This one fit a particular time frame .We only had the first leg of 11 days . Had never had a chance to take a Seabourn cruise before . Very happy .They couldn't do enough for us .Came up with an extension cord for the C Pap machine . Stocked fridge and bar had a full liter of good vodka .Svedka , I think . Mixers, beer , champagne . Room stewardess was always ready to go . Dinning room had some slow arrivals of food at times . But all the food was excellent .They could cook , fish , steaks , pasta . The Colonnade buffet on the back deck was always good .Pool bars and dining line was a great choice in the afternoon for a late lunch .Open to 3:30 . Used room service for breakfast 4 different mornings . Arrived in 20 to 25 minutes and hot .Transfers booked through Seabourn worked fine , even with a flight delay .They were there to meet us . We got our luggage frisked in Lisbon on disembarkation .The Seabourn Rep was on the spot to assure us we would get a cab to the airport when we missed the main bus with everybody else . Even sent a very sweet Portuguese woman ( cute as a button ) with us to make sure we knew where we were going inside the airport . Actually went in with us . Bar people , deck crew , waiters were all on top of it at all times .Entertainment was very good of what we saw . Did a special afternoon opera segment on the deck with the main show vocalists one afternoon . Pouring Patron Margaritas at the pool .l .All you can eat , drink and no tipping or bar bill at the end . But I did leave a small thank you for the housekeeping girl and a bartender .Not expected though .A great time . The best weather the crew had ever seen on this crossing . Just lucky . Read Less

The cruise itself was great. The rooms are large and well appointed, and the food is overall pretty excellent. It's amazing that we were at sea for more than a week, and yet they were still able to provide outstanding fruits and salads. The Thomas Keller restaurant is intimate and outstanding and worth doing at least once during the cruise, and there's no extra charge. The service was very good. It's not the same standard I've experienced on past Seabourn trips. I remember staff throughout the ship would greet me by name, even on a first encounter. That made a huge impression and spoke to a level of excellence. After all, if the staff knows your name, they will remember other things about you too, like what you tend to drink or eat. That leads to anticipatory service - you are offered what you want, before you even ask for it. That level of service seems to be gone on Seabourn. Still, it's outstanding by most measures. The passengers on a long crossing tend to be a different crowd than you'll find on shorter cruises. Frankly, they're friendlier. There's so much time to get to know people, and we really enjoyed the passengers we met. But ultimately our trip was spoiled when my belongings vanished when transferred from the ship to shore in Lisbon. I would find out much later that my luggage ended up being mixed in with other passengers' valuables and put in a taxi. The response to my missing belongings was troubling. At the pier I was placated with false promises of an immediate response. Then in an effort to get me to move along, Seabourn gave me a number to call for help and an email address. No one answered the phone and the automated response from the email told me I'd get a reply within two weeks. No one responded to my requests for information until after I posted publicly on social media after an entire day of silence. Then there was a bunch of blaming of local pier workers, who Seabourn had hired, but then acted like those workers were an entity out of their control or responsibility. In the end, fellow passengers and their travel agent solved the problem of my missing belongings. I spent two days of my three-day visit to Lisbon dealing with the problem, which included meeting with the Portuguese police. Other passengers I met on the Odyssey told me later that they also had problems with wayward belongings. When I heard that I was not alone, I followed up with Seabourn's corporate office, and wrote a personal letter to the company president. I received a we're-sorry-you-feel-that-way response. That's pathetic, and a sign that upper management has no intention of dealing with a very serious security gap. My advice: enjoy the ship, but don't trust Seabourn with your valuables. Carry on and off the ship all of your belongings. Read Less

We like the cruise it was small ship i was shock about the jogging track it didn't look like the picture . Emergency drill was get but when the crew did there they barge in room 422 that where they keep the crew life jacket . . They block with rope between 429-431 & 433-435 other than that it was fine so you step over to get to the main dinner restaurant and elevator . For people confusion there was no 430 or 434 . The newspaper was a day behind unfortunately the sad part it was on the tv & in your itinerary . Free movie, free tv show episode , menu , live tv with 20 channel. The fitness centre was great so there were 2 separate and new machine call scale runner for kid to understand it like the the dog walker treadmill in Jetson . There no elevator to deck 9 . You can tour other sliver sea ship and eat for a day but be back on your original boat by 6pm. Not lot of kids around 6 with 2 babies what hear about the sliver spirt there was about 6-8 on that boat. Show room and card room was master so was the library and panorama lounge. Read Less

I have been cruising with Silversea since 2002, when it was one of the top luxury lines in the world. Since RCL bought Silversea last year, things have certainly declined (if my recent cruise on the Silver Wind is any indication). Cruising from San Juan to Barbados (3/3-3/10/2019), I was dismayed at the difference in quality. Staff caught in blatant lies regarding poor tender schedule, with no apology; inadequate staffing poolside; failure to inform me of a day pass I could have purchased at the end of the cruise at a local hotel to pass the day until my Silversea-arranged flights home; water bottles in our room filled with tap water and reused by the butler every day, instead of fresh bottled water; lack of on-board activities; very late- opening casino with only one black jack table and no players (due to the late hour); room service and concierge desk staff not fluent in English; I could go on. The main dining room had a decent menu, but the portions were miniscule. Terrazza food was good, but the Grill was not. The cabin bathroom was only big enough for one person to use at a time. There was no fan to vent odors. Shower was inside tub with very high side, making it inaccessible to those with disabilities. A fellow cruiser said Regent cruise lines has enormous bathrooms with separate stall shower and tub; perhaps when the Silver Wind is refitted AGAIN (2020) this will be done. Best part of the cruise: Our wonderful butler, Raj, and our very hard-working and always smiling cabin attendant, Neal (?). Although tips were included in the fare, I tipped both of them extra for extra-ordinary service. Sad to say, with 6 Silversea cruises under my belt, there will not be a 7th. I will be switching to Ponant and SeaDream. Read Less

Silversea was a new cruise line for us and reading some of the reports on here you would think it was a cross between old Fred Olsen and new Costa ships! Nonsense - it was quite simply one of the best cruise ship experiences we have ever had. Seven days of small islands in the Caribbean - 300 guests, super service and some of the best food and wine we have ever had on a cruise, and that was without sampling the delights of La Dame which was an $50 per head. Excellent entertainment, smaller scale and more personal excursions - what is there not to like? We got a great deal and interestingly 70% of our fellow cruise passengers were also new to the company. Would we sail with Silversea again? Like a shot, particularly if we got the price and on board credit that our travel agent negotiated. Read Less

MSC Preziosa - Yacht Club - 5-19 March 2019. Caribbean from Barbados via Cruise Club UK. The cruise consultant, Ian Lazarus, delivered on every promise and commitment made. He has been superb throughout the whole process and I would strongly recommend using his services if booking a cruise package. Our second Yacht Club experience having been on board Fantasia last year. We were a party of 6 taking up 3 cabins but this assessment is largely confined to mine, my wife’s and our friend’s experiences. All in all, not as positive on this occasion compared to the near faultless holiday of last year’s transatlantic. FLIGHTS We prefer to travel Premium Economy. This time on Virgin but these were chartered flights by MSC. The experience outbound was very good but inbound less so in a 23 year old jumbo with limited staff to look after 450 passengers. However, since this provision was directly by Virgin, it would be inappropriate to criticise MSC. TRANSFERS Once again, airport to ship was very good but in reverse, the coach arrived earlier than we were advised; was an elderly conveyance with poor (almost non-existent) air conditioning. EMBARKATION & DISEMBARKATION MSC (for Yacht Club) do this better than anyone (we have travelled in Suites with P&O, Celebrity & RCI). Escorted onto and off ship. SUITE No different - perfectly adequate “de-luxe type” cabin - small balcony but the huge “exclusive” top deck area more than compensates. I say “exclusive” but this year it wasn’t. Non Yacht Club passengers accessed this space easily as the two entrance doors were not secure enough. Staff never challenge (not allowed to) and I found myself escorting 5 passengers out of this private area during our 2 week cruise with others unchallenged. Small babies of an age to still be in nappies accessing the jacuzzis with their parents; young teenagers diving in the no diving pool and cigars being smoked in a smoking area next to a sign “no cigars.” TOP SAIL LOUNGE First class facilities & service. BUTLER After the faultless experience courtesy of Putra last year, we struggled with Olivier this year, mainly because of his poor English. La PALMERAIE (Yacht Club Restaurant). One word. PEPÉ There are not enough superlatives to describe this amazing man. The Restaurant Maître Di (officially the Supervisor). He misses nothing. His staff love him. The passengers revere him - in truth, they adore him. Not only is he in complete control of all that happens, he never loses focus on his customers. He is the ultimate professional but is so personable that he is never less than entertaining. The personal service we received was beyond first class as his team aspire to his own very high standards. MSC MUST retain his services because on the strength of this experience, our next cruise would be assured. Thankfully, the Yacht Club Restaurant in the new ships is an integral part of Yacht Club rather than at the opposite end of the ship. YACHT CLUB STAFF It seems unfair to single out anyone but there MUST be special mentions for our lovely waiters, Anna, Nayara (unfortunate to fall sick - hope she is OK), Durian, Zaheem, Luis and Reina (day time concierge). However, I was much less impressed with the night Concierge. Mr. Simone Piletto very much needs some guidance on the provision and delivery of effective customer service and the avoidance of the attitude he displayed toward me on two occasions. Perhaps he was annoyed I had disturbed his Facebook access. SPECIALITY RESTAURANTS Despite a complimentary visit being included for black card guests (4 of us are) we declined offers to the Sushi and Italian eateries. They simply had no appeal since the lay-out was in no way inviting. In any event, why would we miss the chance to be looked after by Pepé and his excellent staff? However, our daughter & son-in-law did pay for a visit to the Galaxy (Sushi Restaurant) and described the food as excellent. LIFTS Strange as it may seem, this was an irritating regular occurrence, even for butlers. Yacht Club cards rarely delivered the exclusive provision to decks 15-18 and we very regularly found ourselves travelling randomly up and down or the cards simply didn’t work. TO SUM UP We do enjoy Yacht Club very much, despite these frustrating instances. However, with us usually travelling as a 4 (we took our daughter & son-in-law with us on this occasion), our deposits for trips on Seaview (Yacht Club) in November 2019 (Barcelona to South America) and on the same ship in December 2020 (Dubai) are now in some doubt. These deposits are, of course, via Mr. Lazarus at Cruise Club UK. Read Less

We stayed 3 nights at the Radisson Aquatica in Bridgetown before we boarded the Royal Clipper. This was a good way to acclimatized to the lovely warn weather as we have had a long cold winter in southern Ontario. The hotel was old and in need of some updates but the staff was wonderful. On Mar 2nd we boarded the Royal Clipper and were amazed by the efficient and quick check in procedure. we took a walk around the vessel and discovered that the ship is in pristine condition, extensive use of brass and teak really gives it the old sailing vessel aura. We found even the deckhands polite and friendly. The best part is that the ship actually sails without engine for most of the voyage. The raising of the sails is a spectacle not to be missed. It never got old. The cabins were roomy and spotless. Our cabin steward Diana was discreet, yet attentive and the room was always tidy. The food was at a five star hotel level. There was always a good choice of entrees for dinner and the breakfast and lunch buffets were excellent. The service on board was second to none. The servers in the elegant dining room were also first class. Our server Marko was always friendly and very efficient. The bar staff was equally as good and Leandre the Tropical Bar tender always had a ready smile and knew my name after the first day. (Could be a bad sign??). The shore excursions were primarily by the ships tender. This ship had a very nice pair of tenders with open sides to let the ocean breeze in, not like the enclosed life boats on other vessels. That was a nice addition. There were never large lines and crowds to deal with as there wee only 200 passengers on the ship. The only criticism was a major mix up with pre ordered wine. It took the head bartender 3 days to sort that out. Our problem did not seem to be a priority to him. Despite that glitch I would not only go again but highly recommend this ship to anyone who appreciates sailing vessels. This one is the ultimate. Read Less

I should start by saying that we were first time cruisers so have nothing to compare this to. We chose Seabourn as we wanted a small ship and good service. We absolutely got this and more. It really exceeded our expectations. The suite was really spacious with a fabulous bathroom and walk in wardrobe. With no knowledge of what suites were good or bad we opted for the gamble of a “guaranteed veranda suite” and got 512. I have no complaints. The half metal balcony did not bother us at all. The ship never felt crowded, anywhere we went there was usually a seat, table or sunbed free. All staff were happy, polite and helpful. All said good morning/afternoon/evening when passing and the housekeeping staff were especially lovely. The food and drinks were really high quality. We loved sitting outside in the Colonnade so went there most lunch times and half the evenings. The main dining room is good too and the food delicious but I feel the lighting is way too bright, reduces the ambience. It’s good that you can either request a table for two or a sharing table (6people max) when you want to meet new people. We failed to make a reservation at the Thomas Keller grill beforehand (rookie mistake) so didn’t get to eat there. Must remember that next time. The cruise was a 7 day “yacht harbours” in the Caribbean but I don’t think it really lived up to that. The first day had to be a day at sea as it was too rough to tender at Saline Bay so we missed the beach bbq. It was held on board instead which was fun anyway. I have read a few reviews where this has happened and wonder if it’s a frequent occurrence? I felt that only two of the places we docked were actually “yacht harbours” others were cruise ports where larger ships also docked. At one we seemed to be at a freight dock with a shuttle to the main port because two larger ships had taken the cruise ship docking area! People on board were probably mainly British, Canadian and American, mostly over 50. There was one small child (very well behaved). I can’t imagine it’s a cruise which children or young people would enjoy. We had a fabulous week and are already planning our next Seabourn cruise. Read Less

Do not choose cabin 422. This backs onto where the crew work very noisy night and day, at night you get woken at 3am and it continues all day and night. This was our third Silversea's cruise and we enjoy their interesting itineraries, small ship size and all inclusive policy. They make it clear that even tipping is added to the cruise price so that you don't have to deal with that once on board. Almost all of the staff on board are very pleasant and well trained especially the service people to take care of the cabins. Also factored into the price was a ship board credit we received. We all know that these 'gifts' are not free and are instead factored into the price that we all pay, a way for the cruise line to support some of their on board amenities. Embarkation and disembarkation went smooth and easy. The included wines were good. The extra cost restaurant was excellent even though the menu did not vary, there were enough listings under the 6 courses that I ate 3 times and never exhausted the menu. Good ports of call Trip to Mustique could have done without the climb from the great Basil's bar to a small building where we were offered a make piece lunch and a drink, that most people declined, focusing on getting down again! Good food and drink Hot Rocks Le Dame La Terrazza Good entertainment The rest of the cruise was great, just that we were very tired. Read Less

We chose Silversea due to their reputation for service and chose Silver Wind in particular due to its small size and itinerary. We had a wonderful time and overall were very pleased with our cruise. Embarkation was AMAZING. We showed up 45 minutes prior to the published embarkation beginning time and within 25 minutes were in La Terazza eating lunch! We kept staring at each other wondering how that happened...but we were so very grateful it did! We were fortunate that two weeks prior the Wind had undergone renovations to their rooms, which we found to be wonderfully appointed. The bed was dreamy and our refrigerator never ran out of champagne...how could anything NOT be good? Onboard entertainment was spotty, but we didn't choose the Wind for that...if that's your thing, choose another ship! Our only disappointment was New Year's Eve; we expected an evening of dancing and instead had a DJ playing kiddie-bop music in the theater...it was a real letdown. Dining was good. Clearly, not great, but good. We ate at La Dame twice and it was...good. Hot Rocks/The Grill gets really old really fast, but the first time was interesting and the food was...good. La Terazza was...good. I was personally disappointed by two things that would have meant so much more if they were done right: 1) We never were contacted about our preferences for what would be in our minibar. My wife had specific interests in if they stocked things, but we never were contacted and instead had to learn about it on the ship. And the answer was no...they didn't stock what she hoped to have. 2) It was my wife's birthday during the cruise and I filled out the necessary form identifying such. Her birthday came and went without any acknowledgement. It certainly didn't ruin our cruise, but it was a disappointment. Excursions were...good. Not much creativity in what they were and only one was excellent (the hiking in Bequia...it was awesome!). We chalked it up to a learning experience and will be more discretionary and inquisitive on our next cruise with SS. Our butler was very good. Sometimes not available, but overall he was available and very good. When my wife and I filled out the on-board survey for Silversea, we summarized it by saying "the service is excellent and the product is slightly above average". One final note: A BIG Thank You to my cruise critic friends for educating me about what to wear on NYE...I clearly felt more comfortable in my tuxedo! Thank you, everyone! Read Less

We have approx 14 cruises under our belt, but this is the 1st for the Caribbean. !st Seabourn , they took care of us all the way. Before we were out of the taxi we were met by a representative and then guided to check in, no lines nor waiting ...and had a drink and lunch in no time. As we left the ship once again guided thru to a taxi, effortless. The room was nice, loved the walk in closet ( penthouse suite ), bathrooms nice and large 2 sinks. The ship was nicely appointed, the rooms needed to be updated but not enough to complain about. Food was excellent everywhere and really loved the "Patio" dining at nite, Service was top notch without being too fussy. The crew were professional and having fun with us at the same time. Wine selection very nice, don't be afraid to ask for something other than what is offered, they will try and accommodate...took a few days to figure that one out. Dis not take advantage of all of the entertainment but did love the band and the cruise director as well as the new assistant cruise director what a voice! Her "one man" show about all the late greats is a must see. WE traveled with another couple and we would both hope to cruise with Seabourn again. Read Less

We have wanted to try a luxury cruise for sometime. We have cruised about 15x on various lines including Princess, Carnival, Celebrity, MSC and Royal Caribbean. Here are some things to consider if you are used to standard cruise lines and debating on higher cost of luxury. Pros for us are fewer people, no crowds, food is amazing! There are 4 different dining venues and 2 specialty ($40 & $60pp). Regular dining room, Asian style, tapas style and our favorite cooking on a hot lava stone. Food was so good we did not do specialty restaurants. Room service has an extensive menu, available any time and Butler sets up linen table setting. You can get “room service” any where on ship when other venues are not open, like between breakfast and lunch. All inclusive is a plus. We have added drink packages on to previous cruises but it is very nice not having to sign every time you get a drink. Room is stocked with what ever you want, wine, beer and liquor. We asked for vodka and they brought a full size bottle! When we drink our bottle of wine it was replaced with another one. There is a butler and he was great but besides making sure our fridge was stocked I am not sure this was a big difference than a cabin steward. Maybe we just did not ask for much. They will shine your shoes, make dinner reservations... The cabins are fantastic, major pro! We typically do balconies or mini suites. All cabins are suites. Bottom ones are window, then floor to ceiling window, next are balconies. We had a deluxe veranda, booked last minute so not much choice. Lots of room, bathrooms are the best we have had. Great shower with rain head and hand held. The cons (for us) are the ship is reallly quiet, very few activities or entertainment. We do not go to shows in the theater but if you do know you will not find that here. We do enjoy a band playing in a lounge and music pool side. There are limited bars and they are not really set up for socializing around the bar. The main lounge has a small bar off to the side and the couches and chairs. There was a solo guitar player, really not much in terms of lively entertaininment. We would have loved an upscale bar with views to relax at in the evening and chat with other guests, A nice martini bar with mixologists would fit well on this ship. There is not main/grand staircase or center bar/entertainment area like you find on other ships. MSC has very attractive boats and I am fond of the rich wood look in lounges on Princess. Celebrity has some attractive areas as well. I am not a fan of goudi look of Carnival. The decks and public areas are very nice on SilverSpirit but could use a bit more elegance in lounges. Rich woods or maybe crystal lights, just something. The carpeting in hallways needs to be replaced, many stains and dirty looking, the walls are tile and I found them unattractive for a luxury ship. This may seem picky but when paying a much higher price your expectations do go up. The gym is super small, so if you work out you may be disappointed. I did a yoga class that was on a small out door deck, 6 of us barely fit. One day it rained so another fitness class was done inside in weight room area. There were 7 of us and barely had space to move, not to mention how warm it got in that little room. The instructor mentioned the week prior no one showed for a single class so I think 7 was a mass crowd. We were in port until 10pm or later but most shops close early so not a lot of things to do after dark. The casino can only open when at sea so it was open very late and the size was like an arcade. We are not big gamblers so this did not matter to us. You just have to think about what matters to you most. Overall the service, cabin, food and small number of passengers were a major plus! We had a very good vacation but most likely will not book again with SilverSeas. It was too quiet for us and not sure the high price tag was worth it. We would love to find a higher end option with more areas of entertainment and mingling. Read Less

We selected this cruise because we wanted a more intimate cruise experience. This was our first yacht style cruise and it won’t be our last. We departed from Barbados. Although a late departure, 11pm we still enjoyed getting to know the ship. The private island was cancelled due to choppy waters. They made up for it with the Market Lunch in the Galley kitchen. Enjoyed the unexpected day at sea. Next day was Guadeloupe which was unfortunately basically closed for Easter Monday. The rest of the trip went seamlessly. We ate in each of the dining venue options, MDR, Colonnade and TK Grill and the patio grill. All a different experience but all delicious. The entertainment was enjoyable. Really enjoyed The Trio and The Band as well as the pianist in the Onservation Lounge. We enjoyed one tea time, their tea selection was quite enjoyable. The intimacy of the cruise at 450 pp was really a highlight! Read Less

Having been fortunate enough to sail on the Royal Clipper several times both in the Mediterranean and Caribbean we felt it would be fun to do the Atlantic Crossing. Utterly brilliant from boarding to disembarkation. On arriving everyone was made so welcome and with only 108 of us there was no queuing. The air of expectation on leaving Barbados was tangible and there was lots of laughter as we got to know each other. With a wonderful mix of nationalities there was always lots to talk about and learn from others. This was added to by some fascinating talks about the history of sailing and navigation. Some may want more 'laid-on' entertainment but everyone was on this ship because of what it offered - something completely different and so incredibly special. We have crossed the Atlantic on the QM2, which was wonderful and all the pomp and dressing for dinner was special but it couldn't compare to this. 16 days without seeing land - we were supposed to call in at the Azores but a storm meant we couldn't so sailed some 300 south. The storm was enjoyed by all of us as even our wine was served in short tumblers. You soon learnt to always have one hand for the rail! The cabins are not huge but it is a sailing ship for a few not a giant for thousands. Having said that they are extremely comfortable and the beds are as good as you will find on any ship and better than many we've been on. Within no time at all the crew know us all by name and what drinks we prefer and the officers come and join different tables each evening for dinner, which is fantastic as we can hear their stories. There is open seating so you can have fun enjoying the company of different people from across the world and we have never heard an argument - only fun! Thank goodness there are ships and cruises for all tastes but if you enjoy good company, good food and laughter then you will never do better than a Clipper Cruise - can't wait for the new Flying Clipper to come into service later this year. Enjoy yourselves whatever you do. Read Less

wanted to be on a cruise with less people and more pampering, this is it. Rates were not bad for a luxury sailing. Highly Recommend. Highlights of the cruise a sneak peak at the Wintergarden Suites, which have a private glassed-in Solarium with a soaking tub and a lounging bed. lots of open deck space, and a variety dining venues made this a great trip. what we got as perks. An invitation from the Master for a bridge visit when the ship is in port. A personal visit from the Hotel Director. Fresh orchids or potpourri in your bathroom. All-natural Molton Brown bath and beauty products including Pure Pampering bath oils. A large basket of succulent tropical fruits. High-quality bathrobes, soft and luxurious. Complimentary Internet service. A large bouquet of fresh flowers when you embark. A convenient espresso machine with a variety of coffees in your suite. Swarovski Optik binoculars in all Premium Suites Complimentary private car transfers between airport and ship.* A choice of daily newspapers delivered to your suite.** Wellness Bag exercise kit containing easy-to-carry workout gear Read Less

Yacht Harbour Cruise Feb 17 2018 Embarkation at Barbados went very smoothly. We arrived at 2pm and were on board, in our suite by 2:45pm, being welcomed by our stewardess with canapés and a bottle of chilled champagne (not sparkling wine,but champagne!) Our bags were delivered by 3:15pm. The suite was lovely. Just like the YouTube videos we had seen. Spacious suite with very comfortable bed. Two club chairs, dining table, couch with foot stool/coffee table. Bring UK adaptors. There are a couple of North American plugs and a couple of UK plugs. We had to run an extension cord across the room for my husband’s CPap. The staff taped down the cord to avoid a tripping hazard . They had no adapters for us to borrow . We travel with an extension cord. The bathroom was lovely too. Double sinks. A separate shower and a soaking tub (no shower in the tub). Plenty of storage space. There is a lovely vanity area with a drawer for cosmetics. There is a walk-in closet which is roomy enough to use as a dressing room. We could have stored clothing etc for a month long cruise and still have drawers, shelves available. By the way, this is suite 648. Just a regular balcony room. The balcony has 2 chairs with footstools and a table. It is cleaned every day - swabbed down, including the glass railing. In general, the food and beverage service was wonderful. The food was excellent in most venues. The Patio was lacking somewhat, but you have other options! The Restaurant was excellent, food and beverage. The Thomas Keller was good, but not hugely superior to the Restaurant. The house wines are great. Many different wines available as part of the basic fare. We opted for wine in our suite and bottles arrived regularly! Lots of water too. One treat that we enjoyed was the caviar and champagne. Order whenever you want. Nice! The fitness facility was very nice as well. The pools were clean. Two pools. Main pool was about 5 feet deep and there is a stairway with a wide stair at about 4’ deep suitable for aqua aerobics. Lots of lounge chairs but hard to get one in the shade at times. The pool on deck 5 is very small, and only 3’6” deep. There are 2 whirlpools here and it is a much quieter choice than the main pool. The only drawback with this is getting a drink. Sometimes no service there, but always water and self serve soft drinks in the cooler . We took this cruise for the ship more than the ports. Frankly, they all blend together in my memory! Some were very sleepy. The weather was so windy that we missed having the marina day with caviar in the surf. This was done in the pool instead. We also had to change our Tobago port due to wind. Didn’t bother us. Bottom line, I highly recommend Seabourn Odyssey. The crew was excellent. The ship well maintained and clean. All as advertised! Read Less

We chose this cruise as we have been meaning to try Seaborn for some time and the itinerary offered some different islands, (even more after the changes because of the hurricanes.) We may well go with Seabourn again, for the right itinerary, but we are by no means 100% converted! We had already notched up over 20 cruises on nine different lines, mostly in the Caribbean and the Med. I can honestly say that we have never had a bad cruise: there have been one or two indifferent experiences, but the majority have been good, and a few, truly great. For us the difference between a good cruise and a great one is the buzz or energy aboard when everything “gels”. Unfortunately, this was lacking on the Odyssey. To give Seabourn credit, there are some things they do exceptionally well and we appreciated these - but as we read in other reviews, there are gaps. The pre- and post- cruise arrangements were almost faultless, but the welcome aboard was non-existent. The cabin/stateroom/suite was about 50 % larger than we are used to, but the engine noise. vibration and “rocking and rolling” was much more marked than on the larger ships. The service was mostly excellent, but there were exceptions – for example, no crew members on the pier to assist guests with mobility problems board or leave the ship. The food was good but not outstanding and the choice of dining venues quite limited for most of the week. No meal or dish stands out as having been exceptional. We liked the sense of space around the pool, but the ship was very quiet while in port with virtually no music or activities. We were certainly not looking for party central, but the whole atmosphere aboard seemed muted, the incidental music very samey and middle of the road, and a feeling that Seabourn took pains to keep everything, from the décor to the general ambience, very low key. Bland is the best word to sum it up. (Reminiscent of my father’s golf club in the 1970s.) We have asked ourselves, If Seabourn and Celebrity were to offer a similar itinerary at a similar total cost, which would we choose? Sorry, Seabourn, it wouldn’t be you! Read Less

Recommended by family contact who works in the travel industry . We hate the idea of those monster cruise ships and the Royal Clipper with around 200 passengers was the biggest we had ever been on . It suited us very well although we are not fanatical sea and sand people and there were plenty of beach stops . We had no difficulty finding compatible fellow passengers , mostly Americans who don't like Trump ! The ship is something unique ; for the less ambulant there are a lot of stairs which can cause problems when there is a lot of 'rock and roll ' .The ship has a pleasant lounge , a library , a so -called tropical bar which is the main gathering place , a spa and gym , massages and Turkish bath on offer , and a capacious dining room ,( a bit cramped ; some tables were difficult to access . The food was excellent ; quality rather than quantity was the name of the game and the head chef , from the Philippines , did us proud . The quality was excellent , sourced in USA apparently , Three meals a day were supplemented by snacks at 5 pm and just before midnight . Coffee , tea and fruit were available all day ; wine was not part of the deal but was reasonably priced .Entertainment was a bit homespun ; the talent evening was mostly provided by the crew , plenty of water sport on offer for those who wanted it . The ship has 3 young people on board whose job it is to provide this . You can even climb the rigging up to the crows nest if you fancy it , and learn how to tie nautical knots , visit the bridge and the engine room if you like . The crew are lovely , officers and other ranks alike . Maybe it all starts with the charming captain , a Russian from Estonia , who learnt his skill with tall ships in the Soviet navy . Service is excellent and always with a smile . Our ship could access smaller ports than the monster liners and the few excursions we did were all very enjoyable , in particular the train trip round St Kitts . A voyage to remember ! Read Less

We chose this cruise because we were kind of "burnt out" on the big ship cruises. The idea of sailing - really sailing - as well as a smaller group of passengers (175) was really appealing to us. The food was fantastic. The crew members were attentive without being smothering and the service was impeccable. I was amazed that the crew knew us by face/name by the second day. We were not constantly hounded to purchase something which was our experience on the big ships. There was definitely more of a family feel to this trip. There are no elevators so this is not a ship for those with mobility issues. The public rooms are beautifully appointed and comfortable. It was so easy to lose track of time and really disconnect from the world. WiFi onboard is a bit spotty but that was OK with us. When we were in port, there was generally free WiFi available to send quick updates to families and friends. The evening meal is an opportunity to get together with new friends and also to be placed at a table with people you haven't met yet. There were several "singles" taking the cruise and because this is such a small group of passengers, they didn't seem to feel left out or lonely at all. Just about all of the tables are 6-8 seats so this makes for nice mixing of new people. If you need a casino or lots of shopping on board, this is not the cruise for you. The last day almost felt like the last day of a really fun summer camp, everyone exchanging emails with new friends, many people taking the same cruises each year and meeting up. This was without a doubt the most fun I've ever had on a vacation. We will be back! Read Less

We have sailed the Silver Wind before, but this time the crew was even better. Our service was outstanding. The itinerary was disappointing and several of the islands should have been totally skipped, but the service, food and overall experience was worth it. Our butler, Lori, was outstanding. Our room attendant was great! Our servers in every restaurant and every service area were second to none. There were so noted outstanding servers but Michael was among the best. The food was outstanding with a great variety every single day. The entertainment nightly was also outstanding. They performed at high levels no matter what the venue. The various guides and on shore help made things very simple and easy. We can't say enough about the ship, the crew, the way they make you feel at home, yet at the highest level of service you can imagine. We have stayed all over the world and in some of the finest hotels. Silversea service meets or exceeds that service in every way. Read Less

The ship is a yacht -there were 110 people and 95 staff. This was a special cruise and we were two of fourteen of the Domaine Carneros wine group, hosted by founder Eileen Crane. This cruise exceeded every normal expectation and exceeded even Crystal or Seabourn, which are both excellent, more formal, and newer ships and amenities. The yacht has six decks with suites on two-through five, is lovely, casual and everything is easy to get to. There are multiple eating areas, dining, gym, spa and all the normal amenities, including a casino. The cabins are small suites, more than adequate and plenty of room for personals brought on the yacht. There are larger suites, but our suite was centrally located on Deck 4. the bedding and comforters are exceptional. Dining was amazing in the dining areas, with a buffet for both breakfast and lunch and ordering the main breakfast/lunch off the menu for both. Choices always nclude both gluten free (many for all courses) and vegan. For each meal there is a ‘Chef’s Selection’ for all courses, and multiple alternatives and other choices. The food is prepared to order and there was not one meal that was not prepared to perfection. This is a more casual atmosphere without formal nights or ‘dress up.’ During the day, shorts, causal attire was perfect. At night, no jeans, but yacht casual, summer dress, pants and top, and for men slacks and a collared shirt. The service was impeccable and the staff knew each of us by name from day one and addressed us by name. We were part of the wine group and we had a Winemakers Dinner that was exquisite with champagnes and wines paired with each course. There was a minimum charge on this but it was a token compared to the quality of champagnes and wines that were served-each in their appropriate glass. This group also had special champagne and food hosted by Eileen Crane at no additional cost and some wine tastings. The first night we were each provided Sea Dream pj’s with our name embroidered on the top. There was an impromptu pj party on the only night it rained. On the top deck you can sleep under the stars in beautifully done beds and those had to come in due to rain and others joined then in the piano bar for the pj party. Each night we had appetizers and either champagne or wine before dinner—done beautifully. We cannot say enough about the staff-Severin and Garrett were amazing bartenders and went above and beyond. They represented the best of Sea Dream. The sommelier Frank was more than knowlegable and attended to every wish and desire -like everyone else with a smile. The Tai massage therapists were excellent and the cabin staff were consistently fast, efficient and helpful. The spa is on our deck 4 and I utilized the sauna, steam and shower first thing often. The caviar splash and Bar-B-Q was an amazing excursion with everything necessary brought out to the beach. Some of the other excusrsions were not was well organized and were done by island people rather than the Sea Dream staff. There is a pool and jacuzzi but one highlight was the availability of jet skis, snorkeling off the yacht, weather permitting daily. For those who scuba dive-that is available too. Fresh made popcorn for watching movies from the extensive DVD library. Excursions without cost are available and you can join the staff for bike-rides or hikes. We cruised at night and docked daily at a different island. The smaller sizer of the yacht allowed us to dock where bigger ships cannot. This was not your normal Caribbean cruise. All the ports were lovely destinations. I will mention that going throiugh customs in Barbados is a long process—waiting in line to have a visa stamped. All the planes arrive at the same time-and it took 2 hours. We learned later for $60 they will expedite the process. :( We stayed at the Barbados Hilton Resort the night before the cruise-some stayed in more expensive places-but our room, the amenities and beach were lovely and we would have loved to stay there again. The week was truly glorious. Read Less

My wife and I love small cruise ships. We prefer a “country club casual” dress code; great food and service; and an intimate vessel that makes it easy to meet new and interesting fellow travelers. We’ve cruised on Windstar and several other small-ship ocean cruise lines many times, as well as on river cruises in Europe, the U.S., and the Amazon. I’ve been intrigued by SeaDream for several years, and this year we finally took the plunge on a 7-day Caribbean winter-getaway cruise from Barbados to St. Thomas. We’re glad we did! Embarkation: Getting to - and on – a ship at the beginning of a voyage is often one of the most stressful, frustrating parts of a cruise. Embarkation on SeaDream was easy and seamless. We arrived portside about an hour before boarding was to start. SeaDream had port agents there to take our luggage and free us to wander Bridgetown unencumbered at our leisure. At the designated 2:00 pm time, we caught the shuttle to the ship, were welcomed aboard with champagne and a lovely buffet, and quickly and efficiently went through the registration process. It couldn’t have been easier. Disembarkation was just as easy, albeit a little sadder. The Ship: SeaDream is a tiny, all-inclusive, boutique cruise line, consisting of two, thirty-year-old ships, (cleverly named SeaDream I and SeaDream II). These identical, very well-maintained ships each carry about 110 passengers and 96 crew members. The ship has a small pool and hot tub, plenty of lounge chairs and lots of shaded nooks and crannies to curl up with a good book. There are several bars around the ship, with convivial bartenders eager to keep passengers well-lubricated. SeaDream has a very loyal clientele. Half or more of the passengers had sailed on SeaDream before; often many times. One couple had spent 311 days on SeaDream ships. It doesn’t get much more loyal than that. Dining: The food on SeaDream II was superb! (Thank you, Alastair!!) There was always a seafood dish on the menu, plus a variety of entres. I don’t eat tofu, but there also appeared to be plenty of tasty options for non-carnivores. The main dining room on Deck 2 is lovely, but most evenings (weather permitting) dinner was alfresco at the Topside Restaurant on Decks 5 and 6. Pre-dinner cocktails were served in the lounge or poolside, and always included a wonderful assortment of hors d’oeuvres. Cabins: The cabins on SeaDream are adequate in size ( 195 sq. ft.), nicely appointed and well layed out, but there are no verandas. The bathroom is quite small. You actually have to sit side-saddle to use the throne. The shower, however, is decent-sized, and water pressure is good. On-Board Activities: There are no Broadway shows, water slides or midnight buffets on SeaDream II. During the day, the sports platform is out for swimming, sunning and enjoying an assortment of water toys (both motorized and non-motorized). The two jet-skis were great fun, (however, after riding in choppy water I quickly learned how my dog must have felt when I had him neutered). The piano bar on Deck 4 was a fun place to be after 9:30 pm. Fred is a marvelous piano player and loved to accompany us in ad hoc karaoke. Across from the piano is a tiny “casino” consisting of a single blackjack table at which Alexandra is always “feeling very generous”. Bartender Severin happily and efficiently kept us all well lubricated. SeaDream did a great job helping my wife celebrate her birthday. At dinner they served her a beautiful - and tasty - personalized cake, and everyone, of course, sang “Happy Birthday”. On a ship this size, (we had only 88 passengers on board), most everyone already knew her and came up afterwards to wish her a happy day. And when we returned to our cabin, we found it festively decorated with balloons and towel animals. We were very pleased. The Crew: The SeaDream staff came from all over the world: Phillipines, Thailand, South Africa, Hungary, Croatia, Norway, etc., etc. They were all outstanding. They were fun, funny, efficient and attentive, and knew our names by the second day. I worry about naming a few names because so many wonderful crew members will be left out. But among the folks who made this voyage so memorable are Nikola the maitre d’, Frank the sommelier, Eugene, Fernando and Alfie in the dining room and Tonya, the masseuse. On a somewhat negative note, we wish there had been more opportunity to mingle and talk with the Captain and senior crew. We first saw the Captain at the reception Sunday night, and then again when we disembarked a week later. But never in between. On a small ship like this, we’d prefer that the Captain not be invisible. Other Activities and Issues: SeaDream’s much-touted “Caviar and Champagne Splash” and beach party easily lived up to the hype. It was a hoot!!! Everyone – passengers and crew alike – was eating and drinking and smiling and laughing. Where else can you wade into surf to be served caviar and champagne from a surfboard? The setting was perfect. A beautiful stretch of beach with plenty of chairs, a wonderful buffet and a well-stocked bar. With fewer than 100 passengers, the beach was never crowded. You could lay out in the sun, or in the shade of a palm tree, and relax and enjoy. It was a wonderful day SeaDream provides each passenger personalized pajamas with names embroidered in the shirt. We understood that the pajamas were “one size fits all”. That works for me, but my wife is less than 100 pounds soaking wet. Three months before the cruise, I asked SeaDream if they could provide my wife pajamas in an XS. No dice! Her lovely, personalized pajamas were Extra Large and useless to her. We threw them in the trash. What a waste. SeaDream’s much-touted “Sleeping under the stars in a Balinese Bed” was very disappointing. We took the advice from SeaDream reviews and were among the very first passengers to board the ship. We immediately reserved the most secluded and private of the Balinese beds (on the bow of Deck 6) for my wife’s birthday later in the week. When that day arrived, there was no communication from SeaDream reminding us or providing guidance on how best to take advantage of the experience. We also discovered that the only way to get to that Balinese bed was to traipse through a crowd of passengers in the Topside Bar. The above-mentioned pajama issue was also an obstacle to enjoying the Balinese bed. As a result of all this, we visited our Balinese bed after dinner, sat under the stars for an hour or so, and then returned to our cabin to go to bed. It should have been more fun and memorable than that. As is the case with most cruise lines, excursions booked through SeaDream are expensive and a bit of a crap shoot. We took only one excursion all week, a disappointing Catamaran and Snorkeling adventure. The sailing part was scenic and enjoyable, (it was a lovely, spacious boat), but the snorkeling was a waste of time. For the even more-expensive ($159 pp) “Tropical Eco-Adventure by Zodiac”, we fortunately never got off the wait list. Friends who took this excursion said it was awful. Instead, that day, we visited the amazing Deshaies, Guadelupe, Botanical Garden. A beautiful place well worth three hours of our time.!! We could have taken the SeaDream excursion to the Gardens for $79 per person. Instead, we took the tender into town and looked for a cab. By pure luck, we discovered there was a free shuttle to the nearby gardens. Perfect!! We paid our $16 pp admission and had a great time, while saving a total of about $125 in the process. Afterwards, the concierge on SeaDream claimed to know nothing about the free shuttle. A word of warning to those prone to sea-sickness. This is a small, older ship configured with less-than-state-of-the-art stabilization. A couple of times we sailed all night in choppy waters, and the SeaDream II was rocking and rolling a lot. We found it soothing and relaxing; but some motion-sensitive passengers may not. I don’t want to overstate the negatives on this cruise. For the most part, they are little nit-picking things that could easily be fixed or simply ignored. Overall, it was a wonderful experience, and a marvelous relaxing week. I expect that we will be back on board a SeaDream cruise again in the not too far distant future. Read Less

We were interested in getting to some of the countries in West Africa and this cruise included three stops (Togo, Benin, Sao Tome) as well as two countries in South Africa (Namibia & South Africa). The staff were very supportive. The Cruise Director (Leslie) was Outstanding at managing the afternoon Trivia (best we've encountered in over 30 cruises). This was important because we had nine sea days. He was helped by an amazing group of guests who supported Leslie and each of the other teams which made it fun, friendly and definitely not a "blood sport". In terms of visibility, the Executive Chef (Farid) was also Outstanding in that he "was everywhere" checking on guests and pitching in to help if his team needed assistance. When we would comment to him about his visibility and helpfulness, he would always just say that it is his team that is doing all the work. The General Manager (Damien) was also very visible and one day when we happened to be riding in the elevator with him and said we wanted to book an appointment to see him about a problem, he got off with us and gave us our cabin number because he was already aware of the problem. He continued to monitor the problem and bring the resources he could to solve it (heat in the cabin). Our only problem was the heat (or lack of cooling) in the cabin while the outside temperature was above 20 C (68 F). The first night the cabin could not drop below 27 C (80.6 F). With multiple visits from the A/C engineer and intervention by the General Manager, they got it down to 21 C (70 F) even though the A/C that was coming out of the ceiling vent was 19.5 C (67 F). For some reason, the cold air could not fall down to the bed/chair level. I believe it is a challenge of the "R Class" ships that need a revamp of their HVAC system. The other thing that was interesting was that this cruise was the second leg of an Oceania "Around The World" (ATW) cruise. Out of the 640 guests, almost 200 were on the ATW. It was very interesting dining with a variety of guests, many of whom were ATW cruisers. We very much enjoyed the food in any of the dining rooms as we had expected with Oceania. However, while the Italian Specialty restaurant was run perfectly as you would expect of a Specialty restaurant, we found the steak house, Polo Grill, to be more of "another dining room with a Specialty Dining Menu". It was the small touches that were there in Toscana that were missing in Polo. We were fortunate in that Oceania had included three Enrichment Lecturers, each was very knowledgeable and had a large number of talks so that on many of the sea days we could actually get three lectures. One was on Photography, one on Destinations and History of Atlantic exploration and the third was an extremely capable lady who had lectures ranging from Food History to Music evolution (she is a professional Violist) to evolution based on skeleton finds in Africa. Read Less

We sailed to the Caribbean for the weather. On the whole it was lovely weather. We chose Seabourn Odyssey for dates and itinerary. Embarkation in Barbados was not well organized; there was not a SB Rep indicating that the line to board the port shuttles to the ship should be kept inside...it was raining and people were queuing outside, as per port reps. More than 50 people waited for the first shuttle to arrive. Once in the ship, registration was smooth and officers and crew were helpful. We received only a token juice upon arrival, no champagne, nor even prosecco. We would like to point out that the CD Chris was charming and it was a pleasure to hear him sing. Our cabin, 825 in the pool deck, was adequate. What was shocking was a miniature TV set, which could not be properly seen from either the couch nor the bed, that also failed to work several times. The movie selection was good, but not adapted to the screen. Even though we do not cruise to watch TV, at times we watch movies between activities. The bathroom was adequate, great to have two sinks, but the shower stall was small to move around in. Our stewardess was very sweet, but we missed having a butler. We very much like the concept of the MDR (the Restaurant). We found the food good and very good and we were pleased. The wines were acceptable, as we could ask for substitutions when we deemed necessary. What we found surprising was the inconsistency of the service crew. Some were excellent and others perfectly poor! We could tell there were more than a few who were not properly trained. We liked the Colonnade for lunch and enjoyed most of the food. The servers were good on the whole (after all it's a buffet...smiley face here), but the wine servers were not up to task. Many times we had to flag wine servers several times during a meal!! We ate at the TK twice. We had excellent and not very good offerings both times. All servers, however, were impeccable. We did not eat at the Patio. Lunch starts at 1:00pm, and since we have early breakfast, we just could not wait. Dinner starts at 7:30. What we did not enjoy was having no available food venue between lunch and dinner, except for pastries and limited sandwitch offerings in Seabourn Square. Of course, there's always room service, but we would have preferred to have snacks by the pool. Seabourn Square, by the way, is a gem of a site! The library is diverse and pretty well stocked. The coffee is excellent and the servers are delightful. The ambiance is congenial in a quiet way, as it should be. For us, port highlights were San Juan and Santo Domingo, but we also enjoyed going for the first time to Martinique and Guadeloupe. We like to chat with locals and walk around the towns. We felt safe all the time, and spent good money to contribute to the islands' economies. We found we enjoyed the entertainment, especially a magician and comedians. The dancers were very good and the singers as well. Debarkation in Miami suffered by not calling "by colors" and many people queued at the same time. All in all, it was an enjoyable cruise. Read Less

We have had a Seabourn Cruise on our radar for many years. Having sailed on all the major cruise lines, we were anxious to compare our Windstar, Azamara, Regent Cruise experiences to Seabourn. Everything we heard about Seabourn led us to believe that we would receive fine service. We anticipated excellent food and service. Unfortunately, many of our expectations were not met. What did meet or exceed our expectations? Embarkation - The Barbados Port left something to be desired as we waited in the drizzle for the bus to take us to The Odyssey. After a 10 minute wait, the bus finally arrived to take us to the ship. There was a mad dash to board the vehicle. Magically, when we arrived, Seabourn staff rushed out to meet the passengers holding large umbrellas. It was obvious that the Port of Barbados was responsible for the transfer to the ship...not Seabourn. Once we boarded, the embarkation process was perfect. Stateroom Stewardess - At 2:00pm, we left the pool deck to go to our stateroom. Stephanie was there, greeting us with a huge smile. She was a delight from the first day to the last. She was constantly in motion. I truly felt that she needed a pair of roller skates. I have never seen hotel staff work so hard. Methinks Seabourn needs to hire additional room stewards. Cruise Director & Entertainment - Chris was the consummate host. He was always ready to greet us. When I asked Chris who I should complain to about an issue, he immediately contacted the person responsible (without telling me). We typically do not go to more than two or three shows during a cruise. We felt that the entertainment was first rate. Fellow Passengers - We met some fantastic people on the cruise. I would guess the average age was 65. We enjoy small ships and the Odyssey presented us with lots of opportunities to engage with other passengers. Ports Visited - We were pleased to revisit Martinique, Guadeloupe and Santa Domingo. On our previous cruises, we explored on our own and were not impressed with the ports. This cruise, we booked excursions and found the ports to be much more enjoyable. We toured the San Juan El Morro Fort which was worthwhile. Beach Day at St. Kitts - This day was certainly a highlight of the cruise. The Odyssey staff went way beyond to give us a fantastic BBQ and day at the beach. Perfect logistics, plenty of beach chairs, an amazing facility, lots of food and fun beach toys. So wish this could have been better... I can honestly say that after reading several negative Odyssey posts on CC, I assumed that those posters were just being picky. Actually, those people were just being truthful. As a 10-time Seabourn cruiser said to me "something just seems a bit off on this sailing". For this first time Seabourn cruiser, that something was service. Service Issues – Emilian Cygan is a new Seabourn Captain. The only passenger interaction that I saw him engage in was at The Restaurant one evening when he hosted a table. The Captain wasn’t the only newcomer to The Odyssey. Chris Harley, our cruise director was also recently promoted from the entertainment staff as was the assistant cruise director. Chris was very professional, the other two were awkward in their positions. It was obvious that a great number of staff members were new to Odyssey or Seabourn. The service in the Colonnade in the morning and during lunch was particularly bad. You could certainly tell the experienced servers from the new staff. The new staff got orders mixed, did not come back with beverages and were way too busy to smile. We finally gave up after four days and had all of our breakfasts in The Restaurant or via room service. A huge issue for my husband is Gluten Free options due to his Celiac Disease. This is where the service truly had an impact on our vacation. We have sailed on 10 different ships since his diagnosis. His Odyssey experience was one of the most frustrating. The very first day in The Colonnade he asked if there were GF rolls and was told that there were no rolls, but they did have toast. He also asked the dessert servers if they had anything he could eat besides ice cream. He was told no. Two nights later at dinner when he remarked that he would love a cookie, the waiter brought him a delicious GF one. Without asking, the waiter offered to have cookies delivered to our room the next morning. There were no cookies delivered that day, so my husband went to the square for coffee. They did not have GF pastry or cookies at the Square, but, promised to have them for him the next day. That night at dinner, the assistant restaurant manager inquired about our dinner as we were not able to eat the tough, dry chicken. We also told him of our issues with obtaining GF food. He promised to have the cookies delivered the next day. Well….no cookies the next day in our room or at the Square. By this time, I had totally given up on receiving pampered service…I just wanted service. We met with the assistant restaurant manager, David, again and he was truly upset. He informed us the next day that there had been some communication errors between the kitchen, room service and the restaurant. He also advised us that a meeting was held to ensure that the communication issues were corrected. They were. Every day, my husband would receive a plate of cookies. My husband also asked at his first Colonnade breakfast if there were GF muffins or pastry. He was told no. This was false. David informed us that they certainly had both available. On Day 7, he was finally served the pastry which turned out to be the best he has had since his Celiac diagnosis. I truly believe the lack of experience staff contributed to the poor service. Pool Towel Issues – Three days in a row, towels were not available by the pool or on deck 9 after 400pm. Pool attendants did not seem to care as they shrugged their shoulders and explained that “we called 30 minutes ago”. Food Quality - We sailed on Princess last year and experienced their new enhanced suite class dining. The food quality, selection and taste were superior on Princess compared to Seabourn. I expected to be blown away by the food on Seabourn...I was not. In the Colonnade on several nights the menu consisted of one salad, fried chicken or ribs and desert. This Thomas Keller menu was served family style. The Restaurant was fantastic for breakfast. However, service and food quality went downhill for dinner. One entree, (a Thomas Keller chicken dish), was so dry that it was inedible. I was offered a different entree and declined because the desert sounded amazing. Unfortunately, it was not. The steaks were ordered medium and served well done. The salad and soup options were meager. My husband’s GF pizza in the Patio came out totally uncooked…even the cheese was not melted. After sending it back twice, the chef came out to inform us that it was a pre-cooked frozen pizza crust and he cooked it for 10 minutes at 250 degrees on the plate it was served on. Anyone who has ever cooked a frozen pizza knows that this time and temp won’t cook the pizza. After we gave the chef instructions, my husband received a properly cooked pizza the next day. Would we sail on Seabourn again? I’m really not sure. I know from past experience that when a cruise line brings new ships into service, it can be a drain on older ships as their top staff may jump to the new ship. Several first time Seabourn cruisers that we met onboard indicated that they would return to Silversea or Oceania. While we had many enjoyable moments on the Odyssey, it could have been so much better. Read Less