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Here's Why SeaDream Yacht Club is a Secret Hidden Gem

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Want to know a secret? I'm reluctant to tell you, but it's my job! There's a magically special exclusive cruise experience out there that you may have heard of, and perhaps dismissed. Edwina discovers why SeaDream Yacht Club is a hidden gem when she cruised on Sea Dream II recently. Read more below...

When I talk about this little cruise line, I tend to get a slightly negative reaction from seasoned cruisers. 'Oh', people say, turning up their noses… 'SeaDream, aren't those ships rather old? I heard the bathrooms were tiny And no balconies? Oh no, not for me.' When we hear this, happy SeaDream insiders hide their secret smiles and turn away - it's all about being in the know!

Actually, plenty of people ARE in the know, and you need to book early to get on at all, especially in Europe. But with a passenger complement of just over 100 on each of the two tiny ships, it's not surprising these away from the crowds voyages are a sell-out. So, given all those things that 'people' say are true, what IS the secret behind SeaDream's discreet success?

the pool deck on SeaDream

These two little yachts - and given their length of 344 feet I think we can justifiably use that term - were indeed built way back in the 1980s, but constant refurbishment and lots of loving care have ensured they are pristine. The 'tiny' cabins or staterooms are in fact 195 square feet, and all have a sea view, comfortable queen bed, and a well-appointed living area, not to mention loads of storage space with beautiful joinery.

As for the bathrooms - well yes, small, but quite enough space for a multi-jet shower, with a proper Perspex wall and door - no awful shower curtains. And if you miss a balcony - just step outside, the whole yacht is yours!

Yacht_Club_Stateroom_Deck_3_4_2_

Family-owned means everything here. Chairman Atle Brynestad is a Norwegian entrepreneur with a long seafaring history reaching back to the 1980s when he founded Seabourn.

His son Andreas is the company's president, his wife Linn Stokke's influence is felt in the beautiful décor and extensive plant-based menu (optional of course), not to mention the Elm Organics toiletries produced by the company she co-owns with her daughter Sinne, a chemical engineer.

seadream_yacht_club_caribbean

The family feel extends to the longserving officers and crew, whose loyalty to the company was cemented when they were retained on the payroll through Covid-19. And once you are on board, you immediately feel like family too, relaxed enough to order off menu or make a special request to enhance your experience.

We love to dine outside, and are welcomed on deck even when dinner is being served in the dining room. We don't really like to sleep under the stars, but some do, and their bed is made up beautifully at the front of the yacht.

dining_outside_on_seadream

If you like to cycle, bicycles are taken ashore for you, and sometimes the Captain will invite you to join him for a ride or a hike, and maybe stop for a beer along the way.

When you get back, you will probably find the marina in full swing, with motorised watersports followed by swimming off the back of the ship, or maybe slithering down the water slide.

the marina on seadream is used for watersports

Rarely mentioned is the amazing spa, but for me this is one of the stand-out features of a SeaDream cruise, with extraordinary highly trained Thai-certified therapists, as well as sunrise Yoga and Tai Chi.

If this unpretentious experience sounds right for you, the ships winter in the Caribbean and summer in Europe, with itineraries in the Mediterranean and beautiful Norway. But shhh…don't tell anyone!

sea dream in greece
Meet the author

Edwina Lonsdale is Managing Director and together with husband Matthew, owner of Mundy Cruising. Most recently she's cruised on Windstar and has also sailed with Silversea, Seabourn, Regent Seven Seas, Crystal, SeaDream, Ponant, AmaWaterways and Aqua Expeditions. Her favourite destination is the Galapagos however she's also enjoyed cruises in the Mediterranean, Danube, Middle East, East Africa & Indian Ocean, Brahmaputra, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, the Mekong, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, the Caribbean and the Arctic. When she’s not travelling she loves reading, food and wine.

More about Edwina

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