SKP946

We don't mind the steel/glass balconies on deck 5, they're more private when in port and there's a nice "shelf" (horizontal steel brace) to put your drinks on. If you're a person who likes to lie in bed and look out they're not suitable, but that's the only drawback IMO.

We loved the Encore and can't wait to try the Ovation.

Thanks for the great thread Julie, keep it up please, your posts are not too long.

We did the same cruise on Encore this time last year.

Is the ship full ? Many children ?

Thank you galeforce 9 for posting your fabulous photos, you have a great "eye".

Sitting here on a freezing cold Melbourne winters day your photos have warmed me up considerably.

Your ports and the weather look considerably better than our "Route of the Vikings" in August 2016 :)

.

 

However I am also one of the people very happy to hear that Seabourn are monitoring the use of lounges and removing personal possessions if they have not been used for a period of time. On many occasions I have seen people have 2 chairs in the sun and 2 chairs in the shade, moving from one group to the other over the course of the day. Or putting down books and towels at goodness knows what hour in the early morning and not turning up to use the lounges until after lunch.

 

If Seabourn has to help us all to be a little more considerate of each other, so be it.

Plus one, also it would be more considerate if people removed their towels when they're leaving the pool area:D

I have a friend who is an international beer judge, who has sharpened my interest in sampling different beers.

Tell the Bar Manager that you're interested in sampling as many beers as posssible and quite often they will stock up on local beers in different ports for you.

One cruise a waiter arrived at my door with 15 different beers with the announcement that some types were running low and could he restock my fridge !:D

This is so far away from our experience that it reads very much like a 'planted' review.

 

Both my wife and I get our own surveys and we each complete them.

+1. Yes, definitely "planted" does not sound anything like Seabourn, we have never encountered anything remotely like that in over 250 days onboard.

My wife and I also each receive our own surveys.

Turn it into a Brig for Dress Code violators.

:o:'):'):'):');)

The Horizontal Falls excursion is $800US per person! so over $1000 each for us! Think I'll give that a miss....

The most expensive (per day) cruise we have ever done was around the Kimberley coast, I would take the tour :)

The half day seaplane fly-in it costs AUS$850 according to here:-http://horizontalfallsadventures.com.au/tour/broome-half-day-tour/

Excellent reviews:

https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Attraction_Review-g255102-d1524072-Reviews-Horizontal_Falls_Seaplane_Adventures-Broome_Kimberley_Region_Western_Australia.html

Sojoun isnt due to leave until 11pm

I'm interested in where Sojourn is during C'mas/New Years, b/4 the W.C.

Seabourn haven't posted any cruises later than October 2019 (for Sojourn) on their website as yet.;)

Thank you Roxburgh, great shots (as always :) ) you have a good eye for framing your photos.

SLSD. Thank you for a well written and balanced review.

I agree with you about the 7 day cruise, we will never go on a 7 day segment again after experiencing a similar situation to yours on the Baltic 7 day section of our 21 day on Quest in 2015.

We had a group of about 25 younger (30's) people who were on a company paid for "freebie."

They commandeered whole areas of the ship and made loud disparaging remarks about the rest of the pax and were generally obnoxious.

We were happy to disembark in Stockholm.

The poor bar is where they send people wearing polos in the evening...

Perhaps Seabourn should change the name to the"Polo Bar":D

I've got a guarantee booked, what's wrong with 502 and 503?

Interesting that 502 and 503 are immediately under Owners Suites :)

Thanks, Glittery Unicorn, for posting the information, especially on included wines. It is disconcerting, however, that there is "attitude" given when you ask for wine that is included, yet which is not on that day's list. As we will be sailing Encore this Fall, hopefully this type of "attitude" will have been nipped in the bud by then.

 

If necessary, a quiet word with the head sommelier or guest relations manager would likely improve things.

We always try to sit in the same section of the restaurant so the staff get to know our preferences.

I'll always try a different offering, but they always have a bottle of my "usual" handy in case I don't like what's offered:D

 

A Brit on board hated the lamb, called it “mutton” , but maybe he got a bad cut.

 

What I most disliked is the loud let’s-be-cool music, chosen by TK, and the noise level gets worse as the evening goes on with the room full of happy tipsy pax, so our reservations for TK this year are for early dining as we do not like yelling to hear ourselves.

We dined in TK on Quest one night with some new English friends that we met onboard. They were both farmers and were horrified that 18 month sheep was called "lamb" definitely "mutton" they said:o

However, apparently it depends where you live:-

Quote Wikipedia:-https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamb_and_mutton

• Mutton — a female (ewe) or castrated male (wether) sheep having more than two permanent incisors in wear.
  

United States

The terms "mutton" and "hogget" are uncommon in the United States.[7] Federal statutes and regulations dealing with food labeling in the United States permit all sheep products to be marketed as "lamb. "[8] Sheep products less than 12-14 months old can be labeled "prime lamb" or "choice lamb" and all other sheep meat can be labeled simply as "lamb."[9]

As for the too loud, not-good-for-relaxed-eating-type-music; I always ask for it to be turned down.;)

So we’re allowed to bring our own appliances now? Yes, I’m out of date.

I don't know if it's still the case, but Seabourn used to state in their "fine print" that we were not allowed to take our own electrical appliances, including power-boards/strips, however with the advent of mobile phones and computers (low wattage charging) the ban on power-boards is not enforced.

The Seabourn hairdryers are a fairly low wattage unit and that is why they are so slow.

I think that if you use your own high wattage hair dryer/s you might trip the circuit breaker:o

We kayaked in Tracy Arm and found the actual kayaking not too difficult. Getting in and out of the dry suit was the most difficult part. One has to get their head through a tiny neoprene cowl. Having long hair, I found that it felt like my hair was being ripped out.

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What about wearing your hair up under a shower or bathing cap, just while ypu put the suit on? :confused:

I am sure I am not the only getting a bit bored with this thread. The dining hours suit nearly all the Seabourn passengers, and anyone who really needs something different has plenty of other lines to choose from. including some fairly small high class ones.

 

+2 BORING:mad:

Let's move on people:(

Those in favor of early dining certainly know how to make friends and influence people. :confused::confused:

+1:rolleyes::mad::D

Wonderful photos Emperor, thank you for sharing :)

I've been looking at the Scenic Eclipse, looks lovely, but twice the price of Seabourn.

Also, I'm always wary of a ship carrying helicopters; say 4 pax at a time, that's a lot of noise with the coming and going, especially in the peace and quiet of Antarctica (if allowed of course)

Thank you Emperor Norton for your excellent photos and narrative, most enjoyable.:)

Ha Ha, yes I would have asked!!! Where’s your commitment. 😀

I swim for enjoyment, and I definately would not have enjoyed it this morning, not with a 7c, 35 knot NW blowing (although some of the guys and girls ventured in, but they were wearing shorty wetsuit tops)

Only difference is your home and clothes are made for cold weather. We have 9c this morning and I’m freezing my as#$ off as we are not made for cold weather.

I assume that you were referring to Melbourne and not Houston ab21au.?

For only the third time in 3+ years since we caame back from Antarctica, I wore my full Antarctica gear to the beach this morning, and I was still cold. It was +7c and with the wind it felt like -7c:o (and no, I didn't swim to save you asking, although the water is about 11c)

rallydave, I was just thinking how amazing modern communications are, here am I in Melbourne on Saturday morning (where it's 7.5c/45f ) waiting for it to be light enough to take my dog to the beach, while you're in Houston where it's Friday afternoon ( 15 hour time difference), probaby hot, and nearly wine,/beer/whiskey o'clock for you (well it would be for me);)