Overall Score

BERLITZ'S RATING
	Possible	Achieved
Ship	500	458
Accommodation	200	186
Food	400	347
Service	400	353
Entertainment	100	86
Cruise	400	353

How this score is created

This finely appointed cruise vessel has sleek exterior styling, handsome profile with swept-back, rounded lines, and is an identical sister vessel to Seabourn Pride. It has two fine mahogany water taxis for use as shore tenders. An aft water sports platform and marina can be used in suitably calm warm-water areas. Water sports facilities include a small, enclosed “dip” pool, sea kayaks, snorkel equipment, windsurfers, water ski boat, and Zodiac inflatable boats. An open-bridge policy exists, so you can visit the ship’s navigation bridge at almost any time (except during bad weather or especially tricky maneuvers).

Inside, a wide central passageway divides port and starboard side accommodation. Inviting, sumptuous public areas have warm colors. Fine quality interior fixtures, fittings, fabric and artwork combine to present an outstanding, elegant (but minimalist) decor. For a small ship, there is wide range of public rooms. These include a main lounge (staging small cabaret shows), nightclub, an observation lounge with bar, large, deep armchairs, and a cigar smoking area with cabinet, cigar humidor and small selection of good cigars.

There is also a small business center, small meeting room, even a small casino with roulette and blackjack tables, with a few slot machines tucked away.

During the past two years, there have been many complaints about falling standards aboard the Seabourn ships, particularly in regard to maintenance (they are now over 10 years old). Food, presentation and service, passengers said, had deteriorated. However, the company has now turned things around, and the product is extremely good.

Seabourn Spirit provides discerning passengers with an outstanding level of service and an utterly civilized cruise. For a grand, small ship cruise experience in fine surroundings, with only just over 100 other couples as neighbors, this ship is hard to beat. All drinks (except for premium brands and connoisseur wines) are included, as are gratuities, Molton Brown aromatherapy bath products and large soaps by names such as Bijan, Chanel and Hermès, short massages on deck (“massage moments”) , open-seating dining, use of watersports equipment, one free Exclusively Seabourn shore excursion per cruise, and movies under the stars. Seabourn Spirit is able to cruise to places where large cruise ships can’t, due to its ocean-yacht size. Port charges and insurance are not included. The onboard currency is the US dollar.

The three Seabourn ships provide an excellent product, superior to other upscale ships such as Seven Seas Mariner and Seven Seas Voyager, but still not up to the standard of Europa’s fine product delivery and hospitality. DHL can provide luggage pick-up and delivery service.

The sunloungers are plastic (although light and easy to store, they are second-class, and should be made of wood or stainless steel). There is no wrap-around promenade deck outdoors. There is only one dryer in the self-service launderette. Non-American passengers should note that almost all entertainment and activities are geared towards American tastes, despite the increasingly international passenger mix.

Berlitz Guide © Apa Publishing 2008