SD I -July 14, Venice to Athens

[zqvol]

It has been raining here for a month!:eek: Bored. Need a Frequent Traveler update.:D

 

 

Too busy planning some land vacations to write.:D

[Jim Avery]

Too busy planning some land vacations to write.:D

 

That's no excuse.:D Don't you have to finish one vacation before starting the next????:D

[frequent traveler]

ON BOARD RECREATION (DVDs, watersports, golf simulator, Tea Forte Party, etc).

 

I’ve often said that on a crossing, there is never enough time to get everything done while on board SDand I am certainly never bored while on SD. Give me a kindle or my I pad and a Bali bed and I can idle away hours. Typically, I’m just watching the sea. I never take advantage of the other entertainment offerings.

 

Day 1 after boarding in Venice, it began with after dinner options – DVD Concert after dinner, Andrea Bocelli in the Main Salon. Or pianist Alex in the Piano Bar and Sheila in the Casino, and Bartenders Thomas and Xander at the TOY Bar. Piano Bar and Toy are standard and won't be discussed again.

 

Day 2 in Opatjia starts with Yoga at 8, then a new daily offering – a Complimentary Treatment in the Sauna & Steam room, this one called “De-stressing.” Swimming off the Marine Platform at 11 and 4:20 and non Motorized water sports (kayaks, sailboats, paddle boards, etc but no jet skis due to local regulations) from 2 to 4. After dinner, no concert but it was Salsa & Samba evening at TOY.

 

Day 3 in Rab. After yoga at 8, “Motivating” in the Sauna & Steam room, you could swim at 11 and again at 4:20 (see the pattern) and take advantage of the Motorized Water Sports. The evening’s special event was Live Contemporary Classics in the Main Salon, Featuring Gillette & Rojhon (2 talented crew members) with Guitarist Rey & Pianist Alex. Casino opened again.

 

Day 4 in Sibenik and then sailing to Split featured “Relaxing” in the Sauna & Steam Room (like you can do anything else) and a “Girl’s Time” in the Main Salon while we were sailing (me, I was on deck). For $30, you could have “Happy Hands & Happy Feet” and take your favorite color home with you. And learn how to get your hair braided like Princess Leia for $10 (I don’t think anyone actually paid for this offer- does anyone over the age of 5 still want to look like Princess Leia except on Halloween?). Colorful nail paintings tips and tricks were free. Black Jack lessons were also offered during this time. And a “Longest Drive Competition” was held in the Golf Simulator. The evening’s entertainment was a poolside DVD – The Adventures of Tin Tin”

 

Day 5 in Split- “Energy Giving” in the Sauna & Steamroom (was the heat even turned on? I always leave feeling like a limp noodle) with entertainment after the Degustation Dinner being a concert by Rutzie, a very talented SD cabin attendant. Then you could give your money to the casino manager again. Though it appears a number of people walked away with winnings.

 

Day 6 in Kotor, now you could “Regenerate” in the Sauna & Steamroom (by the way, this week we had some very dedicated guests who made yoga every morning). The evenings activity was supposed to be the 80’s Disco Night by the pool, but I believe weather postponed to the next night (memories are starting to fade!)

 

Day 7 – Dubrovnik, I wonder how many guests tried the “Slimming” in the Sauna & Steamroom). The Dream Show Case was held in the Main Salon while we were sailing along with the “Closest to the Pin” Competition in the Golf Simulator. Non Motorized Water Sports and swimming off the sports marina were also permitted.

 

Week 2 only varied in the dates watersports were permitted and the movies (guests can request, which can be good or very bad . . .) This week Mamma Mia , Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, and Troy were shown.

 

And the main salon was often used during the day and sometimes at night for the “Wii interactive gaming console. ” Unfortunately it was not mandatory and the children could not be confined behind locked doors. :eek:

 

I can’t opine on the variety of the DVD’s or the functionality of the golf simulator or Wii bowling on SD. I was quite happy watching the dolphins and enjoying the beautiful sunsets. Sailing into Kotor and through the Corinth Canal was my “onboard recreation”

 

Summary – I’m quite happy in this category. My only suggestion would be to note at the beginning of the week what days motorized and non motorized sports would be permitted. That way guests could know in advance when they would be permitted to jet ski and kayak etc. And I know its hopeless, but would just love to have slot machines back on board.;)

 

the next installment will "Shoreside Activities" . . .

[frequent traveler]

That's no excuse.:D Don't you have to finish one vacation before starting the next????:D

 

nope.. .i am always working one or two vacations ahead . . . at the rate I'm going I may never finish this review! The next items -9. Shoreside Activities (Land Adventures, Crew Shoreside Casuals, Tours, etc) and 10. Ports of Call will take awhile :rolleyes:

[Jim Avery]

nope.. .i am always working one or two vacations ahead . . . at the rate I'm going I may never finish this review! The next items -9. Shoreside Activities (Land Adventures, Crew Shoreside Casuals, Tours, etc) and 10. Ports of Call will take awhile :rolleyes:

 

I guess you will just have to tell us all about it in Hawaii.:eek::D

[frequent traveler]

Land Adventures, Crew Shoreside Casuals, Tours, etc

 

I’ll try to not repeat information from our daily postings here, but SD does its best to give Guests options in each port. Sometimes those options are limited due to the small size of the port and the fact that no other or very few ships stop there. To me that can be a great benefit, but it also means you should do your homework on the ports and decide what is important to you as a “must see”.

 

One of the “pluses” for SD are the shoreside crew casuals. Often on this trip they were biking adventures, I think due to the interest of the activities leaders, Daniel and Cat. On other islands they were hiking excursions.

 

Here’s the listing

 

Opatija – “Active” bike ride to Rijeka, for “advanced level bikers with an average distance of 18 miles and a maximum elevation of 18 miles”

 

Rab –Active bike ride – “medium profile” and 14 miles long.

 

Sibenik – active bike ride to Krka National Park (this is where we rode the bus about 15 minutes to the waterfalls and river for swimming). From the daily program description – “The hills are steep and recommended for active guests. The total distance is 28km/17.3 miles with max Elevation of 201m/695 ft.”

 

Kotor – Chef’s Walk to the Market and coffee. Okay, I will repeat myself here. This was one of the highlights of our trip and one of the best excursions we have ever had in any port on any line, including Alaska on another luxury line. This was the first time Chef Sudesh had every done this in Kotor and Daniella, the Head of Housekeeping and Chef Singh also participated. It was sooo hot but it didn’t matter. Captain went along on a bicycle and with a only 6 guests in total, you got to interact with everyone and taste everything. If you really liked something, it showed up on the cocktail menu that night. I will do this every chance I get (sorry Chef if this causes overcrowding but I heard the ones on the French Riveria or Italian cruises often have 40 guests participating )

 

In the morning there was also a bike ride in Kotor, Around the Fjords – and of course for “advanced riders. Approximately 30 km.” I do know this was one port where a number of recreational bikers were able to have leisurely rides around the port to a nice beach.

In the afternoon there was a hike to Castel St. John – guests were advised that the hike “is steep, around 900 steps and advised for active guests”

 

These were all the crew led activities during week 1. We had enough “active” bikers that on at least one of the islands we had both a morning and afternoon bike ride.

 

In week 2, there were fewer activities, I don't know if it was due to the islands or the passenger mix (more than 15% were under 15)

 

Hydra – Hike to Profitis Ilias Monastery, approximately 2 hrs.

 

Santorini – “Active” hike to Fira – approximately 2 hrs up the donkey trail and then an ice cream with the crew participating (recommended that guests should be fit)

 

Because SD has such a limited pool of passengers to draw from and most tours have minimums there are risks that tours will not be offered – such was the case in Santorini where we were competing with 4 or 5 larger ships.When we could not fill minimums by noon the day in advance the agent closed the openings to use for the other ships. However in just about every port you can do everything SD offers on your own if you arrange in advance.

 

SD has a number of return guests, and a number who have sailed multiple times. So SD is always trying to find new ports. This keeps it interesting but has its detriments Such was the case with a couple on our voyage. For example in Croatia, stopping in Sibenik and overnighting in Split is rarely done. If I remember correctly, this was only the 2nd time this season. And we had an inexperienced Activities Director and Concierge staff on board. An example is our stop in Split. When we asked how late the Diocletan’s palace stayed open, we got the wrong answer so we didn't go on shore that evening. When a delay held up sailing for several hours the delay wasn’t announced so we lost time that we could have used exploring. What was described as a speed boat to Hvar was nothing more than a zodiac with seats. Better descriptions were warranted. There’s a speedy ferry that would have allowed an alternate trip. When a 95 year old woman is in your group on a zodiac, you know your excursion isn’t going to be quite as active as you thought by the description. In Croatia, the current activities staff have not been on most of the tours, so they don’t have first hand experience of what the tours require or the capabilities of tour operators. On both voyages, there was only one port, Kusadasi (Ephesus) where a local destination concierge was available in the morning. And she was only knowledgeable in “shopping” – not other information. I contrast this with SD in the Caribbean ports where a local port agent is on board in almost every large port for a while and who can advise where the best beach, snorkeling, local restaurants, etc. Luckily Nikola, our Croatian waiter gave us some good advice during the first half of our voyage.

 

Summary: SD offers a wide variety of land activities. However on this voyage, SD lacked experienced staff who can provide information about the ports and assist guests on how to make the most of each port. SD should arrange for local concierges to be on board to provide information in ports where staff are not familiar with the tours and locales. The SD activities staff should go on the tours also, even if it means giving up a bike ride occasionally. However, the 2nd week had to be challenging – I was on a tour where as we returned to a port, a guest handed a shopping bag to Cat, the asst activities director, (after she had disappeared from group and causing search at museum) and asked him to take back to ship for her as she wanted to continue shopping. This same guest also said in Santorini that since the tenders were late in starting (by 20 minutes – due to late clearance by port, nothing SD did) she would not be on the last tender by the required time of 5:30 and sure enough the tender had to wait until 6 for her. Back on topic, the activities staff all are very nice and willing to please. They just need more experience and SD needs to provide more support.

 

Item 7. Concierge/Reception.

 

Just realized I skipped this one. We had a change in personnel at the concierge desk at the end of week 1. Our head concierge moved to SD 2 and the Boutique manager also changed. All the women both weeks were very personable and worked very hard to respond to every request. Our toilet issues in the cabin were responded to and fixed immediately. Air conditioning took 3 complaints before a cabin move, but that wasn’t a concierge issue.

 

One was so new she did not know how to process a donation to the crew fund so I made at a different time. When I bruised my knee on an excursion and asked for ice for me knee at the desk, the concierge on duty called several times to check and see if I needed a doctor. Maps of the ports were out in the morning but none of the concierges seemed particularly knowledgeable about the ports except for Dubrovnik. In fact at several of the ports, the concierges were excited because it was their first stop. Every one has to have a first stop somewhere , it just means that they don’t have a “favorite” or a personal recommendation. That’s fine with us in most ports because we do our own research, but we heard some disappointment from people who were used to SD recommendations in Italy and/or the Caribbean. Just like the Activities Staff, perhaps more training or a printed list of recommendations?

 

They were always smiling and willing to help. With a little more experience they will all be top notch.

 

coming soon Ports of Call and Spa Services

[abenaki]

On SD 2 in Croatia in May, one of my only complaints was that the AD seemed only interested in the daily bicycle ride(s) that he organized and basically didn't give a damn about the 95 passengers who were not cycling. He knew virtually nothing about the ports and in any case was gone off with the first tender to scout a cycle trail and then on his bicycle for the rest of the day. Very dissapointing. If cycling is such an important part of SD now, perhaps they need to have a real AD to work with the 90% of passengers who are not cycling, as well as a cycle tour leader.

 

When it happened consistently day after day, makes you wonder if there are any guidlines or if the staff just do as they please.

[frequent traveler]

On SD 2 in Croatia in May, one of my only complaints was that the AD seemed only interested in the daily bicycle ride(s) that he organized and basically didn't give a damn about the 95 passengers who were not cycling. He knew virtually nothing about the ports and in any case was gone off with the first tender to scout a cycle trail and then on his bicycle for the rest of the day. Very dissapointing. If cycling is such an important part of SD now, perhaps they need to have a real AD to work with the 90% of passengers who are not cycling, as well as a cycle tour leader.

 

When it happened consistently day after day, makes you wonder if there are any guidlines or if the staff just do as they please.

 

We really really miss James Cabello. So glad he's moved higher up in SD, but there does need to be some standards.

[mimito4]

T (from another T), we MUST travel together sometime. I'm thinking we are twins by other mothers.

[frequent traveler]

T (from another T), we MUST travel together sometime. I'm thinking we are twins by other mothers.

 

I bet we would have fun. You know how to reach me. And I made ZQ VOL promise not to tell, but I'll spill the beans anyway, I'm setting foot on a mass market line for the first time in a decade . . . I figure after spending boocoos of money on SD and getting children, we'll spend a lot less, get a big suite with dedicated concierge, butler, private dining, full room service, balcony and ADULTS ONLY pool. yes, service and food won't be the same, but I will give a try one time.

 

FT

[DisneyJen]

I bet we would have fun. You know how to reach me. And I made ZQ VOL promise not to tell, but I'll spill the beans anyway, I'm setting foot on a mass market line for the first time in a decade . . . I figure after spending boocoos of money on SD and getting children, we'll spend a lot less, get a big suite with dedicated concierge, butler, private dining, full room service, balcony and ADULTS ONLY pool. yes, service and food won't be the same, but I will give a try one time.

 

FT

 

:eek:WHAT:confused:

 

I am shocked!! Details ... I need details!!

[Jim Avery]

Me too. FT on a mass market ship??:eek::eek: Hey, we had a great time on Queen Victoria. Not a single kid issue.:D Hey, FT. Just got a special offer from Seabourn. Istanbul to Athens, 7 days, $1,999 GTY! Also, Lisbon to SXM, Transatlantic, $1,999 GTY! That's good.

[frequent traveler]

Me too. FT on a mass market ship??:eek::eek: Hey, we had a great time on Queen Victoria. Not a single kid issue.:D Hey, FT. Just got a special offer from Seabourn. Istanbul to Athens, 7 days, $1,999 GTY! Also, Lisbon to SXM, Transatlantic, $1,999 GTY! That's good.

 

Jim

You are not supposed to use my thread to discuss prices on other lines. I am not going to mention brand xyz here. I still have to finish this review though from lack of comments probably only 6 people are reading and I have most of those email addresses!:cool:

 

I love SD and it will always be my preference but after week 2 I will no longer pay the SD premium during holiday periods and risk snorkels in the hot tub when we can take the grown children and still have fun on another line.

[Zimmy]

Jim

I still have to finish this review though from lack of comments probably only 6 people are reading and I have most of those email addresses!:cool:

 

I QUOTE]

 

FT, your review is amazing and I can hardly wait between installments. Even with notes, I don't know how you remember the level of detail you do. In addition to telling us what actually happened, your insights into why things are happening are compelling. I would venture a guess that you have a large number of followers as compared to commenters.

 

You have inspired me to take notes on our next SD cruise in October so that I can post a reasonable review, but I can't even hope to come close to what you are doing. (Posting on board is not even an option - I don't have a clue.)

 

I, for one, hope that you do continue.

[knotheadusc]

Count me among one of your avid followers, FT! :)

[Jim Avery]

thats right, FT, you cant quit now. That would be like leaving court before your summation.:eek::D Back to work. Hey, we do want to know the identity of "XYZ Lines". :D:D

[zqvol]

thats right, FT, you cant quit now. That would be like leaving court before your summation.:eek::D Back to work. Hey, we do want to know the identity of "XYZ Lines". :D:D

 

 

I know but I have been sworn to secrecy on penalty of death or something worse.

 

Maybe as it gets closer she will reveal whether or not she will be doing a review and where it might be found.

[Jim Avery]

I know but I have been sworn to secrecy on penalty of death or something worse.

 

Maybe as it gets closer she will reveal whether or not she will be doing a review and where it might be found.

 

Surely not Carnival????:eek::eek:

[MightyQuinn]

... I still have to finish this review though from lack of comments probably only 6 people are reading ...

Maybe a few more than that. :cool::cool:

 

I've been lurking here and enjoying every word of your fab review. I got hooked since we're very interested in transiting the Corinth Canal and very few cruise lines do that. So now we have SeaDream on our radar and your review has heightened our interest. But sure wouldn't want to have the kiddie issue, so we'll watch the timing.

 

Carry on for all of us, unknown and unseen, who are loving what you write!

[frequent traveler]

Surely not Carnival????:eek::eek:

 

Bite your tongue. There is not enough alcohol on board any of the Carnevil lines. Have you ever gone to the CC boards and seen some of those posts? And when we are on board Brand xyz if I am going live, I will let you know Jim.

 

And thanks to MightyQuinn, Zimmy, and knotted If I could multi quote on the iPad I would. Next installment is coming shortly.

[frequent traveler]

Ports of Call.

 

Part 1 - Venice to Dubrovnik

 

This itinerary was amazing and was the sole reason we chose SD in July. I am not sure sure ZQ Vol was as gung ho as me early on but as we read Rick Steves’ guidebooks, it became clear this was going to be an “active” not lay on the beach vacation (especially since all the beaches are rocky – not sandy!)

 

If you’ve read the beginning of the thread, Venice is wonderful, at least I think so. But shoulder season is the best time – not peak June, July or August. Every local we spoke to said come back in May or September. And we spoke to several people who stayed at the Hilton across the canal who really loved that hotel. After seeing how easy it is to move by water taxi or water bus, we will stay out of the Square area next time. But as a whole, Venice, while expensive, is a great place to spend a couple of days pre or post cruise.

 

The night before each port, SD puts in each cabin a page, 8x11, doublesided with a small map (half page usually )and page and half description of the port with a bit of the history, and practical information – such as the currency, shopping tips and sightseeing recommendations. While this is helpful, we’ve always found it practical to know ahead of time what we want to do and book any excursions ahead of time- not wait until the night before. And unfortunately, this trip we did not get a lot of information from the activities staff in the daily cocktail hour briefings.

 

I loved every almost every port on this cruise and again, not repeating my daily post will be difficult, so again, thanks for bearing with me.

 

Week 1.

 

Opatjija – the seafront promenade offers shopping, dining, and sunbathing opportunities. With a large park, it’s a very pleasant place to spend a day. There are several possibilities for excursions. SeaDream has not set up anything with a local tour operator but we learned of several on our own. We were there on a Sunday, so many of the shops closed early and on top of that it rained. But this is a definite YES.

 

Rab – probably my favorite port this week. Next time I will take snorkel gear, a lunch, and be prepared to hike and kayak. The medieval walls are intact around a large part of the city and the city is not overrun by tourists or cruise boats. Komrcar Park is stunning. We only went to the very beginning, but with Aleppo pine, Primorje pine, black pine, holm oak, spruce and cypress the forest was the epitome of an European forest (or what I think a European forest should be;). The water was crystal clear, numerous shades of aquamarine and especially clean. There’s some shopping and cafes and it looks like the city has a pretty active nightlife.

 

Sibenik –

Unfortunately – this is a port where if you choose to go to the waterfalls (strongly recommend, just not in the high season) you will not see anything of Sibenik. As soon as we were allowed to leave the yacht, the tenders took us to board the bus and off we went to the waterfall. When we returned, back to the yacht and we sailed. We could see Old Town as we left the port. I would like to come back to see the Doges Palace and the traditional fishing village of Vodice, about 8 miles away. Perhaps SD could arrange a longer stay on one of its stops.

 

Split –

We left Sibenik to sail to Split arriving around 6. Had we known it, we could have gone to Diocletian’s Palace then but the concierge told us it would be closed. Another couple arranged a private tour and enjoyed it very much. It is the only “working palace”, with shops, restaurants, and residences all now occupying parts of the original palace. I believe more than 2000 people reside and work within the walls. Next trip. And Split has a very active night life. In fact certain members of our tour group the next day did not return to the yacht until 4 in the morning and got a late start. They tried to get adult beverage service at Toy, which of course had been closed for a while. As you’ve probably read we took the “speed boat” to Hvar with a stop at a beach (just not the intended beach). The captain advised us that Hvar has been a stop for SD in the past and I can understand why – lovely square, waterfront cafes and shopping, however not the historical significance of Split. Definitely recommend Split , however if you do the speed boat excursion, please be aware that at least 2 of the boats used for SD were zodiacs. I know the daughter of the 95 year old specifically inquired if the tour was suitable for her mother and was told it was – she was not told it was a zodiac. Our zodiac was short 2 seats. Going over it wasn’t a problem. Coming back it was – the wind had picked up and my knee hit a metal post so hard that when I went in for knee surgery 9 days later the nurse asked me how I had bruised my knee so badly. And we were never shown life jackets – hopefully there were some, but I know several people were unnerved on the way back. None of understood the term “speedboat” to mean zodiac with a large motor and seats. The stranded guests (abandoned) got a much better boat for the return trip – larger, a real boat, with real seats and a cover so even though they were 3 hrs late, they enjoyed the return trip much more than we did. Guest taking the rafting trip enjoyed that excursion.

 

Kotor

The passage into Kotor is one of the most beautiful sails we have experienced. SD also gives you a lovely detailed nautical map showing our route and where the yacht picks up the pilot. The Old Town is completely walled and you can’t get lost for long. While the streets are twisting, it’s a small and everything feeds back into the center ultimately, unless you climb the stairs (all the way to the top of the mountain if you are really ambitious) or go out one of the Gates. The Main Gate has a number of cafes right at the entrance. There are several small casinos in Kotor and since we overnighted there a number of guests and crew had a very late night. Definitely a do over in cooler weather.

 

Dubrovnik –

While we wandered the streets we did not climb the walls of the city or go to outlying areas, so we will be back. Its very routine to “pick” up a taxi for a tour and most taxis have a flat fee posted in the cab for the tour to the memorial (instead of using the cable car). Our driver was extremely well educated with excellent English. We kayaked over to Lokrum island but did not visit – for a couple of days visit, we would go over to the Botanical gardens and the “dead sea” which is a favorite of the locals. If I understood our tour guide, a top notch 5 star hotel operated there until it was destroyed in the war and it has not been restored. Again, more time needed in Dubrovnik. Our day and a half just wasn’t sufficient. Make the most of your time.

 

This was an amazing itinerary. Looking back, I’m not sure how we could have spend more time in Split and Sibenik without making this a 10 day voyage – which would have been just fine with me.:D

 

next installment - Dubrovnik to Athens

[CDreamer]

I still have to finish this review though from lack of comments probably only 6 people are reading...

 

I'm still here too, reading along with your other review fans! ;)

 

Just haven't responded since we're on the road and I want to make sure my iPad doesn't run out of juice. :eek:

 

Keep on keeping on, FT! And I hope you will, at some point, also review your next cruise since it is always helpful to hear how other cruises compare to the one you (and so many of us) already know and have loved for so long now.

[fpebbles]

lack of comments probably only 6 people are reading

 

Always waiting for your every word...just didn't want to pressure you.

[mimito4]

*Waving* I too have been hanging on every word.

 

I do have to say to all the lurkers out there on CC that the reward for taking the time to post reviews, particularly detailed ones (that help people make decisions about potential trips), is the feedback the writer gets.

 

In other words, just say , "thanks. I'm enjoying your review." Just takes a second vs the hours of writing a review.

 

I'm guessing the mass cruise line FT is considering is X. X is good.

 

We are now almost at a pull-the-trigger moment of getting to SW Florida for our snow bird season this year by way of Barcelona, Spain. We'll fly to Barcelona, take the inaugural Celebrity Reflection transatlantic crossing and arrive in Miami Dec. 1. Have our son and his girlfriend drive our car down, treat them to a fun week, and then fly them back.

 

Anybody game?

[Jim Avery]

I'll go! Barcelona and Celebrity sound nice. Since you are paying, I will rent a car and drive you to your roost.:eek::D (Roost: Snowbird lingo)