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You'll hardly see kids onboard during the school year, but during holidays and summers when families or multigenerational groups are onboard, Seabourn offers a kids' program. The crew impresses with warm friendly service rather than opting for stiff and formal. Most servers seemed genuinely happy, and when asked how their day was going, they often answered “amazing” and it never sounded fake. Suite attendants - this line doesn’t offer butler service - kept accommodations spotless. They were also excellent at remembering daily requests, such as placing fresh orange juice in your fridge daily.
Find a Seabourn Encore Cruise from $2,154
That said, everyone agreed that the quibbles were minor, without a major impact on the enjoyment of their vacation. Passengers find their go-to bar or evening routine, and you'll recognize the folks you consistently see in The Club, the gym or the casino. The ship quickly becomes your ship, with the comfortable feeling of home where people take care of you, rather than the big-ship feeling of being among strangers and valued only for your potential to spend more money. We loved the fact that there are no set dining times; that wine is described in varietals, not colors; and that a meal from The Restaurant could be delivered to your stateroom, course by course, complete with a formal table setting. Plus, a fleetwide partnership with celebrity chef Thomas Keller adds further culinary techniques and styles to the mix. Seabourn does an impressive job of morphing adventure into its signature luxury experience onboard Seabourn Venture, its first expedition vessel.
Find a Seabourn Ovation Cruise from $3,655
They were a friendly bunch, particularly open to chats in lounges and when playing trivia. While the evening dress code is supposedly enforced at 6 p.m., no one condemns you if you're still watching sail-away after 6 in the clothes you wore all day. However, try to enter The Restaurant in the wrong attire, and you will be sent away to change. We even heard of someone being turned away for wearing too casual shoes -- despite shoes not being addressed in Seabourn's official dress code descriptions.
Where does Seabourn Ovation sail from?
Best of all, we could scan a QR code or download a link so that we could share it with family members or keep it for ourselves. Many expedition lines used to charge for that video, and maybe some still do. Seabourn Encore represents an evolution of Seabourn Cruise Line's popular Odyssey-class ships. It's bigger -- 40,340 tons as opposed to 32,000, with an extra deck -- and carries 600 passengers in 300 suites, while the smaller ships take 458. Seabourn passengers are extremely loyal, with 50 percent repeaters on most cruises, and they form incredibly strong bonds with the crew. If you're a first timer, it can feel like boarding a ship where the party has started without you, but special first timer meet-and-greets are held for this very reason and it doesn't take long to join in.
Finally, give a sentence or two on why the cruise is worth booking. Additionally, the ship is the only one in the fleet equipped with all-new high-speed internet technology.
How much does it cost to go on Seabourn Ovation?
Molton Brown liquid soaps in suite bathrooms are refillable; no more single use plastic bottles. Most daily information is available on the Seabourn app and suite televisions, minimizing paper use. On the more technical side, bow thrusters are outfitted with fixed pitch propellers, frequently driving a reduction of energy consumption by 30 percent compared to traditional thrusters.
Elegant casual means smart -- no shorts -- but a jacket isn't necessary and as of late 2022, nice jeans are allowed. Most of the women dress elegantly at night, more so than this dress code would suggest, so pack the jewels, some strappy shoes and a few dresses. Expect an abundance of upmarket couples, many bucket-listers, some traveling with friends.Some passengers joined this cruise as an add-on to visiting Machu Picchu; others were staying on when our cruise indeed, to sail to Antarctica. The crowd was mostly Americans, with a smattering of Brits and European voyagers such as Belgians and French.
Where does Seabourn Sojourn sail to?
Imagine soaking in the tub and viewing penguins diving off ice floes. Floors are wood-like tile and can be heated throughout the suite, not just in the bathroom. Brew coffee from a high-end Nespresso machine, although, of course, you can order a pot or specialty cup of joe. All accommodations are suites, and range from entry level, which includes a bath with a separate tub and shower and Molton Brown soaps, to stunning bi-level Wintergarden Suite accommodations. The line is also gay-friendly, and special LGBT meet-ups are held throughout each cruise.
(Though Ovation is laid out identically to Encore, it has its own look.) It also possesses a large number of seating nooks, both inside and out, for passengers to relax with a drink, a book or for a chat. You rarely feel the presence of those 600 travelers -- with the exception of The Colonnade buffet at peak hours. Fellow passengers are a mixture of North Americans, Brits, Australians and other Europeans, including a fair few German-speakers. The age group is mixed, from late 40s to 70s, and from the conversation and the amount of bling on show in the evenings, you can tell that most people are wealthy. Dining, too, maintains a high standard, no matter where on the ship you might be.
Officers and entertainment staff routinely host dining tables, taking care of solo travelers and bringing passengers together in a way that increases the camaraderie of the ship. A cruise on Seabourn Sojourn, particularly a longer sailing, resembles short-term membership at an upscale country club or boutique hotel. Bridge and trivia teams stay the same throughout the voyage, allowing friendships to form, dinners to be planned and cards to be exchanged. Like most small expedition ships, Venture’s entertainment was limited. I’m not sure how many passengers hit the DJ-driven dance floor post-dinner, but some showed up in the Discovery Center for a magician/comedian. (He was just okay.) On our cruise, the star was the cruise director, who sang opera.
Cultural performances were tied to the destination, restaurants often reflected local food and the enrichment lectures, led by members of the line's Ventures by Seabourn excursion staff, were on point. As the most discerning, up-to-the-minute voice in all things travel, Condé Nast Traveler is the global citizen’s bible and muse, offering both inspiration and vital intel. We understand that time is the greatest luxury, which is why Condé Nast Traveler mines its network of experts and influencers so that you never waste a meal, a drink, or a hotel stay wherever you are in the world. Still, these are minor quibbles for a cruise line that seems to be successfully navigating the demographic changes within luxury cruising as it begins to skew younger. We're looking forward to seeing how Seabourn adapts its Ventures by Seabourn shore excursion and enrichment programs as it expands its more active, adventurous offerings.
Seabourn Sojourn Cruise Ship Review - CruiseCritic.co.uk
Seabourn Sojourn Cruise Ship Review.
Posted: Wed, 12 Jul 2023 15:12:42 GMT [source]
Seabourn Sojourn most often attracts affluent couples in their 50s and 60s, who are more active and hail from English-speaking countries like Canada, the United States, Australia and the U.K. On our voyage in Alaska, we saw an unexpected number of passengers in their 30s and 40s, several of them traveling as part of family groups. Passengers on the ship's longer, more exotic sailings skew older, but regardless of age, everyone we encountered was friendly and welcoming. The ship doesn’t offer youth programming, but when asked, the onboard team said they’ll cater to passengers of all ages. Such accommodations are worth the extra fee above standard suites and less expensive than other higher-end accommodations, such as Penthouse and Owners Suites. Expect a staggering floor-to-ceiling ocean view everywhere - from the bed, spacious living area, and even in the expansive bathroom.
Guides on tours seemed to expect tips, although they weren't overly pushy. Designer Adam D. Tihany has gone for a richer, more sumptuous look than that sported by Seabourn's three Odyssey-class ships. There's widespread use of rich dark blue and acres of gleaming mahogany (veneer, of course, this being a cruise ship). Shining stainless steel also features throughout and, despite the darker colors, there's light everywhere, through skylights, floor-to-ceiling windows and clever design. The hotel director chalked it up to new crew needing a few more months to gel, but passengers we spoke to wondered if Seabourn couldn't keep up the quality of service they're used to on the larger ship.
There’s plenty of intimate bars and lounges, and outdoor space - not just for viewing wildlife or lounging, but also for swimming in an infinity pool or soaking in one of four hot tubs (two by the cool outdoor Sky Bar). Built for polar exploration, this vessel features a cozy alpine-meets-the-sea vibe, with faux-fur pillows, plush blankets for staying warm and three fireplaces with dancing water vapor flames. The design keeps the focus on expeditions and wildlife, from art to screens projecting videos of Antarctica or the Arctic in all their pristine glory.
Gratuities also are included in the cruise fare, though you're able to tip extra if you wish. (We recommend making a donation to the crew fund in lieu of tipping individuals.) In the spa and on guided tours, tipping is up to the individual. Overall, the ship offers an effortless vacation experience, in which crew members go above and beyond to pamper passengers and make them feel at home. Whether it's too big, too small or just right is a matter of personal preference and the ability not to sweat the small stuff in the face of incredible destinations and a truly gorgeous, luxurious ship. The ship is gorgeous, thanks to the design inspiration of renowned interior designer Adam D. Tihany, with the help of ArtLink, the art provisioning service for the hospitality industry that curated the art collection onboard.
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