CalmSea

More or less, I would agree with the figures. I also tend to be a light drinker, so the amount for alcohol may be too high for me. But, I do like to have a coffee or two from the Square, maybe with a piece of cake too, which could make up the difference. At this moment, I think I am getting value for my money at Seabourn. 

I am not as worry about Covid anymore, because I can do something about it. I am fully vaccinated, with multiple booster shots, and took one two week before my last Alaska cruise. However, I am more worry about the other upper respiratory infections. I still wear a mask in crowded areas, one of the very few on the cruise. I wish other passengers would wear masks  more often too, especially if they cough. But, I do understand and respect people's dislike for wearing mask.  DW and I have decided that we will continue cruising and accept the risk of possibly picking up an infection or two along the way.

10 hours ago, SLSD said:

10 hours ago, arzz said:

 In 2019 we received a HUGE bottle of Bailey's - much too big to justify opening for a sip or two - and we, too, left it unopened in our suite. 

  In fact, the bottles of liquor AND our bottle of champagne were all unopened at the end of the cruise. What is wrong with us???  We just left the bottles there.  

I wonder what happened to those bottles we left behind. Does it go back to SB's inventory, or, does it go to the service staff as gifts? I hope it is the latter.

1 hour ago, SLSD said:

 We are changing travel agents as our old one retired with the pandemic.  We used a different agent for our recent cruise, but are looking for a Virtuoso agent to be our go to /permanent agent.  This one is local to Dallas.  I had a long conversation with her on the telephone and some emails--and now this.  I am still taking notes and writing down numbers, but it just doesn't sound reasonable to me.  Yes, we are talking about a Classic suite for the entire time.  And the length of cruise doesn't seem to match what SS shows online.  So frustrating.  A travel agent is supposed to make things seamless and easy.  This isn't so far.  I'm going to study it and try to figure it out--but I think this is a nonstarter. 

 

I just checked another online cruise booking site for SS cruises Copenhagen - Stockholm around July and August. It seems that the 17 day version is always a little more expensive that the 10 day + 7 day version. So, it seems to be a SS feature. Looking at SS's website, I noticee that the 17 day versions all have only the "door-to-door" choice, whereas the 10 day or 7 day versions have both the "door-to-door" and "port-to-port" choices. Your quote for the 17 day version is probably a "door-to-door" with a not so generous air credit. That may also explain the difference between the OBC's. However, I cannot explain why you need to move suites if you take the 10 day + 7 day version. Another thing to consider is that the "door-to-door" may have a more forgiving cancellation policy compared to the "port-to-port" ones.

54 minutes ago, SLSD said:

Well---here's a disappointment.  I've been working with our travel agent (an agent we are considering using) and Silversea was going to charge us MORE for a 17 day cruise than the 10 day and 7 day cruises separately.  What's more--they were going to make us change suites mid-cruise unless we pay more.  I'm not buying it.  VERY disappointed.  

That sounds strange! Were you given any explanation? Are we talking about the same category of suite for the 17 day cruise and the B2B 10 day + 7 day? Is this your usual travel agent?

1 hour ago, arzz said:

Have not yet been able to find the proper preferences page for our November cruise so not sure what will appear then as well as what we, in 2023, would like to appear. 

If you still have problem finding the preferences pages, take a look at this thread:

The method mentioned in post #12 may still work.

6 minutes ago, cruiseej said:

 

Well, that would make me very happy! I hope that turns out to be what they're doing. And I'd give them kudos for listening the customer feedback and changing course.

The CD actually did say that the decision was made after listening to customer feedback. He also said that sometimes the Trio may be augmented to a Quartet. I hope it is true. I always take a CD's promise with a grain of salt.

59 minutes ago, kahuna21 said:

Just got off Odyssey. No DJ thank heavens. But an excellent band, great ensemble group, excellent Ob Bar pianist, excellent guitarist/singer in The Club. Probably the best music we’ve had on a luxury cruise. (I do love HAL music walk.)

I agree that the guitarist/singer is excellent. He has quite a wide repertoire, and, surprisingly, one can do ballroom dancing with many of his songs. I think it is the first time we did ballroom dancing with a guitar player.

2 hours ago, SLSD said:

We are still mulling over our options and discounting Asia in January. We enjoy January in Texas at our farm (IF there is not another polar vortex).  We are now looking back at Northern Europe for July and August 2024.  We HAVE to escape Texas heat in those months.  We may even consider a return to Norway with Iceland and some UK included for 28 days.  The fact that there are some shorter itineraries is a concern --but hey--we need to get out of the heat.  

The Quest has a 24-day (July 14 to August 7) cruise from London to New York, visiting Iceland and Greenland along the way. If getting back to Texas is still too hot, you can add a B2B New York to Montreal, arriving on August 19.

33 minutes ago, SLSD said:

Getting a bit complicated.  Why not make it especially easy for loyal SB cruisers?

Yes, it is a complicated and I wish SB can make it easy to understand. I usually just ask my TA to contact SB and ask which promotion and discount are applicable.

16 minutes ago, SLSD said:

I've never seen that.  I don't think this is how this promotion was explained in the past onboard.  

I think JPH814's 5% past passenger discount refers to the Seabounr Club Benefits, which reads "5% Club savings on selected Sailings" on the Seabourn Club Points Benefit pdf. This Club saving is different from the 5% which comes with the Future Cruise Deposit(FCD). In my recent Alaska cruise, both the Club savings and the FCD are applicable. However, it does sound like the new "A Sail to Remeber" 10% discount cannot be combine with the Club saving, or the sailing is not one of the "selected" ones for the Club Saving. I do expect the 5% FCD do apply.

13 hours ago, Utopia1 said:

I will miss the live music in The Club--  hopefully they will reconsider having live music back for the world cruise. 

 

On our recent cruise on the Odyssey, a guitar player/singer was playing in The Club. The CD said that the DJ in The Club was a failure, and claimed that live music with trios will be coming back fleet wide. We will see.

@Utopia1thanks for your feedback.

I found a thread about Flight Ease on CC's HAL forum. Otherwise, there are almost no discussions about it, which I take to mean that most people are satisfied with it. If the price goes up often before ticketing, I think I will hear about it somewhere. So, I think I will just wait and not request early ticketing. 

1 hour ago, PRMinx said:

It is early June. The tickets were “bookable” with great prices on flex. I grabbed them and they are now even showing in my AA account, with seat assignments. I have not yet paid and can apparently change anytime. But, prices can also go up anytime. I can request to be ticketed, but I haven’t clicked that link yet because I’m not sure how it all works and I don’t want to make a mistake. I just want to lock in the great rate and will pay earlier - today even - to do so.

 

Have you worked through this before? Any advice? Thanks 😊 

52 minutes ago, FlyerTalker said:

 

I have rarely found cruiseline air to be a better proposition than getting my tickets directly from the airline.  Especially because I know that there is more to an airline ticket than just the price.

 

You do realize that you are most likely not buying the same tickets as what you would get from the airline itself?  Have you compared the underlying fare rules?  Caveat emptor.

 

 

My cruise leaves in March. Previously, I had not been able to find a better deal on Flight Ease compared to booking direcly from an airline. But, this time, the price on Flight Ease is about 30% cheaper. It is difficult to find the exact underlying fare rules. On SB's side, it says the fare is only good when bought as part of a cruise package. On the airline web site, it says the booking class is K, but I cannot get any further information. 

I am most interested in hearing anyone's experience in reqesting early ticketing. Given that there may be many different fare rules, I don't expect any definitive answer, but any kind of experience, good or bad, will be helpful.

Since the price of Flexible Fare is not guaranteed until the tickets are paid for, what are people's experience with prices changing in the mean time? Also, is it worth asking for "Requiest Early Ticketing" to lock-in the price?

1 hour ago, wire said:

Does the hoody zip off the Alaska jacket ?

No. But the it can be rolled up and hiden under the collar.

1 hour ago, MBP&O2/O said:

Can anyone comment on the hood on these jackets? Looking at the image gallery on both Storm Creek and other retailers, the ladies doesn't seem to have any obvious drawstring - or similar - to tighten it?

There also seems to be a lack of pockets. I can only see two hip pockets and none of the descriptions mention an internal pocket.

Both the men and ladies hood have drawstring. The men's jacket has 3 pockets, the ladies one has only 2 hip pockets. Neither has any internal pockets.

23 minutes ago, jondfk said:

Hi Susan, and I know we experienced the restaurant open on daily on our sailing with you.  And, the restaurant manager told me, as he told you, that this was a fleet wide change as of late June.  However, I’ve been closely monitoring the Source app for our Odyssey sailing coming up in August and I’ve found the lunch menu to say Closed nearly every day, one hopes it’s a failure to post the menu, but it appears the “fleet wide” comment we heard on Ovation may not have been correct.  Look for a reality post from me sometime after August 11.  We, like you, use the restaurant as a first option whenever it’s available.

 

Jon

We were on the Odyssey from June 19 to 30. The restaurant was opened on all sea days, but closed on port days. We had lunch at the restaurant once, and there are only 2 tables occupied, including us. Just a data point, I don't want to get involved in another restuarant luch discussion.

2 hours ago, Earthtones said:

Does this mean there are umbrellas on the ship available for use, or do you have Seabourn branded umbrellas that you travel with? 

They are availabe for use. We usually pick them up when we get off the ship and return them when we come back.

35 minutes ago, sfvoyage said:

Are the sizes normal for a jacket?  (they don't run bigger or smaller than a typical jacket.) 

The sizes look normal to me, but I am not an expert on sizes. We ordered according to the size chart, and they fit us perfectly. There are many people wearing the Alasaka jackets around the Odyssey, and they all looked very smart!

The jackets are made by Storm Creek. The models are 6520 and 6525. Storm Creek's website has better pictures of the jackets than Seabourn's ordering site. Seabourn's version of the jacket has the Seabourn logo and the word "Alaska" added.

4 hours ago, SkiWave said:

Are the complimentary "all weather" jackets provided by Seabourn for Alaska cruises of the lighter wind-breaker type, or the warmer/heavier insulated type?  We are preparing to pack for an upcoming Alaska cruise, and want to avoid bringing our own heavy jacket if not necessary.  Of course, August weather may be more wet than cold.  Thank you for your assistance with this question.  

We were on the June 19 to June 30 Alaska cruise, and we were the first cruise to be given the newer black version of the jackets. I would describe it as a breathable water repelling wind breaker. On rainy days, we took our trusty Seabourn umbellas along too.

Just a comment about the all-weather jackets in Alaska. The new black version, while very nice, is not what I would call all-weather. I would call it a Spring/Fall rain jacket. I don't think it is adequate for temperatures below 10C/50F.

Are there any interest in this final Grand Voyeage of the Odyssey under Seabourn? There seems to be very little discussion about it in this forum. I find no roll calls for any of the segments of this Grand Voyage. One online cruise booking site has this cruise and its various segments discounted for about 50%. In my just completed Alaska cruise, I read the flyer anouncing the 2025 version of the Grand Voyage on the Quest. I think the itinerariers are similar, but I don't remember the prices because I did not keep the flyer. Any comments?

I am onboard the Odessey. There are fresh fish on the menu every day. But that raised some doubts. They were serving fresh monk fish and Mahi Mahi. I don't think these species are local to Alaska. 

3 hours ago, nancygp said:

Great news!  Also, Matt is a wonderful Cd and can’t wait to sail with him again.

 

who is the singer/guitarist?

 

Nancy

He is Michael.

A word about DJ's. There is none on the current Odessey cruise. When I askef the CD, Matt Morgan, he said that the DJ did not work out. The time slot is now taken by a singer/guitarist, playing "Your Favorite Songs and Request". Last night, it seemed to go quite well.