Cruising Is Back! Seabourn Odyssey Cruise Review

November 2, 2021

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Luxury Travel Advisor & Founder of Passport To Friday. Follow along on my travels and let me help you plan your dream trip or honeymoon!

I'm Chelsea.

Cruising is back, baby!

If you follow me on Instagram, you probably know by now that I went on an EPIC Seabourn cruise on the Seabourn Odyssey last month. I hadn’t been on a cruise ship in a few years and I certainly had never been on a ship as luxurious as a Seabourn cruise, so I really did not know what to expect. Well to put it lightly, I was BLOWN away! Keep reading below to see all about our trip and contact me to plan your own…

OVERALL EXPERIENCE & SERVICE

To the say the Seabourn service blew us away is an understatement. Each staff member we encountered was beyond friendly & personable, and I think what set the experience on Seabourn apart from any other cruise I have done in the past is that you actually get to know the staff. The staff is invited to nightly events, and they also can invite you to dinner so that you really get to know them on a more personal level. In terms of being on the ship as well, the intuitive service and attention to detail was unmatched.

For example one day while laying out on the sun deck while we were docked at a port, I stood up to take a photo and my hat blew away off of the ship. The Seabourn team sprung into action and immediately had numerous staff members on the ground working to retrieve the hat from the sea. 10 minutes later, our favorite Nelson (who was our best friend serving us the best drinks by the pool) was returning my hat to me!

Another great example of the personalized service that we received was when we arrived for breakfast and were told that a special breakfast had been prepared for us. We were confused as to what that meant until they presented us with lobster benedict which was not on the menu. We had commented the night before at dinner that we loved lobster. So, they decided to make us a special breakfast!

OUR SUITE

We stayed in a Veranda Suite which was MUCH bigger than I thought it would be. As I was traveling with my mom, we had the beds made into twins (otherwise it would be a Queen sized bed), but we also had a couch area, table, and a large bathroom with a separate shower and bath tub space.

Within minutes of entering our suite, we were greeted by our suite staff with a glass of champagne. What a great way to begin our adventure! Our suite was also outfitted with a bottle each of red and white wine, beer, water, and sodas.

One thing we loved to do in our suite as well was order room service to enjoy on our veranda. Breakfast in the morning and caviar & champagne before dinner… yes please!

DINING

If I had to pick a favorite part about the cruise, the food & beverage would honestly be at the top of the list. I was SO impressed by each & every meal we had and also by the amount of choice we had for being a small ship (we had some nights where we wanted to have two dinners just to fit everything we wanted in!)

One of the big conveniences of sailing on Seabourn is that it is an all-inclusive cruise which means that there are no extra charges (except for the spa, excursions and premium drinks). We never had to present our room card or sign for anything. We just walked up to the bar, ordered a drink, and it was handed to us. Tips are also included making it really convenient.

I can’t start my day without my morning coffee and the café was my favorite place to start the day. The Seabourn app allows you to preorder your coffee so when you walk down to the café, it’s waiting for you. Any type of coffee can be made, and they made the perfect almond milk flat white!

It was difficult to decide where to dine each evening – all 4 restaurants were unique in their own way and offered amazing cuisine and exceptional service.
The Restaurant is the main dining room and served a traditional menu with multiple choices for appetizers, main course, and of course, decadent desserts! The menu changed each evening and we enjoyed a variety of delicious options. My favorite night there was the Chef’s Tasting menu night!

One of the biggest benefits of being on Seabourn is that you get to experience The Grill by Thomas Keller. I can honestly say this was one of the best meals I have EVER have. From the tableside Caesar salad to the lobster thermidor to the most incredible Wagyu filet — what an incredible meal.

ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

The programming on Seabourn was robust with activities throughout the day and evening. During the day you could choose from different wellness classes (more on that below!), afternoon tea, some games, etc. and at night there was an abundance of entertainment & performances.

Every evening there was a cocktail party on different areas of the ship. The captain and his staff were available to speak with and really added to the ‘personal touch’ that I heard so much about before this cruise. We had numerous opportunities to speak with the senior staff and we learned so much about their lives and careers in the cruise industry.

We actually dined with most of the performers on various evenings, and it was so cool to hear about their stories as well and then see them perform each evening. It really made the whole experience so much more personal!

WELLNESS

We attended a few wellness classes that were offered each morning & afternoon. My favorite was the sound bath class — so relaxing! I also loved to workout in the gym each morning which was equipped with everything you could need.

The spa onboard is an Elemis spa, so obviously we indulged! I had an amazing Superfood Facial as well as a Seaweed Detoxifying Wrap & Massage!

 

Safe travels y’all!

Chelsea Rose Martin

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Hi, I'm Chelsea Martin, Luxury Travel Advisor & Founder of Passport To Friday. I've been planning bespoke luxury vacations and honeymoons for almost a decade now. I can't wait to help you plan the trip of a lifetime! 

A true Cancer, hotel-slipper-obsessed gal whose IG Explore page is full of dogs.

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California bred, NYC based, always en route
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