Berlitz 2010 Scores: Seabourn is the World's Best Cruise Line

Douglas Ward annually publishes his Berlitz ‘Complete Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships’. In the about to be released 2010 edition (the 25th edition) he ranks every Seabourn ship in its uppermost echelon.

Mr. Ward bases his review on a plethora of items with each weighted as he deems appropriate: Cabin storage; amenities; service; food quality; ship facilities; decor; etc. If you read Mr. Ward's reviews of virtually every cruise ship out there, you will find that he has some definite likes and dislikes and standards which may or may not be the same as yours. For example, comment is regularly made on the cheese selections which for most would not be sufficiently high on the one's rating radar to mention it when going to press. (I happen to love cheese, so I enjoy his comments, but I am fascinated that he tends not to mention whether a proper cup of tea can be obtained.)

Some refer to the annual review as a "bible". I think that is a bit of an overstatement. It can be a valuable resource, however. The information and ratings, even with Mr. Ward's personal preferences, are about as objective as anything out there. No ballot stuffing. No kissing up to a particular cruise line. So what you have is one man's measuring of how each ship matches up with his ideal cruise ship. As I said, it isn't perfect, but when trying to objectively find information about a particular ship and comparing one ship to another I don't think there is a better single source out there.

It is reported that for 2010 the Seabourn Odyssey was the top Seabourn ship with a total of 1,787 points out of a possible 2,000 (second in the ratings only to his longtime favorite Hapag Lloyd’s Europa ). Following very closely behind are the Seabourn Legend which scored 1,779, the Seabourn Spirit at 1,700 and the Seabourn Pride with 1,769.

You will note that the Seabourn Odyssey did not rate that much higher than the Seabourn triplets...(or is that the triplets did not rate that much lower than the Seabourn Odyssey?). That is, I mentioned, a function of what Mr. Ward places emphasis on. You will also note that the Seabourn Legend rated slightly higher than its two virtually identical sisters. (Interesting as the Legend has only one lavatory sink in each suite, while the Pride and Spirit have two. Possibly there was an incredible meal, a special wine or better cheese to bump up the Legend's rating?)

Overall that indicates there is - as there should be - a great consistency among and between each of the four ships. And, of course, that Seabourn has the top fleet of luxury cruise ships...from cuisine to service...out there.

Silversea Silver Spirit - A Short Video, Some Details and Some Thoughts

Ralph Grizzle, the Avid Cruiser, has created a short video of the new Silver Spirit as she is on her sea trials. I thought it might be of interest to you:



For those of you panicked that the ship will not be finished in time, know that the shipyard has a history of completing on time or early and that much of what needs to be installed is waiting in warehouses. Much gets done to make the ship look "done"; especially in the final weeks (not months). The soft goods are up to Silversea and I have previously reported on same.

I am holding out before commenting on the interiors any further. I am not seeing anything that makes me terribly excited so far. For example, the pool area is actually quite ordinary. (I haven't seen stacking three whirlpools so close together before, so maybe there is a concept there that hasn't been explained or developed, but that is about it for something of note that I see.)

Similarly, the spa is reported to be a mere 6,000+ square feet. That seems quite small when considering it is to service 540 luxury guests. By comparison the new Seabourn Odyssey's spa is 11,400 square feet and services about 20% fewer guests (450).

Most importantly to me, the essence of luxury cruising is the staff and crew. Other than Silversea announcing that every suite will have a butler (though what that butler substantively does in addition to what is normally provided...other than allowing you to see another uniform...hasn't been disclosed), Silversea has not advised how it plans on servicing 25-35% more guests than it does on its other ships or what it is doing to assure the staff on the Silver Spirit is fully trained and won't deplete the top staff on its other ships. (By contrast Seabourn made a big deal of its Seabourn Academy for its new staff...and it has, well and truly, paid off with consistently great service on all of its ships.) Silversea, if there is a program in place to assure great service, please let us know.

Silversea Silver Spirit - Some Discussion of Design

On The Gold Standard Forum there is a bit of discussion about the conclusion by one member of the "press" (Anita Durham-Potter - expertcruiser.com) "From what I've seen -- when finished -- Spirit is a lot prettier and better planned than Seabourn Odyssey."

I have taken issue with that opinion because it is simply a bald statement unsupported by facts or examples. I am not saying it isn't true, but that I think the public is entitled to something more than hype or conclusions. This lead me to the following forum post which I want to share, with slight modification:

Noting that it is extraordinary for a cruise line to give the "press" access to sea trials and to allow them to photograph the various public spaces, a "red flag" most certainly has been hoisted. My question is "Why?" It is, alas, a question based upon a long history and many experiences where unfinished work (Anita Durham-Potter says 65%) does not accurately reflect the finished product (good or bad). Soft goods are very important.


Also, my concerns over everything being brown apparently are well-placed. Unless there are extraordinary soft goods, fabrics, and furniture this could be a real issue. Again the question is "Why?" A lack of contrasts and compliments tends to reflect immature (simplistic) interior design or a "offend no one" approach. Maybe some people will like it. But a monolithic approach to color usually is a warning that things are lacking in spatial design as well.

Most importantly, I don't need anyone "telling" me there is good design. I need someone to "show" me or "explain" it to me. Anita Durham-Potter has discussed suite amenities, but nothing of substance. (And, BTW, a butler cleaning my glasses? "Pretentious" is not a strong enough word to describe it. I do not think, even in the superyacht industry, asking a person to wipe anything personal to me is appropriate...for the person or myself.)

Now, as to substance, I can talk a bit about BAD design as I see it. I have taken one of Anita's photos to explain.

- The shower is small and I have concern for any larger and less mobile guests. Shaving legs??? And with the showerhead on the back wall, it means you are blessed with staring at the wall rather than having any feeling of openness. (Seabourn Odyssey, just as an example, has the showerhead on a side wall, so you can look out of the shower and feel a bit more open. Note: I have commented on its showers being a bit tight, too.)

- The storage shelves are too far from the vanity and look sufficiently close to the shower door to create a possible problem with being hit upon entry/exit and/or a drying towel knocking things off of them.

- The oversized vessel sinks are nice, but there is no real estate for toiletries.

- The faucets are quite utilitarian.

In another photo it looks like the access to the bathroom will be quite narrow as it conflicts with the bed. (As there are only two cots present and the one closest to the bathroom is sans mattress I must withhold judgment, but express my concern.)

I don't want to be seen as bashing the Silver Spirit, which is not yet complete, but I have an excellent source who is very critical of the furniture, fabrics and fittings, and the photos tell me a lot. Maybe that is why I am called "Iamboatman"...because it is more than being about "the cruise" and "selling it" to me.

Seabourn paid my way to go on the Inaugural of the Seabourn Odyssey, but I called it as I saw it...and Seabourn knew I would and I did. The fact that I was very impressed is not hype, I gave very detailed reasons why. I did the same as to the Celebrity Solstice/Celebrity Equinox. All I ask is that those that have access to the Silversea Silver Spirit give facts not hype.

Now, the reality of it is that "brown" is not going to horrifically offend and may well not be boring in the end and the bathroom is not going to make or break a ship or a cruise. Further, until the ship is further along, the ultimate overall design cannot be fully evaluated. My comments are not intended to "bash" the ship or Silversea, but rather to show how unsubstantiated comments are so easily dismissed or discounted.

Also, please keep in mind that I firmly believe the real "software" - the staff and crew - make the most difference and are the most critical factor when evaluating a ship. Cuisine is important too. That is why I am very much looking forward to my cruise on the Seabourn Spirit. If not for those things, it probably would be seen as nothing more than an older ship that is past its design prime.

So I will continue to provide facts, information and opinion on the Silver Spirit and I will not allow my ultimate desire for a having more luxury products to sell cause me to encourage you to book a particular ship because of some short term benefit to me...or even just wishful thinking.

In the meantime, best of luck bringing the Silversea Silver Spirit to market as a first class luxury cruise ship!

Seabourn Odyssey - Time Lapse Construction Video

Seabourn has released an interesting time lapse video of the construction of the Seabourn Odyssey.  Enjoy!

Which is the Best Luxury Cruise Line - Another View

I guess I asked for this.

I pointed a number of my readers to Ralph Grizzle's Avid Cruiser website as I posted his short video on Seabourn Odyssey's cuisine. So today I read Ralph's post about which is the best luxury cruise line. He mentions Seabourn, Silversea, Regent Seven Seas, Crystal and SeaDream Yacht Club. His choice: SeaDream, but not because of the totality of the product, but some very specific personal likes (sleeping under the stars, small demand at the marina, etc.)

This is where the difference between analysis, providing info and personal preferences can really create issues for those relying on what one writes or says. (I actually had one client contact Ralph about the marina on Odyssey and then seek advice from me...which is great by the way...as a result of his personal bias - said in a nice way.)

As most of you know, I believe SeaDream is a very good product...in fact, one of the best. However, you really have to want to be on SeaDream or you will be sorely disappointed. It has cabins; not suites and their are no balconies of any sort. It is a fairly casual affair. It is small, so if you do not like your shipmates you can be in for a long cruise. (But also is why the ships are great for large families and charters). They are not fun in even slightly rough seas and rainy days are not filled with activities and venues for private escapes. Also, itineraries need to be considered. These ships are, by nature, limited in ports and duration. However, the cuisine is very good and the service is strong.

But you need to ask yourself a single question before you get into your analysis: Do I need a suite? With so many luxury cruisers answering that questions in the affirmative it is no wonder that such a strong product has so many sailing with availability. That is not a criticism, but a reality check. Balinese beds and a marina are great, but defining the best luxury cruise line by them is - for a competent travel agent - a worry.

I have heard such divergent views on Regent Seven Seas (It was fantastic vs. It was terrible. The service was outstanding vs. The service was horrific., The food was marginal vs. The food is was great., etc. many times from the same cruise) that my approach has to be one of caution. Regent has taken the approach of keeping its prices higher, but adding what it has determined is value (ex. inclusive tours). If those tours are not attracting the true luxury guest, then it is a negative in two respects: Lack of justification for the higher prices (since the other luxury lines have slashed prices) and attraction of one-off non-luxury passengers who are attracted to the perceived added value. With excellent suites, newly renovated public areas and 700+ guests when sailing full, it is in a way the antithesis of SeaDream which has consistent raves from its small ship guests.

It has been mentioned that Silversea pours three different complimentary champagne while Regent pours none and Seabourn pours one. Seabourn continues to serve complimentary caviar. Would either cause me to declare Seabourn or Silversea the luxury champion? Me thinks not.

What I have heard from quite a number of guests returning from the Seabourn Odyssey is that she is the best of both worlds: highly personalized cruising with plenty of private space coupled with extraordinary service and cuisine. There have been grumblings of some minor misses on the triplets from a few people (but they were minor grumblings), but then I received an email from someone just back from the Seabourn Pride stating, "Trip was sooooooooooo over the top........I cannot begin to describe right now. We put the deposit down on a trip for next year." So the question becomes: Does size make a difference? Is the luxury experience on the Seabourn Odyssey better than the one on the Seabourn Pride? Are these two different luxury cruise lines or one luxury cruise line with different offerings?

SeaDream vs. Seabourn Pride vs. Seabourn Odyssey vs. Regent Voyager = 100 vs. 208 vs. 450 vs. 700+ (I use the "+" because Regent actively markets itself for children and, as such, the capacity - at least in the summer and holidays - can well exceed the published lower berth capacities).

So what is the best luxury cruise line? Tell me what your desires are. Tell me what your likes and dislikes are? Let me know what makes you happy. Only after I have that information can I tell you what the best luxury cruise line is...for you.

Are you looking for my opinion for me personally? It depends. You say, "What?". Yes, it depends.

If traveling with only my wife I would choose Seabourn without hesitation. Seabourn has greatly improved and unique itineraries and consistently high service and cuisine. Don't get me wrong, I do love the Seabourn Odyssey, but I would not exclude the triplets as the ship itself is not as important to me (for they all have more than acceptable faciliites for me.)

If I am traveling with my wife and children (ages 10 and 13) I would have said Regent Seven Seas...right up until I cruised on the Celebrity Solstice. (I don't think Seabourn is great for MY kids...though others disagree.) In two weeks I am cruising on the brand new Celebrity Equinox for 13 nights in two Concierge Class cabins. I have five evenings reserved in the specialty restaurants to start with. At less than $165.00 a day, adding a few dollars for specialty dining and having to sign for drinks and water doesn't really degrade the possibility of a luxury experience (as I sign at land-based restaurants and private clubs all the time.) I mean, Regent is marketing value to support its higher prices, right? And higher prices do not mean higher quality to an educated consumer, right? So right now I would say, "I don't know, but there are some good options." In the meantime I would say Regent may be the best of the "marketed as luxury lines" if they get their capacity in line with their ability, but I would look very hard at Celebrity.

So which is the best luxury cruise line...for you?

Seabourn Cuisine - Seeing Is Believing

You know I consistently rave about the quality of Seabourn's cuisine and have found it to be of even higher quality on the Seabourn Odyssey.

While I was onboard the Odyssey I had the opportunity to chat with Charley Palmer about the new and enhanced menus, his galley setups and his philosophies.  H explained that with the truly purpose build galleys on the Odyssey he has much more latitude both in the menu possibilities and in the ease of the chefs and cooks providing the cuisine at a consistently high quality.

The triplets are, of course, much older ships and the galleys were, before modification, much older in equipment and design...and created with a philosophy of cuisine that has changed dramatically since the 1970s.  As the present cuisine proves, it not to say that the triplets suffer from a lesser quality cuisine, but rather the chefs and cooks have a greater challenge in preparing that high quality product.

As far as quality control, there is not a cruise line that performs at a higher level.  There is another blogger/author, Ralph Grizzle, who maintains the Avid Cruiser website.  He provides some nice photos, and limited commentary, on the various cruise lines.  Presently he is on the Seabourn Odyssey and posted on YouTube a great video of Seabourn (actually Executive Graeme Cockburn) going thought one of his daily reviews of the evening's offerings to assure the highest of quality.  Hopefully without offending the Avid Cruiser I am providing it here rather than merely a link to his site:



You know when the cruise line and chef allows you to truly see what is going on in the galley and to allow the critiquing to be videoed it is very confident not only of the product, but its production.  That is not hype of "Six Star Luxury" or gourmet cuisine.  It is, in fact, pride and a desire to show it off...with confidence.

That confidence translates to your cruise.  You can, with confidence, enter into any dining venue on a Seabourn ship knowing you will be receiving truly exceptional cuisine...brochures and emails be damned!

Bon Appetit!

Regent Seven Seas v. Seabourn: Philosophy, Pricing and Practice

Frank Del Rio, President and CEO of Prestige Cruise Holdings, owner of Regent Seven Seas, recently was interviewed by Travel Weekly Magazine. The article was about sales and marketing of Oceania and, to a much lesser extent, Regent.

There was an interesting exchange:

Q: With Regent, you chose to include shore excursions rather than lower prices. Did that stimulate sales?

A: Like nothing you've seen. It's one of the reasons why our business is stronger than most right now. This industry is one of lemmings. There is too much copying going on. Everyone lowers prices to stimulate sales. It works, but it hurts the travel agents. Every week I hear that half a dozen agencies are going out of business. We said, we don't want to hurt travel agents, and knocking $60 off our cruise won't motivate a sale the way it might at [a mass-market line]. Including shore excursions makes them commissionable.

I recently spoke with Mr. Del Rio at an Oceania event and let him know that I was not fond of the inclusive shore excursions. He questioned me as to why and I told him because it is not a luxury amenity. I explained that in the luxury market most people do not take cruise ship tours, but rather private tours. So, to my way of thinking, the inclusion not only doesn't add real value, it brings in a way of cruising that while positive for the cruise line's immediate bottom line is not necessarily so for the overall luxury cruise experience. (I offer complimentary Ensemble Travel tours on many of the cruises I book for clients. As a new alternative, I am able to offer a $150 per person onboard credit if they don't want to take the tours. This came about for the very same reason: Luxury clients tend not to take the group tours.)

There have been some recent articles on the internet about dissatisfaction on the Regent Voyager due to cutbacks in food quality (I struggle with the quality of the product, it may be the preparation or menu descriptions/marketing) and service. The issues with Regent Mariner being literally overrun with children with 125+ on its Alaska sailings may look positive to Regent's immediate bottom line, the negatives of poor service, an overwhelmed dining room, crowds and a very non-luxury experience...even at embarkation. (I will leave the Regent Navigator out of the mix...anxiously awaiting the major refit upcoming in January!)

Seabourn, on the other hand, has taken the approach which Mr. Del Rio has criticized: Seriously cutting its prices. I, too, believe that is the wrong thing to do as far as long term benefit. However, that is where we part company. As anyone who as recently been on Seabourn, including the new Seabourn Odyssey, will tell you, the service and cuisine is as good - or in the case of the Odyssey: better - than it was before the cut rate pricing.

The result I am seeing the most of is clients who were booked for 2 or 3 weeks in 2010 not looking to benefit from the reduced pricing, but rather to extend their cruise to 3 or 4 weeks for the same, or in some instances, less money. Yes, there are those that have never tried Seabourn that are coming onboard, but it is not with an expectation of anything other than it being more of a "privilege" than a "bargain"...event though the bargain has drawn them in.

So, if you believe getting more stuff equals more "value", Regent may be the way to go. However, if you are looking for more "value" in a true luxury experience, there is no question that Seabourn consistently provides that.

And if you still want some included tours...you never know, I just might be able to provide that for you as well.

The Sojourn of the Seabourn Odyssey Pre-Inaugural Cruise - The Upper Suite Details

OK, now its time to see what the top shelf Seabourn suites are like on the Seabourn Odyssey.  There are basically four different suites:  Penthouse, Owner's, Signature and Wintergarden.  They are, quite refreshingly, unique, modern, very well thought out and not filled with gimmicks...though if you look you can find one or two.

Penthouse Suite - The really unique thing about these suites is the etched glass enclosure which separates the bedroom from the living room.  It gives a great sense of space while dividing it...which seems counter-intuitive...but works.

The Owner's Suites are located forward, overlooking the bow with a nice wraparound deck:

The Signature Suite is really a slightly larger Owner's Suite:

The Signature Suite can be combined with the adjoining Veranda Suite to create two bedroom Grand Signature Suite;

My favorite suite is the Wintergarden Suite, located midship on Deck 7.  It combines great living space with a funky bathroom, a glassed-in wintergarden and nice outdoor deck space in a wonderfully convenient location:

The Wintergarden Suite can also be combined with the adjoining somewhat unique Veranda Suite to create a Grand Wintergarden Suite.  As of now that suite cannot be booked independent of the Wintergarden Suite:

I have many more photos, but this should give you enough of the suite details to whet your appetite.

The Sojourn of the Seabourn Odyssey Pre-Inaugural Cruise - Exterior Spaces...Lots of Them!

One of the concerns for those who have not been on the Seabourn Odyssey is whether the ship will be crowded with double the a guests who enjoy the triplets.  It is bit ironic because with the Seabourn Odyssey being about three times the size of the Seabourn Pride, Legend and Spirit, there not only is more space, there are many innovative spaces.

Starting on the bow is the favorite "Secret" Whirlpool (an improved version over the triplets).  There are lounges surrounding the whirlpool as well.

Up high, overlooking the bow, is the Sun Terrace.  It is wonderful space that, surprisingly, is fairly sheltered from the wind.  A perfect place to supervise the Seabourn Odyssey's navigation.  I do not know if it will be available for use in the evenings, but I could definitely see taking a whiskey (and a cigar?) after dinner and staring at the stars.

Moving aft is The Retreat, a sheltered area with nice lounge seating, shuffleboard and...two Putting Greens:

As you walk aft there is a smaller area above the Sky Bar with comfortable seating and a couple of tables and chairs.  I will not discuss, again, the Sky Bar, Patio Bar, Patio Grill or Main Pool area, though you have to by now understand that crowds are not something to be concerned about.  Seabourn has well and truly designed the Odyssey to have many comfortable, smaller, areas.

One of my favorite areas - if not a bit unusual - is the Second Pool which is behind The Club lounge.

This is the view from the Colonnade on Deck 8 looking down on the Seabourn Square's small outside deck on Deck 7 (sneaked that in on you, didn't I...'err, I mean, Seabourn) and the Second Pool area on Deck 5 outside The Club (which clearly is quite private save the few lounges on the arched area). 

Personally, I think there not only is a remarkable amount of deck space, but a unique mix of wonderful spaces that provide a multitude of opportunities to sun, relax, play, eat, drink or socialize.

The Sojourn of the Seabourn Odyssey Pre-Inaugural Cruise - Fitness Center

I can't really tell you much about the Fitness Center other than it has lots of flashy equipment that, err'..ummm...due to my bad back (yeah, that it) I was unable to try out.  What I can tell you is that Seabourn has invested heavily to make sure it has some of the best equipment as sea.  (FYI, there is no designated jogging track onboard, but I believe you should be able to make due early in the morning...if the treadmills are not sufficient.)

The Kenisis Wall

The Thai Massage Area

The Sojourn of the Seabourn Odyssey Pre-Inaugural Cruise - The Pool Deck and Sky Bar

I was very impressed with the design of the Patio Bar, Patio Grill and Sky Bar, both visually and operationally.

The Patio Grill is to the left, the Patio Bar is to the right and the Sky Bar is centered one deck up and centered between the two.

The Patio Grill:

The Patio Bar:

The Sky Bar:

The Pool and Whirlpools:

The Pool Deck furniture: