Seabourn is at a severe disadvantage in the luxury cruise market in that its chief asset cannot be accurately expressed in a brochure – you can only really understand the Seabourn difference once you have experienced these wonderful vessels. This intangible asset is the warm, friendly, home from home ambiance that Seabourn Pride has in spades, and this is the reason a huge number of my fellow guests had in excess of one hundred cruise days with Seabourn. The service style is whatever you want it to be and by this I mean that the staff anticipate your mood and act accordingly. They allow for privacy if this is what you want, or are quite happy to enjoy a joke if the mood is lighter. They are friendly, helpful and very professional, making you feel that your needs are being catered to the last detail. Seabourn also pride themselves on learning your name within
24 hours of embarkation.

On day two I was amazed to be greeted with a warm “good afternoon Mr Loizou” from Jan, Seabourn Pride’s charming Cruise Director. Due to the ship’s small size, with just 208 passengers, I instantly got my bearings. The public areas are understated and immaculate, echoing the intimate and refined Seabourn style. There is a lovely observation lounge where afternoon tea is served, perfect for watching the world drift by in extreme comfort.

The small gym and spa are excellent and there are also a business centre, library, boutique and card room. For those sunny days the Sky Bar is a wonderful al fresco area to have lunch and enjoy a drink. The only negative about the outside space is the swimming pool which is a little tucked away in the shade. At the very front of the ship, accessed by a set of stairs situated just outside the Bridge, is a small area of deck with a hot tub – a real gem of a place to sunbathe.

During my sea day I found it difficult to believe that the ship was at full capacity. As I moved from lounge to deck, I didn’t see more than a dozen people in any one place until dinner…this gave a true sense of intimacy. Although a small ship, Seabourn offers a choice in dining and the cuisine is excellent. The veranda café (or Restaurant 2 by night) offers bistro style fare and a tasting menu on alternate nights. In all, seven tasting menus are offered over the course of two weeks and on both occasions that I dined there the food was excellent. My only criticism is the décor, which while suitable for during the day, is a little casual for a meal of the calibre I experienced. The main restaurant menu is sufficiently varied to suit all palates and the pouring wines, included in the fare, are of an excellent standard. In addition, there
is a paid for vintage wine list with some very interesting options.

Seabourn is not really the cruise line for night owls. After dinner the entertainment is low key, but of excellent quality. We were lucky enough to enjoy a first class recital by a British pianist. The Club offered a duet and a band who sang a great selection of music. During the day port lectures and yoga classes are given, as are complimentary massage moments at pre-arranged times. Again, quality not quantity is the best way to describe the daily events programme. The suite layout, wider than on equivalent ships, gives a welcome feeling of additional space. The lounge area opening onto the Juliet balcony feels like an extension of the seascape before you, with the light flooding in through the balcony doors. So whilst Seabourn does not feature the spacious verandahs of its competitors, the Juliet balconies still enable you to enjoy the fresh air and fantastic views. Although being small can in many instances be restricting, Seabourn uses its size to its advantage by selecting tiny off the beaten track ports of call, and delivering an exceptional level of service and unique warm ambiance. After five nights onboard Seabourn Pride, I understand the “intangible asset” and I urge you to cruise with them so you can fully appreciate it for yourself.