margbem

We also had an issue relating back to our February Ovation cruise. Eventually we contacted Natalya Leahy direct as we were so cross with the attitude and lack of helpfulness shown by head office. Within hours she replied to our email and has sorted this out for us. We too weren’t looking for compensation, rather an acknowledgment and an apology which previously weren’t forthcoming.

40 minutes ago, malcliz said:

We have recently booked a cruise on board using the 10% off promotion. We were told that our 5% loyalty discount would be in addition to the 10%. However on our return we notice that the cruise would have been cheaper booked on the Seabourn website or through a TA so don’t think we received any benefit from booking on board. 

Can you transfer your booking to a TA and still get their discount too? We have done this in the past and got an extra 10% off from our TA.

We have done this too, many times!

On 5/16/2023 at 5:01 PM, SLSD said:

I also wonder if they separate lights and darks when washing. 

Never had a problem with our whites coming back grey!

We had a day in Dubrovnik last June as part of our Quest cruise. We were docked and Seabourn laid on a free shuttle bus to the town. We were told that Dubrovnik is accepting fewer ships now. None were anchored and there were just three ships in that day.

14 minutes ago, Vineyard View said:

I have been wondering the same thing so thank you for posting this. Pulling out clothes starting tomorrow. Leave Monday!
 

Also, I know Seabourn will press clothes when we board, but for suit jackets will they steam them?

Sorry - no idea about steaming but someone will know!

I sent an expensive dress that was dry clean only (a year ago) and it came back fine. On the other hand a pair of shorts and a pair of trousers were ruined in the ordinary laundry bag we sent, I suspect because they dried everything on a high heat and these had lycra in them. In February this year we sent bags of laundry again but I put in huge capitals at the top of the list to please dry everything on low heat. All came back fine. No fried undies! 

Welcome Pickups. Very reliable.

1 hour ago, florisdekort said:

nleahy@seabourn.com

 

Floris 

Thank you Floris!

We cruised Norway in June and into July. Apart from a rainy (complete waterproofs from top to toe required) day in Bergen we had amazing weather. It was warm enough to sit round the pool in our swimming stuff in a sheltered area. We mainly wore a very light jacket when out and about. Don’t know if we were just very lucky but it was fantastic, especially as it was the time of the midnight sun.

1 hour ago, galeforce9 said:

Mysteriously, after posting this, the UK Office has contacted me late today after many weeks of not responding, to see if they can assist with one element of my query to the Office of the President (read between the lines - to sell me something) and they ‘believe’ someone on behalf of the Office will contact me.  Well, gee, I won’t hold my breath. Thanks.  The e-mail address is  officeofthepresident at seabourn dot com. I hope you have more luck.  The UK e mail then went on to say if you want anything else use the [standard email].  I thought the new president did want to hear our constructive thoughts.  Perhaps not. 

Thanks galeforce9. I will have a go!

4 hours ago, galeforce9 said:

I tried a few weeks ago but no response.  Also to a chaser.  Think if you have a uk address you are ignored as per a previous poster.   I won’t share the address I used (which has worked before) as I would be interested to know if it has changed.  

Hope someone can help me!

Would anyone be able to give me the email address of the new CEO, please?

So there we are. It may very well be time for us nostalgic types to abandon the brand. After all, “times are a-changing”. Simple as that, it seems to me.

But to whom do we change? After our disappointing cruise on the Ovation in February we looked at other cruise lines but it seems many are experiencing exactly the same issues as Seabourn. 

17 hours ago, markham said:

Who has the problem indeed, and what can anyone do about the “problem”?

 

What people do and say is a minefield. But only if you are trying to make sense of what any of this means.

 

Some of us know “old Seabourn” and I hasten to add that that was not necessarily more than a couple of years ago. Sure there were, even then, characters who did not respect the dress code as it was structured, but most of us were patient about it. (I am talking about those men who chose to wear what they liked after 18:00 in the Obs Bar etc). Next came the hollerers across the bar who had no sense that there were other people around who would be annoyed by their hollering. You know, about their idea of conversation ie projecting all they know, often about themselves, as if anyone cares, except for those who are equally as boorish.

 

Anyway, it seems to me that the “elegant jeans” policy, no signage much less attempt to remind passengers about dress standards, appeals for a more “broad demographic” has been deleterious to the Seabourn brand. It is now anything goes, so to speak, as exemplified by the baggy ancient trousered older male passenger who wore open toed sandals daily in the Quest MDR on our Jan-March Grand Voyage, no questions asked. Which made it not so grand at all. How so? There was the demographic that thought it humorous when staff told them to stay seated in the tenders, only for those passengers to joke among themselves, “what are they gonna do- throw us off? 
 

So there we are. It may very well be time for us nostalgic types to abandon the brand. After all, “times are a-changing”. Simple as that, it seems to me.

 

 

But to whom do we change? After our disappointing cruise on the Ovation in February we looked at other cruise lines but it seems many are experiencing exactly the same issues as Seabourn. 

 

 

On the subject of luggage we purchased Apple Airtags which we found useful on a long trip where a couple of things went wrong on our journey. At least we knew where our bags were!

We have booked a similar trip in February with APT and are flying in a couple of days before, just like you. We have booked the Oriental Jade hotel for the extra nights. Never been before but it gets really good reviews on Booking.com.

We have definitely had both Amaretto and Baileys on many Seabourn ships!

Really loving and enjoying your marvellous descriptions, Flamin_June! Have a fabulous time and keep 'em coming!

1 hour ago, alli.j said:

Hi, we are first time Seabourn guests travelling September 3rd 2023 and would appreciate a referral coupon if anyone is able to provide. 

Thanks in anticipation. 

 

Hi from Yorkshire! I can help if you send me an email to mjberry56@hotmail.com

Margaret

7 minutes ago, Techno123 said:

Hi margbem. I was just reading through a blog I did on here about hubby and his mountain bike and came across your post about the trip from Venice with your family for a big birthday. Did you get your Venice sailaway?

Luckily we did! But that was over six years ago so really glad we managed it. We cruised out of “Venice” last May and it turned into Ravenna. Not quite the same!!

On 3/8/2023 at 9:55 AM, phillipahain said:

If only it was even possible to read this tiny faint fancy print ....

Yes - it wasn’t meant to be like that! My PC converted into this - obviously my lack of skill but people have managed to read it. 

12 hours ago, toolworker said:

How does the basic/free wifi do with Zoom, assuming no hardware or satellite problems.

We used the basic wifi last month on the Ovation. My husband watched a UK football match and we FaceTimed our grandchildren.

10 hours ago, wesport said:

Searched , but could not find. What are the current showtimes on the Ovation? 

We disembarked two weeks ago and generally there were two shows each evening - 8.45 and 10pm.

46 minutes ago, nancygp said:

Thanks for replying.  Do you know why there wasn’t a galley lunch?

 

Nancy

Sorry, no. Never heard it mentioned but we didn’t have a sea day at all so I imagine that’s why.