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It's Our Pleasure
The Yachts of Seabourn deliver
stellar service with a smile
By Susan J. Young
Seabourn is the very cruise line that boasts about its service to guests, but based on a recent 14-day Caribbean journey, the Seabourn Legend proved itself a vessel that stands out from the crowd, even when the crowd has a good track record. Onboard staff were exceedingly warm and welcoming, yet service was professional and polished. Crew members learned guests' names quickly, and staff came to be thought of as family, not just service providers. Requests were not just fulfilled, but often anticipated. Service was delivered with a friendly smile and often with the words, "my pleasure."
Seabourn staff went beyond the norm. A waiter waded into the surf in the British Virgin Islands with his shoes and socks still on to assist a mature lady who was having trouble getting out of the water. As he gave her an arm, he quipped, "I should give you my pager number for the next time," bringing a grin to her face. One housekeeper made five trips to cheerfully retrieve dozens of additional hangers for a family who clearly brought along far too many clothes.Room-service waiters were among the best and most personable to be found, the wine sommelier smoothly anticipated guests' beverage needs in advance, and the entire dining room staff moved in concert like a finely choreographed show.
A watersports marina offers water toys and activities from
the comfort of a Seabourn mega-yacht.
Even the Seabourn Legend's captain seemed totally engaged in his role of keeping guests happy, informing them of weather and interesting facts about the journey, and most
of all, giving the impression that he viewed the regular public address announcements as a pleasure, not a chore. Following are other gleanings of Seabourn Legend, based
on an inspection from this recent Caribbean journey.
Target Passenger: While drawing many mature travelers, the Seabourn product is now attracting more boomer professionals. Onboard this cruise were many past guests and mostly mature couples, but also some younger couples in their 50s, 40s and even 30s. While this isn't considered a kids' ship, and there are no children's facilities onboard, the few children blended in well. This product appeals to destination-focused clients for whom the specific itinerary as well as the chance to mingle with "like-minded" professionals is important.
Seabourn guests need to be able to entertain themselves much of the time with games, books, videos or spa or pool activities - this is a small-ship product, so it doesn't feature tons of activity options. Clearly, Seabourn guests demand the finest in cuisine and wine, and they attach high value to excellent, personalized service. And while the ship still places a hefty emphasis on black tie and semi-formal nights, there are new casual dining options in the Veranda Cafe.
Public Areas: Launched in 1993, the Seabourn Legend received a major refurbishment in 2002, and its spa was redone in 2003. The ship decor features clean Scandinavian lines with much chrome and glass. Styling is not glitzy, but classy and simple. A central core staircase leads guests to the main areas of the ship, including the purser's desk, the shore excursion office, and the various bars, lounges and dining rooms. Since the ship only weighs 10,000 GRT, everything is close, and guests learn the layout within a day or so.
On the top deck, the Seabourn Legend features a swimming pool, several whirlpools and plenty of space for kicking back to relax on deck chairs. As a soothing perk, spa staff provided complimentary mini-massages several times a day on deck. An inviting library with a small living room area was popular among guests, who borrowed books, VHS tapes and board games, along with newspapers when available. A small business center offered Internet access, and the game room was frequented by Seabourn guests, primarily for bridge.
A boutique offers jewelry, gift items, a selection of both casual and elegant clothes, souvenirs and sundries, while a small casino offers two tables and about a dozen slot and video poker machines. The full-service Spa at Seabourn offers "Ceremonies," basically combinations of treatments to be enjoyed throughout the time the guests are onboard, similar to what they might experience at a spa ashore. The Ceremony of Tranquility, priced at $501, features five rituals including massage for the muscles, aroma stone therapy for the spirit and skin nourishing masks for the body and face - all polished off with a professional manicure.
An adjacent gym features the latest exercise equipment, and Pilates, yoga and aerobics classes are available, as is a beauty salon. The forward Observation Lounge, with its 180-degree views, was highly popular upon arriving in any port; it also served as a meeting point for trivia contests, afternoon tea and cruise consultant programs.
Impeccable service is what really distinguishes the
Seabourn Legend from other ships.
Accommodations: The Seabourn Legend has 104 suites, ranging from 277 to 575 square feet. Suite interiors are inviting, bathed in color tones of blue and tan. All suites feature complimentary champagne upon arrival; a minibar stocked with two bottles of wine or spirits, sodas and bottled water; a television/VCR unit; a Bose stereo radio/CD; fluffy terry robes; an in-suite safe; fruit basket that's replenished as needed; stationery personalized with the guest's name; direct-dial phones; and a hair dryer.
The Seabourn Suite features a living area consisting of a couch, two comfortable chairs, a coffee table that doubles as a pull-up dining table, and a large picture window. The separate sleeping area offers either a queen or two double beds, a large dresser area with multiple drawers, mirror and desk, and a large walk-in closet. The bath has one sink, a toilet and a combination tub and shower, along with a corner storage area. The deluxe Balcony Suites are the same size as the Seabourn Suites, but they feature French door balconies, allowing guests to open the doors for views and fresh air. Larger suites feature the same amenities, plus more space and often full balconies.
Dining: With menus designed by Charlie Palmer, the cuisine on Seabourn Legend is refined and eclectic. The quality of the dining experience on all levels was superb. Complimentary wines are served with dinner, with a full wine list available for those who prefer to order their own wines at an additional charge. A Galley brunch one day was both stylish and fun, with everything from grilled lobster to pasta, Asian hot and sour soup and carved meats. Light menu entrees are available. The Veranda Cafe offers sumptuous buffets for breakfast and lunch, but waiters still eagerly offered to bring guests whatever they wanted from the buffet or such items as eggs or pancakes freshly cooked to order. At dinner, the Veranda Cafe hosted free theme dinners, although reservations were required; French, Italian, and Spice-Asian were among the offerings. On formal nights, men still need a jacket in the more casual Veranda, but on other nights, no jacket is required. Guests can dine al fresco on the terrace of the Veranda Cafe. The Sky Bar was a great place for luncheon barbecue fare on the grill.
Shore Excursions: In the Caribbean, Seabourn offers a lovely and relaxing complimentary shore experience for calls at Virgin Gorda. The line reserves a private beach, brings most of its staff ashore, and rolls out an impressive barbecue spread of grilled meats, lobster, salads, vegetables, baked potatoes and all the trimmings, along with an open bar. At the start of the party, the line offers its Caviar in the Surf experience, where guests stroll out into the water, greeted by dining and service staff up to their waists in water, offering a floating buffet bar with caviar and all the fixings.
Optional Caribbean shore excursions included helicopter adventures, dolphin swims, independent four-wheel-drive tours, kayak and hiking options and submarine rides along with city, historical, cultural and eco-tours. A well-rounded "Tropical Martinique" tour, costing $55 per person, visited a historic church, botanical garden, rum distillery and St. Pierre, the former capital, which was destroyed in a 1902 eruption of Mount Pelee that killed 30,000 residents. The town is now eerily rebuilt around the stone wall remains from that volcanic eruption. The motorcoach also takes guests on an impressive rainforest drive, and through tiny fishing villages. In Puerto Rico, a two-and-a-half-hour San Juan city tour provided an overview of the sights and a visit to San Cristobal Fortress, for $25 per person.
Entertainment: For a small ship, Seabourn does an admirable job with entertainment, although guests shouldn't expect big shows. The cruise director and two assistant cruise directors doubled as hosts and entertainers, along with a very good female lounge singer, the Seabourn Legend Quartet, illusionists, comediens and local folkloric performers. Most of the entertainment is performed in the King Olav Lounge. The line also strives for some top-deck outdoor entertainment including its Movies Under the Stars program, dancing, barbeque dinners and a rock-the-boat cabaret show. Afternoon tea, ice cream socials, Pilates and stretch classes, singalongs, gaming and participatory games are other forms of onboard entertainment for guests.
When government authorities permit and when sea conditions are right, the Seabourn Legend lowers its watersports marina on the aft part of the ship. From here, guests enjoy swimming, snorkeling, banana boatrides, sailing, windsurfing and water skiing right from the comfort of the ship, with refreshments and light food provided.
Source:
Travel Trade Magazine
