Jump to content

Tell me about seabourn


Erikamac
 Share

Recommended Posts

Only cruised Azamara and celebrity looking at seabourn but the website about is a little cryptic IMO. WHY seabourn are most of the room suites? What's included, what do you have to purchase or pay for? Beverages, food, Internet, excursions?

Edited by Erikamac
Added content
Link to comment
Share on other sites

All food is included, as are all drinks, even high end liquors - the wines with a fair amount of choice, are in the $6 to $10 I would estimate, so not fine wines, and all tips. No one ever asks or suggests that you need to give them an extra tip.

 

Excursions and internet are extras, as are flights and transfers.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Erica if you take a look at the azamara board there are recent comparisons from people who have sailed both lines, which will help you. Primarily, you will find a big difference in the detail on SB as you are looking at Az a premium line and SB a luxury line. Attention to detail, food quality and service are the key differentiators for me.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

277 sq. ft was the size on the old triplets which are no longer with Seabourn. The square footage of the new ships is 295 st. ft plus about 65 sq ft for the verandah. This is for the basic suite which compromises the majority of suites on board.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you want a huge suite you can choose the Wintergarden, Owner's, or Signature suite. SB offers a couple of extra amenities for guests booked in those suites. On shorter cruises, less than 20 days for example, I'm happy with the 'standard' suite. There's plenty of storage space, walk in closet and so on.

 

The room layout, ie a floor plan, is on the SB website, it has a floor plan for every suite category.

 

You can spend as much or as little as you want once onboard. If you prefer fine wines to the included ones, you can purchase them separately.

 

All food is included, at this time none of the restaurants have an additional charge, room service is included too at no extra charge. If you like caviar you can have it.

 

While it's nice to not have to worry about who is picking up the bill after a couple of rounds of drinks with new friends, IMO the best things about Seabourn are the wonderful crew, the small ships, the other guests who are usually sociable and well travelled, and just the general onboard ambience. And no lines.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Only cruised Azamara and celebrity looking at seabourn but the website about is a little cryptic IMO. WHY seabourn are most of the room suites? What's included, what do you have to purchase or pay for? Beverages, food, Internet, excursions?

 

 

The included wines are pretty drinkable compared to other lines we have sailed. We never felt the need to purchase wines or any other alcohol from them premium list. However. If you really like drinking a bottle of the $&0-100 variety, you will need to purchase separately.

Edited by notjaded
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have often said that to use the term 'suite' for all the rooms on Seabourn is a bit of a misnomer, IMO a suite is at least two rooms. However, all the 'suites', whether with a window or balcony, on the current three ships, are a 295 sq. ft. room, essentially with two ends, sleeping and living, plus a walk in wardrobe and bathroom with bath and separate shower. As said above, there are also genuine suites if you are prepared to pay more. We find the regular 'suites' perfectly adequate in size.

 

Why not try to get hold of a printed brochure, which would give you plans to do easy comparisons with, as well as pics. of the ships and all the cruises?

 

I will just add that although the included wines are not 'fine', we too find them quite drinkable and do not pay more for better ones.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Having Cruised on Azamara qnd Celebrity, each Cruise Line has it's own level , and Seabourn is a very special.

There is nothing to doubt. Cabins are luxurious from Ocean View upwards as is the comfort of the entire ship.

Service, food, wine etc in a catergory superior to Azamara. Staff and crew mske your holiday all you could expect. Seabourn is clear that your purchased Cruise is all inclusive and states this. You will be delighted at the detail, quality and friendly ambiance .In fact the whole experience is wonderful.

Look a bit deeper into the website it is all there nothing hidden. I have also found our local Seabourn office to be most helpful and informative as our CC friends.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have just been having a little read of CC posters' views on two other 'luxury' lines, and it strikes me forcibly that by and large the CC posters on Seabourn seem rather more civilised; less of the ranting and complaining, and certainly less of the ridiculous cheerleading than is found elsewhere.

 

If good manners and civilised behaviour are important to you, I would suggest that you might find Seabourn the pleasantest of these lines to travel with. However, of course it is true that CC posters are a very small minority of those who cruise!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Something you might also consider in regards to the differences. Seabourn will not have the same amount of "entertainment" and activities that you might be accustomed to on ships like Celebrity and Azamara. In the evening there is usually a show or at least a singer or duo in one of the lounges but not the Broadway style entertainment or the multiple venues for entertainment choice you might find in larger, mainstream lines. A trip to the casino or a nightcap in the club is all I really need after dinner so it suits me, but I know others might be bored by the lack of choices. It also is really not a ship set up for children, so take that into consideration if that is a concern.

 

I was (and still am) a fan of Celebrity cruises, but once I tried the intimate size and incredibly intuitive service of Seabourn I find it hard to imagine I will ever go back, but you should gather all the information and make an informed decision.

 

Good luck to you. I honestly think if you try Seabourn you will love it.

Edited by chefchick
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have an Azamara cruise booked for this NYE and have been researching the differences to my previous Seabourn experiences. Here is what I can surmise from scouring brochures and Cruise Critic.

 

The standard "room" on Seabourn blows Azamara out the water. Azamara's lowest entry room is an interior stateroom. Let's assume we are comparing entry level balcony rooms to balcony rooms. As best I can tell (based on layout and square feet) the balcony rooms on Azamara are comparable to the balcony rooms on mainstream lines on NCL. The bathroom is small space for pretty much one person only. The stand up shower is tiny and there is a single sink. The smallest balcony room on SB has a practically ginormous bathroom. The SB bathroom has a large counter with double vanity sinks. stand up shower and a soaking tubs.

 

The SB closet is a nice sized walkin closet with generous shelves and hanging space. If traveling with a non significant other then it provides a second dressing area. The Azamara closet is just that a closet.

 

SB has a small makeup area with light. The Azamara equivalent is essentially the dining table.

 

The SB room is not a true suite but it does have a second area which can be separated via a thick curtain. The Azamara area looks to just have a small desk and a "couchette" similar to what I have seen on NCL. The SB couch is bigger and the table is definitely larger that two people could dine at such table. I traveled with a friend who frequently got up early and since there was a heavy curtain she could get up and pull the curtain and could piddle around without disturbing me.

 

I haven't fully compared the balcony spaces, but best I can tell the SB space is much bigger and can accommodate two chairs and small table suitable for breakfast for two. The balcony size on Azamara in a standard balcony seems comparable to NCL which could barely hold two chairs, let alone a breakfast table full of food for two.

 

Based on what I have read the staff on SB is a cut above as they pull from the hotel schools of Europe rather than the traditional south east staff of other cruise lines. The staff seems to have a bit more polish. Both line's staff seem eager to please but the SB staff seem to have a flair for the polished touch.

 

 

I haven't read on marked differences in MDR differences, but if traveling in a standard room on Azamara you will have to pay to upgrade to the specialty dining. It is nice that, as of this time, there are no upcharges for any dining on SB. I won't go into the "sky is falling" commentary some folks have about the new addition of Thomas Keller dining options.

 

The daily wine offerings appear more limited on Azamara. While many complain about the SB wine offerings they have a pretty large standard wine offerings and if you find something you like they will gladly bring it to you. We found the Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc to be quite tasty and once they saw where we were seated in various establishments it was gladly opened and offered. It seems that Azamara has a very standard "red" and "white" available each day and there are a bit of hoops to jump through if you don't want what is on offer complimentary.

 

The entertainment seems to be a wash. While there are more people on board an Azamara ship I haven't read about remarkably better entertainment.

 

Azamara seems to segregate guests more. If you pay more you get more services, where SB is much more everyone is special.

 

Azamara tends to focus on their "Azamazing" evenings which allows you more time in port. This factor appeals to the younger demographic. SB does have some overnight ports, but doesn't have many late night published events. SB is big on publishing its marina and "Caviar in the Surf" events. The CITS event is awesome but is only offered in a few very select ports. They do "Caviar in the Pool" on most sailing, but this is a poor substitute for CITS.

 

Azamara has a lower price point at its entry level room (oceanview and standard balcony) which tends to attract a younger demographic who isn't interested at the traditional mainstream.

 

SB offers many longer cruisers and repeat cruisers who are older. I know I am going to get flamed and everyone is going to chime in at how young and youthful they are, but it still doesn't hide that the vast majority of cruisers on SB (typically not on CC) are of the 70+ variety. Not knocking this crowd at all, but if someone is younger it can come as quite a surprise that the demographic skews this way. As a 42 year old I have to recognize that 95% of the people onboard (crew excluded) were not even born in my decade. There has been lots of great conversation and great friendships but sometimes I really would love some folks closer to my demographic.

 

SB has a common area called "Seabourn Square" which is absolutely lovely. I was initially skeptical reading about it, but it really became a major hub of the ship. There was a lovely coffee bar and a lots of casual seating. My favorite spot were the recliners near the aft where I would bring my ipad and read for hours just watching the water.

 

In conclusion SB offers some amazing itineraries and the crew are top notch. I wouldn't hesitate to book them again.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The standard cabin on Royal Caribbean products is about 180 sq ft. With the balcony a standard Seabourn cabin is about 360 sq ft so I think they are justified in calling them suites.

 

Even the premium Aqua and Concierge acommodation is still around the 180 sq ft on Celebrity. When comparing fares on Seabourn you need to use a 300 sq ft cabin / suite on the competition.

 

I still remember walking into the bathroom on our first Seabourn cruise and thinking wow!

 

With Seabourn there is no need for "packages" be they water, wine, soft drinks, alcohol etc. All that is included and offered freely. Forgive the pun but everyone is in the same boat with Seabourn. They all enjoy the relaxed open service in bars and dining areas. Even the concierge service is more relaxed. No more queuing for 15 minutes before being brushed off by some over worked minion. The concierge is located in Seabourn Square with a coffee shop (inclusive) and seating areas. If there's more than 2 people waiting for the 2-4 concierge staff grab a drink and when you do speak to them the answer is yes, what is the question?

 

Food and service is a definite step up from the likes of Celebrity. I rate Mourano on Celebrity very highly but it's a charged for venue. Even the main dining room of Seabourn is good. Yes, there will be odd nights or staff members when the ball is dropped but if you are at all worried a quick chat with senior staff - who are always readily available, will resolve all but the most demanding of requirements.

 

There are some chargeable drinks on board but you need to be thinking Louis XIII cognac, not Jack Daniels. As has been mentioned there is a fairly extensive inclusive wine selection and whilst there will be daily recommended wines you are more than welcome to ask for something else. We often drink the inclusive Louis Latour Chardonnay at dinner and serving staff get to know your preferences very quickly. I bet if I stepped on board for dinner tonight Paul would greet me by name and ask if I wanted it :)

 

Excursions are chargeable. There will often be one inclusive event during the cruise which is worth attending. Entertainment is more Cabaret than West End / Broadway but they punch above their weight and you will have a lot of interaction with the entertainment staff. They move around the ship after their performances making sure everyone is enjoying themselves.

 

Additional entertainment program's include lectures and things like hosted Bridge classes. But your main source of pleasure will come from your fellow guests. The ships are more intimate - but with more space per passenger, so you see people around the ship. It isn't like a mainstream cruise where you strike up a conversation them never see them again until you are getting off.

 

In recent times Seabourn has made significant changes to their fleet. Gone are the 3 smaller ships which whilst appealing to their regulars would appear slightly dated to people used to the majesty of a modern cruise ship. The 3 Odyessy class ships provide all the visual appeal expected of a mainstream cruiser but without the crowds. The 2 new ships will be slit lay larger still. I'll let you know what they are like in December !

 

It's always difficult when looking to try something new. You get conflicting reports from fan boys & girls who won't hear a bad word spoken and you also get regular cruisers who nit pick the most trivial of details.

 

All I can say is we tried Seabourn and haven't looked back. Would we try another line? Yes, we probably would but it would have to be pretty special to equal let alone improve on our Seabourn experience pound for pound / dollar for dollar.

 

Henry :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

There is no such thing as a "perfect" cruise line despite what the cheerleaders would have you think. But for us reasonably experienced all inclusive "luxury" all inclusive cruisers (Crystal, Regent, Seabourn, Silversea) we find that Seabourn ticks most boxes. We especially like the general ambiance and the friendly, approachable, unsnobby people we meet. No cliques. It makes all the difference.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

There is no such thing as a "perfect" cruise line despite what the cheerleaders would have you think. But for us reasonably experienced all inclusive "luxury" all inclusive cruisers (Crystal, Regent, Seabourn, Silversea) we find that Seabourn ticks most boxes. We especially like the general ambiance and the friendly, approachable, unsnobby people we meet. No cliques. It makes all the difference.

 

How right you are. :):):)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The only way to even approach comparing apples to apples with these two lines (and that is really impossible to do) is to understand that in order to get a comparable amount of space on Azamara you must book a Club Continent suite which still comes in at 322 sq. ft as opposed to 365 for a standard suite on Seabourn. Once you book a suite on Azamara the cost will be about the same if not more than Seabourn and you still don't get the same onboard experience. That's not to say Azamara is not good. It is. A Hyatt Regency is a good hotel too, but it's not a Four Seasons.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

How right you are. :):):)

It is sometimes interesting to read the reviews and see the cheerleading vs the reviews and seeing how NOTHING was right. I've been on cruises where the reviews are horrible and I did not have anyway, shape, or form the same experience. There are differences of opinion and certainly, differences in cruise lines, but the good reviews IMO are the ones that do provide a feel for the experience without beating a drum. Having said that, the experience we had on SB was far and above our experiences on some other lines but pretty comparable to SS.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

http://www.seabourn.com/main/Deck-Plans-Full.action?ship=se&deck=5

 

This is a good preview of Suites.

The rest has been said, all with good intention. My limited experience is that Seabourn Cruisers are well travelled, informative and happily share their experiences.

Enjoy your research.

Edited by koalapanda
Link to comment
Share on other sites

We were on Seabourn May 2015, Venice to Athens, loved it! Also, we were on Azamara Journey Buenos Aires to Rio, Dec 2014-Jan 2015, loved it (seeing the fireworks off Copacabana beach was truly a fantastic experience!) We're on Azamara Journey again this Christmas for Singapore, Indonesia, Bali. When on AZ, a Club Continent Suite is the way to go. Both lines feature smallish, intimate ships with quite good food and great service and crew. If you are on AZ in a Club Continent suite, you can eat in the specialty restaurants and also use the thalassotherapy pool and lounge chair area with no upcharge. The AZ specialty restaurants are splendid. We like that AZ stays longer in some ports, whereas Seabourn tends to do the "in at 8:00am, out at 5:00pm" thing. You really miss the local flavor of some places leaving that early. For us, its Seabourn or Azamara. Open dining is key for us, so Crystal, which is also much bigger, is out. Been on Crystal and Silverseas too (and other lines) but not as recently. Lastly, both AZ and Seabourn generally have nice pax, but we found AZ pax much friendlier, and they are a little younger than Seabourn pax, at least on our cruises.

One last note: on our AZ South American cruise, there was this older British lady who took every opportunity to loudly proclaim to everyone within earshot how much better Seabourn did things. "On Seabourn, they do X, on Seabourn Y happens" and on and on. It was very annoying, as the rest of us were having a perfectly lovely time on AZ. Please DON'T be that person! We hadn't been on Seabourn yet at that time. Now we have been, as we are itinerary driven, and choose what works with our schedules, and we very much like both AZ and Seabourn.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We sailed on Az Journey in March this year & Seabourn Odyssey in August this year.

 

The suites are no comparison, we had a verandah suite on both trips, Seabourn wins hands down. The bathroom is about 5x the size and feels almost like a luxury hotel bathroom whereas the Journey's bathroom has the feel of a caravan. The storage is also far better on Seabourn with the walk in closet & the seating area is a real squeeze in the Az cabin, whereas the Seabourn seating area was lovely. The balcony is not hugely bigger but bigger enough to make a difference - I loved the little foot stools and the fact the chair reclines on our Seabourn balcony.

 

Seabourn also easily wins in MDR, we didn't have brilliant food at Easter in the MDR on Az (worse than summer 2015 when we were also on the Journey). The steaks were appalling in particular. We paid extra to eat speciality dining too frequently, but that was excellent. We didn't get to eat in R2 on Seabourn due to the mysterious (to me) booking arrangements which was annoying.

 

Seabourn also wins with drinks IMO, much better drinks service, staff so willing and able to find something just right for your tastes, whereas there's much less choice on Az. On Seabourn, the fabulous drinks waiters would let you taste the wine, then if you weren't keen ask what you would prefer, if you wanted something softer, or oakier, nothing was too much trouble. They'd be ready to offer a dessert wine right on time. My glass was never empty. On Az sometimes you feel you have to beg for a drink and wave down a waiter.

 

We would still happily sail both lines if the price,time & itinerary was right but we definitely felt Seabourn was a step up.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share

  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...