Hello

Thought I'd post a short update. This is our 1st time on Seabourn and so far we are impressed! Boarding was super easy at about 2:45pm no one in line. Met at gangplank, given glass of bubbly, and escorted to our room. The bags shipped ahead were on our bed and those accompanying bags came just as we finished unpacking the first 2.

Emergency drill was held in MDR with NO life jackets. They really took an accurate roll call to make sure all attended.

We finished packing and then went to pool deck for sail away. They had a local street band that played for about an hour and looked like everyone enjoyed it.

We sailed at 7:00 right on time. We decided to eat at the Pool Grill since we were a little tired and really didn't want to change clothes. It was good! They do a combination of appetizers including salads that you serve yourself (although I saw servers getting food if One asked), then you order your main course that is served to you. Me both had great rack of lamb chops,served med rare just as we requested and with some asparagus and potatoes as sides. The portion was just right for us, not large at all. Deserts were also available on the buffet. Service was great and the wine steward, I.e. bartender gave us several choices for both red and white wine. Fred had a nice Pinot noir and a had a merlot, both were just fine.

Our first 2 days are at sea so we have been relaxing. Taking bridge classes in morning, playing duplicate bridge in the afternoon.

We have not had any problem with smoking in our room or balcony. Even last night in the Observation lounge we never smelled smoke even though they do allow smoking on one side. The food in the MDR was good and again we were offered alternate choices of both red and white wines. This is first phase of World Cruise and there are a lot of longtime Seabourn sailors in the mix. Some are very friendly and some are more interested in their own group...much like any World cruise we have been on.

Overall we are extremely pleased with the Quest, the service is wonderful, food good, wine freely poured. What more could we want.


More as we cross the South Pacific.

Jan

Jan, it sounds like an ideal cruise!

Nice to see some seamail from the Quest. I am glad the smoking has not been an issue, either in your suite or in the lounges. Look forward to hearing more.

Jan,
Does the pool grille have a casual dress code? I'm looking for a cruise line that does not have a ship wide "elegant casual" dress code and has one restaurant where you can go casual (jeans, etc.) for when we don't want to change clothes for dinner, especially on long cruises.
Thanks!

Nice to hear from you Jan. Sounds like you are off to a good start, and I hope you continue to enjoy. I would like to try Seabourn one of these days!

HI Jan, Good to hear from you and wishing you and Fred a wonderful adventure to Sydney! Keep the seamail coming.

Hi

Dixiechick...pool grille is open every night except for formal optional. No jackets required and casual is great. Still think no jeans, but other pants great. So you could go anytime except a formal optional night in casual. Not sure if they would stop you with jeans but probably would in shorts. Just not having to wear a jacket makes my Fred happy most of the time but he doesn't mind his sports coat if he doesn't have to wear a tie.

Still are loving this ship. Of course, we only have about 330 passengers and 375 crew according to the captain. 150 Americans, 80 UK, others are mostly other Euorpeans. We heard that next segment out of Sydney is full. 430 is the full passenger load.

Today was a beach day on the Carnival Island just off the coast do the Dominican Republic. Had pretty good swells so tendering was an adventure, Crew was super careful and everyone made it home safely. Saw a couple of times when waves dumped the banana boat and everyone hit the water. Don't think anyone was hurt.

Food continues to be great. We ate in Collonade tonight wine was a Spanish Gavin and an Argentine Malbec. The Malbec was a request as the suggested pour was something else. At no meal have we had any problem getting a different wine.

Later
Jan

Jan and Fred, thanks so much for taking the time to post. We haven't sailed the Quest but hope to in the future. I hope that your sailing continues to be as good.

Dixiechick, I don't know if it is always allowed, but on the Odyssey crossing last year, we had a couple who did not dress up for dinner most nights. He wore jeans and a t-shirt in the evening at the pool grille and she wore short, shorts and tank tops with spaghetti straps. I never heard anyone say anything negative about how they were dressed at the grille.

Thanks for the info on the Pool Grille dress code. For me and my husband it would be so nice to have just one venue for casual dressing for a relaxing dinner with other cruisers after a full day of touring. Nice not to have to stay in the cabin!

Just pulling away from Bonaire. Bumpy seas continued yesterday but calmed down a bit late last night. Weather today was cloudy with showers at breakfast, beautiful and sunny until about 4 and then showers again.

This morning we had a leisurely morning, went ashore to just walk around and have lunch. We have dear friends whose brother/sister-in-law live here. They picked us up about 3:15 and took us on a drive to their home on a high ridge on the northerly side of island. Had a quick glass of wine at their home, then back to the ship. We were last ones on at 1 minute before deadline or 1 minute after depending on whose watch. Anyway we are back on board safely.

Casual - last night we ate at pool grille and everyone was casual. One of our group went into Colonnade for desert and said there when others in there that were not wearing jackets. It was a "theme night", ie Tuscan Market, so perhaps a bit relaxed. I would not hesitate to go to pool grille in casual, but then I am not shorts wearer most of the time. I had lobster Mac & cheese and it was to die for!!,

Got to go get ready for dinner at Restaurant 2

More later

Jan

Posting for Jan, who is having problems getting LCT to cooperate


Woke up to a bright, sunny morning on the southern/western side of Panama Canal. Yesterday we made the quickest transit through the canal we have ever made. We entered about 6:30am and exited the MiraFlora locks at 2:00pm. No stopping or waiting anywhere.

Interesting to see the construction going on for the new, wider canal. It will be only one lane instead of two lands like the existing one. But it will be wider and deeper to handle the large, large ships. They will not use the "mules", or electric engines but will have a tug attached in the front and in the rear of each ship. It looks pretty sure that they will not meet their 2014 target date.

Stopped in Aruba but didn't do any of the tours. Last stop before the canal was a small island in the San Blas group. The attraction was a "traditional village" and their molas. We decided a hot muggy day was better spent at the pool.

The pool is very nice. It is designed so that there is a shallow area around the deeper pool that has water when not in rolling seas. If you don't want to go into the deeper pool, you can sit in the shallow water to cool off. The pool was long enough for a short lap but really only enough room for 2 people doing laps at the same time.

We have had dinner now in all the restaurants and have enjoyed them all. Restaurant 2 is very similar to the "old" Latitudes on Regent, but not the Asian flavor. Our meal there was good and they our wines there that you cannot get in the other restaurants. We just had the complementary selections which were fine. There was a package you could purchase if you wanted.

The main dining room is good as well. We have to be careful not to sit in the center area where the ceiling is very high because it is noisy and makes it difficult for Fred to hear. The Colonnade changes every night with a different theme. You can also sit outside which is nice on this itinary. We have a list showing us what each night will be. No buffet in the evenings, every thing is served to you. The menu is not large. Usually 3 appetizers, 2 main courses, and a desert on the theme side of the menu, but there are standards you can have any time.

The pool grille has become our favorite for several reasons. The service is fantastic. Most of the staff now calls us by name. The food is very good. There are always several appetizers and salads on the buffet, pizza. Then you order your main course from the wait staff. There is always a pasta dish, and then different grilled main courses, like Garlic and Herb Roasted Pork Chop, Lamb Rack chops, grilled fish. All the main courses come with the same sides which are different every night. Desert is from the buffet. We have tried the pasta dishes, the lamb, and steak....all were very good.

We continue to be impressed with Seabourn. One of the things we like is all the different places on the ship you can find to sit and watch the sea go by. Almost all of the public spaces are in back with guest suites in the front. Exceptions are on Deck 6 there is a whirlpool and sun deck right in the bow. On deck 10 the Observation lounge is on the front. It is the only lounge inside that allows smoking. So far it hasn't been too bad but you definitely can tell there are smokers in the room, but we haven't left because of it.

We are delayed this morning leaving for our tours. They are still fueling the ship for our next ten days at sea. Next stop...Nuka Hiva.

Jan

We have turned around and are going full speed back to Panama City. Before noon the Captain announced we were slowing down until a decision could be made about the medical emergency. Then about 2:00pm we turned around and went to full speed back towards Panama City. No further announcements, but we have been sailing at 20 to 21 knots all afternoon and evening. It is obvious that we will be back where we started late last night or early this morning since we did not leave until midnight to later.

After running at full speed or at least 9 hours already, we will need to refuel. The speculation aboard is that the persons who was ill probably didn't make it, or he/she was not ill enough for the Panama authorities to authorize a rescue helicopter/boat. Who knows. Hopefully we will get some kind of message about what is next.

Jan

We are back on course after delivering the sick passenger and his son back to Panama about 1:00am this morning. Captain said at noon briefing that the man was doing much better.

We are trying to make up time and sailing at about 19knots. Sea is calm so not uncomfortable at all.

Glad the sick passenger is doing better and you're back on track again.

We crossed the equator yesterday. The weather is unusual. Apparently there is a very large low pressure system coming out of the Gulf of Alaska with very strong winds. This is causing swells even this far south, more than 1,000 miles away. The temperature is much cooler than you would expect at the equator. Day times highs the last several days have been in high 70's. Last night we ate at the Pool Grill and some people were wrapped up in blankets! The air temperature was around 72 and with the water temperature nearer 80 we had dew on deck. Everything was damp. We had no wind but it was cool, especially for just crossing the equator and entering the southern hemisphere.

Some things we are loving on Seabourn Quest....pool deck service - wait staff circulate all day with glasses of ice water or a special fruit punch or a special drink. They also come around with sun tan lotion and glasses cleaner on a regular basis. The staff...the policy is for all staff to learn passengers names, not just those on the world cruise. So now into the 3rd week we are called by name from almost everyone we interact with. Just a small thing, but one that makes you feel special. Dinner outside...we really love having dinner outdoors. We can eat at the pool deck any night without dressing up and the food is good. In the Colonnade, the outside area is much larger than other ships we have sailed on. The menu changes everynight with a different theme. On "market" nights it is a huge buffet set up with a theme. On other nights you are served at your table, again with the menu having a theme. The dress code is also more relaxed there and we have seen many men without coats...no included excursions!!!

Things we miss from Regent...our perks...since we are on a long segment, we purchased the unlimited Internet package, $399. Internet is about the same speed. Free laundry and dry cleaning. The gym....this one is very small and you have to make reservations for classes which is only 8 people and it fills up early the day before. Not really anywhere to work out on your own except a very small space just as you enter the gym area. The staff we know on Regent.

Every cruise is different even on the same ship. We are enjoying our 1st Seabourn cruise and will probably sail with them again. We won't abandon Regent either. We think the lower passenger count here now on the Seabourn Quest makes it hard to compare with a passenger count of 700 on Regent Voyager or Mariner. They are different experiences and both are great!!

Nice to read your comparisons between the 2 lines Jan. Hope the seas calm down for you and Fred too.

It sounds like you're having a good time.

Jan I love your reports - keep enjoying and know your postings are appreciated!!!

I really appreciate your reports Jan. To be honest, even though we have loved our Regent experiences, it is hard for us to find an itinerary that interest us anymore and their 6pm all ship dress code gets to be a drag for us (don't like being restricted to our cabin), especially on 14 day + cruises. From your reports, Seabourn looks like a great possibility for us with some interesting sailings and I love the smaller ships. We are also looking at Sea Dream Yacht Club as another possibility.

Thanks all. Since we are on our 8th straight sea day, I haven't posted a lot. We have had the Seabourn version of the Galley lunch day before yesterday and it was great. They had two large tables in the cnter section of the dining room full of deserts. And two large tables on one end of the dining room with appetizers. Then the other food was in the galley. It was not crowded even though I think most passengers went down.

Some examples of what they had....sushi/sashimi, cheese fondue, lobster soup, two kinds of freshly made pasta, Tom turkey, prime rib, lamb chops, beef stroganoff, several kinds of potatoes And vegetables, soft shell crab cooked right in front of you, and real English fish and chips with mushy peas. I like what I had but Fred said the stroganoff was a little tough.

Last night we ate in colonnade with new friends from Denver ( where we live) that only live less than 2. Miles from us. Fred didn't wear a coat but Dave did and both were seated without a glance. It was Russian night and Beef Stroganoff was on the menu but it specified it was beef tenderloin. We all had it and it was fantastic. All 4 plates were clean.

Some information about entertainment on the Quest. The show room is much smaller than on any of the Regent ships and feels more like an intimate show lounge. There is even seating in the back areas on couches and soft chairs. The ceiling seems low but so far it hasn't hurt. There has been a fantastic pianist, an opera/show tune male singer, one of the Assistant cruises directors has a fantastic soprano voice And she has given a concert as well. There is a musician/comedian that the Brits love but we didn't. They do have a cast of singers and dancers but there are much fewer of them. No big production shows but several very nice presentations by the cast. There is a duo playing and singing in the Club, the larger bar, a 5 piece band which is quite good and a pianist who plays in the observation lounge, where smoking is allowed but it has never seemed that smokey to drive us away. So overall, we have enjoyed the entertainment.

Not sure whether I have said or not, but we only have 350 passengers with 450/470 being maximum. So nothing has been crowded.

Two more sea days then Nuka Hiva.

Dixiechick...I would definitely say you should consider Seabourn Quest. We are really liking it.

Jan

Jan, I too am enjoying your posts and open them with anticipation! I like hearing about the outdoor dining; on a long cruise, I can imagine that sometimes you just don't want to get dressed to fit a code, and the dinner seating outside sounds like a wonderful option for the climate you are in!

It is nice to hear about this ship, as being larger than the triplets, there must be so many differences. One of these days, I hope to have the opportunity to try it!

Keep the comments coming.

Thanks for your your posts Jan. They make me ready to try Seaborne. Especially love the idea of dinner at the Pool Grill. I also miss the Regent perks when sailing on other lines.
Enjoy Nuka Hiva. It poured the day I was there many years ago but the people were wonderful. Wishing you fabulous sunshine when you stop.

There is land after all. It is about 7:00am on Sunday morning and we can see Nuka Hiva. Right now we are going in circles waiting for some problem with the stabilizers to be fixed. Captain says they are being difficult about "coming home" , He says not to worry they will "get them back home soon". He has a great sense of humor and is very visible around the ship.

After 10 days everyone is looking forward to putting our feet on solid ground. We had a very nice crossing with only yesterday having some rain showers. I think the entertainment staff did a good job of having things for everyone to do during both days and evenings. They had an Iron Chef competition for passengers. Three teams competed on different mornings. They had the "mystery" box of ingredients just like the TV show Chopped and then they had to prepare a dish within a time frame. I went the first day, while it was interesting, it was not a lot of fun just to sit and watch. Cruise Director did a pretty good job of trying to keep conversation going, but after the first appetizer contest, I didn't go again. There were art classes, Spanish lessons, lectures by Dr. Caisse, the astronomer whom we have seen on Regent before, a speaker on various sea tales of the South Pacific, iPad classes, and probably several other things I missed. That is not even mentioning beginning and intermediate bridge classes and duplicate play.

One evening they had special events in the evening on the pool deck. Several individual crew member teams from several countries prepared appetizer size portions of one of their country's dishes. Hungary had goulash, Columbia had empanadas, Chile had corn pie, Peru had ceviche, Brazil had their wonderful black bean stew, and they were all very good. Then several shipmdepartments had "bar" stations around the outside of the pool deck. Security had a brig, the medical and rescue group had a "first aid station, UK crew members had a tribute to the Queen and the engineering dept had a bunkering station. .It was formal night so everyone looked very elegant and had a good time before dinner.

After dinner, we had Opera under the Stars. The Welsh baritone, Anthony, the assistant cruise dir, Heather, and two of the female cast members sang selections from various operas. It was a warm, tropical night with the moon and stars out with no wind. It was a very pleasant evening.

While I have been writing this, the stabilizers have come home and we are anchoring and getting ready for tendering.

We have been here before 6 years ago and are going ashore after a nice breakfast just to stretch our legs. There really isn't much here but it is a friendly, tropical island.

Hey Jan,

Thanks so much for your updates. It is fun to take the crossing with you and Fred. Your crew/staff evening under the stars sounds like a lot of fun. Seabourn does sound like a new idea for cruising. How long are you and Fred on?

I'm thinking I would love to give Seabourn a try, not only for their itineraries, but I really like what seems to be the more casual feel. Having an option at the Pool Grille of casual dress after a long day of excursions really appeals to me, especially during a 14 day plus cruise! I am so happy to discover this, thank you Jan!

Arrived in Papeete this morning. Yesterday we were in Rangiora, one of the largest islands of French Polynesia. It is a long string of small islands surrounding one of the largest lagoons in the world. You can't see the other side. There is one narrow pass where ships can come in IF water is calm. One of the excursion staff said yesterday was the first time in 4 tries, she had been on a ship that made it in. We did a glass bottom boat tour and were pleasantly surprised. It was just a short 5 minute ride to the reef where both snorkeling and glass bottom boats were anchored. There were lots and lots of fish. Plenty of red snapper, angel fish, and other reef fish. We also saw at least 3 huge moray eels and black tip sharks. There were many different kinds of coral and some we got to see some close up. Usually glass bottom boats are disappointing, this one was not.

Today we have private car from Signatures. Since we have been to Papeete several times, think we will ask if we can go up to high pint, go see the Museum of the Islands and then have lunch somewhere with a beautiful view.

Tonight is another night under the stars where the entertainment staff is doing "Sinatra and friends" around the pool after dinner.

Hi Beth....we are on until Sydney...40 days. Then we will spend 3 weeks driving to see both North and South Islands in New Zealand.

Dixiechick...it really is a mixed feel. Many still wear jackets almost every night, but then many don't. For this particular cruise, part of the World Cruise, it seems they are being very relaxed with any enforcement of the dress code. I haven't seen any one in sloppy attire in the evenings even if not wearing a jacket. No baseball caps inside either. Because of the length of this segment, most of passengers are "senior citizens" but there are a few younger as well. Those of us from US are outnumbered right now even though we are the largest single group. It has made for a nice mix.

Quick note re tsunami we are docked in Tonga and making preparations to leave early as Captain says the tsunami is scheduled to arrive here at 6:15pm. The ship's horn has been blowing for more than one hour and they are trying to get everyone back on board . We have to leave no later than 5:15pm and it is now 4:50pm. If everyone is not back on board, they have arranged for buses to take them inland to safety and then we will come back in at 8:15pm and get them. Captain says we must be away from the dock one hour before it hits and will be safer at sea.

More later

Jan

Jan

Captain just announced the tsunami warning has just been cancelled for this area.

Phew - that's good news. It's sunny and warm in Sydney.

WOW! What a wretched feeling it would be to come back and find the ship gone but a bus waiting to "take [me] to safety"!!??? Glad it wasnt necessary. Good to hear from you Jan!
-----------------------
Helen

Thank goodness, Jan. So glad to hear you all are ok. Travel can certainly be an adventure.

Wow, Jan, glad you're O.K. Can't wait to hear more about your trip.

The almost tsunami sounds pretty exciting.

Note to self: if ever ashore and hear ship's horns blowing continuously, return to ship.