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We departed from Athens and disembarked in Istanbul on this small ship with 462 passengers. It was a pleasure trip which was put together to reunite a group of 15 couples, many of whom had attended a semester in college in Athens several years ago.
The service and food were superior throughout the voyage. The ship is beautiful and the amenities on-board are first-class. This is one of the rare instances in which the advertising accurately depicts the product. The staff was uniformly attentive. The all-inclusive aspect eliminated the complication of straightening out complicated bar bills and dinner wine tabs with a group of people.
We were given a tour of the bridge by the First Officer and the Executive Chef gave us a tour of the kitchen operation. There was a formal night in which most of the passengers participated in formal attire.
The ports of call were the Greek Islands of Milos, Patmos, Mykonos, Rhodes and Lesvos and the Turkish cities of Kusadasi and Istanbul. The port excursions were well-considered and there were several options from which to choose. A Seabourn evening of classical music in the ruins of Ephesus outside of Kusadasi, Turkey was spectacular. The moon came up over the coliseum on cue and the candle lit tables, wine and music were perfect.
All in, an exceptional trip and delightful crew which I highly recommended. The accommodations and public rooms were beautifully appointed and the small size of the ship provided intimacy and space. There is a small casino, four dining areas, a library, coffee bar, multiple cocktail bars, 2 pools, several hot tubs and outdoor sunbathing areas.
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