Best Upcoming Itineraries---Seabourn (or luxury competitor)

[Mahogany]

14 hours ago, Mr Luxury said:

Too small,but I suppose we have been spoilt with better products from other lines.

I agree, if you are used to large suites. Since I travel solo, I stay in the Verandah suites on Seabourn, 302 sq. ft. plus balcony.

[Mr Luxury]

8 hours ago, Laylam said:

I hope so.

Ex staff that have jumped ship and thought the grass was greener will find negativity in an old job when starting out in a new job.

It's human nature.

We wish them well,God speed and bon voyage.

[Mr Luxury]

29 minutes ago, Mahogany said:

I agree, if you are used to large suites. Since I travel solo, I stay in the Verandah suites on Seabourn, 302 sq. ft. plus balcony.

Much better I think

[Mr Luxury]

12 hours ago, Laylam said:

Captain Torry Sakkariassen, and Maitre d Manfred ??? are ex-Seabourn (and didn't sound optimistic about Seabourn's future). 

 

Dining experiences, produced by 38 Chefs from 15 different countries ...

ELEMENTS - the main restaurant featuring Italian, steak and seafood

KOKO's - Asian fusion restaurant and sake bar

SUSHI @ KOKO's - "A wonderfully authentic Japanese experience" bookings required

NIGHT MARKET@ KOKO's - alternating between Indian, Asian, Mediterranean and Indonesian.                                                          Seating for 10 only and must be booked.

LUMIERE -Contemporary French fine dining and Champagne Bar bookings required

AZURE BAR & CAFE - Relaxed all-day grazing

YACHT CLUB - Grill restaurant and bar, serving breakfast and lunch

CHEF's TABLE @ ELEMENTS, by invitation only, featuring an 11 course degustation matched to fine wines

SCENIC EPICURE - Culinary Masterclasses

IN SUITE DINING A comprehensive 24-hour menu

 

We haven't been to all nine bars (yet) but the Scenic Whiskey Bar features more than 100 varieties of whiskey.

Thank you

Not sure about the ten seater or the invitation only.

Could get too clicky.

[DC Traveler244]

On 7/11/2023 at 7:34 PM, frantic36 said:

 

Sihanoukville, Cambodia has sadly became very dusty and not great to visit due to the multiple building projects of resorts and casinos for the Chinese tourism. We hired a car to go out of town but I would seriously consider making it a sea day.

 

That's my recommendation as well.  

 

Julie

 

[Laylam]

On 7/15/2023 at 5:39 AM, Mr Luxury said:

Ex staff that have jumped ship and thought the grass was greener will find negativity in an old job when starting out in a new job.

It's human nature.

We wish them well,God speed and bon voyage.

I am not so sure it is sour grapes.  Our stewardess was with Seabourn for eight years and like a lot of us is nostalgic for "The Little Sisters" and this ship, with 200 passengers (228 when full) feels very much like them.

 

It will be interesting to compare this with the Venture in December.

Edited July 17, 2023 by Laylam
grammar

[Mr Luxury]

2 minutes ago, Laylam said:

I am not so sure it is sour grapes.  Our stewardess was with Seabourn for eight years and like a lot of us is nostalgic for "The Little Sisters" and this ship, with 200 passengers (228 when full) feels very much like them.

Not sour grapes,just human nature.

[Laylam]

On 7/15/2023 at 5:43 AM, Mr Luxury said:

Thank you

Not sure about the ten seater or the invitation only.

Could get too clicky.

I can assure you, now that we have experienced it, that this could not be further from the truth.  We were all sat as if around a bar and conversation flowed with ease.  The food on this ship has been amazing, and as much as we LOVE Seabourn, Scenic Eclipse has become a serious contender.  We are diamond members on Seabourn, but the only perk we miss out on is laundry....fast internet & excursions are included, and the complimentary laundry has never been too busy, with only 200 passengers.

[sfvoyage]

Regarding Scenic, I watched a youtube video of its Eclipse expedition ship, and I was truly surprised by its decor:  its over-the-top minimalist, post-industrial-chic, monochromatic grey-meets-grey metallic theme invites neither warmth nor calm of the soothing ocean blues outside. On a grey day, the sobering interior evokes sadness and austerity. In some of the exterior shots, I thought I was looking at a prison row.

 

I would venture to guess that the designer had not designed for ships before. This harks back to the design aesthetics of the 1990s that the W Hotels ushered in: dark, trendy, night-clubbish coolness. I am not a fan of the bland and utilitarian Scandinavian decor on Viking - not that I have sailed on Viking before - but I'd even prefer that over this.

 

Perhaps the ship looks much better in real life, but the video that I watched has really turned me off.

Edited July 24, 2023 by sfvoyage

[Laylam]

9 hours ago, sfvoyage said:

Regarding Scenic, I watched a youtube video of its Eclipse expedition ship, and I was truly surprised by its decor:  its over-the-top minimalist, post-industrial-chic, monochromatic grey-meets-grey metallic theme invites neither warmth nor calm of the soothing ocean blues outside. On a grey day, the sobering interior evokes sadness and austerity. In some of the exterior shots, I thought I was looking at a prison row.

 

I would venture to guess that the designer had not designed for ships before. This harks back to the design aesthetics of the 1990s that the W Hotels ushered in: dark, trendy, night-clubbish coolness. I am not a fan of the bland and utilitarian Scandinavian decor on Viking - not that I have sailed on Viking before - but I'd even prefer that over this.

 

Perhaps the ship looks much better in real life, but the video that I watched has really turned me off.

I agree that the decor takes a bit of getting used to, but I have come to like it.  The restaurants have interesting table configurations and we enjoy the choice and comfort of seating.  The light and brightness of the Yacht Club, which is open for breakfast and lunch, is especially appealing.  Nothing about it is "sobering". However it has been redesigned since the first ship, which apparently had a swimming pool within!!!!!!  By contrast the Scenic Lounge is rather dark, but this works as well.  It is a very large space, with plenty of comfortable chairs, sofas and tables allowing groups to gather beyond hearing distance of each other (well almost, the conversations tend to get more raucous as the night wears on).  Many of the crew are ex-Seabourn, and there appears to be a lot more of them than on Seabourn.

 

The meals have been a highlight.

[SLSD]

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.  

[nancygp]

8 minutes 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.  

We too enjoy the winter months in our part of Texas and haven’t cruised so far during that timeframe.   We considered doing another sb Norway cruise next summer but opted for the RT london cruise that has 6 Iceland ports and a few  smaller BI ports…All but Reykjavik is new to us.  Perhaps we will sail together next year.  Our cruise is late July and we will spend some time in London pre-cruise, hopefully. 🙂

ESCAPING the heat is our top priority! 😃

 

Nancy

Edited July 24, 2023 by nancygp

[SLSD]

35 minutes ago, nancygp said:

We too enjoy the winter months in our part of Texas and haven’t cruised so far during that timeframe.   We considered doing another sb Norway cruise next summer but opted for the RT london cruise that has 6 Iceland ports and a few  smaller BI ports…All but Reykjavik is new to us.  Perhaps we will sail together next year.  Our cruise is late July and we will spend some time in London pre-cruise, hopefully. 🙂

ESCAPING the heat is our top priority! 😃

 

Nancy

Yes, escaping the heat has become our top priority.  We would love to meet up with you on a cruise.  Keep us apprised of your itineraries.  I think you know who I am on FB--so you could message me.  What is the RT cruise?  Is that Regency?

 

[nancygp]

5 minutes ago, SLSD said:

Yes, escaping the heat has become our top priority.  We would love to meet up with you on a cruise.  Keep us apprised of your itineraries.  I think you know who I am on FB--so you could message me.  What is the RT cruise?  Is that Regency?

 

Taking a packing break…will message you…much better way to communicate

 

nancy

[SLSD]

3 minutes ago, nancygp said:

Taking a packing break…will message you…much better way to communicate

 

nancy

Thank you Nancy! ---Susan

[nancygp]

14 minutes ago, SLSD said:

Thank you Nancy! ---Susan

You’re welcome…just sent you a message via fb messenger 

 

Nancy

[CalmSea]

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.

[Docked Discoveries]

On 7/11/2023 at 6:56 PM, SLSD said:

I've spent a good bit of time today looking at itineraries on Seabourn--and on Silversea, Regent, and the new Crystal.  

 

Thank you to 2seabourn sailors for suggesting I look at Vacations to Go to ferret out the itineraries since the Seabourn website is so painful to use.  I've looked at Vacations to Go in the past, but since I would never book through them (should we?  ever?) I had not looked at the site recently.  

 

One of our friends, who doesn't cruise now due to age, has been urging Mr. SLSD to book an Asian cruise during the winter.  We had looked at those and I had dismissed the idea, perhaps prematurely.  

 

I went back  to the Seabourn website today after looking at the whole panoply of choices on Vacations to Go.  January is a very good time for us to cruise.  Christmas with the family will be behind us, and our next domestic trip will not be until April. 

 

We're looking at a January 20th 14 days cruise from Hong Kong to Singapore.  I wish it was longer, but it is what it is.  We have not been to Hong Kong (have been to mainland China and do not consider it a vacation spot).  I know Hong Kong is changed now due to being part of mainland China now. 

 

Here are the ports which are nicely space among sea days.  I really like sea days sprinkled in among ports--never more than one sea day at a time. 

 

Hong Kong

Halong Bay, Viet Nam

Da Nang (Hue) Viet Nam

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) Viet Nam

Sihanoukville, Cambodia

Ko Kood, Thailand

Laem Chabag (Bangkok) Thailand

Singapore

 

My questions concern the ports.  Are they good ports in terms of things to see and do?  Or, are some of them a long way from things to see and do.  Have any of you experienced this itinerary? 

Hey there!

 

I work as a travel (Port) lecturer onboard cruise ships, in my 14 years working, this is my all time favorite cruise itinerary.

 

You have to know a little a bit about each port and its logistics, as most ports in South East Asia do require transport- you're often docking right into container ports, not downtown. That being said, transport is often very cheap, and there are good apps you can use to help you travel. 

 

I have some resources that might be helpful for you.

 

Here is a video on Sihanoukville:

 

https://youtu.be/ahvk8qukG6w

 

Here is one for Da Nang:

 

https://youtu.be/8neZy6h_YgU

 

This is a video of some travel apps i recommend if you are going ashore on your own in ports:

 

https://youtu.be/n0VyOfosMIA

 

And then this is a link to where all my Asia port information pages are:

 

https://www.dockeddiscoveries.com/asia

 

It is still a work in progress, but hopefully you might find some useful information in there. If you need any help, just let me know!
 

Jeremy