Kilroyshere

I too have been wondering what is in SB's future? With the sale of Odyssey (450 guests) and bringing on 2 Expedition ships (combined total of 528 guests), SB will have a net gain of only 78 possible guests, while arguably requiring twice the number of crew to operate and and arguably twice as much operating costs with 2 ships (Venture & Pursuit) versus 1 (Odyssey). This doesn't make sense to me. Without purchasing an existing ship from another cruise line, it would take at least 5-years from decision to build, financing, design, letting contracts and construction to bring a new ship to SB's fleet. Perhaps the best years of Ultra Luxury Cruising and what so many of us came to love with SB in particular, is becoming a thing of the past. I hope I'm wrong about this.

We tried Celeb Retreat class. Retreat is not even close to SB and outside of Retreat venues the rest of Celeb ships are mass market at best. Retreat is a Hilton experience charging Ritz prices.

Regarding crew knowing guests names, one other cruise line I know of has facial recognition running everywhere in their ships. At dining venues and everywhere else you appear on their tablet and then are addressed by name, but with no credit to crew IMO!

Carnival Corporation's website says the OBC for shareholders is "applicable on sailings through July 31, 2024." Anyone know if this benefit will be extended to cruises booked beyond this date?

Agreed. The TK table crudities of carrot and celery sticks was weak. The 50's/60's American supper club theme went the way of the Dodo bird and hasn't been seen since for good reasons.

I find it odd that Quest outta Miami November 1st that we've booked, is listed as a 'tender required' port. Asked Seabourn about this and they acknowledge it's listed as a tender, but have no more info... Anyone know how to 'splain this?

We are previous X cruisers and twice Retreat cruisers (January 24 was latest and last). We're done with Celebrity. Retreat fares are on par with ultra luxury, all inclusive, smaller ship cruise lines. Retreat service, amenities, food, exclusivity and luxury is NOT on par with ultra luxury cruise lines in our opinion. Retreat charges 'Ritz' prices while delivering a glorified Holiday Inn Holidome. Outside of the very few Retreat venues, you have the same mega size, crowds, lines, buffets and over-all mediocrity of mass market ships. There is no 'no' on ultra luxury ships. Order a prime cut Filet Mignon or Sirloin off menu, if the ship's kitchen pantry has it, they will gladly serve it. Luminae menus are very limited. Off menu orders we tried to get were not obliged on either of our 2 Retreat cruises in the past year. Ordering some Luminae 3rd entrees for a 2-top table would cause a surcharge on some menu listed items. This is not ultra luxury but you are still paying for ultra luxury. There are no up-chages for specialty dining on most ultra luxury ships. As a 'Retreater' you pay up-charges for Celebrity specialty venues. We're done with Celebrity.

BRAVO! Thoroughly enjoyed your VLOG and recounting your Ritz cruise experience. We too enjoy small ship cruising with Seabourn and Regent our past favorites. Small ships are no longer so small. Big ships got bigger as are small ships getting bigger. Your posted VLOG peaked our interest in Ritz who seem to offer the service an intimate cruise experience we had come to desire and now find difficult to find. Kudos on your videos, they are informative and very well done indeed...

Kippers are broiled, not microwaved?

Pickled or Kippered herring in my opinion, has little “smell” or aroma on a plate served. I would ask you; you’ve walked the Buffet and sat next to people where herring was served. Did you notice the smell or aroma? I believe other common dishes, such as bacon, onions, garlic, that big platter of cheese, Indian cuisine have far more powerful aromas, which others may or may not like. But back to the original thread, for those who enjoy kippers here is a treat Luminae will accommodate.

Lox, bagel and cream cheese, smoked, cured fish and pickled herring are very popular and regular MDR, Buffet and Luminae breakfast offerings.

Scotch smoked Kippers and various varieties of herrings were traditional breakfasts all over the UK, Ireland, throughout Scandinavia, North Atlantic and the Canadian Maritime Provence, who produce them. Scandinavian crewed ships e.g.; NCL offer Kippers on their MDR menu. They are quite nice with scrambled eggs and are an alternative to smoked bacon.

I enjoy a broiled breakfast Kipper. This is a dish difficult to find almost anywhere else these days. Was very pleased on embarkation day lunch in Luminae when I inquired about Kippers and was told they'd be available every morning if wished. I wished them so to my delight several mornings and they were prepared to perfection.

Retreat is very good. But it's not SB... We're frequent SB cruisers. This past December/January we took a Retreat Holiday cruise. Celebrity is going all out to attract younger, affluent cruisers who are likely to also be ultra luxury class small ship cruisers in their Retreat class. Cuisine in Retreats Luminae dining is excellent and in our opinion on par with SB's MDR. Luminae selections are more limited than SB. Custom menu requests were gladly and skillfully accommodated in Retreat as they are on SB. Luminae service was as good as SB's. I enjoyed Celebrity's all inclusive wine selections much more than SB's. Just my opinion. Retreat's private lounge has full-time concierge staff who went out of their way to help making reservations, work out any issue with a cabin, service or amenity. Bar service in the Retreat lounge is excellent. The lounge was never crowded and offered small group entertainment live music selections, a magician and other presentations. Retreat's concierge service begins long before cruising. They took phone calls to assist with bookings, questions and special requests with a dedicated and capable Retreat phone staff. On the not so good side of Retreat service were lounge hors d'oevres, canapes, snacks...all were poor (think Oscar Meyer Lunchables cold cuts and orange generic cheese and crackers). Doesn't come close or compare with SB's offerings at Tea Service, pre-dinner lounge hors d'oevres and, caviar is M.I.A. on Celebrity without a special request and massive up-charge. Buffets on SB have always been excellent in our opinion and are far superior to Celebrity which were mass market average. Retreat Embarkation/Disembarkation priorities for expedited luggage and reception were superior to SB. Once at the port, it was barely 10 minute in a separate Retreat dedicated check in area with no lines and we were escorted aboard and shown to our cabin which was ready to occupy before noon. Once outside some wonderful reserved Retreat venues, the rest of Celebrity ships are mass market, mega ships trying trying to appeal to all levels, ages and price-point cruisers. Outside of Retreat feels like HAL, Royal, or NCL with similar big ship service, crowds, lines, photo/art/jewelry/casino solicitations and noise. SB doesn't offer children's amenities. Celebrity has programs and venues for children - if children on a cruise matter to you either way. We've always found SB offering a more intimate, sophisticated and personal cruise. Over the years as SB ships grew and much of what we came to love has changed, not always for the better. Yet SB still offers us that 'small yacht' feel that Celebrity Retreat never will. Price wise; the daily cost of a SB veranda suite might get you an upper level Retreat suite on Celebrity.

We sailed on the Song and met Captain Dag when Regent was a Radisson property. Song service, ambiance and attention to detail was superb. We were also cruisers on Seabourn's 3 little sister ships Pride, Spirit & Legend. Dag was Captaining them till SB retired those ships around 2014. Song's history had several stories told to us by crew. One was she was built or refurbished by a Japanese industrialist and thus the name Song of Flower.