In 2023 My husband and I had the pleasure of a 21-night cruise, sailing from Venice Italy to Athens Greece, through Croatia, Montenegro, The Greek islands, and Turkey aboard the Seabourn Encore. We had a wonderful time exploring all the many benefits and luxuries of this amazing ship. Follow along as I give you the inside information you need for your next Seabourn Cruise with the list of things, I loved the most about the Seabourn.
The Service
This was our fourth cruise with Seabourn, and the service is what you expect from a leading luxury, all-inclusive, brand. Seabourn’s crew exhibited excellent attention to detail. On a vessel of 600 guests, we were greeted by name by nearly every crew interaction we had onboard.
The attention to detail is impressive. Within 24 hours the bartenders had our afternoon drinks as soon as we stepped onto the pool deck. They knew my husband liked a bourbon and a white wine for myself, and then followed by wine pairings at dinner.
The Dining
The Restaurant is Encore’s main dining room. The restaurant is not considered specialty dining, but don’t be fooled, the quality of the meals would make you think differently, and as a result, most of our evening meals were enjoyed here. The option to dine with others or a quaint table for two, was on offer every night, the service is fantastic, the decor was lovely, and the wide variety of menu options kept things fresh every night, and it is always a pleasure to arrive at the restaurant any night of the week to enjoy the exquisite service.
The Sushi bar is very popular, we did manage lunch and dinner on a couple of occasions, always good and fresh.
The Patio grill is always great for something different each day, whilst having lunch by the pool, or when returning from a shore visit.
The colonnade is a nice way to start your day, sitting on the verandah for breakfast, with a variety of different food stations, hosting everything you could ever want for breakfast. and the staff attending to your every need.
Earth and Ocean on a nice night, is great for an evening meal on the open deck, with its specialty meals changing every night.
The Onboard Events
During our cruise, there was the caviar event where guests were treated to caviar, champagne, finger foods, and cocktails. The outdoor event replaced Earth and Ocean on these evenings, with a cocktail party where guests could dance and mingle.
There was a sail-away event, hosted similarly during our cruise. This event served as a fond farewell and crew appreciation party. Guests were treated to cocktails and a wide assortment of hors d’oeuvres and cocktails as each department of the crew was recognized for their contributions to our journey.
It also served as the first time we saw the faces of many of the crew members who worked so hard to keep us satisfied. The crew members lined the upper decks overlooking the pool area where we all sat enjoying the party.
The most special was the exclusive evening concert reception on-site in the Ruins of the Ancient City of Ephesus. We were taken by charter bus to the ruins at sundown and enjoyed an exclusive orchestral performance with Turkish Mezes and Cocktails at the centre of a 2,000-year-old Roman Ruin. An amazing evening in Ephesus and the crew reception when we returned to the ship was another show of its own.
The Design
The Encore is a small ship packed with Luxury. While most new ships in the industry are adopting light colour schemes, Seabourn Encore has a classic warm wood tone, which makes the ship seem cosy without feeling like the walls are closing in on you.
The ambiance onboard is of comfortable luxury. Pristine marble floors and gilded metal fixtures, compliment art pieces carefully selected and placed throughout the ship. Everything felt very high-end and meticulously cared for.
The Laundrette
The Seabourn Encore offers a thoughtful perk that often goes unnoticed but is highly valued by seasoned travellers, 24-hour access to a complimentary onboard laundrette, complete with a steamer. this amenity is a game-changer. It’s one of the most quietly coveted luxuries among world cruisers. With this feature, Seabourn takes the stress out of packing.
Upscale Casual
Seabourn has created an experience that is neither pretentious nor overly formal. We were very comfortable in shorts and t-shirts throughout the ship during the day, with swim wear on the pool decks the general attire. No swimsuits in bars and restaurants after 6pm, but other than that you can choose how fabulous you want to be.
For gentlemen, long pants and closed-toe shoes are the only real requirement in dining venues. I do encourage you to bring a blazer or a suit if you prefer, so you don’t feel outshined at any of the formal nights.
For the ladies, Cocktail dresses seemed to be the evening favourite. On formal night shine as bright as you want, that special formal dress won’t look out of place here.
Shore Excursions
The ports of call were magical, but the excursions made them truly memorable. From exploring the ancient ruins of Ephesus in Turkey to sailing the tranquil waters of Montenegro's Bay of Kotor, each experience was perfectly curated. Whether you take an excursion or just want to wander around the town or area of the day, Seabourn will transport you to the shore and welcome you back, when you have completed your exploring.
The Seabourn Square
This quickly became our favourite, with its specialty coffee bar, it's light snack any time of the day or a quiet lounge area to sit and read, or ask a question from the attentive staff, it felt like a private club at sea.
I hope this gives you a clear idea of what to expect from a Seabourn cruise. As you can gather, Seabourn fills its intimate ships with top-tier events and amenities, allowing guests the freedom to explore the experiences that resonate most with them. This is the essence of luxury cruising—enjoying more of what you love without the crowds or the pressure to purchase additional packages.
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