MsMermaid

We received the tote and were in a G1 category.

Do people not dress formal for Christmas and New  Years cruises anymore?

Can anyone tell me what they think about the culinary arts cooking classes?

Is the infinity  pool only available if you book the spa?  Or is it for anyone?

We are on the Christmas/New Year's cruise.... I would think formal attire might be appropriate for the holiday evenings?

Windstar web site says you have to purchase their shore excursion to get off ship.  Is this true?

Someone just shared Seabourn's recipe for White Tomato Soup on the Seabourn Facebook page.  What a nice recollection that was!  Does anyone else have recipes from their cruises they would like to share?

3 hours ago, ravenclaw said:

 The U.S. entity Carnival Corp. is incorporated in Panama, ( to avoid paying U.S. income taxes, among other benefits) and its operational headquarters are in the city Doral, Florida.

Not aware of Panama bankruptcy laws, but if Carnival was incorporated in the United States, they would probably explore the option of filing  for bankruptcy under Chapter 11 reorganization laws to settle at reduced rates with debtors, ( loans, bond holders, suppliers, travel agencies, booked passengers and even crew wages/benefits). Has happened numerous times in the U.S. with airlines.

I guess if they don't want to pay taxes in the US, they don't get a bailout from those who do.

Aren't they going to crew it whether it's cancelled or it sails?   

9 hours ago, rols said:

So there's a few things here.

Currently I'd say if anyone on any ship gets COVID-19 from anywhere everyone on that ship is going into some kind of quarantine. I hope the Japan experience has taught everyone there are good ways and bad ways of doing that. 

You can certainly push cruises out later in the year to avoid Asia, however as the weeks and months go by you cannot say whether the disease will fizzle out or will spread to Europe or other places so just avoiding Asia may not in the end help you. 

The way COVID-19 is dealt with will likely change over time. If there is a vaccine (>6 months), treatment or a better understanding of the spread and mortality rate of the disease wholescale quarantines (on ships and off) may stop. 

I think the concern that Singapore has numerically more cases than other countries in the region is a little overblown. The number of cases in each country outside China is so small as to be comparatively insignificant. It is likely that many cases have not been reported because they were so mild people didn't even know they had it and I think it's fair to say that out of the countries in the region Singapore has been the most aggressive in detection, isolation and reporting and (this is my opinion only) probably has a higher count of detection because of that. Either way the current detected infection rate in the asian populations which have been living with this for a month is at most 0.001% or 1 in 10,000. That is still a very low number. 

 

 Nobody can say what is going to happen next. All the cruise lines are even more paranoid than the passengers are about two things

1) someone getting on with the disease and turning the ship into the next Diamond Princess

2) stopping at a port which later becomes proscribed causing the ship not to be able to dock anywhere for weeks and probably having to refund the passengers. 

Given 1) and 2) if Seabourn thinks there's any risk they are going to keep cancelling cruises. It's cheaper to have the ship sit idle than crew it, fill it full of people and then have it turn into a plague ship or a floating pariah. However they aren't going to make that decision until pretty last minute based on the recent spread or not of the disease. This may mean the best choice people with upcoming cruises have is to wait until close to sailing to make a choice. If I had one booked right now, and I don't, I'd be waiting to see (possibly hopefully) if it got cancelled and if it didn't assume the paranoid cruise line is very confident about sailing it. 

 

 

Can anyone name all the current cruise directors on Seabourn?  (...and assistants as well?)

On 11/23/2019 at 4:35 PM, saminina said:

 

Crystal Serenity would be an exception.  

 

There is no  etiquette in the launderette on SB ships.  Battles can happen and  crew keeps their distance when the oft-dispute occurs.   The newer ships were designed to have no launderette, and the O ships were built and furnished to provide the minimum one would could expect from the cheapest cruise line, minus the slot for coins.  I think Meadows buys into the wripro thinking of no passenger should be doing their own laundry aboard ship. 

 

Yes, the larger ships have installed self service laundry.

 

We do our own......between 10 PM and 5 AM.

 

 

 

The laundry closes at midnight on Ovation, so that would be a little difficult.

On 11/15/2019 at 8:12 AM, alwaysonaship said:

Our cruise was 12 days and I had some minutes already. I did buy a one week package and I think it was $279, but I could be off $20. I used OBC. We were on the Quest and the service was good.

You mean your minutes carried over from a previous cruise?

Does anyone know which beach Seabourn uses on its Dead Sea tour?  I understand some are better than others in facilities. 

3 hours ago, saminina said:

Kleenex facial tissue replaced "made in China" rough stuff.   Same idea for the toilet paper.  

TK chocolate squares have been replaced.

Water changes confirmed.

At least ten other cost cutting moves noticed and none positive for passengers.  Of course, I'm quite sure few of you will notice and still think you are on some kind of ultra luxury outing.

1 hour ago, Mauzac said:

 

I'm all for changes with the water... too much plastic polluting our planet.  I welcome any moves that way. 

The chocolate is a miniscule part of my cruising so not worried one way or the other

Toilet paper, maybe it's the same reasons as the plastic and is recycleable.

 

Not noticed any other cost cutting moves and find the whole experience luxury.  

2 hours ago, galeforce9 said:

TK chocolate squares were amongst some of the worst chocolate I’ve ever tasted! 

Yuk on the poor paper products...

Has anyone used Seabourn's luggage forwarding system?  Any comments positive or negative on it?  

19 hours ago, Isklaar said:

Given up on trying to upload the photo as quality is too poor.

 

There's a link to the TK menu and cocktail list within this CC page here:

 

https://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/articles.cfm?ID=2943

 

 

Are there no house wines offered at TK Grill?  Or only the up-sales as shown on this menu?

What are your preferred cocktails you find Seabourn expert at making?

Someone made a video of this type cabin... Here tis:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThLVfQSlxKY

On 10/14/2019 at 8:00 PM, Covepointcruiser said:

Never had a problem using ATMs to obtain foreign currency.   We always go to one in a bank lobby that is part of our network.   We also use credit cards whenever possible.

If not a bank lobby available, I think arrivals in airports are next best bet for not having skimmers attached.  Agree or not?

On 9/23/2019 at 7:38 PM, koalapanda said:

There is an important issue with visiting Petra which I have mentioned on a previous post. Petra is certainly one of the "Wonders of the world". However be fore warned,  if you are not a VERY fit person please take a golf buggy to visit the Treasury etc. These vehicles can be hired at the top of the walk. The terrain is uneven and approximately 3.5km in to the Treasury and the same on return but uphill. There is virtually no shade along the route.

As older folk who exercise daily we found it difficult and for Panda the degree of difficulty spoiled the experience. Lunch was fantastic at the lovely Hotel post walk. After replenishing with fluids enough for three camels preparing to cross the desert we climbed back on the bus . We were all but exhausted but then revived by the surprise caviar and champagne stop on our return to the ship. The  CD Ross was dressed in Arabian clothes and senior staff in their Whites set the tone. Their efforts to bring the food and drink and setting the scene was such a special treat. Returning to "Encore" the red carpet is out and singing staff greet us . Our lovely Suite awaits, a long shower, a short rest, a few Panadol , then a delicious meal, a few wines and we were ready for a magical Arabian night on the Pool deck. Panda in his Arabian outfit as were very many guests boogie'd totally forgetting about the warmth of the night air. Staff constantly moving around with iced water to hydrate the revellers . It was a fantastic scene.This is a wonder filled cruise and we would happily cruise this itinerary again.

Do you recall the approximately cost of the golf cart and are they plentiful enough you can count on them?  I don't think my husband will be able to do the 5 mile walk.

On 9/19/2019 at 4:24 AM, dalliowner said:

We did the cruise before this  earlier this year also with a lot of sea days. There will be Trivia on all sea days , also on our cruise there were Art or craft classes  , dancing lessons , card ( bridge ) lessons , cookery demonstrations . I would imagine the cruise you are asking about will be similar, we will find out as we have already booked it for next year.

Hope that answers  your question

John

It must have been quite a good cruise if you are going to repeat it next year!!!!

I understand the shows are twice a night on the two larger ships.  Can you tell me what the times are for these?  Thanks!

Can you have that buttermilk chicken as room service?

33 minutes ago, jmlh said:

Anne, thanks for your input - it is really appreciated.  I will take your advise and book the At.mosphere tea as it sounds great.  Will just have to take our chances with the weather. We are visiting Dubai for the first time at the end of a cruise so no other special occasion.   We are really looking forward to seeing this part of the world and I am trying to get organized.

Thanks again.

Jan

Jan, we are also staying in Dubai at the end of our Seabourn cruise in early December... my friends tell me that there is little difference in doing "At the Top" versus going all the way up...they do say to get a skip-the-line ticket in advance...also recommend a Groupon for a reasonable price (which you can get 30 days or less out).