jondfk

It’s possible someone else may know better than I, but when I booked our shoreex the only obvious option was to pay by credit card.

Last evening we enjoyed a meal at Keller grill. The host is quite convinced we met previously on Ovation, and perhaps we did but I simply don’t remember. In any case he and his team took excellent care of us. The place was full, every table, every seat, a server was assigned but honesty it was more a team effort with all team member performing multiple roles. The food. We enjoyed the small nibbles provided to start, a relish tray and some unique breadsticks. Like most around us we had the Caesar salad, it’s perhaps not the best ever, but very very good. We shared the NY steak for two, and found it too large even as split, but we noted others managed to finish so perhaps the portion is correct. Dessert brought a lovely piece of coconut cake to share. A throughly enjoyable meal. We missed the large bar, and especially the amazing pianist we enjoyed on Ovation on the other hand we found the much smaller space more intimate and personal.

As mentioned early on we were surprised with an upgrade to a penthouse suite, on Ovation we were in a nice V4 suite which actually suited us well. I’m the sort who does extensive research prior to booking and even more prior to sailing so I was aware of the general layout of the PH room. I’m aware of no special privileges afforded to this room and nothing has been offered that we didn’t or couldn’t have on Ovation. The room has a Nespreso machine which has proved handy now and again but certainly isn’t in in self worth the considerable premium. I had decidedly mixed feelings about the semi walled off bed space and yes with real experience I still find it odd. The doors are glass opaque yes but still glass so I can’t use the rest of the room while DW naps for example. Might be useful if sharing the room with kids or family, mostly though it’s just in the way. Another gimmicky feature is the shortcut through the closet to the washroom, this has actually proved quite useful so it’s a gimmick no more. I commented on Ovation that the separate bathtub and shower seems to me a waste of space though I have no doubt some few use both, personally I’d rather see a bit larger shower or a lot more space to maneuver around the bath. Now, towels. On Ovation quite a number of us noted how small, thin and scratchy the towels were, not quite Motel 6 standard more like Best Western. Towels here are a bit better, 5* hotel quality certainly not, but Hilton or Marriott grade, nearly. in all other respects the suite is in excellent repair, if maintenance is being deferred prior to fleet exit it is not evident in this room. Quite satisfied. We’ve had the usual number of “toilet didn’t flush” events which reminds me we had none on Ovation. Maintenance has been quick to respond and effective in their solutions. The room has enormous storage space, but we felt the same about our V4. Closet space is larger but again was more than adequate on Ovation. We have enjoyed the larger dining table and space for same especially as the number of restaurant closed days has led to greater reliance on room service. Ask any specific questions you may have please ask.

It’s worth saying keep an eye open for new promotions. If credit is offered for bookings closer to sailing check wether you can also get the credit, we were able to do so for our sailing in June.

They bring a tray with 3 breadbaskets and offer you a choice, total of 5 or 6 choices. Our current very good waiter is quick to offer more once you finish your original choice - I try my best to resist seconds. Was done exactly the same way on Ovation in June.

Truvia is not currently available, neither barista has any insight as to whether or not it may be in the future. Could be a casualty of the less litter practice. For my part I do understand this policy, but still find it difficult to describe how much ketchup, mayonnaise etc I want and where. I always seem to get too much which seems wasteful.

Well, a second attempt at breakfast in the dining room, today they set up 25 tables, about twice as many as that first morning, before breakfast ended most, but not all had been used. Quite a change for the better. Todays meal was perfect, everything came together perfectly with a high level of service start to finish. I did note that the pastry trays did run down to a very few items for those arriving late, didn’t affect our experience though. Likewise an excellent meal last evening, our best yet. We’ve settled in with a particular server with all of the associated goodness. Drinks arrive with little more than a confirmation of what we like, the tongs go to the bread basket in anticipation, so many small details that collectively make a large difference. The bar staff continues to impress mightily our favorites, Candi in Observation and Numnum at the Patio are full of life. Both have worked hard to fill in gaps (mind you we haven’t ask for anything that isn’t in the menu) neither have said “supply chain” they’ve just said may I order it tomorrow, success on every occasion. Hubbard glacier today with much clearer sky’s the scenery is already amazing.

Speaking of Paul he is truly excellent remembering names and orders from the first encounter he basically has one hand on a cup the second he sees you.

I’ll ask Paul the excellent barista at the square. All that is out on the counter is white sugar, raw sugar and what I’ve been told is Splenda powder in a small dispenser that clogs easily. In my backpack I carry Splenda in a click dispenser which I keep in my pocket most of the day. Perhaps Truvia is available in a similar form? We were told on Ovation that packets of all kinds, sugar, ketchup, etc had been eliminated to reduce waste going overboard. True or false I don’t know.

I suppose that’s directed at me though I don’t know what if is that I don’t do appropriately? I promised in opening to report our genuine experiences and I think I’ve done so. The boarding was a breeze and was reported as such. I expressed surprise and joy at our unexpected upgrade (I didn’t even ding SB for delivering our luggage to the wrong room) and haven’t even once heard the “supply chain” excuse that was so common on Ovation. Last evenings meal met all expectations and was reported as such. On the other hand, yes we’ve experienced unacceptable service lapses, all acknowledged by the management. I’m truly sorry if my honest feedback has disappointed you. I haven’t bothered to mention cancelled and severely rescheduled excursions because we accept that such things happen, they have however limited our exposure beyond the ship, thus far. Perhaps earning me fair criticism for not reporting more fulsomely on the cruise overall. We tend to avoid mass gatherings and I therefore don’t comment on things like the captain’s welcome party which we choose not to attend. We did have a pleasant one on one chat with captain Tim which was throughly enjoyable. Based on your feedback I’ll limit further posts to the answering of specific questions and report only positives. Enjoy cruise critic and I sincerely hope your November cruise meets your every expectation.

A small update here, the flat rate we were charged was 43 cdn not sure if that’s a recent increase, in any case it seems to us completely reasonable given the distance and traffic, a bargain even.

Just went there to check for myself. All tables set for dinner and the person working the area assured me the Herald is correct. Closed for breakfast and lunch. Sorry

Onboard, is says the same (meaning the breakfast menu is posted) this however is not a reliable indicator as to whether breakfast will be served. Wasn’t yesterday, and isn’t today, although the asst manager parted with us last evening saying”see you in the morning”. Since the breakfast menu doesn’t change I suspect they just leave it posted continuously open or not.

We frequently do so in non tender ports. When tendering is required we typically stay onboard for medical reasons. Believe me, you’d groan and complain off you saw me attempting to join your tender, I do you a great favor by staying aboard out of your way. Oceania has, in my opinion found a better solution with highly varied cooked to order lunch items offered in their buffet venue. Though they don’t bill themselves as a luxury line, their solution to this particular problem is far more luxurious.

Finally, I’m able to post without reservation a positive dining experience for our third dinner at the Restaurant. A pre dinner speaker stretched out the arrivals leading to no wait for seating, we ask for and got an unoccupied table with our server from the prior evening, I would describe him as low personality but high competence, an excellent balance. He offered the wines of the day, but mentioned that he had the white I preferred from last evening ready, this proved the best choice, and his being prepared for this was a display of attentive hospitality. The meal itself was very good, not sure if it’s just me, but the classics always seem just a step above. Perhaps practice does make perfect. We left feeling as though our positive memories of Ovation were more than a mirage, and that our expectations are not so unreasonable. Today, once again, the Restaurant is closed for both breakfast and lunch. Fingers crossed some sort of special appears in Colonnade. A report will follow.

This years jackets are best described as windbreakers or rain shells, little or no insulation, but as I wrote perfect for me in a variety of situations. I assume but can’t know if the alternative blue jackets are left from last year, presumably so. They clearly are insulated, I imagine your description is accurate. Most sizes were reported as available though the stock will last only as far as it lasts. I would estimate approximately 25% of folks showed up for the exchange on this sailing. A funny note, several of us were milling around waiting for the door to open, at some point it occurred to a few of us that we could horse trade directly amongst ourselves (if only looking for.a size change) a number of us escaped a wait by making “side deals”. The funny part is it took 10 minutes for the thought to go through anyone’s mind. Future sailors…

Here’s an update from todays Colonnade only lunch on Odyssey (the Patio didn’t open until 1:30, presumably to service guests returning on the last tenders from Ketchikan). With no other options, we went and took a table inside. I grabbed a pre made shrimp cocktail from the salad buffet for DW, we waited for water and drinks which appeared in a reasonable time. Then we waited to order, and waited, and waited. Eventually we grabbed the only server who happened by and asked what the special of the day was, this started a mad scramble to the chalk board which said only “British Lunch”, no special today. That lead us to a burger and salmon from the daily menu, no complaint about either, but a perfect example of the problem with the very limited menu, what’s for lunch tomorrow? I will say, the made to order Caesar salad was perfectly serviceable though the lettuce was quite golden around the edges, tasty enough if not visually appealing. Add a bit of protein (which isn’t an option) and it would make a nice meal, another option I suppose would have been to take a few slices of the beef loin from the buffet and jazz up the salad for yourself. Overall, a far better experience than our only prior visit to Colonnade, boarding day on Ovation (madness). Do we look forward to the next time it’s the only option, no.

Hi there. It’s early days yet weather wise, first couple days were bright (well quite foggy the first night out of Vancouver) and warm enough for short sleeves. Today, in Ketchikan is rain off and on temp in the low sixties. For me, we’re still in shorts range, for DW, more capris and a turtleneck. The forecast ahead I’m afraid suggests rain when you join not sure what follows weather wise looks like cooler days at least in Juneau. The jacket is quite lightweight which suits me fine, as someone wrote the alternate ‘parka’ (that’s the Seabourn term) is a bit heavier but by no means a real parka, it is a more attractive color. see you onboard.

On Ovation in June MDR was open every single day for breakfast and lunch (and dinner obviously). on Odyssey right now and the MDR is closed for both breakfast and lunch today. Was open yesterday with unacceptably poor service, the solution it appears is to not open at all. If sit down meals are important I have to recommend looking beyond Seabourn.

Challenges in the Restaurant continue though with some improvements. Last night was the formal for this leg, we joined a long queue 10 or 15 minutes after the Restaurant opened, the queue moved slow but steady. We reached the front and both feet hit the brakes, something was obviously shown on the screen that caused a pause. We were led towards a table, but the host had doubts mid walk turning back to the desk, the asst manager intercepted saying “yes that table”, we started out again, as we approached “our” table the usual glassware was gone, special wine glasses placed and a bottle of wine decanted, the hostess again hesitated looking for direction, “yes that table” said the asst, DW hesitated to sit as the napkin had quite obviously been used. Back to the desk we went. Asst took us to another table in the same section. She returned a bit later to remove the wine and reset the table, she then stopped by our table to explain that a couple had split up at checkin, claimed two tables and then met to confer over which table they preferred, such creativity, that idea never occurred to me. Dinner proceeded without additional gaffs and with a bit of extra attention from the asst manager. We expected the F&B manager might stop by, he did not, but we did see him in the room which is perhaps an improvement of sorts.

Well I guess you predicted the situation quite well, management has opted to solve the problem for today …. By closing the Restaurant for both breakfast and lunch. It appears that the lesson learned was, we can’t manage it so let’s just give up.

This being a sea day, 3 meals offered today in the Restaurant. Last sailing, for reasons unclear to me the Restaurant was open on Ketchikan day, which is tomorrow, stand by for an open / closed report. If todays breakfast service repeats tomorrow we will be using room service the next 12 days. I pray to have more positive news for my next report.

Who me? You know I would only be in Colonnade if the Restaurant was closed. No tables available means no tables set for breakfast, laid out for dinner and the changeover is quite daunting if you have no staff on duty.

As it happens we met the F&B manager in the elevator yesterday, when he passed through the dining room at lunch I asked that he come over. We had a short conversation focused mainly on breakfast, he said he had been advised and discussed the food service with the chef, I told him in no uncertain terms that the food itself was fine it was the service that completely failed. An apology was offered, I suggested he might pass through either during dinner this evening or at breakfast to judge whether the service was to his expectations. Time shall tell. Distinctly different from Ovation where his equivalent was visible 3 meals a day.

Well, it pains me to write this report, but I’ve promised to share our actual experiences both good and bad. First, some good, we throughly enjoyed our first night at Observation, great, attentive and witty service, this carried over this morning to the Patio bar. As I mentioned my preferred drink wasn’t available but I was promised restock by tonight. Thinks skidded down hill when we moved to the restaurant. We were seated and a very attentive assistant waiter provided water bread and wine, he asked us to wait for his partner for guidance on the menu, the only problem was, the waiter never arrived, meanwhile more tables were seated, and the poor assistant was very quickly overwhelmed. Eventually he made it back around to take our order which was challenging since he had to compare the menu to the tablet to enter orders. The challenge intensified when food started to be ready and he had to leave to carry plates. Eventually a bar server was dispatched to assist and by the time dessert rolled around an assitant from the adjacent section started to fill in taking orders etc. Not a great experience. Breakfast offered a second chance and a second major fail. We arrived at 8:30 to find a substantial line waiting to be seated. No tables available we were told, the limited staff was trying to reset tables, a mad scramble for coffee cups, butter and side plates. Couples were seated slooowly as tables could be reset. Finally they gave up setting tables and just sat us at a bare table. The pastry tray arrived with 4 very tired looking donuts and nothing else. Water arrived, but oops, no water glasses. Coffee arrived but oops, no coffee cups. The comedy goes on and on. The waiter was visibly angry we had been seated “I have nothing for them” he remarked to the manager. I find myself angry and stunned at the level of service this first two meals. We experienced a few gaffs on Ovation in June but nothing remotely like to complete disarray of these first two meals surely it has to improve, at least one hopes.