On January 4, 2010 the Full World Cruise guests began arriving at the Ritz Carlton - Ft. Lauderale (Florida) for the Pre-Cruise Gala Celebration. In true Seabourn Style they were met by a Concierge Desk, greeted by name, were privately escorted to their room and were met with some nice amenities, a formal Invitation to the Gala events and an agenda.
Themed with the Flavors of the World the Seabourn Odyssey would be visiting on the World Cruise the Cocktail Party, starting at 6:30 p.m., the guests were greeted by butlers with silver trays of champagne, a quartet playing music and the Seabourn Executives, including Pamela Conover, the President, and the Odyssey's officers. Strolling along, the guests were met by vignettes depicting India, Tahiti, Asia, Greece and Egypt with actors expressing the unique cultural aspects of the area...and, of course, the related foods and drinks. Some examples were in the Tahitian area the guests enjoyed an Ice Bar filled with every imaginable seafood offering, the Asian area had wok cooking offerings as well as passed dumplings, rolls, etc. and the Greek area had a wide variety of meze.
As Cocktail Hour ended a Mariachi Band lead the guests and Seabourn executives and officers into dinner. Again, in typical Seabourn Style, each table was hosted by a Seabourn executive or an officer of the Odyssey. During dinner there was a full band along with a number of culturally tied entertainers interspersed throughout the event including an acrobat, dragon dancer, a contortionist and a hugely popular opera singer. They were so well received that many of them received ovations from the guests.
Dessert was accompanied by dancing and, truth be told, quite a number of the guests just did not want the night to end!
Seabourn had arranged the guests to enjoy breakfast either in their rooms or in the Ritz Carlton restaurant and to have, of course, late checkouts. With their luggage taken directly from their room to their suites aboard the Seabourn Odyssey, the guests were afforded the luxury of checking out of the hotel and into the Seabourn Odyssey in the hotel over a period of a few leisurely hours. Then, after a splendid luncheon buffet the guests departed for the Seabourn Odyssey.
Arriving at approximately 1:00 p.m. the Full World Cruise guests were provided a separate gangway onto the Seabourn Odyssey and into the Observation Lounge where they were greeted by various members of the onboard staff and then whisked away to their respective suites.
Don't you wish you were there?!
Follow the Seabourn Odyssey's World Cruise on The Gold Standard Forum. Of course, if you have any specific questions and do not wish to post them on GSF, feel free to email me at eric@goldringtravel.com
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