Table Of Content
The Restaurant dinners, like honey-roasted quail, were highlights, with deft chefs cooking intricate repasts with the finest ingredients. Sauces were silken and consommes (love the duck) tasted like the bones were simmering for hours. In the alternative dining venue Colonnade, breakfasts and lunches are buffets with an impressive variety of dishes. Count on a lunchtime carving station, with a chef slicing everything from a giant roast beef haunch to whole suckling pig. Some Colonnade meals were themed, dishing up tastes of the world, such as Indian or Mexican. Afternoon tea was excellent, especially the tender scones and smoked salmon mini-bagels.
How much does it cost to go on Seabourn Ovation?
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.
Find a Seabourn Sojourn Cruise from $2,424
Waiters didn't materialize immediately to take a drink order, and we often found ourselves trying to flag someone down, in either the Colonnade or a bar. Orders were misheard in The Restaurant, hot water for tea came lukewarm multiple times and dress code infractions were handled inconsistently and without empathy. Other passengers grumbled about mishandled anniversaries and difficulties with shoreside arrangements. Three cheers for its desalinated water (which can taste awful on expedition ships), which tastes much like fresh spring H2O. It’s accomplished by reverse osmosis, consuming about 30 percent less energy compared to traditional systems.
THE 16 BEST Seabourn Cruises to New York (Manhattan) (with Prices) on Cruise Critic - Cruise Critic
THE 16 BEST Seabourn Cruises to New York (Manhattan) (with Prices) on Cruise Critic.
Posted: Fri, 27 Oct 2023 11:20:13 GMT [source]
Where does Seabourn Sojourn sail to?
That said, we had still had some amazing experiences, including flying over Peru’s Nazca Lines, exploring the Atacama Desert (the planet’s driest), and visiting a well-preserved former mining town, now a ghost town. We also what was touted as the world’s oldest mummies, about 8,000 years old. This itinerary is not a common one, more like a one-off; it’s really a way to get “in position” for the Antarctic season. I loved the video that the expedition team filmed during our voyage and screened on our final night; what a way to re-live an adventure.
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.
Where does Seabourn Sojourn sail from?
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.
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.
(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.
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.
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.
Seabourn ocean liner fans will recognize Seabourn Square, the popular meeting place with comfy seating, library books, snacks and espresso drinks brewed to order. Both men and women are allowed to wear jeans, as long as they're not distressed, in all venues. On our cruise, we saw the full spectrum of womenswear, from chic outfits with jeans and dressy tops to flowy separates and dresses, both stylish and more casual. Seabourn, a longtime luxury cruise player, garners kudos for all-suite accommodations, attentive passenger service, elegant ship designs, fine dining and many inclusives such as complimentary alcohol and caviar. Cruisers, well-heeled and well-traveled, are primarily Seabourn devotees.
Seabourn is also gay-friendly and there were a number of gay couples on our voyage. It offers an additional dining option, a sushi restaurant first introduced on Encore, as well as a spacious venue for The Grill by Thomas Keller (which feels cramped on the smaller vessels). It also was the first to debut Seabourn's new alfresco dining concept -- Earth & Ocean at The Patio -- as well as the line's new gelato program.
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment