In previous posts from Seabourn Quest we’ve talked about a number of elements that go into the onboard experience. Like many other cruise lines, the experience on board Seabourn is unique and geared toward a certain clientele. Premium priced, simply the cost of sailing Quest will rule out a good number of travelers, much like any other top end line. That’s probably a good thing too. The experience of a Seabourn cruise is akin to the caviar they serve on the beach, an acquired taste that is not for everyone but a perfect fit for those who appreciate it.
That’s not to say that only the well heeled sail Seabourn. They let me on the ship and they don’t do background checks for social connections before boarding as far as I know. Still, a good working knowledge of social graces will come in handy.
As a teen, my mother had me read a copy of Amy Vanderbilt’s Complete Book of Etiquette, required reading in our family, and tested me on several chapters she felt important. This is not information I use on a daily basis. Knowing how to properly greet the Queen is in there along with which fork to use at a formal dinner. The Queen was not on board but there were plenty of forks. I knew which one to use for the most part. Thank you Amy. Thank you mom.
There is a bit of formality to a Seabourn cruise that helps define the experience, but just a bit. Where I recall writing of Cunard line “Don’t fool yourself, every night is formal night on Cunard”, Seabourn suggests more relaxed attire.
“The experience is luxurious, yet relaxed… elegant, yet casual… sumptuous, yet understated. From the first moment you step aboard, you will begin to appreciate the appeal of sailing with Seabourn,” says the line on it’s website.
In other words, the Seabourn experience is very much customizable to each individual’s taste and social comfort level. That said, let’s tackle dining options available on Seabourn Quest.
As we have discussed here before, food quality is a very subjective topic. What one person finds heavenly, another may not care for. On Seabourn, both are in for some of their best dining experiences ever. From a full multi-course experience at the ships main dining room, The Restaurant to an assisted, themed buffet experience in The Colonnade, Seabourn gets high marks for making each dining option unique.
The ships Restaurant 2 is by reservation only and offers even finer fare in a fun way, 12 courses in small plates, 3 at a time. The relaxed Patio Grill redefines poolside dining by presenting grilled offerings for swimwear-appropriate lunch to suggested evening attire dinner and all dining options are included in the price of a Seabourn cruise. There are no additional-charge options.
Just to make it easy to remember: No extra charge for any dining choice on Seabourn, period.
Even room service is an event on Seabourn. Waiters set up dining in-suite or on the verandah, white tablecloth and silver service included. We put that department to test on our voyage, often working through a mealtime. I liked that room service remembered our preferences, called us later to see how we enjoyed what we had ordered, and came back to remove the service ware. You won’t see trays of used dishes in the hallway here.
That level of service is typical of other guest-contact departments on the ship and one more element that further defines the Seabourn experience. Crewmembers go out of their way to make each guest’s experience enjoyable at a level rarely seen on other lines. Having the highest crew to guest ratio in the cruise industry translates on board to crewmembers that have time to do a superior job in all they do.
That’s saying a lot for a line where gratuities are neither required nor expected.
Take tipping off the table and what does that leave? What motivates these crewmembers to do such an extraordinary job? After just minutes on the Quest it was abundantly clear that these people have a deep-seeded pride in what they do. I can’t even imagine what the crew selection and training process must be like but I’d wager that it is far more extensive than other lines. It would have to be in order to produce a crew that is so laser-focused on guest satisfaction. This is not a focus on getting good marks on an exit survey. This is taking care of business on a minute-to-minute basis throughout the voyage, a practice that will naturally lead to a lasting positive impression of what they do.
I seriously doubt that our memory of this sailing will become blurred years from now.
That crystal clear notion begs the question: “So how do I go back to another line after this pinnacle experience?” Better question: “How does someone for whom Seabourn was their first cruise ever cruise another line and not be disappointed?”
The answer for both questions is similar:
Allow Seabourn to be the bar that we compare other cruise experiences to in the future.
Also a member of Carnival Corporation’s Worlds Leading Cruise Lines, the Seabourn brand is clearly defined. Like sister-lines Cunard, Carnival, Princess, Holland America and others, each has their place and clientele. If asked what my favorite cruise line is I have always been hard-pressed to come up with an answer. This sailing on Seabourn Quest further complicates the matter.
We started our cruise history with a Carnival Funship and have always enjoyed the experience. We don’t really get into a lot of the onboard activities that Carnival offers its guests but the unique, customizable nature of a cruise experience that Carnival defined for the industry has made cruising our primary choice for travel.
Our experience on Seabourn only solidifies that belief.
Is this the end of the story on Seabourn? Hardly. We’ve only scratched the surface on an experience that might be looked at as easy to define. After all, the ship’s daily newsletter, The Herald, barely takes up one sheet of paper and the onboard programming listed is sparse so how do passengers occupy their time? How does a more inclusive experience play out on board? What about onboard entertainment, spa and fitness options or shore excursions?
These and other questions will be answered in future posts before we leave this ship and return to the real world.
As we close in on the end of any voyage, an enduring result is often going back to that “real world” changed a bit. Call it refreshed, relaxed or renewed, a good cruise experience can do that. A great experience can be open one’s mind to areas never before dreamed of. I have a feeling that this stellar experience is going to have a major impact on our future and where we go from here.
Colin Powell once said “If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters. Excellence is not an exception, it is a prevailing attitude.”
Seabourn lives excellence every day, in all they do. I’m thinking some of that excellence is going to rub off on us and that new standard for all things cruising will redefine what we do here.
I’ll let you know when I get back to the real world.
Coming up
- A major cruise line fan’s guide to sailing Seabourn
- A day on Seabourn is worth a week on another line
- Seabourn is not for everyone but oh how wonderful if it is for you
Related articles
- Major cruise line vs the Seabourn experience- part two (chriscruises.net)
- Top digs on major cruise line vs the Seabourn experience (chriscruises.net)
- A day in St Barts via Seabourn Quest (chriscruises.net)
- At sea, there is dining and then there is Seabourn (chriscruises.net)
- I think Guy Fieri is stalking me all the way to Seabourn Quest (chriscruises.net)
