Inconsistency and chaos mingled with some rewards

Without a doubt, we had a great cruise on Sojourn Oct-Dec 2018, pretty much flawless, so we booked a 94 day cruise( Auckland to Cape Town). Total disappointment, the entire cruise was fraught with inconsistency in service and chaos in dining rooms and bars. To say the least, we were disappointed in Seabourn Service standard not even 1 star.

These are the highlights (tongue in cheek):

Bar staff totally disorganized and inexperienced ( served gin/tonic with stick of olives)

Terrace outside dining chaotic and inefficient, sometimes service other times not

Main dining room food bland, monotonous,poorly prepared, service inexperienced

Sometimes staff indifferent and other times friendly were not knowledgeable

What was good:

The itinerary and ports of call fabulous

The ship itself and captain great

The Ventures tours interesting with competent staff

The emphasis on safety in tendering excellent

The cabin a haven of refuge

Summary

Clearly, the cruise industry is struggling with high fuel-costs,labor costs and commissions to travel agencies. So revenues from passenger bookings are off set with cost cutting in services areas such as labor and food etc. to achieve operating margin and profitability curves, a sad commentary and unhappy experience for passengers. Seabourn did not meet. mission or vision for this cruise: What's so special about poor service and poor food?,