At Sea

January 4^th, 2025

This was one of those very lazy days at sea.

The weather started out very sunny, but there were scattered downpours.

We spent most of the day at the pool, managing to avoid the rain.

When we went to team trivia it was clear that the rest of our team was not happy.

There is a young couple on board who have arranged shore excursions in various ports. Everyone who has gone on them has really enjoyed them.

Our friends had wanted to do a safari whilst we were going to be in Zanzibar, but the ship’s tour they wanted to do was sold out. Luckily the young couple had organized an overnight safari that sounded really great, so they and 2 other couples in our team had booked the safari.

The Seabourn powers that be had got wind of the tours the couple had been planning and decided that they had to put an end to it. So, they were made to cancel the tours, including the safari less than 24 hours before they were due to head out. Our team was not happy, nor were the other passengers who had also booked the safari.

The canceled safari goers met with the onboard Seabourn folks to register their strong objections to how this had been handled, especially with such late notice. Also they were concerned because the young couple had been told that they would have to leave the ship if they continued to book tours for others.

Apparently somewhere in the Seabourn rules and regulations there must be something about not doing this kind of “business” on board, and Seabourn is just following the rules that we have all acknowledged. However, we have often done cruises where a fellow passenger has set up tours for a group of us, and I have never thought anything of it. Well, now we know it is against the rules.

I just wish our friends had had more notice of their plans being canceled. They had all been looking forward to their safari. It was just not to be.

Gosh, if I had had a safari canceled, I would be quite beside myself.

After much discussion Seabourn decided that as long as the young couple and their friends did not participate, the safari tour was on again. Phew. This took most of the day, and there was much disappointment in how things had been handled, but they were going to get their safari. Yay!

Meanwhile we had to prepare for our safari. Yes, Safarigal is about to do what she loves doing most – heading off on a safari again.

When we got the updated itinerary that we were to spend 3 days in Zanzibar and then sail overnight to Dar es Salaam I immediately booked a safari so that we would leave the ship on our first day in Zanzibar and return to the ship in Dar es Salaam 4 days later. Seabourn seemed to be OK with that.

When the whole Red Sea/Suez itinerary change happened, our original booking was cancelled, and we received a new booking confirmation number.

Seeing as we had this new number, I wanted to make sure that the planned overland trip was added to our new booking, so I let Seabourn know of our plans.

I must say I was totally surprised when I received an email informing me that we could not leave the ship in Zanzibar and join again in Dar. I was confused – it wasn’t like we were going to a different country, and there were several Seabourn overland trips with a similar itinerary, but no, we could not do that.

I then asked several folks who were higher up in Seabourn, and I got the same answer. No, it could not be done. As a consolation they did say we could leave the ship and rejoin again in Zanzibar.

So, I canceled our original safari and booked another shorter one. There was nothing else to be done.

I arranged for us to fly to the Ngorongoro Crater and spend 2 nights there, and then fly back to Zanzibar, hopefully in time to get back on the ship before she sailed.

I was so excited as I packed our little duffel bags. Today I am at sea, tomorrow I will be on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater. Our friends also get to go on safari. Life is good!