JYarNYC

"Plan your next cruise based on the itinerary."

 

That right there is among the top 5 pieces of advice that I've gained from perusing the Cruise Critic boards. There are more things to consider, of course; after only two cruises, my husband and I know that a luxury line suits us better than the mega/mainstream ones... not only because we love what the former offers, but because we don't need the water slides, the Central Parks, the wet t-shirt contests, the Guy's Winking Iquana Margaritaville Burger Bar-type restaurants, or the crowds of the latter (we're bougie).

 

Last summer we were on the Encore and enjoyed it immensely... so much so that we've been eagerly anticipating the Summer 2020 Seabourn schedule that they released today. However, in keeping with the top line of my post, we weren't especially thrilled with where either the Encore or the Ovation will be going then. So we put a hold on a cruise that does interest us, on the Odyssey. And that brings me to my question, Seabourn experts:

 

Will the Odyssey be a letdown after having been on the Encore?

 

We appreciated the Encore's beauty and newness, and we didn't notice the extra people, since our only point of comparison is the Celebrity Solstice. Yes, the Retreat on the Encore is a waste of space, but I liked exploring other parts of the ship and I don't know how I would feel being on a smaller one. We loved the TK Grill, so I was happy to see that on the Odyssey. But I would appreciate the perspectives of those who have been on both.

 

I see a lot written about the Encore vs. another line's ship, but not much about how it stacks up against its family members. Apologies if I missed a thread about just this topic; and thank you!

My husband and I were on the Encore from August 18 (Barcelona) to August 25 (Civitavecchia). I've enjoyed seeing posts on this thread from people who were either on the ship when we were, or after. Gary, aka Tarwood3, I especially liked reading your thoughts, especially as you compare your experiences with Silversea (which we've never been on, but we're interested in them.) I submitted a review of our time on the ship, but it is taking a while to get posted, so I thought I would continue the bonhomie here.

We absolutely loved the ship, and I'm afraid that we are now fully spoiled. I don't think we would want to go smaller, or older. Perhaps that is short-sighted, as I can appreciate that the smaller ships do have their charms. But the sleek and modern -- without being ostentatious -- style of the Encore really hit the right notes for us. We had only been on one other cruise before this one -- Celebrity Solstice to Alaska. And while we enjoyed it at the time, I don't think we could go back to a more mainstream line without having buyer's remorse.

There was a nice energy on the Encore. We're a gay couple, and no one -- and I mean no one -- batted an eye. I'm not sure we ever ended up interacting with a fellow passenger who wasn't from the US, Great Britain, or Australia (although I did hear a few other languages besides English over the course of several days). No doubt the crowd is prosperous, and just like in life, we met a handful of people who we didn't really want to meet again, but I never felt like I was surrounded by 1) snobs; or 2) stodgy types. So if our experience is typical on Seabourn, we're hooked.

Our secret to having a great MDR experience -- and we were there for four of the seven dinners -- was being early-birds (we're 41 and 51, so I guess we defy the stereotype.) We'd hang out in the Observation Lounge until a little before 6:30 each evening then make our way down. Not only did we almost always have a seat by the window, but we almost always had responsive service. Yes, there were occasional gaps in drink refills, but by and large, we didn't wait long. Towards the end of our meal we would notice the crowds gathering around the host/hostess area, and I guess that's when the problems began. Our Thomas Keller meal was superb. I was surprised that I wasn't as enthralled with the Sushi restaurant; I don't really have any complaints, but it didn't especially stand out. We loved getting room service on our last night.

All of you who see no point in the Retreat: I'm with you. If I craved a secluded area where I could alternate between sun and shade, with access to a TV and all the champagne I could drink, I would merely remain in my suite. The spa was another waste of money. I was a sucker -- and perhaps the one and only that whole week -- who sprung for the unlimited sauna/steam room/"experience shower" access. I never would have considered it had I not been experiencing some back pain at the beginning of our cruise. It didn't really help, but whatever... I tried.

I have the attention span of a gnat, with restlessness to boot, so there is no way I could have sat through the shows. I have no doubt that the performers are quite talented, but I think that Seabourn's strengths lie in other areas. Even the venue itself seemed informal and underwhelming. I got most of my evening entertainment in the vicinity of the TK Grill bar.

All in all, our Seabourn cruise was top-of-the-line and indulgent... so much so that I found myself becoming less interested in the extra drink or food course as our week came to a close. I guess that's why I'd probably not consider anything longer than 7 days -- or taking a cruise more than once every couple of years -- because I'm afraid that it would stop being special. But cruise again we will. This was our first Seabourn cruise, but it won't be our last.

We were in suite 1115 on Encore this past year. Loved the room,loved the location. Extremely quiet & no noise from the observation bar either.

Hi FDNYCruiser,

We just received our suite assignment for our upcoming cruise, and we were assigned to 1114, across the hall from you. After looking at the deck schematic, my first reaction was to reach out to Seabourn to request a different room. Its proximity to both the elevators and the Observation Bar concerns me; we prefer quiet. Then I read your post and thought that maybe it would be hasty of me to request a change.

When you first saw the location of your room, were you concerned about noise? I like being on a high deck, but am OK to be lower if it means quieter. I appreciate your thoughts... thanks!

I have done a lot of research in anticipation for our first cruise ever, on the Solstice to Alaska, leaving 8/21. Your photos and description is, by far, the most helpful and insightful guide. The amount of effort it took just to photograph what you did -- never mind the time to upload them and add commentary -- is extraordinary.

Thank you very much! You provided us with a beautiful and amazing guide!

John and Michael from New York here... looking forward to our first cruise and our first trip to Alaska. Ray and Jeff, enjoy your kickoff days in Seattle. It's a magnificent city. See you soon!