Overbooking

[Cammiem]

People!

 

Look at my countdown clock!

 

FIVE more days! :D

 

Poor, poor Jim Avery & ganttc.

 

At least I won't have a cast on my leg this time, boys! :eek:

[Martita B.]

I had an e-mail from Matire'D Armand today ~ good news....

Sean Smit (Sky Bar) is aboard the Spirit!!:p (He's newly engaged to his sweetheart, Regina) Sean is THE best bartender of the Seabourn fleet. Mr. Sean will know the red Cabernet I enjoy ~raise your glass to 'La Dolce Vita!

Safe travels and smooth sailing, with blue skies above,

MB

[SeabournGirl]

This cruise is also overbooked and we also got the same email. You don't expect this 1 week before departure and certainly not from a deluxe liner who assigns cabins at payment date. Bizarre disappointing and upsetting. I must also add that the call centre that handles customer calls always has a wait attached to it.This happened on at least 4 occasions during the booking/service process.

I must admit I did not get this from SilverSea.

 

I was just on Oceania (only because the itinerary was fabulous and SB doesn’t offer it!!) and they were oversold as well. The problem comes from people 'booking' a year or two in advance, knowing they can cancel out 91 days before sailing and get a full refund. They go on an ‘average’ cancelation rate. On popular itineraries, they don't have as many cancelations - and then they have to scramble to find alternative solutions. That is why you get the offers to rebook to another cruise. We didn’t take the offer because we wanted to see those specific ports.

 

When I book a guaranty room, they usually don’t assign the suite #until 2 weeks before sailing. I assume they are waiting for people to book a specific suite number at a higher booking rate, such as families that want to be next to each other, etc, then fill in the leftover slots with those of us that don’t care which suite we get.

 

RG142 - Don’t you book thru a travel agent? Let them sit on hold for you – you don’t pay any extra for an agent, they have direct line into SB and I get fabulous perks from my TA - onboard credits, a complimentary exclusive excursion, and a TA host onboard most cruises to handle any last minute changes I want to make.

[4kitties]

I had an e-mail from Matire'D Armand today ~ good news....

Sean Smit (Sky Bar) is aboard the Spirit!!:p (He's newly engaged to his sweetheart, Regina) Sean is THE best bartender of the Seabourn fleet. Mr. Sean will know the red Cabernet I enjoy ~raise your glass to 'La Dolce Vita!

Safe travels and smooth sailing, with blue skies above,

MB

 

Sean is wonderful - try his "Springbok". And if you have the misfortune of getting a "cold" onboard, ask for his "special lemonade" - he is going to put the doctor out of business!:D

 

So exciting that he and Regina are engaged. When we were last on the Spirit he was about to propose!!!!

[Cammiem]

I had an e-mail from Matire'D Armand today ~ good news....

Sean Smit (Sky Bar) is aboard the Spirit!!:p (He's newly engaged to his sweetheart, Regina) Sean is THE best bartender of the Seabourn fleet. Mr. Sean will know the red Cabernet I enjoy ~raise your glass to 'La Dolce Vita!

Safe travels and smooth sailing, with blue skies above,

MB

 

Oooooh, more good news from you. :D

 

Cabernet it is.

 

I have a sneaky feeling that Sean will be my new BFF. Especially if he can pour me a fabulous glass of champagne...well, more than just one. :D

 

Maybe you can tell Armand to keep an eye out for my group. We won't be hard to miss.

[Cammiem]

Sean is wonderful - try his "Springbok". And if you have the misfortune of getting a "cold" onboard, ask for his "special lemonade" - he is going to put the doctor out of business!:D

 

So exciting that he and Regina are engaged. When we were last on the Spirit he was about to propose!!!!

 

Oh, 4kitties, if you only knew how much of a virus magnet I am. :eek:

 

Will definitely try his special lemonade. And springbok.

 

Thanks for the tips.

[Martita B.]

Being aboard a sailing that is a "sell out" and overbooked is not necessarily an inconvenience. Last March on the Spirit Crossing we had only 129 Guests ~~the ship seemed empty. The Sept. 25th Med. cruise, being a full ship ~~ opportunties to meet more interesting and fun Sailors.

Yes, "congratulations to Sean and Regina" ~ (she is in the Casino)

I hope Sasha is also at the Sky Bar ~~he's a sweetie too!

Cammiem, ask Sean to place the reserved sign on our bar stool so Jim can't claim it!

Enjoy the voyage!

MB

[Cammiem]

Being aboard a sailing that is a "sell out" and overbooked is not necessarily an inconvenience. Last March on the Spirit Crossing we had only 129 Guests ~~the ship seemed empty. The Sept. 25th Med. cruise, being a full ship ~~ opportunties to meet more interesting and fun Sailors.

 

Cammiem, ask Sean to place the reserved sign on our bar stool so Jim can't claim it!

Enjoy the voyage!

MB

 

I'm all about meeting people onboard.

 

I've only sailed on SeaDream, so 125 would seem like a lot (SD holds 112 max).

 

MB, your ideas keep getting better & better.

 

I'll letcha email Armand - maybe he can send word about the reserved sign to Sean. Heaven forbid Jim take our barstool! :eek:

 

It might also be smart to warn Sean that I *love* champagne. He'd better be well-stocked. :D

[ganttc]

Down to the wire....And Calamity...that bar stool is MINE...all MINE...

The onion rings will be in front of ME...not shared.

Any more questions?

[Cammiem]

It's always a very nice surprise if a sailing is almost sold out to be upgraded to one of the Owners Suites ~if available.

 

MB

 

 

Hey MB - Can you contact your SB peeps & have me upgraded to the Owner's Suite? ;)

 

That'd make everyone in my group green with envy.

 

Plus, it'll make the Seabourn blog I'm writing look much better than the elevator stateroom I'm booked in.

[Martita B.]

Another Sky Bar tip......Sean will happyily order Seabourn's World Famous french fries for snacking along with your cocktails. Caviar is also available 24/7 ~

Cammiem, upon embarking, run up to the Sky Bar and tell Sean that I said to SAVE you my bar stool ~~don't let those tacky men sit there!

And I'm sorry to have to report this......Once Seabourn, always Seabourn! Overbooked or not!

MB

Seabourn Scalawag

[Cammiem]

Down to the wire....And Calamity...that bar stool is MINE...all MINE...

The onion rings will be in front of ME...not shared.

Any more questions?

 

No, Hon.

 

It's mine.

 

I don't recall MB telling *you* to use her favorite barstool.

 

You can have the onion rings in front of you, though you'll have to share at least one so I can put them on the blog.

[Cammiem]

Another Sky Bar tip......Sean will happyily order Seabourn's World Famous french fries for snacking along with your cocktails. Caviar is also available 24/7 ~

Cammiem, upon embarking, run up to the Sky Bar and tell Sean that I said to SAVE you my bar stool ~~don't let those tacky men sit there!

And I'm sorry to have to report this......Once Seabourn, always Seabourn! Overbooked or not!

MB

Seabourn Scalawag

 

Dear Scalawag,

 

Does Sean know you by SCALAWAG, MARTITA B or SEABOURN GODDESS?

 

Will I have to duck & run for cover when I mention your name to him & Armand? :D

 

It will be very interesting to compare SD to SB. I'm really looking forward to it.

 

Though I do confess to feeling like I'm cheating on SD.

 

I'll get over that quickly, I'm sure, after a couple glasses of champagne.

 

The toiletries had better be good. SDs are by far the BEST I've ever used.

 

French fries AND onion rings? Oh, good Lord. I'm not even onboard and am already in love. Please tell me Sean can produce a big bottle of ketchup.

 

Will take your advice & run up to the Sky Bar upon embarking. Though I have to be careful. The boys don't call me CALAMITY for nothing. :eek:

[Martita B.]

Cammiem

I believe you can simply say....."do you happen to be aquainted with "the Scalawag?"

'Don't forget ~~Armand has the Superman suit hanging, ready to wear!:confused:

MB

[ganttc]

Hmmm...Superman....I think I like that......

[sullaRaffaello]

I had an e-mail from Matire'D Armand today ~ good news....

Sean Smit (Sky Bar) is aboard the Spirit!!:p (He's newly engaged to his sweetheart, Regina)

 

Is Regina the blackjack dealer? He told me about her when I was abord last November. He was in the Club then.

[Martita B.]

Yes, Regina (can not spell her last name ) is a blackjack dealer. It was love at first sight when Sean happened to see her walking along the pier last Fall during the Spirit dry dock ~~CARUMBA!

She's a cute gal ~I'm so happy for both of them:p

MB

[Toronto Maple Leaf Fan]

We just returned from the Spirit, Venice-Rome Sept. 11-18th. Our cruise was also overbooked. We got called the week before with an offer and then the day before we flew with an even better offer. They needed three rooms. I know the onboard Guest Speaker got the boot...not sure what else they did as they needed three cabins.

 

Anyhow, the cruise was amazing and I can't say enough about Sean at the SkyBar. He always knows what to make just by looking at you.

 

Enjoy yourselves! Wish I didn't have to return home.

 

Kim

[piatty73]

Spirit 9/25 Rome/Venice is overbooked. Anyone have this experience before? Dont really understand overbooking something you have to pay in full for 90 days in advance.

J.

I took the offer of a free two week cruise with $400 credit, well over 10K. I am holding another booking in Nov. Never heard of this before, will do the Dalmatian trip next year.

[Jim Avery]

Now that is worth changing plans for!!:D

[FKGirl]

Anyhow, the cruise was amazing and I can't say enough about Sean at the SkyBar. He always knows what to make just by looking at you.

 

 

Agreed... Sean is fabulous - although he didn't really get how I thought champagne was refreshing (it's cold!) he kept the glass full, and made many other concoctions as well...

 

OK, back to the topic of overbooking: It is a lot like the airlines - people cancel for all sorts of reasons last minute. I always feel if I can be flexible I take the deal. Generally, our time is not that flexible, even with flights!

 

http://www.FloridaKeysGirl.com

[soc1965]

Now that is worth changing plans for!!:D

 

Hi everyone, London calling!

Glad none of your party did actually take the deal! Looking forward to meeting you all at the Sky Bar & discovering the delights of Sean into the bargain :)

Safe journey all.

Sue

[Cammiem]

Hi everyone, London calling!

Glad none of your party did actually take the deal! Looking forward to meeting you all at the Sky Bar & discovering the delights of Sean into the bargain :)

Safe journey all.

Sue

 

Hey Sue!

 

We'll be at the Sky Bar lookin' for ya.

 

Safe travels. See ya Saturday!

[ravenclaw]

Any thoughts, opinions, experience on volunteering to be "bumped" if a cruise appears to be overbooked ? In other words, if a particular cruise someone has booked and paid in full and all cabin categories are now waitlisted, contacting Seabourn and making it known that you are open to a cancellation IF an overbooking situation develops ?

[wripro]

If you let them know you are willing you probably won't get as good a deal.