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Worldwide
recently had the pleasure of attending a special one night cruise on the
Seabourn’s new Odyssey. This 450 passenger 5 Star vessel is the
first new build luxury ship in around a decade and is a welcomed new
arrival for the luxury market.
Needless to
say it is impossible on an overnight sailing to really experience the
ship in just one night but you certainly can get a taste of what to
expect. What you do notice very quickly is that this ship has the same
high level of service found on Seabourn’s smaller “yachts”.
The décor
of this ship is very contemporary and clean and bright. To put it into
hotel terms think of a W hotel versus a Ritz Carlton. Of particular note
is the main dining room which has high ceilings and hanging white
drapery for a fantastic effect. The good news for our industry is that
room will hold all 450 passengers if needed, which won’t be the case in
some other new build luxury ships. We had dinner in this room and of
course it was perfect.
While all
of the suites are outside some do not include a balcony. All of the
suites are very well appointed including a nice sitting area. The
standard balcony cabins all have a very nice sized balcony that allows
outdoor dining if desired. Bathrooms have separate tubs and showers with
two sinks. No one is going to be disappointed in a standard suite and
the larger suites are fantastic.
New and
notable features on the Odyssey include a much improved Observation Bar
compared with her smaller cousins. This room is perfect for private
functions. Seabourn Square is a multi-purpose area including the
reception and shore excursion desks as well as the internet café,
complete with a café/bar area, library and just a very relaxing area.
Restaurant 2 is Charlie Palmers last concept dining experience for
Seabourn passengers and extremely well done. The Spa is huge and
includes two suites complete with dining tables, you can make a day of
it here at a price. This is beyond a doubt the biggest spa area on any
smaller luxury ship.
Not so
notable is the main theater. While I am told it will hold the entire
ship, it sure looked tight to me. The room itself doesn’t have the same
elegant feel as the rest of the ship and is more like entering a cave
but it does have all of the latest a/v equipment. although sight lines
are a problem with several pillars blocking views of the stage from
several locations
This ship needs to be keep in mind for your groups of 400 to 450 for a
charter opportunity as well as for smaller groups. Seabourn’s style and
service are sure to exceed most anyone’s expectations.
Note: The
views expressed are those of the contributor - Steve Bloss - and do not
necessarily represent those of WWTCA. November 2009 |
