caviarforme
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I find it odd and am again disappointed that SB and in particular the President assigns no importance to keeping regular SB cruisers up to date with changes and plans UNLESS they choose to be on a cruise with her - relying on forums like this to hear in "rumour" form. Changes to afternoon teas, MDR opening times and the like are just made without notification of degradation of services Also, for a regular SB cruiser who has already booked a transatlantic crossing (few if any excursions available) a year in advance with significant on board credit, who is not interested premium wines, spa treatments or on board jewellery (I buy jewellery from my own chosen jewellers whom I trust on quality and price) this leave me with noting to spend this on!
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And I expect the offered "Credit" is non-refundable so MUST be spent onboard - No use if you do not want premium wines, Spa or SB (expensive) excursions. SB is falling to pieces - or maybe that is the objective!
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When to expect refundable credit to appear?
caviarforme replied to M&Dcruisers's topic in Seabourn Cruise Line
Last month we finished a cruise on Sojourn with $750 refundable credit- sent to our card within 10 days. Check the Source App and your onboard account which should state when it was refunded, and if not CHASE! -
Is Any of This True--concerning crew and contracts
caviarforme replied to SLSD's topic in Seabourn Cruise Line
SLSD - Apologies - I did not read the intro properly! My other comments stand. I agree with others - SB should have planned the staff reduction in advance - they sold Odyssey months ago and rented it back to complete the booked sailings. If they did not realise that they would need to reduce staff previously it worries me about the quality of the management OR their honesty -
Is Any of This True--concerning crew and contracts
caviarforme replied to SLSD's topic in Seabourn Cruise Line
First, SLSD, thanks for sharing the e-mail you received. I find it sad that a very worried staff member felt the need to contact you and I am sure that person is very concerned about his/her future and that SB has been the lifeline for their family. How many here have experienced loyally working for 4/6months at a time, 7 days a week away from family even their children, to provide a decent standard of living for them? Again it reveals cutbacks which will (and are according to reports) have a direct effect on customer experience on SB - removing the F&B Manager and Restaurant Manager positions is a recipe for disaster. Taexanaust mentions Courtney, whom we have met several times and in our view is an excellent Maître D. I would trust her views and believe what she says - crew are nearer to reality than passengers. An unhappy crew mean an unhappy voyage. She, like others who are the best will see the writing on the wall and if able "jump ship", which is exactly what she has done (we also know an excellent Customer Services Director who has taken extended leave and we doubt will ever see on SB again). SB will have achieved the staff reduction they need now Odyssey is gone, but will have lost those who passenger and crew respect and that make the cruises work. We, like others, have experienced the decline since Covid. Some of that decline was appearing before Covid. Our 3 cruises on SB this year have made us think. We have enjoyed them but most of the sparkle has gone and it is only the "best" of the staff that keep us going back - and if they go - we will. In Carnival SB is the smallest and the weakest component - therefore it is easy to cut (Odyssey etc) and if it was not there would it make a difference to the corporate animal? I think Courtney is right, bye, bye Quest & Sojourn (which gave us our best cruise this year - we got on as SLSD got off in Dover), and hello "Seabourn the Expedition Experts", and hello "HAL Ovation" & "HAL Encore". We have a free week pending and have decided to take it ASAP in fear it may disappear along with SB. We already have 2 SB cruises booked for 2025 which we may cancel even though in the UK that will cost us a not insubstantial 10% penalty (applicable in the UK for all SB cruises from booking date). The only downside is where do we go - the CC SS board seems to be as bad - maybe Regent? -
We cruised with you 14 days Dover to Dover and agree with most of what you say. We were also glad SLSD sorted the Restaurant opening (thanks!!) - and shows what poppycock she was told as the reason why! Our 14 day cruise was re-designated without our knowledge as 2x7 days after we booked. There was even a Galley Lunch in week 2 which was the best organised we have ever seen. I think Chef Ainsley has had an influence - he was visible AND interested. Almost every member of staff was excellent and the best - well done. But as seasoned SB cruisers either we are getting tired of the SB or the product is somewhat the curled up at the edges like offering from Seabourn square below - which continued despite our comments. Ship is looking a little worn (particularly on the exterior), product has changed little over the years and needs some original thought and new ideas (Solis excepted - well done SB - 2 excellent meals and service and a million % better than TK (sorry I am from the UK)!). We left SS years ago because it became impersonal. SB is still personal, but there are too many apologies for things that do not happen or go very wrong. The sandwich is an example where management should have been checking regularly- but clearly did not even after the event. SB is still good, but sadly has declined. I wonder whether HAL have been deliberately "re-positioning" SB? Time will tell We still enjoyed, but full expectations were not met. I feel sorry for the many excellent staff, some of whom may find their contract not renewed with the demise of Odyssey and subsequent over-staffing. We will try SB again - we have a free week to use up - but are seriously thinking about trying SS again or Regent, which seems to have good reviews of their newer ship
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The Future Cruise Deposit of US500 or GBP 250 still gives you 5% whoever you book through. However there use to be a 5% on board booking additional discount for booking on board. The booking would then be passed to your TA to discount further. On board Sojourn they have now confirmed that this on board booking discount has ceased, they say they offer other discounts before they are offered to the general public, but in my case the only knes offered were those I had already received emails about. So I now see no advantage to booking on board. The future cruise deposit us still worth paying, but booking on board us a thing of the past for me
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On our previous cruises SB have always offered a special discount if you booked a future cruise onboard - and then would pass your booking to your TA for further discounts. This was at minimum of 5% and was separate from the 5% discount that a Future Cruise deposit gives you. Has SB stopped doing this? We are currently on board Sojourn and was told that there was no onboard booking discount available - only the discounts that were generally advertised and available to all! Anyone else experienced this change in policy - or is the Future Cruise Consultant trying to maximise their revenue?
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SB are currently advertising "Air Credit" up to £800 per person on many future cruises (at least on the UK site). This is very different from previous "air inclusive" or "economy air" offers which would give you a discount on the cruise fare if you made your own flight arrangements. The current "Air Credit" offer seems to be restricted to booking flights only with "Flight Ease" - no discount if you book flights elsewhere. Given comment here on Flight Ease price increases making them uncompetitive, this seems to make the offer of little or no value? In the UK you cannot even see the Flight Ease prices unless you have a booking reference on SB - and that means a minimum of 10% penalty if the booking is cancelled - which also makes the "offer" unrealistic. Any comments/experience?
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Be assured the bottle of Champers will be in the suite on ice waiting for you - but also your suite attendants will welcome you with a welcome glass when they call to make sure all is OK Enjoy and order a bottle each day - why not also order caviar to enjoy with it. Unlike that other line it is complimentary! Are you embarking at Dover in 13 days - if so we may see you!
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Keep up the commentary please as we board Sojourn in 3 weeks as you get off in Dover - just 14 days Iceland and Scotland for us. Seabourn Square is the social hub of the ship - where you can discuss things with Customer Services, have a coffee, read books/newspapers, book cruises, and even "meet the officers" as often happens as an event on transatlantic. It is not a library!! I suggest you "glance back" in the appropriate manner!
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The airport is about 1 hour away from the hotel - and Athens traffic can be frantic - we were lucky as it was Sunday. Leave plenty of time. I think the SB transport left the hotel at 5pm, and checkout was timed accordingly - but I cannot fully recall. We rested and lunched - we have been to Athens many timed before - but the acropolis is 32 minutes walk from the hotel per Google maps.
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For us just over a week ago SB used the Intercontinental
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On board credit with Carnival Shares
caviarforme replied to Heather White's topic in Seabourn Cruise Line
And when you register with Stockperks ignore any personal questions - just give them the basics - it still works -
Well today I have points and bookings, but having completed the preferences 3 times on each occasion I get "We cannot save your preferences due to a technical problem" I give up"!
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It maybe but according the website today I have no points and no future bookings on my account despite having 2! I would love to finally make sure my preferences are correct but with no bookings!!! Come on Seabourn - get your act together
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It is clear this is not a necessary service dog. What is Seabourn up to in agreeing to an employee or contractors' employee aboard with a pet? I agree with most, a ship is not an environment for a pet of any kind, and again will repeat - what about those who have allergies and may suffer from being in close proximity with animals? Does Seabourn consider them? Are they in fact discriminated? A pet in the Colonnade! - if I was dining there I would complain and walk out if the animal is not removed - and not quietly. We depart in less than 2 weeks and then 5 weeks later and pray for a pet free cruise, otherwise we will be dropping SB from our preferred list.
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Agreed - if the dog goes everywhere with the owner does is it allowed in the restaurants? In any case CC has had long discussions before on this issue which effect passengers who have allergies to animal fur/hair in confined areas and the majority view was not in favour of animals on board. We join Encore shortly and would not be amused.
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We got 2 emails on the same subject as my wife and I are each doing separate excursions at the same port, but both visit the ISK250 ($1.50) toilet venue. My reaction was exactly the same - penny pinching by the "ultra luxury" cruiseline that should know better. To add to it they also state you can only paying local Icelandic currency by card, with all the possible fees and charges, having the potential to make it the most expensive convenience stop you have ever made. Surely for a tour coach with maybe 30 onboard SB could cover the $45??? They continue to let themselves down.
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Deposits on expedition cruises.
caviarforme replied to koalabear6314's topic in Seabourn Cruise Line
Booking Terms on SB vary according to the passengers place of residence - in the UK all bookings are subject to a minimum 10% cancellation fee from time of booking that increases as the cruise gets nearer. -
Had the same problem on Quest in April and was told I needed proof - so did others according to CC. Supposedly an SB IT issue.....again......and still an issue???
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Deposits on expedition cruises.
caviarforme replied to koalabear6314's topic in Seabourn Cruise Line
Nit sure where you are based but Agents normally discount prices if you are not using one already, AND, you normally get am extra discount if you book on board. SB then trnsfer the booking to yoyu agent for the further discount to your agent. -
I absolutely agree - Keep it special
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We are joining Encore in about 6 weeks and today received a marketing e-mail from SB "Plan Your MEDITERRANEAN SHORE EXCURSIONS - In a matter of weeks you’ll be on board, taking in stunning views of the Mediterranean and sipping a welcome glass of Champagne! We invite you to enhance your Mediterranean experience with a wide range of shore excursions..." It then goes on to describe various Mediterranean ports and gives links to the SB page for that port with further details and excursions. NONE of these ports are on our itinerary! The SB marketing department has exceeded all expectations again!