Vineyard View

We are looking at a trip next year that includes Monemvasia as a port. In looking at reviews it appears to be a pretty lovely historic experience. In looking at excursions for ideas and reading reviews it seems that Mystras is not to be missed on this trip as well. We are not ship excursions people. I am wondering if Mystras is easy to get to independently from port via taxi or? If not, does anyone have a guide they might recommend for 1/2 day? Also wondering if we do not go to Mystras if Monemvasia is enough for the better part of the day? The excursion is showing 6 hours and that would not leave much time to explore Monemvasia.

During our previous sailings with Viking, the wines available without SSB were limited. Only what were offer nightly, or ‘possibly a few others’ if you asked. With SSB we had a list of wines we could choose from that were additional to the included wines. At every meal. Those additional options may have been available by the glass, but there was a an expanded number of wines included on SSB ( I honestly never compared them to purchased by the glass). It provided us with options maybe available without SSB, but without thinking about the cost per glass associated with them. For us, We found it worthwhile. And then if we wanted a cocktail or pre or post dinner, we for the most part found it to be also covered under SSB.

We have always upgraded on Viking for the greater selection of wines. The included were often dicey. Are you saying SSP wines are downhill as well?

Thank you. I honestly could not drink $10/btl of wine so I was just noticing what to expect. No offense meant to anyone. We’ve always purchased drink packages on Various lines and the gratuities were included. I am comparing three lines for next year and gathering total costs when comparing similar cabins that we would sail in and costs we would incur. So far, Viking is most expensive. Hands down. They are out for a few reasons. We used to be cheerleaders for them and very familiar with expectations. What is surprising me is how very close Oceania and Seabourn are penciling out. Again, comparing similar size cabins and amenities, time of year, length of travel. Different parts of the Mediterranean which I know can contribute due to port fees. I am happy to post those findings later if there is any interest. Clearly what is important to us, is not necessarily to others

Thank you. I really appreciate this. I looked at only one red wine. The Pinot. Wasn’t familiar with it. It sells for $10/bottle. Mixed drinks seem reasonable. I am just surprised that the charge the 20% gratuity instead of building it in. As I have researched Oceania further, there are a couple of add on costs that I was surprised at. This is one.

Thank you for posting this. I appreciate you doing this. So it sounds like the 20% is included in the package, but maybe not in the purchases separate from lunch/dinner, or beverages not on the package? I noticed a comment about the high prices of cocktails. Does anyone have an example?

So if you buy or have the drinks package, is there a 20% added to each of your drinks, or is that covered in the package? What about drinks not on the package, such as mixed drinks, Bloody Mary, etc? 20%?

Thank you. I will take a look.

That may hold true for current bookings. We could not book a new one though after 6/1 on board the ship. We were made some promises on board with the Oceans cruise we ended up booking that are not quite accurate so we have our TA working on that.

We found that some of their competitors with included excursions penciled out to be more per person per day than Seabourn. So I think maybe it depends on the value of having excursions included for each passenger. Some passengers, like us, do not find value in that. Some do.

We were on board a couple weeks ago when this was available. It was an awesome promotion that we seriously considered. In hindsight, probably should have. Unfortunately for us it was only available for a short time as it ended 6/1.

They do. One to choose from in each port generally a walking tour or a bus tour. The only time we used them was to get into a city center, we would ask the guide what time to meet back, and go DIY. We still gave the tour guide a tip, but we didn’t follow the group. For us they were a worthless inclusion in the cost - but we are also not excursions fans. We have heard from many who do enjoy excursions that some of the walking ones were good (probably greatly depends on the tour guide, as is normally the case), but the bus tours are mostly scenic drives.

Cheap, sweet champagne is a disgrace. I just do not understand who decides where to cut corners that they believe it won’t really be noticed.

Thank you for the update on Windstar balconies. I just looked at a Spain itinerary. The top two categories “classic Suite” (400-530 sf) and owners suite (575 sq ft) say that they have balconies on the Pride. I did not realize this. The other balcony categories are French style. It’s quite a bump in pricing to not have a French Balcony, but they have them so thank you for finding that.

I think that the pool of available cruise excursions companies is much smaller than it used to be pre C. (Just as it is for private and independent tours). I also believe that cruise lines have always mostly used the same excursions companies both before and after C because that is what is available. There are, as far as I have discovered (other than river cruises on Viking where there were specific Viking busses for excursions - maybe other river cruise lines too) no real other options, and as a result not a lot of competition for these companies to ‘up their game’. Unfortunately, I believe you get what you get with excursions no matter whom you sail on. They all seem pretty cookie cutter with no real differentiators. What you pay, on the other hand, can vary greatly for similar excursions depending on cruise line. Have I said - I really, really dislike cruise ship excursions? Sometimes though, depending on the port, not a lot of options.

No worries whatsoever. DH has the same vineyard view on our patio as I do!

I can. But if I am comparing as close to possible, apples to apples, then I cannot. That is what I am trying to compare as similar to one another in amenities. That doesn’t mean a regular verandah is bad. I am just looking for equal.

We do prefer to have the full drinks package on O. It was included on SB. So, for us, we need to calculate that into our total costs. Everyone has their preferences and what is important to them. The beauty is that usually one can find a line/itinerary that mostly meets and checks those individual boxes. So those preferences have to be calculated in overall costs and drilling it down to cost pp per day. As DH and I were discussing this evening, if all that turns out to being similar, meaning per day, as it originally appears between tue two, then the decision can certainly become more complicated. As you point out CurlerRob, the differences can certainly be less than we sure originally thought they would be.

We just completed our first Seabourn cruise. Loved almost every aspect and I would like to write a review. Currently I am waiting to hear back from SB about, how should I say, miscommunication with the FCC on board regarding a cruise we booked on board before I do. That said, we obviously loved our experience or we would not have booked a future cruise. We had OBC to use and decided to try a couple excursions. I will say we never book ship excursions - only DIY or private based on experience. We thought maybe it would be better with SB. Nope. That was not the case with either of the excursions. It only confirms we will stick with our usual MO. Unfortunately the pool of excursion companies and guides are apparently shared by all cruise lines, and even more so post C. We did provide feedback while onboard, on the one where we were beyond uncomfortable and way to crowded in a small mostly enclosed boat and received a 20% discount. It was not worth arguing about. It was a lesson to stick with our past game plan. It’s just so much more difficult post C to find companies and individuals than it was before.

I will get back after TA quote and update if the difference pp is significant over my initial cursory math.

I misquoted the date. It is in May. The Seabourn is in April. ‘May 18-June 1. Barcelona to Rome on O Basic Veranda Suite on SB (two category upgrade right now and 10% deposit) Concierge on O. I will have a quote from our TA tomorrow for O.

I like their itineraries as well. What I do not care for is not having any balconies - only French Balconies on some of their ships. Not important to some…..important to us though.

That is what I was trying to find to be honest. Unfortunately there were no R ship itineraries in the areas when we are able to sail next year. We were in a basic Verandah on SB. To get a similar size on any R ship we would need to book a suite.

Last summer we compared similar itineraries (general location of sailings, similar size balcony cabins, # days, extra we would pay for) with Viking, Oceania, SB, Azamara. We found that the per day was actually highest on Viking (daily room steward fees are not included in their pricing). We found that the other three were very similar in cost per day per person. We opted for Seabourn - all inclusive, cabin was stunning. As was all else and on a 460 pax ship. Between some of the reviews I read, and the size of the ship (would it be to small) I had my concerns. Lots of the chatter on the boards that was negative was the jeans being allowed in MDR, and some were around the food. Some were around included wines. All the cruise lines included wines can be sketch, imho, so I wasn’t expecting a lot there. We don’t care for spending evenings at shows because we spend long days in ports. What we found was that the size of the ship, and likely their larger 600 pax was a real bonus for us. The food on Quest was very good to excellent. Caviar and Champagne a treat whenever. The champagne was quite lovely and could be stocked in your room bar as well as wine, spirits. Two choices. The wine (we are a bit picky) would be poured for us to taste. They switched it up frequently and much was from local ports. If we didn’t care for what they were pouring, they gladly brought several other options. The port days were all early arrivals with 5-6p departures, except Malta and that was 11p. Quite honestly, we would disembark right after breakfast and found that by the time we had to be back on board (30 min before sail time) we had enjoyed what we wanted to. Some days we were back early just to enjoy the ship as it was lovely. The two itineraries we are looking at, one on SB and one on O for next April are not in the same region of the Mediterranean. O is a focus on Spain, Islands in the Med. SB is Croatia, Greece, Turkey, Italy. Both are 14 days. Price per day on O in entry level Concierge (trying to get close in comparison to amenities) with OLife is $15pp/pd less than SB. If I look at cruise only, same category, it is $107pp/pd less - but I need to add in drink package and other amenities that are important to us. The SB ship is 600 pax vs 1238 pax. I do not need to pay for anything more on SB. But….it is in a different region so maybe it’s not an apples to apples, but it is an example of how close pricing can be. So far, we have not found that to be quite the same with Regent and SS, but we do not take ship excursions, so that is a meaningless perk for us.

We are hoping the 2025 cruises open up fairly soon on SB as well Paul. We have in play another with them for 2024 - 14 day Treasures of the Adriatic - but a different Oceania itinerary - 14 day Barcelona to Rome which has several ports we have not visited - has our attention as well - so we are at decision time. Have requested quote from TA on Oceania. We like a Vista itinerary for next year, but it is only 10 days which is not long enough and B2B 20day too long for dog sitters.