go on, you too have a first love!?

We shouldn’t , but we do, have a first love!?It might be your first born (oh no), the best and most favourite car you’ve ever had…….(bet you have a first love too !)

Our first love in Cruising is Seabourn, just because it was our first luxury experience when no one, south of the equator knew much about luxury, we started with them in January 1996 and each and every time we walk the gangway , it’s like coming home!

We started out on the Yachts of Seabourn *Pride, Spirit and Legend , just 208 guests – and they’ve done well to emulate the same small ship feel on the larger Encore and Ovation.?Now of course their focus is on the Expedition offerings of Venture and Pursuit so we will see how that goes in a very overcrowded segment – on this cruise you could purchase most expedition departures less 35%!

Don’t get us wrong, there have been post Covid changes – but there is an over whelming feeling from the Seabourn family towards us as Diamond sailors with them, and it’s warm and friendly.

We’ve had the absolute privilege to be the Virtuoso hosts of 68 global clients on Seabourn Encore from Dubai to Athens, - Encore was launched in March 2016 and we are at capacity 577 guests , although she holds 604 without singles. 450 attentive crew from around the globe to care for us in a passenger to crew ratio of 1.33:1. She is 210m long with a draft of 6.53m and a beam of 28m and built in the famous yards by Fincantieri.?

We have what some would call a lead in suite, simply a verandah, on deck 5 midship, it’s 23 square metres of comfortable space with 7 square metres of verandah and features a spacious living area, large bed , dining table for two covered with our laptops, ipads, kindles and more , an interactive TV with music and videos, fully stocked refrigerator incl our personal choice alcohol, makeup vanity, walk in wardrobe and a spacious two sink bathroom with separate shower and bathtub.

There are limited power supplies by the dining table where we are working but adequate by the beds for all things digital, - and the rooms are sound proof to neighbours.

Might have been supply but we’ve all had to grovel for hand soap and body lotion , it could be just the world over deliveries haven’t been happening, but we do have the standard Seabourn Molton Brown shampoo/conditioner and body wash so can’t complain too much.

This itinerary is sea day intensive, our love, as it’s a crossing from the sun in Asia through to the Mediterranean summer schedules and there is nothing nicer than to escape to the Retreat – pretty sure it’s unique concept is just with Seabourn, deck 12, private for 15 couples in private cabanas with one large whirlpool., - our tips here – a great gift for clients – it’s USD129 half day port day, USD149 full day port day or USD249 full day sea day per suite occupancy. – the drinks are a step up – slightly different menu including Caviar Service , smoothies, fruit juices, - ?it’s service is exemplary - - always would suggest a port day as it’s much quieter when everyone is off the vessel.,?open daily 0900 – 1800hrs – and for any voyage you can negotiate a rate for everyday of your cruise regardless of port or sea days.??You can take advantage of a USD50 saving off a Seabourn Massage moment in the 16th?cabana for the spa treatments.

Seabourn is inclusive of gratuities, all beverages incl alcohol, all meals, all entertainment and you pay (unless you have great loyalty status ) for laundry .?Shore excursions are extra – it’s the big debate of to include them all – or have them pay as you go, - those we have spoken to like the latter so they are not paying for everyones’ touring and this itinerary we would be a good example of that, hardly getting off as we’ve been multiple times to the ports – but if you are paying around USD149 for a half day, USD200 for a full day and overnights with special inclusions like Luxor, Valley of the Kings USD1099 pp .

Until this trip (with nearly 900 nights at sea) never have we taken a shorex without tour tickets!?It’s a funny experience – but Seabourn are doing their bit towards sustainability no matter how frustrating for the older travellers not savvy with apps.?Seabourn Source has it all – you just have to find it – the once daily delivered HERALD in on the app, the Australian News is on the app, all the shorex are listed on the app and purchaseable from the app, dining and drinks – menus, opening times of restaurants all on the app together with spa and wellness information., nightly entertainiment and more. ,,,,,,like info on the included shuttle bus schedule in each port., what’s ‘on sale’ at the boutique, etc.?You can also take a sneaky look at your onboard account in case a Fairy GodFather has paid it off…..but it is difficult for the older guest onboard no so app or iphone or indeed computer skilled.

Speaking of dining the Restaurant is open mostly for Breakfast , Lunch and Dinner – free seating as and when , .?The Grill by Thomas Keller is reminiscent of a classic American Restaurant from the 50’s and 60’s with a focus on table side preparations like Caesars’ Salad made from scratch, inside this restaurant space is a cocktail bar .

The Colonnade on deck 9 is the casual eat space, indoor/outdoor, buffet style, breakfasts and lunch and regionally themed bistro style dinners with table service nightly.?– also on deck 9 is the popular Patio by day, breakfast and lunch , burgers, hot dogs and more but by night it’s Earth & Ocean serving fresh, inventive dishes of the region under the stars, very popular with limited seating.

One of our favourites is Sushi , traditional Japanese Cuisine and service, no reservations, lunch and dinner – Hamachi, tuna, shrimp, Sushimi, Sushi, and at lunch time three varieties of Bento Boxes meat, seafood and vegetarian. – very very popular and a small space.?

If that’s not enough and you’ve had a big day then insuite dining, aka , room service providing a 24hr menu just to be sure you’ve had enough food., and with all that food, you have to have a drink or two - !!

The Club, pre dinner gourmet bites and mixology drinks, .Sky and Patio bars, casual and a chance to mingle after a swim or a sunbake, (and there’s still loads of guests doing just that!!) ., or maybe it’s the Observation Lounge for an afternoon tea or an evening tapas., but arguably the most popular place and one others have tried to copy, the Seabourn Square, the heart beat of the ship from sunrise to sunset and beyond., a place to have a real coffee made by a Barista, pastries, sandwiches, homemade gelati, - collect a book from the library shelves scattered around., shop in the gift shop, add a piece to the jigsaw puzzle or see Reception, strategically placed in the middle of the square, .?

And then like us , in the same space is Alex, the Future Cruise Consultant where we deposit for the next trip - - you are able to book a voyage and save or make an onboard Future Cruise deposit for AUD500 pp – and have it sent back to the Cruise Advisor (oh , did we say that was us!)

Our fellow passengers are mainly from USA, plenty of Brits, other Europeans and on our voyage 30 Australians and we have 24 nationalities with an age group from mid 40’s into active ‘80’s.?As Seabourn guests I’d say we are extremely loyal with more than 70% repeaters on this crossing and many passengers form very strong bonds with the team serving them.?You can tell by conversations between the obligatory Trivia sessions that guests are extremely wealthy but very unpretentious.?Seabourn is also very gay friendly –

‘around the pool’ is crowded generally with not much shade – There are plenty of deck chairs but not in this space so people reserve them which erks all of the other guests,, you know it’s getting to some when the signs go up to say if you do reserve a deck chair and you are not there your belongings can be retrieved from Seabourn Square.,??The other thing we’d say for a luxury liner is the deck chairs around the pool are not luxury, they are hardly any better than a contemporary ship and this is further accentuated when you’ve time at the Retreat where luxurious poolside furniture is the norm.

Entertainment for us so far has been?a mix of quality solos, magicians, musicians, and the Seabourn entertainers is led by Aimee, a young Mezzo Soprano from the UK , our Cruise Director. ?She is friendly and mixes with all of the guests onboard.,

The educational Seabourn Conversations have been excellent on this sailing, learning about Oil, Pirates, the construction of the Suez Canal, etc.

This was also a cruise over Easter and there was no recognition of Religion onboard either Catholic or Protestant, obviously that cabin is better put into revenue than the tradition of respect at Easter and probably Christmas for those onboard with a faith.

The dress code has changed so much over the years, maybe to a point of a little confusion to newer sailors.?It’s a mishmash of elegant casual and formal optional.?Generally there are three formal nights (optional) although on these nights a jacket for men in the dining room is essential – there is the Captains’ Welcome , the Seabourn Club night often referred to as Chef’s Table and then the Captain’s Farewell night.?The elegant casual means and it should , no shorts in the dining room and no day jeans – night nice jeans are acceptable and of course by day, resort wear , shorts, T’s , polo’s etc.

Part of hosting is the responsibility to head to Trivia, to form or be part of a team to interact with the guests, - we had a great team and lots of fun but Seabourn need to modernise it’s approach to the points system like other Luxury Cruise products do., - the per game of team trivia and junky prizes doesn’t cut it with many onboard ., this is a big event, we had 13 teams of 10 – each and every day participating .

Yes there are some little touches missing post Covid, like all shipping lines we’ve experienced since mid 2022 there is cost or time cuts but they are ‘first world’ problems because we couldn’t be cared for more?and their motto ‘This is your Moment’ is very accurate.

?Like:

?????????????No welcome drink on arrival

?????????????No choice of soap amenity by the welcoming steward/stewardess

?????????????No fruit daily replenished in a fruit bowl in the stateroom

?????????????No fresh flowers per suite (other than the obligatory orchard stem)

?????????????No caviar around the ship, on rare occasions, (not even on Chef’s Dinner/Club night)

?????????????No personalised stationery, and you have to ask for a pen

?????????????Bathroom towels are getting smaller or the cruise passengers larger (ha ha)

?????????????Poorly stocked boutique, only real focus high end jewellery/watches ($50000 necklace!)

?????????????No cruise line brochures to pour ?over in the suites to plan the next adventure

And ?????going ashore larger groups, cramming 6 into a 4WD when once it would be no more than 4

Overall a great 18 days ,

now off to the next adventure, -?

23 Apr 23 , Robyn Sinfield, Home Travel Co