Introduction
Seabourn charges a premium for its cruises, but the package comes with lots of extras, notably all tips and most beverages. There are no surcharges for “specialty” restaurants, and even the internet rates are considerably less than on mainstream cruise lines. So we were primed to evaluate not only just how good the Seabourn experience might be, but also to how the final tab compared with other cruises. Starting at 295 square feet, even the smallest cabins are among the most spacious standard accommodations at sea.
Overview
There are six types of cabins available on Seabourn Sojourn, all of which are called suites. While we might quibble with the use of that term, there’s no questioning that—starting at 295 square feet—they’re larger than conventional cabins on almost all other cruise lines, creating a genuinely comfortable and refined retreat.
That least-expensive option is the Ocean-View Suite (there are no inside cabins on Seabourn Sojourn) and even here you’ll find a generous bathroom with separate shower and full-size tub and a living area that is quite adequate for enjoying an in-room meal at a proper dining table. Ocean-View cabins represent just 10 percent of the cabins onboard Sojourn, while the primary category is the Verandah Suite which we stayed in; these rooms are essentially identical to the Ocean-View category, but add a balcony. Four different categories of (true) suites round out the options.
Our cabin was spacious and elegantly appointed.
Overview
With a bathtub big enough for bathing, a walk-in closet and a living area roomy enough to dine in, the Verandah Suite is a big step up from what we normally cruise in. This type of cabin represents almost three-quarters of the ship’s accommodations and they are mostly located on decks 5 through 8 (three are found on decks 9 and 10). Fittings and finishes are of superior quality, and a floor-to-ceiling window and doorway leads to the balcony. When we arrived, tiny canapés and a full bottle of Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne in an ice bucket were waiting for us. We restrained ourselves till we were sure we had all our notes in order.
Bedroom
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The slightly raised queen-size bed was a goodie—we slept wonderfully on the plush mattress (it was actually two mattresses pushed together, but the split between them was almost unnoticeable). The bed was covered in fine linens and had big fat pillows. Each side of the bed had a lamp plus an adjustable pinpoint reading light—either one provided enough illumination for nighttime reading, but there were also built-in ceiling lights above the pillows, providing additional wattage. A curtain could be pulled that separated the bedroom from the living area.
Bathroom
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For a “standard” cabin our bathroom was excellent, tiled in marble and primped with quality amenities and swank fixtures. There were twin sinks, a makeup mirror, a jar of cotton balls and Q-Tips, and a 120/230-volt outlet.
The bathtub was 56” long and 24” wide—more than adequate for proper bubble baths (it was also 15” deep at the drain). By contrast, the separate shower stall was fairly compact, triangle shaped; it was nonetheless a larger shower than we usually find on cruise ships, and featured a powerful showerhead and a separate hand-held shower device. Towels were thick and fluffy, just like we enjoy at home. A card with Seabourn’s “environmental statement” invited us to help reduce unnecessary laundering by hanging used towels on the railings for re-use—despite doing so, our cabin steward replaced them at least once daily anyway.
Features
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Our verandah measured just over 10 feet in width and 7 feet deep—not exactly large, but more than sufficient for a couple (and adequate for dining al fresco). The two steel mesh chairs were loungers of a sort, with a modest sized metal table. The balcony was sticky with sea spray from the previous journey, an issue that wasn’t addressed until the fifth day of our cruise when all of the ship’s verandahs were sprayed one evening—unfortunately, it was the same evening we were looking forward to a sunset cocktail on the balcony at sail-away.
The walk-in closet offered plenty of storage for us (empty luggage could also be stored under the bed), with sufficient hangers and drawers for our trip. Also found here was a safe, life jackets, plush bathrobes, slippers, a warm wool blanket, sewing kit, shoe polish and umbrella. Other storage areas included a dresser facing the bed and a pair of cabinets opposite each other where the bedroom ended and the living area began. One contained the minibar (all items including bottled water complimentary), a fruit plate that was replenished regularly, and fine stemware; the other had the TV, a world atlas and a compendium of short stories. There was personalized stationery for us, contained in a leather-bound folder.
The TV was a 23-inch LG Flatron (model M237WDP), a unit that provided a good picture, but the tinny, shallow speakers were poor for movie viewing. The couch was good size (the sitting area was 67 inches wide) but it was a bit firm—not the kind of spot we’d stretch out on for a nap. There was a small sitting area outside the bathroom with a large mirror and outlets—a good place for last-minute preparations for dinner. Another outlet was located near the floor next to the cabinet with the TV.
The dining table was amply sized for two to enjoy a full meal, 30.5 x 23.5 inches, with comfy chairs for sitting. In fact, between the couch, chairs and balcony, one could easily host an intimate in-room cocktail party with a couple other guests.
At check-in we were offered our choice of soaps for the sink: Molton Brown, L’Occitane, Hermes. We couldn’t decide between them, but the cabin attendant said, “why don’t I leave one of each and you can try them all?” There were also bottles of Molton Brown shampoo, conditioner, body wash and lotion, and a card offered an “in-suite bathing experience”—five different Molton Brown bubble bath products. Also provided at check-in were two spirits of our choice, from a list that included Bombay Sapphire, Ketel One, Jack Daniels, Frangelico, etc. When these were delivered just after embarkation we were quite surprised they were 1-liter bottles, free for us to nip on when we didn’t feel like dragging ourselves to the bar.
The list of cruise amenities actually began with an envelope received at home a few weeks ahead of our trip: leather nametags and a leather folder for our travel documents. We did not stay in the rest of these cabins, but we have summaries here provided by Seabourn Cruise Line. Note that any photos on this page may be provided directly by the cruise line and not our reviewer.
Ocean-view Suite
All Ocean-view Suites feature a large comfortable living area, queen-size bed or two twin beds, dining table for two, walk-in closet, interactive flat-screen television with music and movies, fully stocked bar and refrigerator, makeup vanity, spacious bathroom with separate tub and shower. Approximately 295 sq. ft.
Penthouse Suite
All Penthouse Suite feature dining table for two to four and separate bedroom. Glass door to veranda, two flat-screen TVs, fully stocked bar, spacious bathroom with tub, shower and large vanity. Approximately 534 sq. ft.
Owner’s Suite
Owner’s Suites feature full length window and glass door to private veranda, dining for four, separate bedroom, guest bath, two flat-screen TVs, pantry with wet bar, convertible sofa for one and whirlpool bath. Complimentary internet/Wi-Fi service. Approximately 760 sq. ft.
Signature Suite
Signature Suites feature expansive ocean views, forward-facing windows, dining for four to six, bathroom with whirlpool bathtub, guest bath, pantry with wet bar, and two flat-screen TVs. Complimentary Internet/Wi-Fi service. Approximately 1352 sq. ft.
Wintergarden Suite
Wintergarden Suites feature large windows with ocean views, dining for six, bathroom with whirlpool bathtub, guest bath, Glass-enclosed solarium with tub and day bed, pantry with wet bar, and two flat-screen TVs. Complimentary Internet/Wi-Fi service. Approximately 1097 sq. ft.
Lots of luxe niceties greeted us.
Overview
We found all the usual goods we expect, but quite a few extras, such as an umbrella, woolen throw, sewing kit, shoe polish, and personalized stationery. There was a stem of orchid blossoms and a small plate of fruit that was replenished as needed. Ahead of our cruise, leather luggage tags and document folder were delivered with our cruise documents.
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The choices for room service meals were diverse, the food excellent, and with a proper dining table in our cabin we couldn’t wait to try this option.
In-Room Dining Overview
A door tag was available to order breakfast the night before, and delivery times offered were 15-minute blocks between 7 and 10 a.m. Menu items mirrored most of what was available at The Restaurant and the Colonnade: A large selection of juices, fresh fruits (including assorted berries), cold cereals, hot cereals, yogurts, various compotes and plates of smoked salmon and cream cheese, assorted cold cuts and cheeses. The hot offerings included various omelets, eggs any style (including eggs Benedict or with salmon), sides of meat, hash browns, corned beef hash or grilled tomato, French toast, pancakes and waffles. All the ship’s breads and pastries were available, along with various spreads.
The 24-hour Room Service menu presented a selection that included such starters as roasted tomato soup, chilled shrimp cocktail and prosciutto and melon with bread sticks and parmesan. Entrée items included Caesar salad with grilled chicken or garlic shrimp, pan sautéed salmon, rosemary roasted chicken breast, grilled New York sirloin, and club sandwich; most of these came with vegetables and fries. Desserts included white and dark chocolate mousse, ice cream, fruit plate, cheese plate or home made cookies.
But wait, there's more: Each evening, that night’s menu from The Restaurant was available, the same hours the venue was open (7 to 9 p.m. on our cruise). This encompassed a list of seven starters and five entrées that changed nightly, plus desserts.
Presentation
Our meals were brought into the cabin on an oversized tray, and the server quickly set up the table, covering it with linen. Large plates were used for most items, covered in plastic lids for delivery. Salt and pepper was in grinders, milk for coffee was in a pitcher, preserves for toast in jars—all fairly classy.
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Food
Breakfasts were delivered right at the requested times, and exactly as ordered. Coffee was hot and strong, the bacon juicy and not too crisp, the omelet was hot, and poached eggs on toast were delicious, the yolks mostly firm but still runny. A fruit plate was ripe and beautifully presented, with a few items we don’t usually see on most cruise ships: blueberries, blackberries and raspberries.
Dinner was a treat, ordered off the menu from The Restaurant one evening when we didn’t feel like dolling up. The time from order (by phone) to knock on the door delivery of the meal took just 21 minutes. As an appetizer we ordered the salad of confit duck and frisee, a scrumptious, light starter with the slivers of duck woven into the greens with nuggets of preserved apricots and pistachios. Our entrée was the pan sautéed port tenderloin, and this too was spot-on: a modest cut of meat, perfectly done with just a hint of pink, served on green apple coulis with braised red cabbage, green beans and roasted potatoes. All in all, a fine repast in the privacy and quiet of our cabin.
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Drinks
Our minibar was pre-stocked with Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Club Soda, Tonic Water and a couple Becks beers in cans—all were restocked as needed. But we were also offered a pair of spirits when we first boarded, 1-liter bottles we never opened. And when we ordered dinner in we were asked what kind of wine we wanted; a full bottle was delivered from the list of complimentary wines.
{{photo_gallery "In-Room Dining Drink Photos"}} There were just four restaurants on board, but we enjoyed them all.
Although Seabourn and its culinary consultant chef Charlie Palmer parted ways in late 2011, we found the food still quite good. For a smaller vessel, Seabourn Sojourn offered fairly diverse dining options, from the intimate and adventurous Restaurant 2 to the casual al fresco Patio Grill. The ship’s main dining room, The Restaurant, was a showy space that most guests dressed up for, but there were no set seating times and reservations weren’t necessary. The Colonnade was more informal, and offered both buffet and à la carte selections, with themed meals most nights. Elegant, modern stemware by Schott was used throughout the ship, even at the Patio Grill (the kind of place most ships would stock with plastic stemware). Seabourn is a member of the gastronomic society Chaîne des Rôtisseurs.
One aspect we particularly appreciated: At all four dining venues there was a sufficient number of two-top tables so that we never had to share with other guests—except when we wanted to.
Just about anything we wanted was available, and most of it was included in the price of the cruise.
Overview
There were four dedicated bars on Seabourn Sojourn, though drinks could also be ordered at the restaurants, and servers would check in on the Grand Salon, the Aft Pool and the Forward Whirlpool. There is a serviceable list of complimentary wines, and most spirits and mixed drinks are complimentary. For the few special wines and spirits that carried a surcharge, no additional service charge was assessed.
Beer & Wine
The selection of complimentary wines available at both the ship’s bars and restaurants encompassed about 30 different options. Seabourn describes this list as “fine wines,” but that’s an exaggeration (wine snob alert: even Beringer white zinfandel found a place on the list). Still, a little prying allowed us to discover a number of good bottles that retail for $15 to $20 at home, along with a number that were unfamiliar. Among the standouts were Santa Margharita pinot grigio, Louis Latour Grand Ardeche chardonnay and the Château Saint Amand sauternes from Bordeaux. The house Champagne was Nicolas Feuillatte brut, though a prosecco was also available. When we got wines we didn’t care for, servers had alternatives close at hand.
For those with more refined wine tastes, the selection was excellent. About a third of the list of more than 100 premium bottles was devoted to France, a quarter to California and the rest was a mix of old and new world options. Many were available in multiple vintages, and among the headier choices were Château Margaux 1-Cru Classe 2000 ($1700), Château Petrus Pomerol 1999 ($2700), Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOC, Bertani 2001 ($162), Opus One 2003/2004 ($240), Penfolds Grange shiraz 2001/2003 ($550), Joseph Phelps Insignia cabernet sauvignon ($250) and Louis Roederer Cristal rosé 2002 ($600).
Those bottles aren’t representative of the whole list. Premium wines started at about $29 for Saint Martin Domaine Laroche Chablis (2009), $32 for Coyam (a biodynamic red from Chile), and $45 for non-vintage Piper-Heidsieck or Perrier-Jouët Grand Brut.
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Mixed Drinks
Seemingly any mixed drink we could name could be crafted by the bartenders. Spirits included all of the top mainstream labels—Tanqueray, Bombay Sapphire, Ketel One, Absolut, Jack Daniel’s, Knob Creek, Johnny Walker (red and black), Mount Gay, etc. At the pool, servers often carried around small pours of frozen drinks for us to try.
All drinks were complimentary except for premium spirits. Premium encompassed such pours as Johnny Walker Blue Label, Laphroaig 10-year single malt and Courvoisier Napoleon.
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Drink Packages
For connoisseurs there were two wine packages available worth investigating. The selection for the Silver Menu—three bottles for $225—included Cakebread chardonnay, Château Suduiraut sauternes, Northstar merlot and Château La Nerthe Chateauneuf-du-Pape. The Gold Menu—six bottles for $450—added a few more selections to the list, including Hanzell chardonnay, Penfolds St. Henri shiraz and Grigich Hills cabernet sauvignon. Although there was a putt-putt course and a classy gym, Seabourn Sojourn was geared toward more cerebral pursuits.
The ship also has a watersports platform and marina that springs from Deck 2 aft when weather conditions are right. It didn’t emerge on our cruise but, according to Seabourn, there are loungers and a pool deck that are part of this extension. Adjoining Seabourn Square, the Coffee Bar was a welcome destination through the day.
Coffee Bar
Straddling Seabourn Square, the nerve center of the ship for guests, this spot was a welcome refuge when we awakened ahead of the restaurants, serving coffee and espresso each morning starting at 6:15 a.m. The spot was closed during the dinner hours but reopened at 9 p.m. for night owls.
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Food
There was a selection of tasty pastries, cakes and cookies through much of the day, followed by small pre-made sandwiches in the afternoon. The counter included an ice cream freezer, too. We were sated.
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Drink
We could order all the standard coffee we enjoy at home—espresso, cappuccino, caffè latte, hot chocolate, frappe—along with coffee drinks augmented with a shot of alcohol. These included Irish, Mexican and Jamaican coffees, along with something called Lumumba (hot chocolate and dark rum—mmm). Milk shakes were an option, too.
{{photo_gallery "Venue 21 Drink Photos"}} There was a good variety of entertainment areas on the ship, though participation varied considerably from night to night.
Seabourn Square
This multi-purpose venue acted as the lobby, the library, the computer station and provided the guest services, shore excursions and future cruise desks. It was the nerve center of the ship, and we could get a good cup of coffee, too.
The selection of books in the library wasn’t expensive, but we were impressed with the relatively up-to-date collection of travel guides for the area we found ourselves cruising. There was also a collection of full newspapers (to supplement the daily news digest that arrived in our room each morning)—this included the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today, plus tantalizing exotic fare such as The Globe and Mail and the Australian. There was also a solid array of recent magazines to peruse, ranging from Vogue and Esquire to Time and The New Yorker.
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Other Activities
There were eight Dell computers available for use, and WiFi was accessible throughout the ship. Internet rates were .40 cents a minute, which is the lowest we’ve seen on cruise ships in the last year. Packages brought the price down further—two hours for $19.95, etc. (i.e., less than .17 cents per minute). We also appreciated that the first minute was free, in the event of connectivity issues (also not typical of other cruise lines). There was also a seven-day unlimited-access package that provided access throughout the cruise and worked out to less than $35 a day. Documents could be printed from the computers in Seabourn Square for .50 cents per page.
Card Room
Little-used during our cruise, this was the spot where players could meet for un-hosted games of Bridge, Scrabble and Mah-Jong, times announced in the daily newsletter. The venue could also be used for social functions of groups on-board.
{{photo_gallery "Venue 24 Overview Photos"}} The small gym is well equipped, but this was not a ship for those who wanted a lot of physical activities.
Fitness Center
The gym was nicely appointed, using the latest models of Technogym machines (including several of those stylish Kinesis walls), all in excellent shape. There were ample treadmills and bikes, and very few people in the gym at any given time.
Sports and Fitness
Complimentary yoga, pilates, tai chi and group Kinesis sessions were available, and one-on-one personal training could be arranged ($100 for 60 minutes).
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The Retreat
We found a few holes of mini-golf at this sundeck. It was nicely sheltered from the breeze, so it was a good place for lounging as well. The shops had a small collection of great items. Some of those baubles were way beyond our price range.
Seabourn Shop
Opening off Seabourn Square, this was the spot for logo merchandize, including T-shirts, caps, pens and champagne glasses emblazened with the Seabourn logo.
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Retail
We also found sundries such as toothpaste, razors, deodorant, feminine products and various candies.
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The Collection
Seabourn Sojourn’s jewelry boutique was pretty impressive.
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Retail
We found jewelry by Chopard, H Stern and others, right up to a gorgeous gold and diamond necklace carrying a six-figure price tag. We admired—from afar.
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The Boutique
For a smaller ship, Seabourn’s main shop carried a pretty diverse collection of quality goods, well beyond what the average cruise ships sell.
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Retail
On the shelves were handbags by Chopard, men’s clothing by Ralph Lauren, Douglas & Grahame and Henri Lloyd, women’s clothing by Joseph Ribkoff along with more casual items. There was jewelry by Antica Murrina and Swarovski, handbags by Spartina and Mary Frances, and watches by Hermes, Tag Heuer and Citizen. Fragrances included most of the major names, Chanel, Gucci, Marc Jacobs, Yves Saint Laurent, Hugo Boss and skin care products by La Prairie.
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Observation Bar
This soothing space offers a broad, near-180 degree forward panorama from just above the bridge. During the day the venue was untended, but afternoon tea was served from 4 to 5 p.m. An excellent pianist played here during afternoon tea, and from 6:30 nightly, on a gleaming white piano. The acoustics in the room were superb—the music perfectly audible but unobtrusive from any seat.
Note the starboard side of this enclosed room was open to smoking, though we found very few engaged.
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The Spa at Seabourn
This is one of the most attractive and elegant spa facilities we’ve seen at sea, with quite a generous amount of space allotted (considering there are only 450 passengers on the ship). The facilities were cast in cream tones, with lovely wood and stone accents throughout. The spa was managed by Steiner Leisure, which handles spa services on most cruise lines; Elemis was the primary product line in use. The spa included a fin sauna, changing rooms for men and women with lockers and showers, and a private aft deck with its own whirlpool tub and sunning area amid billowing white curtains.
Massage treatments included the usual services—Thai herbal poultice, aroma stone therapy, bamboo and a couples massage; prices started at $132 for the 50-minute Swedish massage. Body therapies started at $85 for the 40-minute Ionithermie Revitalizing Leg Therapy and also included a lime and ginger salt glow, and a seaweed wrap and massage. There was an array of facials, starting at $124 for the 50-minute Elemis Skin IQ for Men, and there was one we hadn’t encountered before—the Seabourn 24-Karat Gold Facial, a 75-minute treatment involving a gold leaf mask, for $325. The boss said no.
At the salon, the roster of services included hair treatments (style, coloring), nails and waxing.
Also here was a Thermal Suite Lounge, a mild sauna experience with heated loungers and the Kneipp Walk, a water therapy through basins of cold and warm water with reflexology massage features. A day pass was $30, or it was $180 for the length of the cruise.
One small quibble: We found the plastic succulents and papyrus ornamenting the spa to be a bit tacky—do real succulents really need that much care and feeding that they can’t be maintained on a ship?
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Other Activities
There was also a private spa villa on the starboard side of the spa that could be rented for a few hours. There was a soaking tub for two, daybed, private shower, and many spa treatments could be conducted here as well. Prices for two start at $650 for 2.5 hours, including the Elemis Aroma Stone Therapy massage and a bathing ritual.
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Seabourn Square
This multi-purpose venue acted as the lobby, the library, the computer station and provided the guest services, shore excursions and future cruise desks. It was the nerve center of the ship, and we could get a good cup of coffee, too.
The selection of books in the library wasn’t expensive, but we were impressed with the relatively up-to-date collection of travel guides for the area we found ourselves cruising. There was also a collection of full newspapers (to supplement the daily news digest that arrived in our room each morning)—this included the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today, plus tantalizing exotic fare such as The Globe and Mail and the Australian. There was also a solid array of recent magazines to peruse, ranging from Vogue and Esquire to Time and The New Yorker.
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Other Activities
There were eight Dell computers available for use, and WiFi was accessible throughout the ship. Internet rates were .40 cents a minute, which is the lowest we’ve seen on cruise ships in the last year. Packages brought the price down further—two hours for $19.95, etc. (i.e., less than .17 cents per minute). We also appreciated that the first minute was free, in the event of connectivity issues (also not typical of other cruise lines). There was also a seven-day unlimited-access package that provided access throughout the cruise and worked out to less than $35 a day. Documents could be printed from the computers in Seabourn Square for .50 cents per page.
Card Room
Little-used during our cruise, this was the spot where players could meet for un-hosted games of Bridge, Scrabble and Mah-Jong, times announced in the daily newsletter. The venue could also be used for social functions of groups on-board.
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The Club
This venue didn’t open till 6:30, and some guests congregated for pre-dinner drinks, usually with a live guitarist playing easy melodies in the background. But with its modest-sized wooden dance floor, the Club also served as Seabourn Sojourn’s de facto disco. On a couple nights of our cruise a good beat pumped when the Sojourn Orchestra let loose with the usual 80s standards.
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Grand Salon
Seabourn Sojourn’s theatre made the most of its vertically challenged space (it wasn’t much taller than the one deck allowed), with plush velvet seating in an arc around the stage.
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Shows and Performances
The was the place for the ship’s main shows but a bit more imagination could have been accorded when developing the entertainment. The four singers, two dancers and the live orchestra were all pretty solid, but the shows were so predictable—a tribute to Billy Joel, Elton John and Barry Manilow, and the other a tribute to Broadway show tunes. Yawn.
On other nights there was a magician and a decent comedian who performed here. After dinner, several lounges sprang to life—sometimes.
The ship’s pool deck was a popular retreat, but there were a few choice hideaways, as well.
There are two pools on Seabourn Sojourn, which turned out to be more than sufficient for a ship of this size.
Main Pool
Located mid-ship on Deck 8, this was a great place for laps and lounging, a decent sized pool for a ship of this size, flanked by two whirlpool tubs and a couple dozen loungers. There are also round day beds big enough for two and a few couches with overstuffed pillows near the corners of the sunken space. We thought there might not be enough loungers but everyone seemed to have the seat they needed and attendants were at the ready with towels and anything else we needed.
Bar (and food) service is available from the Patio Grill, and servers sometimes carried around trays of frozen drinks we could try.
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Aft Pool
Much less used than the Main Pool, this smaller, square pool on Deck 5 also had a pair of whirlpool tubs and a couple dozen loungers. Depending on the ship’s position it was often less sunny than the Main Pool, but we didn’t encounter more than four or five people here at any given time, making it a good spot for quiet. Smokers were more common here, but we weren’t clear if this was condoned by the ship.
Bar servers came through, but it was on more of an as-needed basis.
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Forward Whirlpool
This was one of our favorite places on Seabourn Sojourn, a whirlpool tucked into the nose of the ship, accessed by a door at the forward end of the corridor on Deck 6. Strangely, most passengers missed this spot, and there were times when we had this prime perch at sunset all to ourselves.
In addition to the whirlpool—big enough for just three or four—there was about a dozen loungers set up on the broad deck. The space was sporadically attended by a server, who manned a cart of soft drinks. Other drinks could also be ordered. Note that two of the ship’s suites directly face this deck, so it’s not 100-percent private.
{{photo_gallery "Venue 11 Overview Photos"}} Although there was no real true promenade deck, outdoor sunning space was extensive and varied, with plentiful loungers and attendants.
Main Pool
Located mid-ship on Deck 8, this was a great place for laps and lounging, a decent sized pool for a ship of this size, flanked by two whirlpool tubs and a couple dozen loungers. There are also round day beds big enough for two and a few couches with overstuffed pillows near the corners of the sunken space. We thought there might not be enough loungers but everyone seemed to have the seat they needed and attendants were at the ready with towels and anything else we needed.
Bar (and food) service is available from the Patio Grill, and servers sometimes carried around trays of frozen drinks we could try.
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Aft Pool
Much less used than the Main Pool, this smaller, square pool on Deck 5 also had a pair of whirlpool tubs and a couple dozen loungers. Depending on the ship’s position it was often less sunny than the Main Pool, but we didn’t encounter more than four or five people here at any given time, making it a good spot for quiet. Smokers were more common here, but we weren’t clear if this was condoned by the ship.
Bar servers came through, but it was on more of an as-needed basis.
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Forward Whirlpool
This was one of our favorite places on Seabourn Sojourn, a whirlpool tucked into the nose of the ship, accessed by a door at the forward end of the corridor on Deck 6. Strangely, most passengers missed this spot, and there were times when we had this prime perch at sunset all to ourselves.
In addition to the whirlpool—big enough for just three or four—there was about a dozen loungers set up on the broad deck. The space was sporadically attended by a server, who manned a cart of soft drinks. Other drinks could also be ordered. Note that two of the ship’s suites directly face this deck, so it’s not 100-percent private.
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Deck 9
This deck serves little purpose other than for sunning or enjoying the view, but it’s a great spot we found ourselves enjoying a number of times during our cruise, especially when sailing away from ports of call. There were plenty of loungers and good people-watching, too, as this deck overlooks the Main Pool. Drink service was available from the Sky Bar.
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Sun Terrace
Tucked into a sheltered spot on Deck 12, this was the highest public space on the ship, with rows of loungers waiting for us when the weather was right. We always found at least a few available, and the deck was fairly sheltered from the breeze. There was a cart with soft drinks, and attendants came through occasionally to see what might be needed.
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The Retreat
We found a few holes of mini-golf at this sundeck. It was nicely sheltered from the breeze, so it was a good place for lounging as well.
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Deck 5
Seabourn Sojourn doesn’t have a traditional Promenade Deck, but this deck wrapped from mid-ship around to the aft pool, and provided a nice place for taking in the sun and sea air.
{{photo_gallery "Venue 23 Overview Photos"}} While usually upbeat and helpful, this was one area we felt Seabourn Sojourn fell a bit short.
Even compared to the competition in the luxury cruise market, Seabourn has a high level of staffing. With a crew of 342 aboard on our cruise, there were 1.3 passengers for each crewmember; by contrast, typical in the industry for ships of this size and larger is 2 to 2.5 passengers for each crewmember. But sheer quantity of staff wasn’t enough to overcome a few issues.
Guests were regularly invited to join one of the senior crew for dinner at a table with other guests. This is a pleasant way to get to know other passengers (and it made use of the larger tables at The Restaurant), but we were told we were under no obligation to join in if we preferred to dine on our own.
In addition to dry cleaning services (for a fee), there is a complimentary launderette—washers, dryers, laundry soap, ironing—located on Deck 5 mid-ship. Seabourn is generous with the number of services offered, but more training was in order.
Staff
For the most part, the crew aboard Seabourn Sojourn did a good job. They should: The ship’s very high staff to guest ratio means they have the manpower to take care of everything from the smallest niceties to the most indulgent whims.
However, we didn’t find the crew to be significantly more polished than those of some of the less expensive mainstream cruise lines, which surprised us. They were not at the level of, for instance, staff at a typical Four Seasons or Ritz-Carlton resort, much less that of a top-flight hotel in Europe or Asia. Part of that might be the Seabourn culture—the cruise was a bit more relaxed, less pretentious than we expected. But some of it seemed to be simply inadequate training, such as some of the restaurant and bar staff, who were not always familiar with what they were serving (with thousand-dollar bottles on the premium wine list, passengers deserve sommeliers with a level of savvy).
One incident we witnessed that spoke to poor management was a verbal altercation between two waiters in one of the restaurants towards the end of dinner. The argument could be overheard by multiple guests, making us uncomfortable to be present.
Tipping
Seabourn builds tips into their prices, a feature we appreciated. The line says “Tipping is neither required nor expected,” although we suspect a number of guests chose to leave an additional tip for their room attendant and perhaps bartenders or waiters.
Dress Codes and Alcohol Policy
For most evenings the dress code was either Resort Casual or Elegantly Casual. Resort Casual involved slacks and a sweater or shirt for men; slacks with a sweater or sleeveless blouse for women. Elegant Casual meant slacks with a jacket over a sweater or collared shirt for men; slacks or skirt with a blouse, or pantsuit or dress for women. Jeans were “not appropriate” while dining in The Restaurant. Casual, well-chosen attire was the rule for most guests during the evening.
One night of our cruise was designated Formal, but “optional.” For men, this meant a tuxedo or dark suit; for ladies, evening dress or appropriate formal attire. The vast majority of guests were well dressed on this evening, though tuxes were few and far between. Note that the Patio Grill, the ship’s most casual dining venue, was closed on the Formal evening.
Guests are welcome to bring their own alcohol onboard. A corkage fee is not usually assessed.
Loyalty Programs
Seabourn has long had one of the more generous frequent-cruiser programs and Seabourn Club was further enhanced in May 2012. Each day sailed with Seabourn continues to earn credit towards Milestone Cruise Awards. After 140 days, a complimentary cruise (up to 7 days) is awarded; after 250 days receive another free cruise (up to 14 days). A memento from Tiffany & Co. is also awarded after 100 sailed days (as well as at the 200- and 500-day levels).
Additionally, you’ll accrue Seabourn Club Points—one day sailed equals one point, with additional points earned for premium cabin bookings, on-board spending, and shore excursions. Passengers become members of the club after their first cruise and graduate to Silver Level at 20 points.
Benefits at the Silver Level include a choice of one of the following: 10 percent off shore excursions, 10 percent off premium wine purchases, two hours of complimentary internet, 20 minutes of complimentary phone service, a complimentary massage, a day in the spa’s Serene Area, or a complimentary bag of laundry (per seven-day cruise). With 70 point passengers become Gold Level members and receive two of the above benefits and additional perks. At 140 points members attain Platinum Level and receive three of the above, and at 250 points there is a Diamond Level. Safety standards were rigorously enforced and, despite the ship’s small size, a full medical facility was available.
General Health and Safety
A Muster Drill was held prior to initial embarkation, in the The Restaurant. Names of all guests present were recorded and one couple did not show up for the drill; they were paged repeatedly while guests waited. We were later told that it turned out they were not actually on Seabourn Sojourn, having been delayed en route to the ship. If so, cooling our jets in The Restaurant and a subsequent tardy departure (more than 20 minutes) may have been caused—at least in part—by a bookkeeping error on the part of the Seabourn Sojourn crew.
Clinics
A Medical Facility is located on Deck 3. It was staffed 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., and 5 to 6 p.m. daily.
Smoking Regulations
Most public areas of the ship were designated as smoke-free. Cigarette smoking was allowed on the starboard side of the Observation Bar, the Sky Bar, and the outside deck of Seabourn Square (the latter was the only area where cigar and pipe smoking was permitted). Cigarette smoking in cabins and on verandahs was also allowed. The Sojourn is Seabourn’s largest vessel, but even though Holland America’s ships are modestly-sized, it’s largest is in a different category from Sojourn.
Overview
Holland America’s newest and largest ship and Seabourn’s Sojourn debuted within days of each other in 2010. But although Holland America specializes in mid-sized vessels (none of which crack the list of the 50 largest cruise ships at sea), the experience aboard the much smaller Seabourn Sojourn is even more intimate and subdued.
Carrying less than a quarter of the passengers, the onboard culture of the two ships is quite different. Aboard Seabourn Sojourn, cruisers tend to be self-starters who snuggle between the covers of a book—good thing since there is a relatively small list of activities scheduled through the day (generally only one activity takes place at any time, and sometimes nothing is on tap). On Nieuw Amsterdam, the list of diversions is long: daily Bingo sessions, a dedicated screening room, a more extensive evening entertainment program, cooking demonstrations, and even a complimentary self-guided tour of the ship’s art collection using an iPod.
On Seabourn Sojourn, we found dining to be excellent, our cabin was spacious with a glam bathroom, and there was never crowding in the public areas, especially at the pool or on sun loungers. On Nieuw Amsterdam food was generally good, but not really excellent (except at the surcharge venue Pinnacle Grill); our inside cabin was barely half the size of our accommodations on Sojourn. However, although both ships cater to an upper-middle class crowd, a cruise on Nieuw Amsterdam is quite a bit less expensive than one on Seabourn Sojourn. Both deliver a solid cruise but we’re inclined to say, in this instance, you get what you pay for. The Queen Mary 2 is a huge ocean liner designed for Atlantic crossings, while Seabourn Sojourn is much, much smaller ship.
Overview
While these are both upscale ships that appeal to a similar audience, similarities end there. First off, obviously, is size: Queen Mary 2 is a massive vessel that carries 2,592 passengers; it is longer than the Empire State Building is in height. By contrast, Seabourn Sojourn carries just 450 passengers and is less than a quarter of the size (in gross tonnage). As such, Sojourn delivers a more intimate cruise experience, making it easy to get to know fellow passengers and crew. On QM2, an elite class system remains in effect—those staying in “Grill” class accommodations will find themselves separated (especially when dining) from the lowly masses lodged in Britannia Class quarters.
Being a smaller vessel, Seabourn Sojourn has access to many ports that can’t receive the QM2, while the larger ship was designed for big sea voyages in sometimes rough conditions, making the ship ideal for its regularly scheduled (and speedy) trans-Atlantic crossings. And of course, the larger ship has a much greater variety of entertainment and dining options, including a dedicated kid’s program. We found meals on Seabourn Sojourn to be better (at least as compared to QM2’s Brittania Class that we stayed in). Relative to the competition, QM2 has a better than average passenger space ratio, but it doesn’t match that of Sojourn, which can boast of the amplest elbowroom of all the mainstream lines. With its storied lineage, the QM2 tends to appeal to a slightly older, more traditional crowd, while trendy Seabourn’s guests include a few younger professionals. As Seabourn’s prices include most drinks and tipping is not expected, it’s not hard to disembark on the final day with a checkout bill that reads zero.
Although Seabourn Sojourn is a slightly newer ship (2010 vs. 2004) the QM2 received a renovation in late 2011 that brought the décor up-to-date. Affluent travelers are the target audience for both these ships, but the experience is different in subtle ways.
Overview
Though very modestly sized, Crystal Symphony is still more than 50 percent larger than Seabourn Sojourn, carrying more than twice the passengers. The size difference allows Symphony to incorporate a number of features not found on Sojourn, such as computer classes, foreign language courses, Bingo sessions, and a proper children’s program. Standard cabins on Sojourn are larger (295 square feet compared to Symphony’s meager 202 square feet), and although Symphony has a better-than-average passenger space ratio, Sojourn is much roomier (on a per-person basis); Sojourn is also 15 years younger, though Symphony benefited from extensive remodels in 2006 and 2009.
Seabourn used to have chef Charlie Palmer as a culinary consultant, but he is no longer affiliated with the line. Crystal still has a relationship with renowned chef Nobu Matsuhisa for its East-meets-West restaurant Silk Road (and sushi bar). While we found the food of both ships to be excellent, the restaurants of Seabourn tend to offer a generally continental menu, reserving Italian fare for a specific night, French for another, etc.; on Crystal Symphony there are dedicated venues for Nobu’s pan-Asian fare and Prego’s Italian dinners. Both of these (like Restaurant 2 on Sojourn) are very popular, and reservations are a must. Also note that Crystal continues to have set seatings for dinner in its main restaurant. Although open seating was introduced by Crystal in 2012, reservations are still required most evenings to dine at “off” hours. On Seabourn Sojourn, dining times are flexible.
In 2012 Crystal changed its pricing model to cover gratuities and most beverages, bringing Symphony’s package in line with Sojourn’s (as well as with the ships of Silversea and Regent Seven Seas). While shore excursions, spa treatments and premium spirits are still an add-on, these lines offer the closest thing to an all-inclusive luxury product at sea.
Conclusion
Our cruise on Seabourn Sojourn landed us in the lap of luxury, a world defined by graces great and small. Along with siblings Seabourn Oddysey and Seabourn Quest, the ship boasts the highest passenger-space ratio in the industry and, except for a few meals at The Colonnade, public areas never felt remotely crowded, even around the pool on sunny sea days. There were plush carpets in wide hallways to silence any hint of noise, while our oversized cabin’s crisp marble bathroom was lavish, with fine bath products, twin sinks and a full-size tub.
Mealtime was well above average for the cruise industry. While not every dish was letter-perfect, the good far outweighed the middling, and several items were truly outstanding—even meals at the Patio Grill were more satisfying than most specialty venues on other cruise lines. And in-room dining isn’t usually something we look forward to on other cruise ships; on Sojourn it was a treat.
Seabourn’s all-inclusive pricing model meant we didn’t worry about bar bills adding up. Most of the complimentary wine selection was sufficient that we always found a good pour and spirits included all of the top mainstream labels; the bartenders got to know our tastes, and by the end of the cruise our favorite drink was prepared without asking.
The design-forward ship is beautifully conceived, looking a bit like the outsized yacht of a seafaring billionaire. The 20th-century art decorating the common areas sets the refined mood—Joan Miro, Paul Klee, Vassily Kandinsky and a trio of Marilyns by Warhol, though all are reproductions. We liked the striking natural scenics by contemporary photographers. There’s just one central corridor through most of the ship (and no interior cabins); the restaurants and social areas are all positioned in the center or aft of the ship, allowing the forward section to be devoted exclusively to accommodations.
Although our experience overall was excellent, we wouldn’t call it faultless. Service standards were generally high, but not consistently so. Some of the crew was less polished, and a few incidents—such as one audible verbal altercation between two servers during dinner—did not meet the yardstick we think Seabourn aspires to. Our cabin steward had 10 cabins to oversee (15 to 20 is common on most ships), and cleaning of our cabin took upwards of 30 minutes each morning, with a thorough refresh each evening. However we were vexed when, one day following lunch midway through our cruise, we discovered that our steward had just started a “deep clean” of our cabin; this procedure made our room unavailable for more than three hours one afternoon at sea. While the steward offered to vacate the cabin if we needed it, a better solution would have been to advise us the day before. We were surprised that our balcony was sticky with sea salt for the first five days of the cruise, especially given the spic-and-span quality of the ship’s interior.
Because the ship is a small vessel by today’s cruising standards, naturally it didn’t have all the amenities of a big vessel. There’s no kid’s program, no Bingo sessions, no basketball court and ship photographers weren’t waiting for us around every bend (we don’t care for paparazzi, don’t you know). These privations didn’t bother us, but cruisers shouldn’t sign up for the Seabourn experience expecting activities and entertainment at all waking hours (pack an extra book!). Still, the limited on-board enrichment programs that were offered should have been a standout for Seabourn Sojourn; our guest lecturer was pretentious and dull. Staged entertainment was by the book, unoriginal.
Traveling with Seabourn is more expensive than sailing with the mainstream lines. Per-day rates for an Ocean-View cabin—Seabourn Sojourn’s least expensive category—typically run $500 or more (per person) on the most desirable sailings. But when a specific itinerary isn’t selling, rates can drop to $350 per day, not counting on-board credits and other incentives. If destination and travel dates are not a priority, once tips and drinks are factored in, a Verandah Suite with Seabourn might not cost much more than a cabin with balcony on one of the mid-priced cruise lines.
But the atmosphere aboard Seabourn Sojourn is not for everyone. Children may well feel lost in the crowd. Though ages of guests on our cruise ranged from early-30s on up, they’re a well-traveled bunch. They tended to be self-starters who don’t care to be led by the nose to on-board activities (the few that there are). We didn’t spot many tuxes on formal night—instead, this coiffed and manicured crowd displayed individualized elegance. And the workhorse itineraries in Europe, Alaska and the Caribbean are the exception, not the rule; unusual ports of call with minimal cruise infrastructure are not uncommon.
But for our taste, Seabourn Sojourn delivered a classy cruise, highlighted by a beautiful cabin and fine food. It’s a ship we would happily sail with again. The ship’s main dining room is a classy affair.
Overview
The Restaurant is an elegant dining room that seats about 270 guests, and it’s the ship’s dressiest option, though reservations aren’t required unless you’re looking for a specific table. The food is fairly refined, and most evenings the menu was comprised of about seven starters followed by five entrées. Portions were not large, so ordering a pair of appetizers made sense. On the Formal (optional) evening, the menu was greatly streamlined, but very satisfying.
The Restaurant is also open for breakfast, but we found it surprisingly empty the two mornings we dined here—it’s a good option if the clamor of the Colonnade is too much.
The full dinner menu from The Restaurant was available each night for in-room dining, a very satisfying option we selected on another evening.
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Food
On the Formal (Optional) evening the menu came rolled with a ribbon and started with a course of game terrine or white tomato soup with basil foam, and moved on to beer battered cod with minted pea puree and tartar sauce. A glass of Pimms sorbet with a halo of cucumber foam was a refreshing palate cleanser. For entrée we opted for the butter poached halibut which sat on wilted spinach and a casserole of tomatoes and mussels—a fine dish. The other entrée this evening was a slow roasted beef tenderloin and mushroom pie, easily washed down with a glass of satisfying pinot noir. Dessert was a trio of rhubarb preparations—a crumble, a cheesecake and a sherbet.
Another evening we dined here we enjoyed the chicken liver parfait served with caramelized figs, toasted hazelnuts and brioche toast, while the potato leek soup was excellent, spiked with lobster croutons (that’s a recipe we’d like). The seared dorade was delicious, served skin-on with a garnish of garlic slivers, green beans and an unadvertised strip of bacon. We also tried the marinated grilled strip steak, but we found the cut to be leathery and unsatisfying, one of the ship’s few misses.
Breakfast was straightforward and more-or-less duplicated the room service options. A broader selection was available at the Colonnade.
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Drinks
The ship’s full bar menu was available here, including wines served by the glass or bottles ordered from the premium wine menu.
Additional Details
Breakfast was served from 8 to 9 a.m. each morning. Dinner was offered from 7 to 9 p.m. Lunch may be conducted here on some sea days, but it wasn’t during our cruise. The main buffet restaurant also offered an à la carte menu and waiter service, a combo that worked quite well.
Overview
The buffet selection at this popular spot was augmented by a short dinner menu, usually three appetizers, three entrees and a couple desserts, a selection that changed nightly. On some evenings there was a theme—steak night on one evening, French another; the Tuscany Market evening was especially popular.
At a few points during our cruise we found The Colonnade to be quite bustling. Although it can be crowded around the buffet lines it is well staffed and we never had to wait for a table, though we might have been lucky. Most of the tables are indoors, but a couple dozen are located on the stern deck, a nice perch when the conditions were good (when the weather turned, plush orange blankets emerged without our asking). At all meals, whether we chose to graze at the buffet or select from the short printed menu, a waiter would attend the table, bringing drinks or anything else we requested. Waiters would usually offer to hand-carry our plates of food from the buffet to the table, and when the buffet was about to close servers would subtly pass the word.
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Food
Dinner would begin with a basket of bread, accompanied by a tray of spreads—whipped butter and olive oil, and a rotating third choice (butter with roasted garlic one night, herb cream cheese another). Typical appetizers we found were shrimp cocktail with avocado, a crab cake with a salad of fennel, red onion, arugula and truffle rémoulade, and roasted garlic soup with chive Chantilly and crunchy rosemary brioche. Entrées we enjoyed included a surf and turf of beef tenderloin and Nigerian shrimp (a tasty crayfish-like stand-in for lobster). The beef was a great cut of meat, well-seasoned and cooked exactly to request (medium-rare).
There were also a nightly vegetarian offering, though not usually listed on the menu for some reason. One evening an entrée of house-made ravioli filled with beetroot and goat cheese was delicate and refined, floating on a sage and garlic nage and accented with pine nuts. On the steak house evening, mains included a cowboy steak, fillet of beef tenderloin, veal chops, and fillet of fresh salmon. The Mediterranean evening featured pan-seared sea bass or roast rack of lamb Provencale. Desserts could be chosen from the buffet, with a couple items off the menu each night, including roasted apples served with frozen yogurt and an almond crisp, milk chocolate and coffee mousse, and marinated strawberries with mascarpone ice cream and orange biscotti.
Lunch was generally quite good, again with a selection from the buffet along with a short list of à la carte items. One item we enjoyed was the pan-seared fillet of plaice served with green pea and mushroom risotto. Lunches were sometimes themed around a certain cuisine—less successfully with Mexican, but the Greek buffet rang true (the dense, moist baklava rivaled the one we grew up with—sorry, mom).
As with the other meals, the breakfast menu of items cooked to order was short, but there was plenty at the buffet tables, including various breads, rolls and pastries, a spread of cold cuts and cheeses, a great selection of sliced fruit (including papaya, strawberries and plums), At the buffet there was a daily egg special each morning, delivered to our table.
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Drinks
The ship’s full bar menu was available here, including wines served by the glass or bottles ordered from the premium wine menu.
Additional Details
Breakfast was served from 7 to 10 a.m. each morning, lunch from 12 noon to 2 p.m. and dinner was offered from 7 to 9 p.m. Adventurous set menus were on offer here, providing a fun culinary adventure.
Overview
This is what would classify as the “specialty” restaurant on most cruise ships. But there are two big differences: Meals on Seabourn Sojourn are already a cut above what most cruise ship specialty venues serve, and there’s no surcharge to dine here. The menu at Restaurant 2 is fixed, changing every few days, and there’s a license for real inspiration on both the culinary and presentational fronts. While restaurant creativity on cruise ships is all the rage these days, a lot of it places gimmicks ahead of satisfying dining. Not here.
One note: We went to book dinner here just 36 hours after setting sail and were surprised to find out that all seatings were taken except for the final night of our cruise. This was no problem for us, but if you want to try Restaurant 2 during your cruise, book it the first day. On a seven-day itinerary the venue does not have enough seats to accommodate everyone on-board.
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Food
Because each plate comes with two or three distinct but complimentary dishes, the end result is a meal of about a dozen total different preparations. Our meal began with the bread, a Spanish-inspired batch with corn meal and queso blanco—we want this recipe. The chef’s cocktail—poached shrimp served over lettuce and jellied Balsalmic vinegar and topped with a split saffron vinaigrette—was a bracing opening act that awakened our palates.
The next plate was a rich tribute to duck: a foie gras crème brûlée, crisp duck confit filo with navy bean cassoulet, and carpaccio of smoked duck with foie gras. An unpredictable trifecta followed—shellfish cappuccino, a seared beef crostini, and a lobster herb ravioli that basked in a soup of lobster and lemongrass. Each of the dishes so far were only a bit larger than bite-size, but all packed a punch.
Portions increased somewhat when the main course arrived in a bra-shaped dish: a duo of roasted dorade served atop potatoes, leek ragout and bacon jus, and in the right-hand “cup” was pan seared quail breast over porcini risotto in a tarn of port wine reduction. Not quite a D cup in size, but very satisfying.
The dessert involved white chocolate mousse, a plum compote with almond foam, and pistachio crackers to dig into a passion fruit sorbet. It wasn’t a decadent finish, but given the range of taste sensations we had already sampled, it was a subtle and suitable end to our wonderful meal.
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Drinks
The ship’s full bar menu was available here, including wines served by the glass or bottles ordered from the premium wine menu.
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Additional Details
Dinner—by reservation only—was offered from 7 to 9 p.m. Though not much more ambitious than a solid golf club house restaurant, a couple of the meals we had here were among our favorites on the cruise.
Overview
Though not much more ambitious than a good golf club house restaurant, a couple of the meals we had here were among our favorites on the cruise.
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Food
One night we had papardelle with short ribs, a hearty entrée with the sheets of pasta embracing pearl onions, peas, whole peppercorns and melt-in-your-mouth beef; broad panes of parmesan added the final touch. The less-than-prime lamb chops were thin—not enough fat enveloped them to prevent them from getting overcooked—but our ribeye was a very good cut of meat, accompanied by white and green asparagus. The Grill’s truffled French fries accompanied the dish (some guests swore by these, but we got a bit tired of them after our third meal here).
The pizzas at lunch (served by the slice) were a great snack, and we loved having smoked fish and shrimp cocktail at the ready. The burger and grilled salmon we had were tasty, and there was a well-stocked ice cream freezer for dessert, along with various pastries.
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Drinks
The ship’s full bar menu was available here, including wines served by the glass or bottles ordered from the premium wine menu.
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Additional Details
Lunch was served from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. and dinner was offered from 7:30 till 9 or 9:30 p.m. Note that the Patio Grill was closed on the Formal (optional) evening.
Overview
Overlooking the main pool, the open-air Sky Bar had most of the ship’s compliment of spirits and wines. What wasn’t on the shelf was retrieved quickly by the upbeat, good-humored staff. The Sky Bar was a great spot for people watching. Note, the starboard side of the bar was open to smoking.
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Additional Details
On one afternoon, the Sky Bar was the location for a “caviar sail-away,” replete with champagne and live music.
Overview
This soothing space offers a broad, near-180 degree forward panorama from just above the bridge. During the day the venue was untended, but afternoon tea was served from 4 to 5 p.m. An excellent pianist played here during afternoon tea, and from 6:30 nightly, on a gleaming white piano. The acoustics in the room were superb—the music perfectly audible but unobtrusive from any seat.
Note the starboard side of this enclosed room was open to smoking, though we found very few engaged.
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Food
During afternoon tea, a wonderful spread of sweet and savory goodies emerged. Finger sandwiches (avocado and bacon; roast beef, remoulade and cornichon), chips with salsa and guacamole, and small desserts (including the ever-popular grandma’s cake) were among the offerings, which changed daily.
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Drinks
The ship’s full bar menu was available here, starting at 4 p.m. The tea service was excellent, with a range of choices including classic black teas such as an organic English breakfast and Himalayan peak Darjeeling organic, to the premium oolong Bleu Peacock, to tisanes—organic mint mélange, African amber, etc.
Overview
This venue didn’t open till 6:30, and some guests congregated for pre-dinner drinks, usually with a live guitarist playing easy melodies in the background. But with its modest-sized wooden dance floor, the Club also served as Seabourn Sojourn’s de facto disco. On a couple nights of our cruise a good beat pumped when the Sojourn Orchestra let loose with the usual 80s standards.
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Overview
Seabourn Sojourn’s theatre made the most of its vertically challenged space (it wasn’t much taller than the one deck allowed), with plush velvet seating in an arc around the stage.
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Shows & Performances
The was the place for the ship’s main shows but a bit more imagination could have been accorded when developing the entertainment. The four singers, two dancers and the live orchestra were all pretty solid, but the shows were so predictable—a tribute to Billy Joel, Elton John and Barry Manilow, and the other a tribute to Broadway show tunes. Yawn.
On other nights there was a magician and a decent comedian who performed here.
Other Activities
The Grand Salon was also used for a movie on one night of our cruise. Presentation standards were very poor—we’ve had better showmanship at our local third-run house with the sticky floors and leaky roof. No wonder not one guest stayed in their seat—the theatre was literally empty for most of the film’s duration.
Also disappointing was the un-engaging guest lecturer who pontificated about our ports of call. We learned little.
Overview
Located mid-ship on Deck 8, this was a great place for laps and lounging, a decent sized pool for a ship of this size, flanked by two whirlpool tubs and a couple dozen loungers. There are also round day beds big enough for two and a few couches with overstuffed pillows near the corners of the sunken space. We thought there might not be enough loungers but everyone seemed to have the seat they needed and attendants were at the ready with towels and anything else we needed.
Bar (and food) service is available from the Patio Grill, and servers sometimes carried around trays of frozen drinks we could try.
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Overview
Much less used than the Main Pool, this smaller, square pool on Deck 5 also had a pair of whirlpool tubs and a couple dozen loungers. Depending on the ship’s position it was often less sunny than the Main Pool, but we didn’t encounter more than four or five people here at any given time, making it a good spot for quiet. Smokers were more common here, but we weren’t clear if this was condoned by the ship.
Bar servers came through, but it was on more of an as-needed basis.
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Overview
This was one of our favorite places on Seabourn Sojourn, a whirlpool tucked into the nose of the ship, accessed by a door at the forward end of the corridor on Deck 6. Strangely, most passengers missed this spot, and there were times when we had this prime perch at sunset all to ourselves.
In addition to the whirlpool—big enough for just three or four—there was about a dozen loungers set up on the broad deck. The space was sporadically attended by a server, who manned a cart of soft drinks. Other drinks could also be ordered. Note that two of the ship’s suites directly face this deck, so it’s not 100-percent private.
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Overview
This deck serves little purpose other than for sunning or enjoying the view, but it’s a great spot we found ourselves enjoying a number of times during our cruise, especially when sailing away from ports of call. There were plenty of loungers and good people-watching, too, as this deck overlooks the Main Pool. Drink service was available from the Sky Bar.
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Overview
Tucked into a sheltered spot on Deck 12, this was the highest public space on the ship, with rows of loungers waiting for us when the weather was right. We always found at least a few available, and the deck was fairly sheltered from the breeze. There was a cart with soft drinks, and attendants came through occasionally to see what might be needed.
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Overview
The small gym is well equipped, but this was not a ship for those who wanted a lot of physical activities.
The gym was nicely appointed, using the latest models of Technogym machines (including several of those stylish Kinesis walls), all in excellent shape. There were ample treadmills and bikes, and very few people in the gym at any given time.
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Sports & Fitness
Complimentary yoga, pilates, tai chi and group Kinesis sessions were available, and one-on-one personal training could be arranged ($100 for 60 minutes).
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Overview
This is one of the most attractive and elegant spa facilities we’ve seen at sea, with quite a generous amount of space allotted (considering there are only 450 passengers on the ship). The facilities were cast in cream tones, with lovely wood and stone accents throughout. The spa was managed by Steiner Leisure, which handles spa services on most cruise lines; Elemis was the primary product line in use. The spa included a fin sauna, changing rooms for men and women with lockers and showers, and a private aft deck with its own whirlpool tub and sunning area amid billowing white curtains.
Massage treatments included the usual services—Thai herbal poultice, aroma stone therapy, bamboo and a couples massage; prices started at $132 for the 50-minute Swedish massage. Body therapies started at $85 for the 40-minute Ionithermie Revitalizing Leg Therapy and also included a lime and ginger salt glow, and a seaweed wrap and massage. There was an array of facials, starting at $124 for the 50-minute Elemis Skin IQ for Men, and there was one we hadn’t encountered before—the Seabourn 24-Karat Gold Facial, a 75-minute treatment involving a gold leaf mask, for $325. The boss said no.
At the salon, the roster of services included hair treatments (style, coloring), nails and waxing.
Also here was a Thermal Suite Lounge, a mild sauna experience with heated loungers and the Kneipp Walk, a water therapy through basins of cold and warm water with reflexology massage features. A day pass was $30, or it was $180 for the length of the cruise.
One small quibble: We found the plastic succulents and papyrus ornamenting the spa to be a bit tacky—do real succulents really need that much care and feeding that they can’t be maintained on a ship?
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Other Activities
There was also a private spa villa on the starboard side of the spa that could be rented for a few hours. There was a soaking tub for two, daybed, private shower, and many spa treatments could be conducted here as well. Prices for two start at $650 for 2.5 hours, including the Elemis Aroma Stone Therapy massage and a bathing ritual.
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Overview
By today’s cruise ship standards, Seabourn Sojourn’s casino was—well, dinky. There were a dozen slot machines lining one wall, plus tables for Black Jack, Three Card Poker and Roulette.
Depending on what was going on (as well as port departure times) the casino was open very limited hours. Generally, the 12 slot machines opened soon after departure, while table games commenced anywhere between 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. on our cruise.
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Overview
This multi-purpose venue acted as the lobby, the library, the computer station and provided the guest services, shore excursions and future cruise desks. It was the nerve center of the ship, and we could get a good cup of coffee, too.
The selection of books in the library wasn’t expensive, but we were impressed with the relatively up-to-date collection of travel guides for the area we found ourselves cruising. There was also a collection of full newspapers (to supplement the daily news digest that arrived in our room each morning)—this included the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today, plus tantalizing exotic fare such as The Globe and Mail and the Australian. There was also a solid array of recent magazines to peruse, ranging from Vogue and Esquire to Time and The New Yorker.
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Other Activities
There were eight Dell computers available for use, and WiFi was accessible throughout the ship. Internet rates were .40 cents a minute, which is the lowest we’ve seen on cruise ships in the last year. Packages brought the price down further—two hours for $19.95, etc. (i.e., less than .17 cents per minute). We also appreciated that the first minute was free, in the event of connectivity issues (also not typical of other cruise lines). There was also a seven-day unlimited-access package that provided access throughout the cruise and worked out to less than $35 a day. Documents could be printed from the computers in Seabourn Square for .50 cents per page.
Overview
Opening off Seabourn Square, this was the spot for logo merchandize, including T-shirts, caps, pens and champagne glasses emblazened with the Seabourn logo.
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Retail
We also found sundries such as toothpaste, razors, deodorant, feminine products and various candies.
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Overview
Seabourn Sojourn’s jewelry boutique was pretty impressive.
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Retail
We found jewelry by Chopard, H Stern and others, right up to a gorgeous gold and diamond necklace carrying a six-figure price tag. We admired—from afar.
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Overview
For a smaller ship, Seabourn’s main shop carried a pretty diverse collection of quality goods, well beyond what the average cruise ships sell.
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Retail
On the shelves were handbags by Chopard, men’s clothing by Ralph Lauren, Douglas & Grahame and Henri Lloyd, women’s clothing by Joseph Ribkoff along with more casual items. There was jewelry by Antica Murrina and Swarovski, handbags by Spartina and Mary Frances, and watches by Hermes, Tag Heuer and Citizen. Fragrances included most of the major names, Chanel, Gucci, Marc Jacobs, Yves Saint Laurent, Hugo Boss and skin care products by La Prairie.
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Adjoining Seabourn Square, the Coffee Bar was a welcome destination through the day.
Overview
Straddling Seabourn Square, the nerve center of the ship for guests, this spot was a welcome refuge when we awakened ahead of the restaurants, serving coffee and espresso each morning starting at 6:15 a.m. The spot was closed during the dinner hours but reopened at 9 p.m. for night owls.
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Food
There was a selection of tasty pastries, cakes and cookies through much of the day, followed by small pre-made sandwiches in the afternoon. The counter included an ice cream freezer, too. We were sated.
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Drinks
We could order all the standard coffee we enjoy at home—espresso, cappuccino, caffè latte, hot chocolate, frappe—along with coffee drinks augmented with a shot of alcohol. These included Irish, Mexican and Jamaican coffees, along with something called Lumumba (hot chocolate and dark rum—mmm). Milk shakes were an option, too.
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Overview
We found a few holes of mini-golf at this sundeck. It was nicely sheltered from the breeze, so it was a good place for lounging as well.
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Overview
Seabourn Sojourn doesn’t have a traditional Promenade Deck, but this deck wrapped from mid-ship around to the aft pool, and provided a nice place for taking in the sun and sea air.
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Overview
Little-used during our cruise, this was the spot where players could meet for un-hosted games of Bridge, Scrabble and Mah-Jong, times announced in the daily newsletter. The venue could also be used for social functions of groups on-board.
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