Seabourn Encore Cruise Ship Review
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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.
How much does it cost to go on Seabourn Sojourn?
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.
Seabourn Ovation Review
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
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.
Upcoming Seabourn Cruises: 2024 Prices, Itineraries + Activities on Cruise Critic - Cruise Critic
Upcoming Seabourn Cruises: 2024 Prices, Itineraries + Activities on Cruise Critic.
Posted: Mon, 23 Oct 2023 14:30:45 GMT [source]
Sails To
(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.
Where does Seabourn Sojourn sail to?
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.
Where does Seabourn Ovation sail from?
If you want to savor an expedition sail delivering adventure with high-end indulgence, uber-pampering and cushy accommodations, you’ll find Seabourn Venture a worthy choice. If you’re already a Seabourn fan, you’ll particularly appreciate the amenities so similar to the line’s ocean liners. Note that twin Seabourn Pursuit launches in September 2023, meaning even more itineraries to choose from. Gratuities are included on Seabourn and are not expected, although you might tip if, for example, you're in a suite and ask your butler to arrange a private cocktail party.
Fellow Passengers
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.
Find a Seabourn Sojourn Cruise from $2,424
The two are each one deck and 150 passengers larger than the line's older and beloved trio of ships. This Lima-to-Santiago route was more of a repositioning cruise than an adventuresome one. Unfortunately, we hit some unexpected permit issues and rougher seas that didn’t allow us to enjoy the expected Zodiac and kayak explorations.
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.
I didn’t notice attire censoring in the Restaurant on formal nights; many cruisers sailed by in dressier slacks, with men wearing sport jackets. Formal nights, which are celebrated only in The Restaurant, occur once on cruises up to 13 days, twice on cruises of 14 to 20 days and three times on cruises of 21 or more days. All other venues aside from The Restaurant maintain elegant casual dress codes on formal nights. Seabourn's formalwear requirements include a tuxedo, suit or slacks and a jacket for men and an evening gown or other formal apparel for women.
The underwater hull was painted with an ultra-low-friction coating system, which also reduces energy consumption by up to 10 percent. Also, the ship uses dynamic positioning in many cases versus anchoring and disturbing the ocean. Some passengers raved about their facials and I actually saw (and envied) their clearly glowing skin. I tried a 75-minute deep-tissue massage; my masseur may have been slight but he had hands of steel. There was an ocean-view sauna in both the men’s and women’s changing rooms.
Seabourn's dress code is slightly more relaxed than other luxury cruise lines. During the day, passengers wear casual, resort-style attire (shorts and jeans are allowed) throughout the ship, including in the lounges. Swimwear, cover-ups and exercise attire are reserved for the pool area, outside decks, spa and fitness center. Seabourn Venture launched in July 2022 with 122 all-veranda oceanfront suites (some are two-story) and a PC6 Polar Class-rated hunter-green hull. It’s one of the prettiest expedition ships I’ve seen, evoking a sleek adventuresome yacht.
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.
Perhaps what lingers most in my mind was the expedition team’s passion. I was skeptical before boarding with expedition cruising’s explosion of popularity, and wondering how challenging it must be for so many lines to find qualified personnel. My fears were assuaged by the knowledge and heart of the onboard team. They were eager to share information, not just in lectures or on expeditions, but in one-on-one meetups. Also, not all passengers loved the cruise formal nights; some grumbled that they made little sense on expeditions. To avoid dressier attire, you can dine more casually in the Colonnade, Club or via room service.
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