Seabourn has one of the most straightforward itineraries of all the cruise lines that specialize in offering high-priced luxury vacations.
Every vessel in the fleet belongs to one of these three classes: the Odyssey-class ocean ships, the Encore-class ocean ships, or the expedition ships (to which Seabourn has not been assigned a class designation).
Each of these groups is comprised of vessels that were built roughly at the same time according to the same fundamental design. If you are familiar with one member of the group, then you are familiar with the others as well.
Seabourn has seven ships in its fleet, including two ships of the Encore class, three ships of the Odyssey class, and two expedition ships. The departure of one of the ships from the Odyssey class from the Seabourn fleet in 2024 will result in a reduction of that number by one.
In this article, we will discuss the various characteristics of each of Seabourn's three ship classes to assist you in selecting the luxury vacation that best suits your needs.
An Introduction to the Ships of the Seabourn Fleet
Seabourn is one of approximately a half-dozen major cruise lines that compete in the market for "ultra-luxury" trips. These are itineraries that promise a high level of elegance and pampering and have a price tag that is commensurate with these promises. Seabourn is one of the cruise lines that compete in this market. The business, which was established in 1988, asserts that it was one of the first in its field.
When compared to the enormous floating megaresorts that are managed by Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Carnival Cruise Line, the ships that are operated by Seabourn are far smaller and offer a higher level of personalized service. Each vessel in the Seabourn fleet is only able to accommodate a few hundred guests, as opposed to the thousands of passengers that other cruise lines can carry.
However, even though the ships are on the smaller side in comparison to what you would find on a mass-market line, passengers will not feel suffocated. When assessed by their space-per-passenger ratio, they are among the most spacious ships in the world. This ratio is around fifty percent more than what you'll find on the majority of mass-market ships. They also maintain a staff-to-guest ratio that is nearly identical to that of one-to-one, which is one of the highest levels found in the cruise industry.
Measurements that are used as a shorthand for determining the amount of luxury provided by a vessel include the space-per-passenger ratio as well as the staff-to-passenger ratio.
When the ships are moored in tranquil and sunny locations, Seabourn passengers can take advantage of other luxurious amenities, such as the ships' onboard marinas, which provide opportunities for water-based activities.
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For a ship of this size, every cabin is a suite, and there are an incredible amount of restaurants, bars, and lounges throughout the ship.
The Encore class and the Odyssey class are two of the three different types of ships that this company operates, and their designs are quite comparable to one another. The primary distinction between the two is that the ships of the Encore class are significantly larger. They are, in all essential respects, Odyssey-class ships that have been expanded by one deck to accommodate additional suites and public areas.
As a direct consequence of this, the Encore-class ships are designed to accommodate up to 600 passengers on a double occupancy basis, whereas the Odyssey-class ships are only capable of carrying 458 passengers.
The third and newest class of Seabourn ships, the expedition ships (Seabourn does not use a formal class name for these vessels), are much smaller ships specifically built for expedition cruising. Expedition cruising is a type of adventure-focused cruising that involves visiting hard-to-reach and off-the-beaten-path places such as Antarctica and the Arctic. Seabourn does not use a formal class name for these vessels.
The capacity of expedition ships is calculated to accommodate a maximum of 264 passengers at a time, assuming that all seats are occupied.
The luxury vessels run by some of Seabourn's competitors, most notably Regent Seven Seas Cruises (which primarily offers vessels carrying 700 to 750 guests), are larger and more extravagant than those operated by Seabourn. Seabourn's ships, on the other hand, are smaller and less extravagant. The collection features a more understated and personal form of luxury. If you're looking for soaring interiors that are laden with expensive marble and crystal chandeliers, Seabourn might not be the right choice for you. On the other hand, Seabourn ships can be a suitable option for you if you value privacy, sophistication, and a low level of flashiness in your vacations.
Encore Class
Ships that belong to the Encore Class include the Seabourn Ovation (2018) and the Seabourn Encore (2016).
The Seabourn Ovation and the Seabourn Encore, both of which belong to the Encore class of ships, are the largest cruise ships operated by Seabourn. These are the Seabourn ships you should select if you subscribe to the philosophy that "bigger is better" when it comes to cruise liners.
Having said that, the ships are not all that unlike the smaller Odyssey-class vessels operated by the company (further information on such vessels is provided below). They are built on the same foundation as the Odyssey-class ships but with one more deck. They have all of the same key public spaces that exist on the previous vessels, often in the same positions. However, they also include a handful of additions, the most noteworthy of which is a sushi restaurant.
Seabourn Square, which is placed in the middle of each vessel in the Encore class and is open to the public, serves as the ship's primary gathering spot. This is also the case with vessels in the Odyssey class.
Seabourn Square was a novel idea when it was originally introduced in Seabourn Odyssey, and the best way to describe it may be as the living room on the ship. It is a multipurpose room that serves as a lounge, a cafe, and a library, and it is furnished with comfortable seats, workstations that are equipped with computers, a puzzle table, and cases that are lined with books.
The most enticing aspect of Seabourn Square is a coffee shop decorated in the style of a European establishment that serves freshly baked pastries, homemade gelato, and other delectable bites in addition to expertly constructed cappuccinos and other espresso drinks. In the middle of the room is a circular concierge area, where members of the staff can assist you in making reservations for activities. The room also has a guest services desk and a desk where you can make reservations for future voyages.
The Grand Salon is one of the other major public venues aboard each ship in the Encore class. This room resembles a theater and features tiered seating; during the day, it functions as a lecture hall, and at night, it hosts various performances. The Club is an intimate lounge that also features a bar and a discreet casino off to the side. The Observation Bar is located at the very top of the ship, directly over the bow, and provides breathtaking views in every direction (even better views than those that are visible from the bridge, which is located one deck below).
The Restaurant is the ship's primary dining room, and it serves upscale meals in a formal setting. The Patio is a poolside venue that serves lighter fare, and The Colonnade is a casual café that offers both buffet and table-service dining during the day. Other dining options include The Colonnade and The Patio.
During the evening hours, the Patio is transformed into the table-service restaurant Earth & Ocean. In its latter configuration, it provides cuisine in the style of a bistro, with the menu changing throughout each journey.
In addition, the ship is home to The Grill by Thomas Keller, an eatery designed by the acclaimed chef. It is his interpretation of the traditional American restaurant of the 1950s and 1960s, complete with his adaptations of well-known dishes from the American culinary canon, such as New York strip steak and lobster thermidor. On certain evenings, Keller was also responsible for the creation of the menus and dishes for the family-style dinners that were served at The Colonnade.
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The Sushi restaurant, which specializes in sushi and has just 30 seats total, is exclusive to this class of ship. It is a well-kept secret that this restaurant is tucked away in a nook off of the main staircase. At night, they serve exquisite and inventive sushi and sashimi dishes. Disassembled "bento boxes" containing cooked entrees such as miso salmon and teriyaki chicken are served during the day. The teriyaki chicken "bento box" comes with a bowl of miso soup as well as individual servings of salad, rice, and oshinko.
No additional fees are required to be paid to eat at any of the onboard restaurants, which is typical of luxury vessels.
The spa and wellness facility aboard the ships of the Encore class is compact but luxurious, featuring a total of five treatment rooms in addition to a salon, a thermal area, and a fitness area.
Adam Tihany, a well-known hospitality designer, was in charge of the interior design from top to bottom for all of the ships in the Encore class. As a result, the ships in this class have a more yacht-like appearance than the previous vessels in the Odyssey class. Tihany did not work on the early vessels, which have a sleekness that is more in keeping with the Nordic design.
Because Tihany rethought the interior design of the Encore-class ships, I feel the overall aesthetic of those ships to be more appealing than that of the Odyssey-class ships. Having said that, I have conflicting thoughts regarding their bigger size, which leads to a sensation that is somewhat more congested. This is most obvious when one visits the primary pool areas of the ships, which are not very much larger than the primary pool areas seen on Odyssey-class ships even though the ships transport around one-third more passengers than the Odyssey-class ships do.
The Encore-class ships have several additional hideaways for outdoor lounging that are tucked into little nooks at their fronts and backs. This is a positive feature of these ships.
Class of the Odyssey
Ships that belong to the Odyssey Class include the Seabourn Quest (2011), the Seabourn Sojourn (2010), and the Seabourn Odyssey (2009).
As was mentioned before, the design of Seabourn's three Odyssey-class ships is comparable to that of the line's two Encore-class ships; the primary difference is that the Odyssey-class ships are a little bit smaller. The three vessels are approximately 23% lower in gross tonnage than the vessels of the Encore class, which total 32,326. They have a capacity that is approximately 24% lower.
As a direct consequence of this design decision, the Odyssey-class ships have a cozier atmosphere. Although there are some significant variances, the basic configuration of the ships of both classes is nearly the same. However, there are a few key exceptions. If you choose to sail on one of the Odyssey-class vessels, you and your fellow passengers will make up a smaller percentage of the total passenger count. This will result in fewer people congregating around the main pool and in the casual diner The Colonnade during lunch.
As is the case with the Encore-class vessels, the public sections of the Odyssey-class vessels are organized around a centrally placed public gathering space known as Seabourn Square. This space incorporates a lounge, a cafe, and a library within its layout.
In addition, the ships in the Odyssey class contain Grand Salons that have tiered seating for entertainment and lectures, a quiet bar and lounge called The Club, and an Observation Bar that is located on the ship's top deck and offers expansive views.
The most significant distinction between the Odyssey-class ships and other cruise liners is that the Odyssey-class ships have one fewer deck and, as a result, 24% fewer suites. The only significant difference that can be seen in the public spaces is that there is no sushi restaurant and that The Grill by Thomas Keller has been shrunk in size. (At first, these ships did not feature any restaurants owned by Thomas Keller; however, space that was formerly used by The Colonnade has since been repurposed to house Thomas Keller establishments.)
The deck of the Encore-class ships where the huge Thomas Keller restaurant and the sushi restaurant are situated is not present on the Odyssey-class ships. This deck is where the sushi restaurant is located.
The vessels of the expedition
The Seabourn Pursuit (2023) and the Seabourn Venture (2022) are the ships that belong to the expedition ship class.
When you want to explore less traveled routes, the Seabourn ships Seabourn Pursuit and Seabourn Venture are the ones to book.
They are both expedition ships, which are much smaller than the other vessels in the Seabourn fleet and are meant to hold only 264 passengers each. These are small vessels that are created to be particularly durable so that they can go to the most remote and difficult-to-reach places on the planet, such as Antarctica and the Arctic.
Both of these vessels have extra-thick hulls in addition to other features that give them the ability to break through ice in polar locations. This is standard for vessels of this type. Zodiac boats, which are used for landings in isolated places that lack infrastructure, are transported by this aircraft. They also have adventure guides who will accompany you on the landings and provide commentary on the local flora, fauna, and scenery.
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However, in contrast to the majority of expedition ships, both the Seabourn Pursuit and the Seabourn Venture are magnificent cruise liners. These ships have many of the same high-end venues and facilities that can be found on Seabourn's larger and more conventional luxury vessels. If you know the bigger ships, you'll feel right at home aboard the excursion ships.
Both the Seabourn Pursuit and the Seabourn Venture feature Seabourn's unique Seabourn Square area, which is equipped with a guest services desk, a coffee bar, and a selection of light refreshments. Both establishments provide a more formal dining option known as The Restaurant in addition to a more relaxed cafe known as The Colonnade.
The Club is a bar and club that completes the ship's public areas. It is modeled after Seabourn's vast spa and wellness center but is significantly smaller.
The suites on these vessels are particularly opulent, and their spacious bathrooms, each of which has a bathtub, are light. Even for extended voyages, the walk-in closets give enough storage space, and each room features a tiny drying closet for use with outdoor activity apparel. After days of rain and landings that involve getting wet (you put on waterproof boots that were provided by the ship and step off the Zodiac into the sea when you reach the shore), the latter is a nice touch that makes up for it.
The already well-thought-out design of the ship is further elevated by the inclusion of thoughtful details found within the cabins, such as binoculars made by Swarovski and a pillow menu.
The adventure ships also provide amenities that are exclusive to their class, such as a "mud room" with cubbies where guests can prepare for landings in distant regions such as Antarctica and a pair of submarines that can be chartered for underwater expeditions for additional price.
In a nutshell, the ships can be thought of as more compact and action-packed renditions of the larger Seabourn yachts.
Bottom line
Although there is a major difference in size between the three types of Seabourn ships, all of the onboard venues and facilities are the same across the board. If you have traveled on any Seabourn ship and enjoyed your time there, you will most likely enjoy traveling on one of the company's other ships as well.
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