Encore Singapore To Hong Kong Feb 2024

[Westiesheepie]

So we were on this itinerary February 2020 and were in Singapore 3 days prior to our cruise enjoying the city and anticipating getting on the brand new Ovation. Less than 24 hrs before boarding we were notified our cruise was cancelled and all cruise lines has stopped operation. We were beyond disappointed of course but had no idea then what was awaiting the world for the next few years.

 

In October 2021 we decided to go through the hoops and ordeal of cruising during the pandemic. After 4 required covid tests landed in Rome to board the Ovation. Being one of the first ships back at sea, we found the our cruise not up to the standard we expected of Seabourn. It was still a great cruise and if we had no previous Seabourn experience, we would have thought it fantastic. 
 

Anyhow we have decided to give this Asia itinerary another go. For those of you who have sailed Seabourn pre covid and recently, what are your thoughts on the service and food quality now? Has it improved  or at least returned to pre covid standards? 
 

Also would appreciate thoughts on this itinerary. Thanks!

 

[frantic36]

I think you will find a variety of opinions. My husband and I have been on post covid and found we were generally happy with our experiences but some others here will disagree and others agree. There has been some issues but I have found that in high end land resorts post Covid as well. 

 

For your itinerary SLSD had a thread recently about a similar if not the same itinerary and the discussion on ports on page 1 & 2 were discussed in reasonable depth starting from post 21. This might be of some use.

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2949844-best-upcoming-itineraries-seabourn-or-luxury-competitor/

[Isklaar]

We've done this itinerary on Sojourn and a few years later on Ovation.

Thank you Julie for the link to the other thread which I had missed as I haven't been spending much time here at CC recently. Posts there describe the itinerary well, not much I can add.

It's a great itinerary, we would do it again for sure even though we both find the heat and humidity in most of these ports challenging. At the time of year you're considering Hong Kong should be cooler and less humid than most of the other ports, Halong Bay too,

[Dunnedg]

We did Ovation, Hong Kong to Singapore in January 2019 and we had a fantastic time. We were unlucky in Halong Bay as we had fog😩. Our only disappointing stop was Sihanoukville in Cambodia. I don't think it showed Cambodia in a particularly good light.

We stayed a few nights each end and enjoyed both HK and Singapore.

We sailed Encore in October 22 and did not come across any covid related issues and we were very happy with everything on board. At that time they had a lot of trainee staff on board but they were in addition to fully trained staff so we had no service issues. In August last year we did Celebrity to Alaska and whilst we had a great time, it wasn't Seabourn.

And if you need more reassurance we are sailing again with Seabourn in November. I am a mean Scotsman and never want to waste a penny😀.

[Westiesheepie]

Thanks for the reassurance. For this itinerary we have a choice between an interconnecting cabin on the port side or one on the starboard. Travel agent is recommending the port side one for this cruise. I would rather not have an interconnecting cabin. Anyone experienced an connecting cabin on Encore? 

[Dunnedg]

Port is best side coming from Singapore for sure. Means you will have land views when available.

[USN59-79]

Not sure why an interconnecting cabin is a negative.  We have had them on other ships and never gave them a thought.  After all, the door between them is locked.  

Something positive about Sihanoukville, and Cambodia.  We were on the Westerdam in 2020 when it was sailing aimlessly between the Philippines and Thailand and no country would allow us to land our passengers.  Thailand actually sent a Navy destroyer to escort us away from their country after they had previously given us landing permission.  Only Cambodia would welcome us.  When we landed in Sihanoukville, their leader landed on the pier in his helo gave us all a ceremonial scarf.  We eventually flew to Phnom Penh to await flights home.  While there is not a lot for tourists in Sihanoukville, the country does welcome tourists.

[AnnieO2019]

2 hours ago, USN59-79 said:

Not sure why an interconnecting cabin is a negative.  We have had them on other ships and never gave them a thought.  After all, the door between them is locked.  

Something positive about Sihanoukville, and Cambodia.  We were on the Westerdam in 2020 when it was sailing aimlessly between the Philippines and Thailand and no country would allow us to land our passengers.  Thailand actually sent a Navy destroyer to escort us away from their country after they had previously given us landing permission.  Only Cambodia would welcome us.  When we landed in Sihanoukville, their leader landed on the pier in his helo gave us all a ceremonial scarf.  We eventually flew to Phnom Penh to await flights home.  While there is not a lot for tourists in Sihanoukville, the country does welcome tourists.

Out of interest, where is the interconnecting door in the suite? We have one on an upcoming cruise and I was wondering if it would be an issue. I can’t picture where it is. Thanks

[Dunnedg]

2 hours ago, USN59-79 said:

Something positive about Sihanoukville, and Cambodia. 

That is very good. Barbados were similarly helpful to the cruise industry when covid hit. When other Caribbean ports closed, Barbados welcomed all.

We enjoyed some of our trip in Sihanoukville but it has very much been turned into a building site for Chinese casinos. Having spent four fantastic days in Vietnam it was a bit disappointing. 

 

 

[Covepointcruiser]

Sound will carry on interconnecting suites.   If your neighbors are loud, or play the TV loud, you will hear.   Bring earplugs just in case you are disturbed.

[CalmSea]

On 8/11/2023 at 3:19 AM, AnnieO2019 said:

Out of interest, where is the interconnecting door in the suite? We have one on an upcoming cruise and I was wondering if it would be an issue. I can’t picture where it is. Thanks

It seems that no one has yet answer your query about where the connecting door is. Let me try. Most suites come in pairs. The doors to these pair of suites are next to one another. You can see your neighbours door when you are at your door. Behind the doors, the two suites share a common wall. The connecting door is on this common wall.  For a Veranda suite, this connecting door is located roughly opposite the door to the closet in your room. Hope this helps.