New to Seabourn

[LN50]

I have booked to cruise on the seabourn spirit on 17th October sailing out of Venice for myself and Husband. This is our present to ourselves for our 30th Anniversary. Although the date was in April, do they do any special services so that we can celebrate?

 

Just a couple of points if anyone can advise.

 

Does everyone dress up, as in Formal, every evening or is it more dressy smart casual, or does it depend on the weather i.e. if too hot not so formal?

 

Does anyone have one of these voucher coupons for folks new to seabourn that they would be willing to let me have?

 

Has anyone sailed around Italy mid october, Just wondered about the possible weather.

 

I cannot see that any weather would spoil the experience. I am so looking forward to it and hope it lives up to the complete luxury that we are hoping for.

 

Any advice and offers of a coupon greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[Seabourn-nail]

Welcome to Cruise Critic and the Seabourn Board!

I'm very happy for you, that you have booked a cruise on the Spirit, good choice!

Marja

[LN50]

Hi Marja,

 

Thank you for the kind welcome, I have read many of your very informative posts.

 

I cannot wait to experience seabourn.

 

Linda N

[Farscaper]

Many of your questions can be answered more completely using the "Search this forum" function. Try things like "dress" "formal" "anniversary" and such.

 

People here are great about giving answers but you usually get even more details when you read all the former ones as well. To widen your search about such things as weather you should search the whole site.

[dd@sea]

Hi Linda

You are in for a treat! The Spirit was the first ship that we sailed on Seabourn and probably hold it dearest to our heart - mainly because of the wonderful service on and on. Yes, the other ships are wonderful too. We have celebrated our anniversary and birthdays on different trips. I would suggest you email guest services re: your special celebration prior to your departure indicating you would like to meet with the Hotel Manager/or restaurant Manager once aboard. Then on board you canmake your plan. We have asked for a special meal on a certain evening. Also, as this is your first trip be sure to have the experience of having your dinner meal - straight from the menu delivered course by course to your suite - at least one evening. We are off on a 24 day trip on October 17th too but this time on the Odyssey. I hope you enjoy trip as much as we have enjoyed being with Seabourn.

 

We treated my sister, to celebrate her birthday, on a med. trip last October on the Legend and the weather was great! Sweater weather would be my description. The other advantage at that time i the crowds are not there as in the summer. We could visit Portofino etc. with ease.

 

It was her first time on Seabourn and now she is craving for another trip.

[Keith1010]

I want to add to what dd@sea said about October weather. I think it is a great time to visit Italy. The weather is quite nice and you don't have all of those crowds. Perfect time to visit. In terms of Venice you may need a light jacket/sweater so I would bring that and an umbrella. I remember we were there for three consecutive days in October on the mid point of a back to back cruise. First day it was chilly, second day it was cool in the morning and warm in the afternoon and third day warm all day.

 

There will be a combination of formal nights, Elegant Casual (eg., slacks and sports jacket for men and dresses, pant suits, skirts or pants with a blouse for women) along with a few Casual nights.

 

Congratulations on your upcoming 30th wedding anniversary and for booking a cruise on a cruise line as special as Seabourn.

 

Keith

[Chairsin]

We have cruised the Med in early Oct three times on Seabourn -- last fall it was fairly cool with a little rain and overcast most days -- they two other trips it was warm and sunny. Bring a light jacket and clothes that you can layer to accommodate the temp changes. I second what others have said -- late Sept/early Oct is my favorite time there. Crowds are smaller and the weather is usually still quite nice.

 

Regarding formal nights -- yes, Seabourn passengers usually do dress to the nines on those evenings. It is one of those things that make it special for us. And for men it is just as easy to pack a tux as it is a suit. As for me, I buy gowns that are lightweight and pack easy (no heavy beaded things)-- just bought a lovely grecian style one shoulder purple gown for the upcoming cruise. Now some men don't wear tux's and some women just wear a nice dress or pants ensemble -- but to make the experience more special why not dress up?

 

As for advice, start dieting now!

[LN50]

Thank you to you all for helpful replies.

 

Yes I do like to pull out the stops on formal nights so will be joining everyone then.

 

Yes Diet is necessary but have to start after next weekend... off on a short cruise with NCL. I know totally the other end of the scale but we do have a courtyard villa and it is only a weekend away....

 

Linda

[Jassy]

Hi Linda,

 

How fun to hear that you will be on the Spirit on Oct. 17, as we will be sailing on that cruise also. And it is also our first cruise with Seabourn. And we will be celebrating a special anniversary (our 20th, although it is actually in Dec. :) ). LOL, so many similarities.

 

I, too, am VERY excited about finally having the opportunity to experience the Seabourn life. We'll see you onboard!

 

And thank you to all the posters for your wonderful advice (and great enthusiasm - with so many happy sailors, Seabourn must indeed be special).

 

Jackie

[LN50]

Hi Jackie,

 

Look forward to meeting you onboard... we are so excited, we had the seabourn DVD arrive yesterday so spent a good half hour viewing that last night.

My other half called this morning, (he had been browsing online) to say he had seen another trip he wants to do... better keep saving the pennies...

Linda

[margbem]

Linda - we are booked on Seabourn in late September. How have you got a DVD? We booked with a TA cruise specialist but have had no mention of a DVD!!

[wripro]

Margbem,

 

Call your TA and have him arrange for Seabourn to send you a DVD.

[LN50]

Linda - we are booked on Seabourn in late September. How have you got a DVD? We booked with a TA cruise specialist but have had no mention of a DVD!!

 

I just logged onto seabourns website. I am still struggling to obtain a brochure so it was under brochure request and you can ask for a dvd to be sent. Not sure if it is just the UK website.

It is very similar to the scenes that you can see on the website.

 

I am still waiting for the brochure.

 

linda

[Jassy]

I just logged onto seabourns website. I am still struggling to obtain a brochure so it was under brochure request and you can ask for a dvd to be sent. Not sure if it is just the UK website.

It is very similar to the scenes that you can see on the website.

 

I am still waiting for the brochure.

 

linda

 

It is the same on the US website. We just got our brochure and DVD two days ago! I cannot believe how interested and enthusiastic my husband is in this cruise - he is not normally much of a cruise person. But then I guess Seabourn is not your normal cruise line, either, is it? :)

[margbem]

Thanks - I'll try the website first!

[Chairsin]

No, it is not your normal cruise -- I always tell people that I hate cruises but love Seabourn. Just think about all of the things that give cruises a bad name(justifialbly so) -- they don't apply to Seabourn. 1) Class system --those passengers booked in suites versus steerage -- Seabourn is democratically all suite,2) long lines to disgorge(or engorge)passengers from the ship -- want to get off one of the sisters? fine, no wait, just walk off, 3)dinner every night either too early or too late -- on Seabourn just walz into the dining room anytime during dinner hours(besides how in the world to I know what time I want to have dinner every night long in advance? It depends on when I had lunch, how hectic or relaxing the day was, whether I intend to go to the show later, or how long it takes me to get ready), 4) dinner with the same boring people every night -- on Seabourn dine alone with your spouse or with any of the interesting people you very quickly meet on board, 5) signing chits for every little thing -- on Seabourn pay a little more up front but once on board forget about it -- it does make socializing so much more comfortable with people whom your have just met -- no awkward moments over who picks up the tab ( be prepared for ONE longtime Seabournite to bring out that tired phrase -- "This round is on Me"), 6) Over worked staff that can barely fulfill your requests as opposed to on Seabourn where the staffing level is sufficient(and they care enough) to call you by name and anticipate your needs, eg. as soon as I sit down at the Sky bar a glass of champagne appears so I say to the bartender"What is that doing here?" -- he smiles and says. "Mrs. S you always have a glass of champagne in the afternoon."Busted!

 

Ok, I could go on, but you get the drift. Cruises and Seabourn -- apples and oranges!

[wripro]

Chairsin,

 

It's a shame you can't muster up any enthusiasm for Seabourn!!!!

[Toronto Maple Leaf Fan]

No, it is not your normal cruise -- I always tell people that I hate cruises but love Seabourn. Just think about all of the things that give cruises a bad name(justifialbly so) -- they don't apply to Seabourn. 1) Class system --those passengers booked in suites versus steerage -- Seabourn is democratically all suite,2) long lines to disgorge(or engorge)passengers from the ship -- want to get off one of the sisters? fine, no wait, just walk off, 3)dinner every night either too early or too late -- on Seabourn just walz into the dining room anytime during dinner hours(besides how in the world to I know what time I want to have dinner every night long in advance? It depends on when I had lunch, how hectic or relaxing the day was, whether I intend to go to the show later, or how long it takes me to get ready), 4) dinner with the same boring people every night -- on Seabourn dine alone with your spouse or with any of the interesting people you very quickly meet on board, 5) signing chits for every little thing -- on Seabourn pay a little more up front but once on board forget about it -- it does make socializing so much more comfortable with people whom your have just met -- no awkward moments over who picks up the tab ( be prepared for ONE longtime Seabournite to bring out that tired phrase -- "This round is on Me"), 6) Over worked staff that can barely fulfill your requests as opposed to on Seabourn where the staffing level is sufficient(and they care enough) to call you by name and anticipate your needs, eg. as soon as I sit down at the Sky bar a glass of champagne appears so I say to the bartender"What is that doing here?" -- he smiles and says. "Mrs. S you always have a glass of champagne in the afternoon."Busted!

 

Ok, I could go on, but you get the drift. Cruises and Seabourn -- apples and oranges!

You have no idea how difficult you are making my last two months of waiting to board the Legend! Now I really can't wait. Why did I insist on spending my 25th Anniversary onboard when I could have left this weekend!!!

[Chairsin]

Wripro,

You are so right -- I COULD have been more enthusiastic with my comments. Now if only dealing with the folks at Blue Lagoon were half as pleasant as cruising on Seabourn.

 

Toronto Maple Leaf -- You think YOU are having a hard time waiting -- just wait until after your cruise -- the wait until your next cruise only gets harder. Our next one is July 14 and I am already having trouble focusing on anything other than the trip.

 

And for all of you celebrating your anniversaries or just celebrating being on Seabourn -- be sure to arrange for an extra special dinner in the dining room one night. Talk to the Maitre d' a few days in advance -- tell him what some of your favorite dishes are and he will make some suggestions for a perfect menu. I particularly love having a course or two flambeed tableside -- it is so much fun to watch the faces of the other diners .(Some are perhaps thinking, "Hey, why don't we get a special meal?" Little do most of them know that of course they can.)

[LN50]

Hi Chairsin,

 

Your comments are fuelling the fire of excitement even more.... counting the days and other half is already trying to plan another next year.

 

Transatlantic? I am a bit of a dodgy sailor, is there an aweful lot of movement?

 

I and quite happy to try the med on a samll ship but how do they fare on the atlantic?

 

It is really lovely hearing all your tips, all noted for when we sail. Thank you.

Linda

[wripro]

LN50,

 

Remember that Seabourn crosses the Atlantic on a southern route which is much calmer and milder than the North Atlantic. Still, there are no guarantees where sea conditions are concerned, not even in the Med or the Caribbean.

[Chairsin]

Linda,

Sorry, transatlantics are not my cup of tea-- but there are plenty of others on this board with experience there. As Wripro states, you can get some weather anywhere. The worst we has was gale forece winds the day we were going from Da Nang to Cai Lan. Miraculously just as we pulled into Ha Long Bay the seas dies down, the suns came out and everyone came out on deck to admire the scenery.Seabourn has candied ginger and ginger everywhere when the seas get rough -- I always travel with the accupressure sea bands.And of course, this is another reason to book a suite on the lowest level mid ships.

[Chairsin]

Well actually, "the suns" did not come out -- just one sun!(bad typing and worse proofreading)

[LN50]

Hello Chairsin,

Thank you for the info, I always travel with many packets of stugeron and the wrist bands. Other half liked the idea of tranatlantic as we did it on a large cruise ship last year, but I suspect the crossing would be very different on a small ship.

I think the best course of action is for me to wait and see how I like the small ship before booking another trip. I suspect that once travelled on seabourn it will be difficult to go back to the others!!

[Chairsin]

Linda,

You certainly have that right -- like most of us I receive numerous offers each month from many other cruise lines and the flyers just get tossed in the mail unread. I have no doubt there are other worthy cruiselines and some great deals I am missing out on, but unless I am planning an adventure trip( and then I usually book Lindblad) Seabourn is our pick.Try it once and depending on your preference you may want to stick with a port oriented itinerary or switch to a transatlantic.

 

47 days until our next cruise -- but then who is counting?