Friday, February 22, 2019: Additional Guests

Over the past week, a lot has happened. First, Linko decided she could not join Laura on the Rome to Dublin segment. I also got a quotation from Maxine. For the first person to join me on a segment, there is no additional cruise ship cost. For the second person to join a segment, the cost would be $266/day for segments 4001 through 4006 and $253/day for segments 4007 through 4009.

I contacted Steve and Sarah and got them committed. Sarah will join me on the Valparaiso, Chile to Papeete, French Polynesia segment and both Stephen and Sarah will join me on the Dublin to Amsterdam segment. On Monday of this week, I sent a note to Maxine asking her to have Stephen and Sarah added along with Laura and Stephen Trout to the Rome to Dublin segment.

On Tuesday, Stephen Trout determined he could not make it. I sent a note out to everyone with the cost information and the fact that, at this time, Laura was the only person joining me on the Rome to Dublin segment and, if someone wished, they could join us.

Thus far, no one else has stepped up to claim any segments. This evening, Maxine called to say Stephen, Sarah and Laura have all been successfully added. They would go ahead and show a third person on the Rome to Dublin segment and add the proper name when we get it.

Maxine said she was interested in joining me on the Singapore to Mumbai segment. I told her to go ahead and book it.

Thursday, February 14, 2019: First Call

Yesterday, I got a call from Maxine. Among other things, she mentioned that if there were anyone who wanted to join me on the world cruise, we need to get the ball rolling to sign them up. She mentioned that others are finding that some of the segments are booked full. While my cabin will accommodate three guests, there is a maximum (382) guest count for the ship overall.

I put together an email to the kids and my brothers asking if anyone was interested. I attached a map of the route and a itinerary of the nine segments.  In the note, I suggested those who were interested would be responsible for air fare, optional insurance and other assorted fees. I also noted that, while I am not sure, I believe the first person to join me would be essentially without cost while a second person would be at a reduced cost compared to the regular rate.

The Silversea receipt is not as transparent as the other cruise lines with respect to the amount of supplement that a single travel is charged with. Seabourn, on the other hand, charges a 100% supplement for a single traveler. Therefore, someone could join me at no additional cost. A second guest to join me on a Seabourn cruise would be charged 50% of the normal dual occupancy rate. On the Seabourn Baltic cruise where both Laura and Megan are joining me, the cost of the cruise increased by only 25% over what I was going to pay traveling alone.

Yesterday evening, I got a reply from David. He said, while it was really too early to make a commitment, they might be interested in one of three segments: French Polynesia to Sydney, Rome to Dublin, Dublin to Amsterdam. I thanked him for the prompt response and mentioned that I have had verbal interest expressed on both the Rome to Dublin segment (Laura) and the Dublin to Amsterdam segment (Sarah). I told him I would give them a couple of days to put their requests into writing.

This morning, I got a reply from Stanley asking for details on the itinerary and also clarification on the costs. I forwarded to all the day-by-day itinerary. I also tried to explain the cost options to Stanley. Bottom line was that I would get Maxine to get a quote for any segments they were interested in attending.

Friday update:

Laura and Linko have committed to join me for the Rome to Dublin segment. I asked Maxine to get a quote and I also told her I have had "nibbles" on the Fort Lauderdale to Buenos Aires segment, the Papeete to Sydney segment and the Dublin to Amsterdam segment. Maxine responded that they were going to have to prorate the costs and would have it on Monday.