Just back from a great cruise - our report and views

[caviarforme]

We have just completed a short 7 day cruise on Encore which was a birthday surprise for Mrs C and I thought I would update a few things from actual experience – in no particular order:

• ·       Venice embarkation is a mess. Despite the paperwork stating that passengers who have booked flights and transfers with SB would be transferred direct to the pier – we were taken from the airport by coach to the old Cruise terminal (around 30 minutes), there to be X-rayed and checked in – waited ages and then put on another coach for a 40 minute trip to the industrial port to join the ship. We expected to arrive onboard about 1pm for lunch but actually got there about 3pm.

·       Treated badly by “security” staff. My wife has always carried a small travel iron wherever we go for that “last minute press”. We were told one of our cases contained “contraband” and were escorted to the embarkation station to open the case and before opening we were then told the travel iron was not allowed, presented with a form already completed to agree that they would confiscate the travel iron for the duration of the cruise and return it as we disembark – after our luggage had been already taken off the ship so we would have to carry it! The security staff were rude and gave no reason. They could have brought the luggage to the cabin and explained, but no, I had to be escorted to embarkation like a criminal. I refused to sign the form in anger and demanded our baggage be delivered to a suite immediately and left. Within 10 minutes it was delivered – complete with the travel iron! No apology

A few days later after mentioning the episode to a customer service crew member on a shuttle we got a written apology from the Customer Services director. Security staff need training in personal skills.

• ·       No choice of soaps were offered – “it is coming” we were told

• ·       Printed Herald in the suite each evening – but no menu’s – only available on Source

• ·       Dare I risk mentioning that we did not see any canine passengers!

• ·       Caviar now comes with Melba toast as standard. If you want Blinis you need to ask and wait 24 hours as a special order – no explanation why.

• ·       Apart from Security Staff – all staff were really friendly and made up for that initial experience. Most worked really hard. We were able to hold a pre-dinner drink party in our suite for Mrs C’s birthday and the CSD, F&B Manager and Bar Manager worked really hard and it was a great success with a buffet and bar service. We almost had to eject some guests to get to dinner they were having so much fun.

• ·       Each port got hotter – 106 degrees F when we disembarked in Athens. Most ports were tendered but the traditional cold towels and water ran out within hours and were never refreshed. The “debris” (see picture taken late morning) was left piled up and even on the floor with the single shore staff member (from Security again) more interested in his mobile phone than the passengers or getting it refreshed or tidied up. I returned to the port later one day to have a swim in the sea – and it was still the same. The CSD told me she was aware and that others had sent her photographs, “lack of staff” was the excuse!

• ·       Observation Bar service was, at busy times, slow – often having to ask for drinks twice.

• ·       Food was good and at last it seems SB are giving their talented Exec Chefs ability to offer their own “specials” and use local produce. Lond may this continue.

• ·       We did not dine in Thomas Killer (oops! Deliberate mis-spell) based on previous experience and look forward to their replacement by something more creative when the contract expires. Reports of others were mixed. Dining in all other venues was a joy.

• ·       No fluffy bath mats

• ·       Towels were OK – not the quality they used to be

• ·       DJ - Oh dear! Whoever had that idea should be made to endure the agony of having far too loud music played on deck by someone who thinks he is God’s gift to musicians when he is just a machine operator. Why not just put a taped playlist on board SB – it would be even cheaper!!! Would have been just as effective.

• ·       Other entertainment (live) was good – except the “comedian” with many passengers walking out.

• ·       Disembarkation was excellent – well organised in every respect. Well done!

 

Might sound as though we did not enjoy ourselves – but we really did. Every member of staff (security staff excepted) were really friendly and willing to assist in any way they could – just like it used to be – and they made it a really special birthday week for Mrs C. At the end of the day, they make SB.

We are looking forward to our next 21 day cruise in just over 3 months

[Rothko1]

On 7/25/2023 at 11:45 AM, caviarforme said:

   Caviar now comes with Melba toast as standard. If you want Blinis you need to ask and wait 24 hours as a special order – no explanation why.

•  

•  

 

I shuddered when I read this...  All I could think of is just crunching Melba toast long after the caviar is gone.

 

But, thank you for your review and comments.  I've wondered how people are handling that crazy European heat at this time.

[saminina]

On 7/25/2023 at 8:45 AM, caviarforme said:

•        Caviar now comes with Melba toast as standard. If you want Blinis you need to ask and wait 24 hours as a special order – no explanation why.

•  

•          DJ - Oh dear! Whoever had that idea should be made to endure the agony of having far too loud music played on deck by someone who thinks he is God’s gift to musicians when he is just a machine operator. Why not just put a taped playlist on board SB – it would be even cheaper!!! Would have been just as effective.·

Did you enjoy the caviar?  No need to respond if  loading with condiments.

 

Being a great cruise director does not qualify one for making corporate entertainment decisions.

Edited July 26, 2023 by saminina

[caviarforme]

Caviar was better then we recall form the last cruise in December 2022 - definitely different, and for me great "neat".

 

The DJ was just completely out of place when there was excellent LIVE music elsewhere onboard. Corporate cost cutting indeed - no other reason

 

 

[SLSD]

1 hour ago, saminina said:

Did you enjoy the caviar?  No need to respond if  loading with condiments.

 

Being a great cruise director does not qualify one for making corporate entertainment decisions.

I agree that a cruise director may not be the best for making fleetwide entertainment decisions.  And why the offensive comedians?  I've never heard one aboard ship that I thought was worth listening to.  No wonder so many people walk out.  

[SDuckers]

9 minutes ago, SLSD said:

I agree that a cruise director may not be the best for making fleetwide entertainment decisions.  And why the offensive comedians?  I've never heard one aboard ship that I thought was worth listening to.  No wonder so many people walk out.  

There was a comedian on our Alaskan cruise last fall.  He wasn't "offensive."  Just not funny.  We walked out about halfway through because he just wasn't funny and we were not enjoying it, so saw no point in staying.  I did feel a little bad in leaving, but not so bad that it kept me from doing so!

[SLSD]

2 minutes ago, SDuckers said:

There was a comedian on our Alaskan cruise last fall.  He wasn't "offensive."  Just not funny.  We walked out about halfway through because he just wasn't funny and we were not enjoying it, so saw no point in staying.  I did feel a little bad in leaving, but not so bad that it kept me from doing so!

Either way--offensive or not funny---not good entertainment.  

[cruiseej]

We had a British comedian on our recent Sojourn cruise whose 1950's-era humor about husbands and wives offended everyone in our group of 12. We didn't walk out simply out of politeness, but our comments definitely suggested that Seabourn not bring that comedian back. We probably should have left to make a silent statement — and get to the Club for a nightcap instead! We didn't attend his second show. (I'd have to dig out our Heralds to find his name.)

 

And we thoroughly disliked the DJ, both in the Club and when he cranked out music on the pool deck. I've made the argument in other treads that if Seabourn is trying to modernize/update the music — as some have reported hearing from the executives in charge — they could absolutely do so with live musicians and no DJ. Trios can play Ed Sheeran or Luke Combs or Olivia Rodrigo or Taylor Swift instead of The Girl from Ipanema and Besame Mucho! 🤣

 

As for bringing a travel iron on board, I'd note that clothing irons are listed on Seabourn's web page about prohibited items. They clearly could have handled it more politely/gracefully, as you noted, but they were actually correct in telling you that it was a disallowed item. (And per the policy, such items are to be confiscated at boarding and returned upon disembarkation.) The fact that you've brought it in the past and not been caught doing so doesn't weigh in favor of them allowing you to continue to do so when there is a company policy against it. (I believe irons are actually prohibited by most cruise lines, as noted in this article.)

 

Finally, regarding boarding in Venice, I haven't read of any cruise ships which handle check-in at the port in Fusina. I believe they are building some sort of cruise facility building there to enable security screening and baggage handling, but I haven't heard that it's yet open/functional. Seabourn is at the mercy of the local port authority for those issues, and likely for the flow of shuttle busses as well. 

[caviarforme]

Cruiseej thanks for your comments. On the travel Iron, after 10+ cruises I find it strange that it was allowed on all previous occasions and on the "prohibited items it is listed under the item

• "Hookah and Water Hookah Pipes, candles and incense, strike-anywhere matches, clothing irons, heating pads, hot plates, kettles, coffee makers, toasters and other electronic cooking appliances"

 

With that heading I would not have read the rest!!! Someone mentioned that there had been a change in policy. But as you say, handling was abysmal.

 

On embarkation at Venice, the cruise documents clearly stated that where SB arranged flights and transfers passengers would be taken straight to the pier. Many others on the transfer agreed that is what they had been told also.

 

 

 

[Sucellos]

3 hours ago, cruiseej said:

We had a British comedian on our recent Sojourn cruise whose 1950's-era humor about husbands and wives offended everyone in our group of 12. We didn't walk out simply out of politeness, but our comments definitely suggested that Seabourn not bring that comedian back. We probably should have left to make a silent statement — and get to the Club for a nightcap instead! We didn't attend his second show. (I'd have to dig out our Heralds to find his name.)

 

I was watching a British comedian (Mel Mellers) at the Sojourn last week. During the show there were some banter and jokes easily deemed "politically incorrect", and I was kind of curious on how the audience would react given the demographics and some of the comments I read on this forum, but the at least the main majority seemed to love it. I looked around me several times during the show and people were laughing so hard they were wiping tears.

[Vineyard View]

Venice is just a mess to sail into or out of. No matter which line. We did that RT this May/June trip on Quest. The port is requiring that passengers embarking or disembarking go through the old cruise terminal on Venice island, which creates essentially a RT out of the journey with the causeway. The only people who avoided that were those with early morning departures out that some different arrangements were made via authorities. The flip side is most other lines sail out of the three other ports that require long distances to arrive in Venice - so as much as Fusina is truly a hassle (Being polite here) I think it’s the best option until whenever new port options are built. That likely will be a while. 
 

[cruiseej]

The comedian I referred to (in Post #8 above) from our Sojourn cruise in early June was David Copperfield who branded himself as "Not the 'Illusionist' but the 'Unusualist' ". I should have remembered the name, but I think I tried to blank him out of my memory! He clearly had some talent, as he sang and played guitar, but his jokes were dated — particularly the way he addressed women. My wife and the other women in our group found his style offensive, and I think most of the men found him cringey at best. .