Houston remaining in first class.  We were not happy about losing the last half day in London, but it beat the hell out of having to fly American business class and have to connect to a domestic flight in Miami.  Our TA told us the particular Heathrow-IAH flight we originally booked on cancelled fairly frequently, probably when it wasn't close to being a full flight.

It's 10:22 am here, so if at a port, we'd probably be out on an excursion of some kind.  If at sea, probably joining firsttimers at playing Baggo badly, or at Seabourn Square working on a jigsaw puzzle or enjoying a good book.

On 12/8/2023 at 2:48 PM, hoya68 said:

You are vastly outnumbered. Well over a billion people eat it every day.

Duh.  But it still counters the Brit's contention that Americans love Indian food.  Not necessarily so.

On 12/6/2023 at 4:45 PM, Mr Luxury said:

Although living in London I find that an Indian meal is the last thing I want on a ship.

Americans generally love an Indian meal on the ship

I hate Indian food.

6 hours ago, Mr Luxury said:

The Indian Market evening is one of the most popular on Seabourn.

Those of us from the UK are not so fussed about it because we have Indian restaurants on every street corner bit I understand that many from the US love it because it is something a little different.

Oh, I know it's popular, and I'm not suggesting Seabourn get rid of that.  But having one occasional night devoted to Indian food isn't the same as having one of the restaurants dedicated to that cuisine every night.

On 10/19/2023 at 2:28 PM, cruiseej said:

Several people have questioned exactly when Solis will debut on the various Seabourn ships. Here is what Seabourn has planned:

 

 

So it's a month-long conversion on each ship, with the restaurant scheduled to open midway through at the start of the third week, with fine-tuning and finishing touches over the remaining two weeks. If you're unlucky enough to be on one of the ships during the first two weeks of the conversion, you'll miss out on both TK Grille and Solis. But there's really no other way they could do this without waiting for each ship to go into dry dock, which would be nearly impossible in a five month period. 

 

This is great info, thanks!  We will be on the crossing on the Ovation from April 12-26, so sounds like we will get to be among the first to test it out on that ship!

On 10/19/2023 at 6:49 AM, frantic36 said:

 

My son cooks wonderful Indian food but I like it in very small increments over a year. So as I said before you can't please everyone. A restaurant focused on Indian would mean when I do long cruises it would be a place I would only visit once in a 30 day cruise if at all.

 

They do Indian in the Colonnade and you can order a special meal with friends which I have enjoyed. I think they need to be careful not to alienate people who like the clever simplicity of TK and Mediterranean fare.

And I don't care for Indian food at all.  If the specialty restaurant was 100% Indian cuisine, I doubt I would ever go there.  I also have always skipped the "Indian Market" nights in the Colonnade.  

This is the inherent danger in having the specialty restaurant specialize in only one cuisine.

12 hours ago, kjbacon said:

And an afterthought about The Collonade … the TK special nights are bound to go as well? The fried chicken night, etc? And will there be special nights featuring a Solis Mediterranean dish?

I will really miss the Keller Fried Chicken!

11 hours ago, frantic36 said:

No, there has never been bingo on Seabourn that I am aware of. I have done two long cruises on Seabourn this year and the first one of 79 days had many sea days and no bingo.

 

As lincslady suggests there is trivia, lectures, name that tune, liars club, baggo, art or craft classes on sea days, etc.

On one cruise, they also had a shuffleboard tournament.  I was quite proud to take second place! 

<there were only two of us competing> 

In St. Lucia 2 years ago (so still in pandemic "bubble" for excursions), DH and I did the aerial tram and  Ziplining canopy tour.  I think you can probably now book it independent of Seabourn through a number of vendors but that wasn't an option for us.  The tram and ziplining was a blast and our guide was fabulous -- very knowledgeable about the flora and fauna we were seeing.  My only criticism was that after we completed the full series of ziplines from the top of the forest to the forest floor, we had to hike all the way back up to the top.  If I had known that I might not have signed up for the excursion, because the hike back up was strenuous (and I admit to not being in great shape for such a thing).  So maybe it's better I didn't know.   I felt bad delaying everyone else in the group because I was so slow going back up.  

3 hours ago, skybluewaters said:

 

And, apparently, sometimes a SDuckers game, also 😆

I actually read it that way the first time!  LOL

I primarily play blackjack, but I have not ever seen any perks for players in the Casino.

17 hours ago, floridaphilly said:

I am sailing from Lisbon to Miami and have been offered an upgrade from Veranda to Penthouse, but the suite is handicapped assessible. I don’t mind the walk in shower witha bench but is it a good idea. We are on Sojourn and the suite is 635. The cost is less than 1000.00

Any insignt would be greatly appreciated.

My DH and I really love the extra space that a PH offers.  The layout of the bedroom through the closet to the bathroom is a little odd, but it didn't bother us.  I like that the bedroom can be separated from the remainder of the suite, as DH tends to get up before I do.  Other than the extra space, there aren't really any other "perks" to a PH vs a Veranda.

I am trying to decide whether the topic of tipping, or the topic of jeans in the MDR, is the most likely to blow up on this board on any given day.

On 9/14/2023 at 2:09 PM, cruiseej said:

For all those extolling the polar plunge, I just want to weigh in with the contrary position. I have no desire to jump into freezing water just to say I did it! 😀 I watch from a convenient viewing spot and applaud those who choose to partake, but I haven't been even remotely tempted to join in. (I don't drink Jaegermeister, and I could get that, or a hot chocolate, on the ship without getting cold and wet!) I'm not in any way discouraging anyone who wants to try it from doing so; I'm just noting there are also plenty of us who are happy to observe, cheer on, and stay warm and dry. 🤣

I'll sit next to you!  The only way I am doing a polar plunge is if the ship is sinking.

We are booked on this crossing from Miami to Lisbon next spring, and just got this notification that Handre will be on this cruise, with a new program.

See this link:  https://www.instagram.com/reel/CvvHPPOPFVm/?VID=5011917613&camp=082623_SE2339TRA&rmid=082623_SE2339TRA&rrid=172714302&stop_mobi=yes&XID=EXTSEM202308225ZEZDI7K2E

I'll be severely disappointed if they do away with Keller fried chicken nights!  That is one of my favorite meals on Seabourn!

We are doing a crossing in April, with only one port day.  I do hope the restaurant will be open for lunch on this cruise, because I will get awfully tired of the Colonnade and Patio Grill for lunch every day if the restaurant isn't an option.

9 minutes ago, SLSD said:

I agree that a cruise director may not be the best for making fleetwide entertainment decisions.  And why the offensive comedians?  I've never heard one aboard ship that I thought was worth listening to.  No wonder so many people walk out.  

There was a comedian on our Alaskan cruise last fall.  He wasn't "offensive."  Just not funny.  We walked out about halfway through because he just wasn't funny and we were not enjoying it, so saw no point in staying.  I did feel a little bad in leaving, but not so bad that it kept me from doing so!

26 minutes ago, MBP&amp;O2/O said:

Ah ... define Requirements.... the ships are registered in Nassau ...

Do they / can they invoke USA laws on a 'foreign flagged' ship? 

T&C's of carriage need to be updated accordingly then it's a civil matter?

 

Requirements:  Service dog must be on leash at all times.  Service dog is to be with its assigned owner at all times and not left alone in a cabin.  Service dog will not be permitted to sit on furniture in the common/public areas of the ship.  Service dog will not be permitted to eat food off plates in the public dining areas or be fed "under the table" with guests' food in the public dining areas.

Isn't the failure to comply with some or all of these pretty basic things the gist of people's irritation with the alleged service dog on a couple of recent cruises?  This isn't about invoking US laws.  Ships can establish their own rules of behavior, and enforce them, so long as they don't conflict with ADA rules and regs.  None of the above requirements would have any such conflict.

Is there really any indication that this is a pervasive problem?  I think I have read about it occurring twice (and some indication both occasions are the same person).  If not, then it shouldn't be that hard for Seabourn to deal with this one outlier.  Passengers get "evicted" from ships for failing to comply with ship policies all the time.  Seabourn just needs to publish that anyone who boards with a purported "service" animal who does not comply with all requirements for such an animal will be disembarked at the next port.  And then do that.

4 minutes ago, Rothko1 said:

 

I'm not sure too many people would want to travel to Brownsville just to have a dinner, even if it was delicious Tex-Mex.

Yeah, you have to have a reason to go to Brownsville (although it really is a lovely city).

1 minute ago, SLSD said:

And you are so right about the floppy ties for women lawyers.  Their time passed long ago.  I'm not sure I would have ever worn them.  

Every time I see a picture of myself wearing one I alternately cringe and giggle.  Oh, and the same on the HUGE shoulder pads.

I have kept my original Brooks Brothers suit that I got right out of law school.  You know the old "dress for success" mantra of buying something timeless?  LOL.  Notsomuch.  I keep it for nostalgia.

On 7/21/2023 at 3:38 PM, Rothko1 said:

 

Pappasito's was a favorite of mine for fajitas.

Still love Pappasito's!  Ninfa's (the original one on Navigation) was the best for a long time.  But I ate there recently and it's just not the same anymore.  Although the "Ninfarita" is still delicious!

The best Tex-Mex anywhere in the world (IMNSHO) is the Vermillion Restaurant in Brownsville Texas.  Best enchiladas or fajitas you'll ever have.  Outstanding ceviche too.  

Not on a Seabourn cruise port of call, unfortunately!

2 hours ago, SLSD said:

I can see a man owning a white dinner jacket and/or a tux if he cruised often--say four or more long cruises a year.  But, I have seen that life really does change after retirement.  My husband  owns  a tux which he wore a number of times a year during his career.  There were always plenty of black tie events--some connected to his  law firm and other charity events sprinkled throughout the year.  He had a closetful of dark business suits as well.  The tux  now needs to be replaced  (updated) and the business suits have mostly been donated.  He only needs one business suit (and is getting a new one) to wear to funerals and weddings and the occasional setting that would require wearing one.  He has plenty of up to date sports coats (all conservative) and will be acquiring new ones.  Fine dining in our city has become more casual.  At the most, a sports coat would be the most appropriate thing to wear.  No one even wears a suit at the law firm these days.  That all changed with the pandemic.  It had begun to change before the pandemic and with the pandemic, the change appears to be final.  This is in a large international law firm where my husband still has an office even though retired.   

 

I used to be a proponent of dressing up on a cruise for formal nights.  While I still think dressing for dinner should be different from daytime wear, I question the white dinner jacket/tux  aesthetic going forward.  This is just not clothing that many people are continuing to wear in their everyday lives.  I know many disagree and I used to be among them.  Our lives have changed and even those still working in professional careers don't dress the same way any longer.  

This is very similar for us.  I keep telling my DH he needs to go thru his closet and get rid of all the suits he is never going to wear again.  For "business" attire, he primarily wears a blue sports coat, and for something more formal (wedding/funeral etc) he does still have one good suit.  The other ones are either dated in style or (shhh) don't really fit any more.  He has a tux and and has toyed with the idea of bringing it on a cruise, but it's not just the tux then -- it's the cumberbund, French cuff shirt, cuff links, etc.  Not to mention dress shoes rather than loafers.

I still wear more "dressy" business attire (I'm a lawyer) but not so much the coat and skirt business suits (and thank God, no more floppy ties from the 80's!).  I have a couple of dressy cocktail dresses that don't wrinkle and don't take up much space, so I tend to bring one along for formal night on a cruise, just because I have so few occasions to wear them any more and I do like totting myself up from time to time!

I really don't pay much attention to what others wear on "formal night" other than I do notice if a man is in a tux or dinner jacket or a woman is in a more formal gown.  That's just noticing in terms of admiration, I guess.  I suppose I probably would notice if someone came in in ratty jeans or shorts too, just like I notice yahoos who wear a hat indoors.

On 7/18/2023 at 11:03 PM, SLSD said:

I think because we are from Texas,  we really hate hot weather and avoid it if at all possible.  Maybe we are in a minority?

I'll come sit next to you.  But not too close, so we don't get all sweaty.

<----Houston isn't as hot as Dallas, but it's WAY more humid.