Utopia1

what is "special treatment" on Seabourn?

12 minutes ago, Robisan said:

Upon retirement I vowed to never wear a tie again, nor endure the indignity of the top shirt button. It's baffling that neck ties - a useless accessory that serves absolutely no useful function - have endured as normal, even required(!) dress for many people and situations. At least jeans have some appropriate utility and function. SMH...

your views are similar to my college aged grandchildren-  you are young at heart

have fun!

I recently booked my air through Flightease--   I booked the same hotel Seabourn used through  American Express for considerably less money.  Seabourn explained that I was not entitled to a transfer from the airport to the hotel or hotel to ship because I did not book the hotel through Seabourn.  I did receive a transfer from the ship to the airport the same day as my flight.

I booked my next air and hotel independently and am not entitled to transfers. If I was Diamond elite I would receive the transfer perks from the airport and hotel to the ship.

6 hours ago, CruisewhenWecan said:

How much extra was the Caymus cab ??   Reading all these wine post have me reconsidering booking with this cruise line.

The Caymus Special Selection was $225.00 -- the same price my local wine store sells it for.

The Ovation was out of stock last month-- hopefully they will have received a new supply this month. 

12 minutes ago, Bobreg said:

Sorry if you felt like I was criticising you. My point was against the concept by itself of creating two kind of pax depending on how much you spend 😜 or the type of amenities you book.  Prior to covid, we booked suites on Celebrity or other mainstream lines only to realize that we were more often outside of the room than in. So we decided that it was more important to do more cruises, paying less for the category we were not using and enjoying extras we feel important on the ship 🚢.

I am happy if you are on the right side of the fence enjoying yourself with all the included perks but as someone who is more often on the other side of that fence, the cruise line makes me feel like a second grade pax.

If you really want to experience this, take a cruise on Azamara to experience the big ship 🚢 feel on a small ship.  We booked a balcony plus on the Quest late spring and the feeling was that you are nothing if you didn't book a suite.  We had a bad experience in the Prime C specialty restaurant and the HD, Ryzark, changed direction to avoid us after we spoke with the restaurant manager. The captain would stop at the tables of suites pax to chat but would almost run by us just saying hello. We know we are not paying the same as the suites pax but at least don't make us feel like second class citizens.

We are elite plus on Celebrity and feel that the happy hour with cheap wine, because we don't drink mixes, is not worth the time and is a real joke since you have to tip the waiter extra in order to get service.

We don't know where the industry is heading but we don't like the preview.

Have fun on Celebrity.

I have to disagree with you about dining on Azamara.  Every morning I had my breakfast in the dining room for suite guests.  Almost every evening I ate in Prime C.  I believe (and hope I'm right) that the reason the dining room captain and staff greeted us was familiarity and the fact that I was on for 3 back to backs---not my accommodation.  Of course he should greet  ALL the guests the same way..

I have found the guests and crew on Azamara to be the most similar to Seabourn when comparing Azamara to the other cruise lines I have sailed on-- The major difference between Seabourn and Azamara for me are the accommodations. . The reason I book on Azamara is that I like their itineraries and time in port. Seabourn with all their changes is still my cruse line of choice-- at least for now.

35 minutes ago, tfred said:

I used to work with a film mfg company that did work with onboard concessionaires on cruise lines  - SB was at one time one of them. Also a few other biggies. Been on more ships and shipyards than you can imagine. 

 

Every aspect of spending on board spending is examined and it is a numbers game.  More people = more spending. It is measured by gross revenue but also passenger per day, day of the week etc. 7 day cruises, 14 day cruises and longer. It is all looked at.  Profit comes from add on purchases. The cabin fare basically covers overhead. 

 

RCL Group is overjoyed since their occupancy fleet wide is over 100%, meaning that there enough cabins with 3 and 4 people in them. 

tfred  definitely has the experience ---

I have never been on the big cruise ships-- but from my understanding on many of the big cruise ships you pay for soda, wine, or buy "packages.  Therefore as tfred  said- the more passengers - the more revenue.

My experience has been on inclusive small- medium cruise ships that only have limited extras.  IMO the extras are significantly different.  The cruise fares are significantly higher on the inclusive smaller, luxury ships than on the ships that have many thousands of passengers.

I can't imagine a regular Seabourn suite accommodating 4 people as the RCL group does-

Comparing inclusive ships that have a capacity of 200-600 passengers to  non-inclusive ships that have anywhere from 1000-6,000 passengers doesn't make sense to me.  There are too many variables.

I'm not sure how we got into this topic-- but wish everyone  happy cruising

I do not know the math-- but there are many couples where only one regularly uses the beauty salon, gets spa treatments, go on excursions and buy premium wines (thanks to the Coravin wine preserver.)

Seabourn has offered solo fares on all their cruises at a premium rate,

I don't know how you make your calculations-- or if they are your opinions based on your reasoning.

I can only say what I have actually observed without knowing any statistics.

My observations on several world cruises and Grand Voyages is the passengers do use  

spa services, often order premiums wines, book excursions(including myself).  Solos are paying 175% cruise fare. 

If these cruises were not profitable why would SB continue them?  On both the WC and Grand Voyages there are segments-  I have no idea if the passengers spending is any different than on the longer voyages

FYI--the WC 26 has many categories fully booked

I'll be the first to admit that many longtime Seabourn loyalists wear rose colored glasses- and just happy to be aboard.  I have seen changes that I'm not thrilled with== but I have also seen similar changes in the restaurants and hotels that I have been going to for many years. Sometimes change is difficult to accept.

For the present time I'll keep wearing my rose colored glasses and happy that I am able to enjoy cruising on Seabourn.

SB should want to attract new passengers-- BUT they can't  afford to loose the loyal passengers they currently have.

There is a Seabourn Evening in the Retreat.  It is a special menu with wine pairings.

It is lovely.  I don't know if that is what you were offered.

I do not plan on switching to another cruise line--  I agree with the above review.  I just returned from a back to back cruise and felt a decline in food and beverage, entertainment, and housekeeping.

The problem in food and beverage was communications-- not the food.

 Rainy days or late arrival times made breakfast in Colonnade overcrowded and difficult to get seating.

The guest entertainment was geared to the English guests.  The Conversationalist was qualified in his field-- but for those of us that were not interested in his field he was boring. He was on back to back.

The reason I am not switching cruise lines (yet?) is the crew and officers.  They are beyond wonderful.  They genuinely care and have made the ship feel like home.  I will overlook a lot for the comfort and pleasure I receive on the ship.

Recently I attempted to order two different wines-- each one was "expensive". They were out of both wines.  It isn't only the complimentary wines that are in short supply-- it is the premium wines as well.

Great location== looks very nice

Thank you

Jet Blue flies nonstop Barbados- JFK

No mint class -- you can upgrade to extra leg room-- but it is regular economy seating with a little extra leg room.

I was there in late January of this year for two days.  It has hot, but had no rain.

4 hours ago, brittany12 said:

Sarcasm? Sorry, but I did not recognize your attempt. What one does tipping-wise at the end of a cruise is that person's business and no one else's if tha person wants to reward people for exemplary service during the cruise.. That's not the immediate  discussion. I was raising the point of tipping for normal services, like getting a Bloody Mary during a cruise, and slipping a fiver to the bartender. Or supplying towels on deck. Or bringing over a deck chair. I'm sorry you are annoyed Utopia1 that someone would have the temerity to point this out but I think most regular Seabourn sailers, and, Silversea, Regent and Crystal ones too, who abide by the generally prescribed rules suggest4 by the cruise line would call that abnormal tipping behavior on board a luxury cruise line.  And yes, it can affect other passengers in a bad way if other guests see this unusual tipping behavior, think they have to do or should do the same and thus raise crew's expectations about what guests should be tipping for normal services during the cruise. I don't think Seabourn would like this if this developed. Tipping like this is not normal. This is not MSC or Carnival where your drinks card gets punched each time. Inclusive still has some meaning.

I am a regular sailor on six star ships--  I have never seen examples of requesting bloody Mary's, requesting extra towels, or anything similar being denied because  a gratuity was not given. I have been made to wait for my drink when the bar was very busy, but that had nothing to do with tipping-- and an apology was usually extended.

You mentioned "Tipping like this is not normal and "Seabourn would not like it developed"== I think this is your opinion rather than fact. 

I have never experienced sailing on a big ship with more than 900 passengers so perhaps there is a difference on the big ships where people who tip get more.    That is not Seabourn.

For the record-- I may not understand your viewpoint-- but I certainly respect the fact that you are explaining your feelings-- as I have attempted to explain mine.

Perhaps my sarcasm was uncalled for-- but it annoys me when people are judgmental or state there are "normal rules" on passenger tipping.

When I mentioned a dollar amount it was sarcastic because the amount of the tip is not relevant..

 I have been treated well whether I tip or not--- .  I give gratuities at the end of a cruise--  it is always appreciated and gives me pleasure.  It shouldn't matter to anyone else.

Perhaps some passengers are not aware that there " ARE NORMAL RULES" stating tipping is wrong., I always thought it wasn't expected.

If people want to tip I don't understand how that "dirties up the waters" for others.   If you feel that there is something wrong with the way you are treated you should report it,

I am curious how you know that people were tipping $5.-- I always thought people tipped more.

Does anyone have a recommendation for a two night pre cruise hotel in Barcelona?

I am looking for a hotel in the Passeig de Gracie area

 Azamara had an onshore Amazing evening on the July Pursuit 12 night cruise,  (FYI the Journey was docked next to us and they had a different offshore Amazing evening).

 When we returned to the ship about 3 and one hours later we were greeted by a red carpet, musical greeting before boarding the ship for desserts and snacks.

On 6/9/2024 at 12:55 PM, Utopia1 said:

Are Aft suites on Pursuit  8071 and 8069 very noisy?

On 6/9/2024 at 12:55 PM, Utopia1 said:

Are Aft suites on Pursuit  8071 and 8069 very noisy?

I have previously stayed in 8071. I heard a little noise from above--it did not bother me at all.  I am booked in 8071 again for 21 nights on my next cruise.

Seabourn arranged transportation from ship to a hotel with lunch followed by transportation to airport in Barbados-  Transportation to hotel and to airport (in a taxi) was arranged by Seabourn.

 There were other Seabourn passengers with the same arrangements at the hotel when we arrived

I don't remember the name of the hotel.

Thank you for your help---but I am doing something wrong

Is there anyway to look up the tours I booked/.  I'm not sure if the bookings went through and if I duplicated my bookings on the second leg of my back to back with repeat ports

21 minutes ago, commodoredave said:

CC has posted an opinion piece on tipping, While I am pro-tipping, I do not agree with the views expressed in this piece as the writer has conflated bribery with showing appreciation for good service after it is rendered. What do you think?

https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles/can-100-in-tips-make-your-cruise-1-000-times-better?lid=1ru18fozeaqn&crm_source=58226&crm_pos=uk&crm_cid=90e3e352-f62a-479f-920d-424de14f7e89&crm_rid=Bnb-uIoBtleMZ6TBBUIq&crm_cname=07.04.24 UK Insider - Can %24100 in Tips Make Your Cruise 1%2C000 Times Better - 6moLB&stay=1&posfrom=2

It seems ridiculous to make judgements about fellow cruisers based on gratuities.  We are all entitled to tip or not to tip-  -It irks me when a fellow cruiser says my gratuity is "bribery" when it is given for kindness or in appreciation for services rendered .

 From my observations everyone on Seabourn receives equal attention-- with one exception.  The exception is the people who complain a lot  seem to get more attention.