Seabourn Odyssey Review

4.5 / 5.0
213 reviews
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Editor Rating
4.5
Very Good
Overall
Carolyn Spencer Brown
Contributor

Editor's Note: Seabourn announced in March 2023 that Seabourn Odyssey will leave the Seabourn fleet, effective September 2024.

When the contemporary-styled Seabourn Odyssey debuted back in 2009, it was hailed as a revolutionary new ship design for Seabourn, a line whose style had previously been more traditional. Odyssey had a freshness about its interiors, with sleekly decorated public spaces and larger-than-average all-suite accommodations outfitted with up-to-date tech enhancements. It also offered a more expansive variety of restaurants than had been previously offered on a mainstream luxury cruise ship.

With 462 passengers, Seabourn Odyssey is designed for a sophisticated traveler who wants a balance of experiences. It offers a very social atmosphere; for example, dining is open seating allowing passengers to choose their companions. Trivia, held on sea days, is massively popular; on our sailing 25 percent of all passengers participated. There are plenty of chances to interact with your shipmates via a number of socially driven opportunities. Particularly fun was a fabulous "corridor party," held at the beginning of the cruise, when passengers socialized with their cabin neighbors with the help of Champagne and hors d'oeuvres, served by wait staff, and introductions, provided by officers.

One of Odyssey's greatest charms is that it has a generous space ratio. Even on a sea day it never feels crowded in the main pool area. There are so many lovely nooks and crannies tucked all over the ship it can you take you the whole voyage just to find them. (Start with the aft deck at the back of Seabourn Square or the forward whirlpool, tucked into the bow, on Deck 6.) Staterooms, from standard suites to the splashy Wintergarden, the ship's largest, have deep balconies, separate sleeping and sitting areas and dining tables.

In other areas, Seabourn could improve the overall experience on Odyssey. Evening entertainment, particularly lavish production shows, feels stale. There's plenty of enrichment through onboard lecturers, but very little when it comes to educating travelers about itineraries (and virtually nothing on the line's intriguing partnership with UNESCO and its heritage sites). .

Inconsistent service was perhaps the biggest disappointment on our trip. This matters because impeccable service is a Seabourn Cruise Line hallmark. In some areas, particularly in dining venues, it was as sensational and intuitive as you'd expect. In others, the levels of service seemed below standard. In particular, bars and lounges seemed understaffed and servers were overwhelmed. Our cabin stewardess, who did not properly clean the suite on the first day and committed various other infractions throughout our stay, was not Seabourn quality. And if first impressions count, our sluggish and impersonal embarkation process is handily beat, in quality and efficiency, by a recent voyage on a 6,100-passenger ship.

Seabourn Odyssey, in the end, offers an excellent cruise experience that balances elements of traditional luxury cruising (all-you-can-eat-caviar and butlers in high-level suites) with contemporary features, including a range of dining options and shore excursion menus that include active excursions alongside more passive ones.

Pros

The ship's ambience is contemporary and elegantly casual with plenty of options

Cons

Service on a vessel known for intuitive crew was surprisingly inconsistent

Bottom Line

The ship is ultra-comfortable, social and small enough to nip into offbeat ports

About

Passengers: 462
Crew: 333
Passenger to Crew: 1.39:1
Launched: 0
Shore Excursions: 183

Fellow Passengers

On Seabourn Odyssey, passengers are primarily well-traveled couples aged 50-plus. Shipboard life is also suited to solo travelers and groups of friends traveling together. Most hail from English-speaking countries such as the U.S., Canada, U.K., South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

Seabourn Odyssey Dress Code

Daytime wear is casual, but what Seabourn considers casual is more upmarket than big-ship dress codes. It's truly a country club-style of dress; loungewear at the pool, rather than shorts and T-shirts, for instance. Jeans are welcome in all dining venues during the day, and in a move announced in late 2022, at dinner if they are elegant.

Seabourn recommends one of two categories for evening attire: Elegant casual and formal. The elegant casual dress code is in place on most nights. Elegant casual attire includes slacks with a collared dress shirt or sweater (jacket optional) for men and skirt or slacks with a blouse, a pantsuit or dress for women. On the rare formal night, which only applies to dining in the Restaurant, the ship's main venue, men wear tuxedos or suits (jacket required) and women wear dresses or flowing pantsuits; elegant jeans are allowed. In all other restaurants onboard, the elegant casual code prevails.

Seabourn Odyssey Inclusions

Seabourn Odyssey is reasonably inclusive. All of its dining venues are complimentary. Open bar exists throughout the day and night, with wine, spirits, beer, soda and water. Wines are poured with lunch and dinner, gratis. Gratuities are not required (or expected). Other freebies include Massage Moments on the pool deck on sea days (depends on availability of therapists) and a free "Shopping with the Chef" tour (capacity limited). Internet access is only included for upper-category suites. A 10 percent gratuity is automatically added to spa treatments, and passengers may up that amount if they wish.

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More about Seabourn Odyssey

Where does Seabourn Odyssey sail from?

Seabourn Odyssey departs from Juneau, Vancouver, Hong Kong, Kobe, and Seattle

How much does it cost to go on Seabourn Odyssey?

Cruises on Seabourn Odyssey start from $2,484 per person.

Is Seabourn Odyssey a good ship to cruise on?

Seabourn Odyssey won 14 awards over the years.
Seabourn Odyssey Cruiser Reviews

8.5 out of 10

Were we happy we tried Seabourn? Absolutely.Read More
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Canahana

many10+ Cruises

Age 50s

Great way to experience Alaska

We booked the Odyssey fairly last minute.Read More
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Jotravels

many10+ Cruises

Age 58s

Seabourn - still fabulous after all these years!

Life and circumstance prevented us from cruising with Seabourn until this past summer when we went aboard the Seabourn Odyssey with friends, cruising through the inland passage of Alaska.Read More
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Lovin travel life

few6-10 Cruises

Age 60s

Great Alaska cruise, food, service not so great.

By the way, the Odyssey has been sold, this is her last season with Seabourn.Read More
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BFM TX

oneFirst Time Cruiser

Age 60s

Seabourn Cruise Line Fleet
Seabourn Odyssey

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