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Seabourn Odyssey Review - Sneak Preview
First Impressions
Can a cruise ship that holds 450 passengers still be considered a yacht? The Yachts of Seabourn, which launched Seabourn Odyssey, its largest-ever ship (and first new vessel in 15 years) in June, certainly hopes you think so. From the outside, though, Odyssey looks positively hulking; the ship measures 32,000 tons, and there are 11 decks to accommodate all the balconies. But that first impression of largeness is deceptive on the inside.
Every space has been carefully considered to create an intimate, sociable feel, right down to the positioning of the escape stairs, tucked behind the elevators to avoid any cavernous stairwells or an empty atrium lobby. The decor is subtle and tasteful, embracing neutrals and a contemporary feel without being avant-garde: creamy marble and travertine everywhere, muted colors, teak deck furniture, squashy double sun loungers with cream faux-suede cushions.
In its completely new design for Odyssey, Seabourn also walks a tightrope in its balance of new, more contemporary features and amenities with traditions beloved by the cruise line's notoriously loyal past passengers. Regulars will be delighted to find their beloved forward Jacuzzi on Deck 6 and the restful, circular Observation Lounge on Deck 10. It's a quieter option in the evenings than The Club, traditionally the focal point of the ship's night-time social scene, offering music and dancing.
Beyond the fact that, on Odyssey, most cabins have balconies -- and spacious ones, at that -- some of the most fun new features include an additional, decently sized plunge pool with hot tubs on an aft deck, outside The Club, overlooking the wake. It's a perfect spot for cocktails and socializing on warm evenings. More dining options are offered on Odyssey than on the older trio of ships; Restaurant 2, for gourmet tasting menus, has its own space on Odyssey -- a first for Seabourn -- and the in-suite balcony dining, something Seabourn could not offer before because the small ships only have French balconies, is expected to be a big hit. And, of course, the two-deck-high spa and fitness area, the largest in luxury cruising, is a major draw, with a generous hydropool, thermal suite and quiet deck area; two villas for couples who want a couple of hours of completely private space for sunbathing and relaxing; a spacious fitness room; and a separate space to accommodate yoga, Pilates, the Kinesis wall and Thai massage.
Seabourn aficionados will recognize some of the crew who have transferred from the smaller ships. They'll also be pleased to rediscover the wonderful can-do ethic among Seabourn's crew, who always appear to go the extra mile to fetch you something or answer a question. Everybody working on Odyssey has trained on a Seabourn ship; likewise, Odyssey has training suites in the crew quarters to prepare employees for the launch of Sojourn next year.
Mealtime
Celebrity chef Charlie Palmer has been engaged to create menus for Odyssey as he does for the rest of the Seabourn fleet. He describes his style as "progressive American" -- featuring small portions and tasting menus; offering plenty of fusion of American, Mediterranean and Asian themes; and placing lots of emphasis on presentation.
The Restaurant on Deck 4 is stunning with a white-and-cream theme, massive chandeliers, gauzy white drapes to break up the space and cream roses on the tables. At one end, there's a row of raised seating, spanning the whole width of the room, banquet-style. It's ideal for singles or for couples who want to socialize and have a view of the restaurant. Dining is open-seating, and all 450 guests can be accommodated at once. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served there every day, and there's an always-available menu, as well as the daily offering, which changes every 24 hours.
Restaurant 2 has its own space on this ship. (On the smaller vessels, the casual-dining venue doubles as the gourmet restaurant at night.) It runs along one side of Deck 8 and has scarlet and black decor finished off with candle holders that resemble chunks of spiky, glittery black rock. There are fixed tables for six by the windows and tables for two by the wall. A tasting menu, comprised of seven bite-sized courses, is offered there nightly. There's no charge, but you need to book in advance, especially for groups of two.
The Colonnade, a more casual outlet, has inside and outside seating. Alfresco tables are on the aft deck and all along the starboard side, so there's no rush to find seats at breakfast, when you can choose from buffet items or dishes cooked to order, with absolutely everything from caviar with scrambled eggs to steaks to fresh strawberries on offer. Serving plates are slender china dishes, elegantly displayed on a black and white marble island, which takes away the mass-catering feel of tin trays and shuffling lines you see on large ships. Service was impeccable, even at the busiest times; a fine cafe latte and English Breakfast tea in a proper china pot appeared within a couple of minutes of ordering, even when it was really busy.
At lunch, there's a great selection of salads, dressings, cold cuts, other hot dishes and desserts and a "dish of the day" (bite-sized pieces of fish in fluffy batter and home-made chunky fries when I was onboard). In the evenings, the whole place becomes more romantic and intimate, with themed menus and an "anytime" set of offerings, featuring steaks, grilled chicken and Caesar salads. The decor (mauve crushed velvet, tan seating and silk drapes curtaining off the buffet area from the tables) is such that The Colonnade would certainly work as a genuine alternative to The Restaurant at night -- think chic bistro dining, rather than casual.
The Patio Grill is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and serves burgers, fries, pizza, salads and (in the morning) pastries.
A big hit on Odyssey is Seabourn Square, the warm, comfortable heart of the ship where the Internet terminals, concierge desks and library are located. There's a highly tempting pastry counter there, and speciality coffees are served all day. The area is a social hub for late-breakfasters.
Seabourn Odyssey also offers course-by-course, in-suite dining in all cabins from the menu in The Restaurant.
Bedtime
The ship has 225 staterooms and suites, 197 of which have private balconies. Verandah cabins are a generous 300 square ft. (excluding balconies) and include queen-sized beds with duvets and silky throws, desks, sofas and coffee tables. Other amenities include flat-screen TV's, iPod docks and Wi-Fi. The living and sleeping areas are separated by heavy, chocolate-brown silk curtains (which really block out the morning light -- great for light sleepers!). Sleek, wooden cabinets house the mini-bars, wine glasses and fruit bowls, but the fridge in my cabin wasn't very well-ventilated, and I had to keep the cupboard door open all the time, as the fruit was cooking and the champagne wasn't staying cool.
Bathrooms are exceptionally generous with acres of grey and chocolate marble, twin sinks, full-sized tubs and separate showers with a glass doors (not clingy curtains). There's no hand-held shower in the bath, though. Molton Brown goodies are supplied and replenished daily, and a bar of L'Occitane soap also arrived unannounced one day, which seemed a bit odd.
The balconies are deep and wide at 65 square ft., and each offers a lounger, two chairs and a table. Some couples may end up fighting over the single lounger. Balconies in V1 and V2 suites on Deck 5 are more enclosed than on the other decks, with solid steel instead of railings, which is reflected in the price; you will pay significantly less for these, according to brochure prices.
Suites range from Penthouse (which I liked very much, as the bed is separated from the suite by etched glass and drapes, creating a room-within-a-room) and Owner's to Signature Suites (forward-facing) and Wintergardens, mid-ship on Deck 7. These are a lot of fun, and each features a huge, black, circular tub that's overhung with sparkly lights and a glass-enclosed balcony area with an extra tub and day bed. I felt this area was a bit clinical, but a few more plants would give the illusion of bathing in a tropical rainforest.
New and Nifty
The Spa at Seabourn, the biggest on any luxury ship, spans two decks. A lot of the space is taken up by the two Spa Villas on Deck 10, which seem extravagant, given that they're $650 each for a two-and-a-half-hour session. For this, you get a treatment and use of the facilities -- an oversized bathtub, balcony, living area and day bed.
More appealing is the yoga room, with a Kinesis Wall for gentle exercise (group classes are free) and a screened-off area for a Thai floor massage, which may not work if you're groaning away while there's a yoga class going the other side of the screen. Treatments are lavish and include a 24-carat-gold facial for $325. There's an impressive hydrotherapy pool; use of this, two herbal saunas and a relaxation room with heated loungers costs $30 for a day, unless you're booking a treatment, in which case it's included for an hour before and after.
Seabourn Square is a great innovation and does away with the traditional reception area. Instead, it merges a coffee shop, Internet cafe, library, squishy chairs and concierge desks into a comfortable, bustling space that's as relaxing as it is efficient.
Up on Deck 11, The Retreat isn't so much of a retreat as an activity area, with two small putting greens, shuffleboard and a giant chess set. It's supposed to be used for open-air yoga during the day and stargazing at night, but it's just below the navigation mast, so I imagine there will always be some light pollution. Forward of there is the Sun Terrace, offering abundant double loungers and a couple of showers -- a quiet place to lounge around and read.
The shops are very low-key; you'd hardly know they were there, were it not for the enticing jewelry displays in glass cabinets around Deck 7. The Collection, the private diamond showroom, is so subtle that I wonder if anybody will find it.
Huh?
I wonder how much business the spa villas will do, given the high price tag. Will couples really pay that much to have a bath together? I'd also question whether new guests will appreciate the prices-on-request system in the spa, which some find intimidating. The levy of $30 for a spa pass just to use the hydropool and thermal suite seems to be nickel-and-diming; on a ship of this level of luxury, access to the hydropool should surely be free, regardless of whether or not you book a spa treatment.
Bottom Line
Seabourn will need to lure guests away from chic boutique hotels and competing cruise lines to fill its new ships, and Odyssey will not disappoint in terms of decor, ambience, food and service. It will certainly appeal to a younger audience, thanks to features like iPod docks, Wi-Fi, imaginative menus, the huge spa, double sun loungers and a well-equipped gym. None of these features, though, is so outrageous as to deter older, more traditional cruisers. Evening entertainment is still very much geared to the over-fifties. Whether this new, younger market will
appreciate the black-tie nights in an era of casual cruising also remains to be seen.
Regular guests who know and love the smaller ships will, no doubt, greet Odyssey with some suspicion, but some are sure to be seduced by the big balcony suites, the choice of restaurants and the familiar features.
Odyssey is a genuinely beautiful ship -- classy, contemporary and chic, but not glitzy or flashy in any way. Could you call it a yacht? Yes, I think you could.
--by Sue Bryant, a London-based journalist who also covers cruising for the Times, the Telegraph and the Daily Express
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