Yesterday afternoon, I was sitting at my desk minding my own business, when I got an email from SeaDream Yacht Club.  It was from a SeaDream executive who thanked us for sailing SeaDream recently and noted the positive comments we’d left on our “end of the cruise” comment cards.  The executive specifically mentioned a couple of comments I’d made, especially about the raw food menu, which I tried and liked on the last night of the cruise.

The executive then wrote that she noticed we didn’t pre-book on our cruise and offered to give us an extension on the onboard booking discount, which would entitle us to a 15% discount on a future cruise.  If we were able to book a specific cruise, we would just have to make a deposit based on the actual fare– though I’m not sure if the savings would still be 15%.  If we did an “open booking”, we’d have to put down $2500, but then we’d get a 15% price break.

I was very surprised to get this email, since in the past it seemed like that deal was strictly for the folks who book while on the ship.  A former SeaDream exec once told me that it’s a lot easier to “convert” people to being loyal to SeaDream when they’re onboard and actually enjoying the cruise.  Seems like that generous discount would also help seal the deal.

I thought I’d managed to break the SeaDream addictive cycle when I got off the ship without putting down a lot of cash, but those sneaky business people might have caught me.  I have to admit I’m tempted… especially since SeaDream is going to Costa Rica this fall and I’m very interested in those sailings.  They are also reasonably priced… for SeaDream, anyway.

Unfortunately, we are still moving and we still have a lot of expenses that come from having to move.  And I still feel pretty much the same way I did a couple of days ago when I posted about why I didn’t pre-book onboard.  But I do have until the 15th to decide if I’m going to go for it…  I’m still leaning toward not doing it, but I might change my mind.  I do have a birthday coming up, after all.  Bill and I might have to break out the champagne bucket to see if it helps us decide.

In the process of pondering the SeaDream offer, I went to Delta.com to get an idea of what it would cost to get to Costa Rica in the fall.  If the cruise fare is cheap but the plane tickets are insane, that wouldn’t be a bargain.  Much to my delight, I noticed my upcoming Delta flight was already in the system and showing up.

Unfortunately, Expedia.com had us in the ass of the plane on all four flights.  Remembering what we went through on our last flight, I decided to take Delta up on their offer to upgrade to Economy Comfort.  I ended up spending another $216 to move out of the ass of the plane.  It probably won’t make that much of a difference… but I figured a slightly more comfortable flight could be worthwhile for Bill, who might be spared my airline induced crankiness somewhat.

I never did find out how much the tickets to Costa Rica would be because I got sidetracked by upgrading our seats.  Guess that’s a task for this morning.

Champagne has a way of getting me to do frivolous things…