Seabourn Sojourn Inaugural and Maiden Voyage - Photos and Images

Seabourn Sojourn in the Faroe Islands

Chef Bjoern's Haggis Tasting

Improved Banquette Seating in Grand Salon

Kneipp Pool

Deck 5 Aft Pool and Hot Tub

Iamboatman and wife about to board RIB high speed boat tour of Faroe Islands - Very Cool!

Torshavn, Faroe Island Harbour (Note Grass Roof Homes)

Riding Icelandic Horses Outside of Rekjavik, Iceland

Iceland is THAT Beautiful

Seabourn's Specially Created Viking Village

Seabourn's Warm Welcome????

Seabourn's Past & Present Iceland Extravaganza
Under the Largest Tent in Iceland

Welcome Home Seabourn Style
Staff Lined Up Through the Ship...
Offering Bailey's Laced Hot Chocolate to Set Up a Late Afternoon Nap

Grand Exit in "Seabourn Style" from the Seabourn Sojourn -
Pilot Boat to Heimay Island, Iceland

Amazing boat STRAND CRAFT 122 soon go on sale (photos)

This stunning boat is called STRAND CRAFT 122 and he will soon go on sale.
Its length is 38 meters, there are four large cabins with 52-inch LED-screen TVs and expensive stereo systems, Bang & Olufsen.But the big surprise for the owner of the yacht - is that in the set is stunning and supercar garage which is also located inside the yacht.
Price is still unknown...

A Review of My Time on the Seabourn Sojourn – Inauguration and Maiden Voyage

I have now had time to digest and reflect upon the Inauguration of the Seabourn Sojourn and the Maiden Voyage of the Seabourn Sojourn. So it is time to discuss things a bit.  (For an overview of the ship itself, please refer to my Cruise Review of the Seabourn Odyssey located on the Goldring Travel website. )

I was going to entitle this article, “Seabourn Sojourn: The Good, The Bad and the Ugly”, but there honestly was nothing “bad” or “ugly”.

Then I was thinking, “Seabourn Sojourn: Hits and Misses”, but that would probably be overwhelmed with “hits”, so it would be repeating that which I have already discussed.

I also thought about comparing various aspects of the Seabourn Sojourn to the other luxury lines (as many people find this blog by googling “Seabourn vs. Silversea” or similar, but this is not about comparing this ship to any other ship.

And then I figured why not just call it was it is, “A Review of My Time on the Seabourn Sojourn – Inauguration and Maiden Voyage”.

Having been at the Inauguration of the Seabourn Odyssey I knew that when I arrived in London for the Inauguration of the Seabourn Sojourn things would be better. The shipyard, T. Mariotti, would not be permitted to pull the stunts it pulled on the first ship (Carnival Corp. would make sure of that). Seabourn would be sure that its crew and staff would have plenty of time to get onboard and organize themselves and things as they should be…in the proper Seabourn way. And, of course, this is the second ship of her class, so the lessons learned on the Seabourn Odyssey gave Seabourn a running start.

Arriving early, I could tell there was a quiet confidence from everyone from management on down. Yes, there was the frenetic pace caused by trying to prepare and board travel agents and dignitaries (two distinct groups!) in an orchestrated manner while keeping things on, as they say, an even keel and with the surprises to come being kept secret. But I could tell Seabourn was ready to put on “The Show”. [To read about “The Show” please read my blog posts earlier this month.]

For me the best part was that there were so many faces I recognized. Some from the Seabourn Odyssey, some from the Seabourn Spirit, some from I am not sure and a few from other luxury cruise lines. Different from before, there was a blending of souls rather than an “Oh, I remember you.” While I knew Shannon from the Seabourn Spirit (my favorite concierge nee purser) the others played right off of that relationship to form new ones with me. The same in the bars, with Stephie and Garrett leading the way for others, and in the restaurants (Arnold, Virginia and others). Chef Bjoern, Hotel Manager Guenther, Captain Buer, etc. It was more like “family” than “favorites”.

I really did not have a concern about the service, because you could just tell it would be “that good”. Service was excellent from the instant I stepped onboard. Whether at the Sky Bar or The Club, my Glennfiddich was ready for me almost before I arrived. And each esoteric drink my wife or her friends ordered was poured without hesitation. Service in the dining venues was excellent. Whether it was perfectly fried eggs in the Colonnade (presented faster than eggs could possibly be cooked) or a long dinner in The Restaurant or a fun dinner in Restaurant 2, it didn’t matter who was serving us…it was outstanding. So outstanding that I was shocked one morning when a waitress from Restaurant 2 apologized for somewhat slow service the evening before…and I thought the service was perfectly timed.

Over and above the regular service were the VIP efforts. I am not talking about when I dined with Howard Frank, the Chief Financial Officer for Carnival Corp. (the service during that important dinner was not distinctly different from any other dinner service we had…It was that good.) I am talking about things like:

     - A private wine, cured meat and cheese tasting Chef Bjoern and Head Sommelier Timor held just for me and my wife in the Main Galley. It was, without question, an awesome experience with some pretty special cheeses and some nice pairings.

     - A private Haggis tasting at lunch. Chef Bjoern prepared five different types of haggis for us to try…elegantly prepared, of course. We did have one complaint: Vegetarian haggis is just wrong!

However, there was one (and only one) notable miss was my stewardess. She was pleasant enough and did keep the suite clean, but there were too many little misses (one day it was failing to replenish the shower gel, another the ear buds, another tissues) and responding to a request took too long. The good news is that the other stewardesses on my deck were so nice and on top of things, they were quick to make things right…and always with a smile and with speed.

As for hardware, the Seabourn Sojourn was presented in fantastic and pristine condition. (No patches, or “that’ll work for now’s”.) About the ship I did not see much other than perfection. Everything had a place and it was in its place. Having seen where T. Mariotti had let Seabourn down with the delivery of the Seabourn Odyssey, I had my eyes looking for anywhere Seabourn had to catch up or make a quick repair. Honestly, I didn’t see any such thing. It was pretty much all good. My inspection did not disclose any areas of concern.

There were a few improvements over the Seabourn Odyssey (which will receive the same treatments in November): The silver banquets in the Grand Salon have been made lower, so it blends with the décor and are more functional; the under-utilized high tables in The Restaurant have been removed and normal tables put in their place, and one Spa Villa was replaced with a relaxation area for anyone having a spa treatment. I liked the execution of all of these changes.

The extent I have to go to find a miss: I found (as did others) the frosting on some of the glass toilet stall doors to be insufficient; making them a bit too translucent. In the Observation Lounge the gasket to the outside deck (port side) was not quite tight enough, so that in a stiff wind there was a whistle.) And one thing I would like to see changed (and, alas, it is just personal taste thing): I would like the lights a bit dimmer at the Sky Bar in the evening and I would like to see the back wall behind the bar totally covered in teak. I think the white metal bulkhead just doesn’t look as finished as I think it should be. (So much of the ship is “that finished” that this one area stands out for me.) Yep, that was about it in “flaws”.

I was compelled to test out the forward hot tub (on the bow). It was in the low 50’s in the Faroe Islands and the sun was shining. After a great high speed RIB tour and a walk around town, it was time to supervise the sail away. I was prepared not to like the hot tub as much as I do on the triplets, but I actually like it better. You sit higher, so you have a better view of what is happening off the ship, while still being pretty private. I assume someone came to take my drink order, but am not sure…because I promptly fell asleep floating away for about 45 minutes.

Similarly, my suite, which I went over from top to bottom was in great shape and fully stocked. Two very minor flaws: a single cabinet latch was defective and one foot was missing from a veranda ottoman. But from overstuffed pillows to a warm blanket for sitting out in cool weather to great bathrobes to the sewing kit and Molton Brown toiletries, it was all there…in its place and as it should be. Once again, I found by turning the showerhead just a few degrees to the right, the water flow was to the larger portion of the shower and it was more comfortable (as I do find the showers to be just a bit tight.) Other than that, the bathrooms are the nicest at sea by a long measure.

I will pause to note that Ralph Grizzle, the Avid Cruiser, made a negative comment about the size of the televisions in the suites. I, personally, found the television (pondering his criticism) to be just about the right size. (OK, possibly it could have been about 3 inches higher…because my wife kept sleeping with her knees bent!) I don’t really spend a lot of time watching it and I like the fact that it tucks away in the cabinet, not to be seen or reminded of. The selection of movies was great. I enjoyed the travelogues and documentaries (I watched the one on Heinz) and the accurate information on tours…which you can book from your suite.) The iPod dock was fine, but it is not for critical listening as the television speakers (which are pretty good for tv speakers) are used.

The internet was quite good, weather and northerly location issues aside (as you can’t blame them on the ship). I did have a problem logging on in my suite (Suite 622 – slightly forward on the ship). The problem was, however, only logging on…which makes me believe it is a software tweak, not a hardware problem. All I did when I found the issue was walk with my laptop to Seabourn Square, log on and then walk back to my suite with my laptop open. Then hours of uninterrupted internet was the rule.

The lunch and dinner cuisine was phenomenal. I have detailed a number of the menus from the Restaurant and Restaurant 2 in my prior posts, so you can refer to them if you have further interest. The overall impression was one of multiple choices where I was struggling if I should go with one starter/main or another. Or if one canapé was the best I ever had or one I just enjoyed. I would note that there is a mantra from a few that it is time for Charley Palmer to take a step back. I strongly disagree, for what I see is Seabourn allowing its chefs to play off the Charley Palmer inspired menu…for it is not a text book, but a guide from an outstanding chef.

I did have a unique chance to sample consistency. Because I was a guest for the Inauguration, and the charity event the next evening I was able to compare the execution of the same menu on two different nights and, lo and behold, it was prepared identically. Consistency is very important and impressive when done well.

The downside of consistency is that I found Seabourn was not pouring enough variety in its offered wines. I generally was offered two different reds and two different whites throughout my time onboard. While Seabourn is quick to offer complimentary alternatives, I found the need to know what wines complimented the cuisine not quite as it should be. This is the first time I have experienced this on Seabourn, so I am assuming it was a provisioning issue. I will see how things go on my November Goldring Travel Food & Wine Cruise.

I wish I had more time in The Colonnade. It was fine for breakfast and I did try something other than a basic breakfast, but even though the Eggs Benedict with Smoked Salmon were very good, it was just too heavy for my liking…but it was very good. I am more impressed with the fact that my eggs (sunny side up, poached or medium boiled…I had different eggs each day) were perfectly prepared.

My efforts to have lunch or dinner in The Colonnade was frustrated by my busy schedule off the ship, my haggis tasting, a nice formal lunch and, alas, just being full and skipping lunch. Dinner was also missed due to a number of special dinners, Restaurant 2, and a wonderful lamb curry specially ordered in The Restaurant by some friends of ours. That dinner is worth of note because it was the real deal in every respect: saffron rice, pompadoms and more …Outstanding. (And far more elaborate than a ‘mere” special order course or two!)

I did have a chance to sample…just sample…the food at The Patio Grill. Aside from a lack of hunger and time (ever get the feeling I need more than seven days for a cruise), the cool temperatures limited my time outdoors on deck during its opening hours. What I tasted, in an ever changing menu of offerings – which highlighted grill standards of hamburgers, etc. and pizza – was quite good, if not memorable. I did try the pizza under the most unfair of conditions: 50 degrees and windy doesn’t give any pizza a fair chance when tasted by a guy from New Jersey. The French fries were, as always, memorable.

It would not be appropriate to end this review without mentioning again the way Seabourn ended my time on the Seabourn Sojourn: with Seabourn Style. As I mentioned in my prior posts (which you can read for the details), when the port I was going to disembark in (Heimay Island, Iceland) was bypassed because of rough seas, Seabourn literally turned the ship around and ordered a pilot boat for me. It is true that on Seabourn there is no such thing as “no”!

In summary, and not considering the Inaugural and Maiden Voyage festivities, I was very impressed with the Seabourn Sojourn and its staff and crew. I have been on a number of Seabourn cruises…and I am comparing this cruise only to my previous Seabourn cruises and my expectations…and the Seabourn Sojourn exceeded my expectations; and not just expectations for a maiden voyage, but for any voyage.

I Need Honesty! Do You Think Iamboatman Is Full Of It?

As I write the glowing reviews of the Seabourn Sojourn (abeit it my "Hits and Misses" yet to come!), I wonder if the perception is that I am being less than honest, or am being honest but biased, or am just full of it. 

So on The Gold Standard Forum I have posted a thread with a poll seeking candid input.  You can find it here:  I Need Honestly. Do You Think I Am Full Of It?  The question I posed is as follows: 

As I have been writing the travelogue of the Inaugural and Maiden Voyage of the Seabourn Sojourn. While I honestly have done my best to be as objective as possible, do you really think I am telling the truth or do you think I am coloring things because I want to sell more cruises or have my bread better buttered?D o you think there is a better way for me to relay the information so it appears more objective? As I am asking for your honesty about my honesty, if you are more comfortable, use the Anonymous posting option if you so desire.

You do not need to be worried about being personally attacked if you blast me, call me out or compliment me.  On The Gold Standard Forum such conduct is not permitted...especially by me.

The reason for my asking is to improve what I do.  So I am encouraging you to criticize me!  (OK, if you want to tell me you like what I do, I won't be upset.)

Seabourn Sojourn Inaugural and Maiden Voyage - Part XII - Some Videos and Photos

I was sorting some of my videos and photos of the Seabourn Sojourn Maiden Voyage and Inauguration this morning and thought I might give you a taste of what is to come.  And a little discussion on why I am continually so impressed with Seabourn.

Honestly, I was not prepared for the Inaugural Celebration to be as moving as it was, so at the last minute I pulled my mobile telephone from my pocket and videoed the last moments.  It isn't the highest of quality, but it hopefully will give you a sense of what "Seabourn Style" is all about. 

To set the stage, so to speak, there were enormous floral arrangements everywhere, a huge ice martini bar, champagne flowing, passed canapés, and more.  Then, on Deck 9 overlooking the pool (which also had a floating floral arrangement) four beautiful women playing a high tech string quartet started playing classical music with more and more power and volume culminating with this:

Now, I try to be fair and objective about things and this is a perfect example as to why I have so much more confidence recommending The Yachts of Seabourn over Silversea Cruises or Regent Seven Seas Cruises.  If you recall Silversea's Naming Ceremony, it was a boring daytime affair with people seated in rows followed by a number of boring speeches. On the other hand, Seabourn put on "The Show"...and remember I haven't shown you the celebration for the Maiden Voyage Sailaway or the Seabourn Experience in Reykjavik as of yet.

Open bars and service with a smile is just not enough.  Gimmicks don't really do it.  There needs, in my opinion, to be a "Wow Factor".  I am confident that Seabourn will consistently continue to provide that Wow Factor.  When was the last time you heard of being wowed on Silversea or Regent?  Let me know...seriously and I will write about it.

Two days later, the Seabourn Sojourn's Maiden Voyage was undertaken.  Again, with Seabourn Style the British Royal Marines were called in:

This was followed by a lovely speech by the President of The Yachts of Seabourn, Pamela Conover:

More to come!

Seabourn Sojourn Inaugural and Maiden Voyage - Part XI - Land Ho!

On Saturday evening we arrived in Reykjavik, Iceland...again...and stayed at the Radison Blu 1919 Hotel. The hotel, and most all four star hotels in Reykjavik (there are no five star hotels) are within the same small area.  For a quick stay the hotel was just fine.  A standard room was comfortable and everything worked (free internet included), though you will be your own bellman.  One criticism - and this is a weird one - the blinds do not darken the room enough.  At 2:00 a.m. it was a light as 5:00 p.m. so the room never got dark.

Anyway, my wife and I walked over to The Seafood Cellar (it is actually named Sjavarkjallarinn, but have fun trying to say that!) for a greatly anticipated meal.  This smallish restaurant is, in fact, located in the cellar of the tourist office, but is anything but touristy.  It would have been quite romantic except for the two large groups who had booked the place.  (To be fair, we were warned in advance, but this was our only night in town, so we went for it.)  The word on the street was that the Chef's Menu was the thing to order. It was!  (You know you are in for it when the very attentive staff gets a gleam in their eyes when you order it.)

Shared dish after dish.  Venison, lobster, arctic char, lamb, tuna, prawns, cod, salmon, ling, and more...it kept coming and coming and coming.  And it kept arriving in different and wonderful ways, both in preparation and presentation.  And just when you are ready to give up...the desserts start appearing (yes, plural) and then the finale:  an oriental spin on ice cream in a smoking bowl placed in the center of the table.

Our dinner lasted over three hours, but went quickly.  And then we emerged from The Cellar expecting dark and it was light...very light.  But we were so full getting to sleep was not an issue.

We arose the next morning to find we were both stiff and sore.  At first we thought it must be the bed, but it felt OK.  Then my wife said, "Everything...even my lungs...hurt" and I realized I suffered pretty much the same way.  Then it hit me:  It was the horseback riding on those famously smooth riding Icelandic horses two days prior.  It caught up with us and we had a 5.5 hour flight home ahead of us.

Before we departed, we took a walk around Reykjavik and, as I do, stumbled upon a Sunday market and the ever important fish market.  I sampled dried catfish, some smoked something and then the infamous fermented shark (Hákarl) which has a putrid smell.  I, as instructed, ate some first and then smelled it later.  If I did it the other way around, I probably would not have been able to eat it.  I hate to say it, but I rather liked the small portion I tried.  I would not sit down with a plate of the stuff any time soon, but I can proudly say I survived it.

After buying some things for the kids, we ate lunch an upscale bistro serving local food, Geysir.  I had a fantastic seafood soup followed by a perfectly prepared piece of cod.  It was a very nice way to enjoy my last bit of Iceland.

Our trip to the airport was a bit much.  I could not figure out why it cost about US$150 for a taxi to the airport, so I went for the Flybus at $15 per person.  Jammed in, move your own bags, it was a very long trip into the middle of absolutely nowhere to the airport.  Next time - and I will return to Iceland - I am going to spring for the taxi.

Check-in was a breeze and the Icelandair Saga Class Lounge was quite nice.  Stepping into the new Icelandair jet was like a step back in time.  Nice, clean plane with great leather seating (no fly flat seats, but at 5.5 hours, it would be kind of a waste) and attractive flight attendants in older style uniforms that smiled and gave great service.  While the meal service wasn't as fancy as some larger carriers, the choices were good (I had a bento box of sushi and such prepared by a local restaurant) and some pretty decent wines. 

So now the adventure is over, but I will post some of my concluding thoughts...after I have a couple of days to think them through.

Seabourn Sojourn Inaugural and Maiden Voyage - Part X (Seabourn Never Says "No"...and You Can't Make This Stuff Up!)

As I noted in my last post, the day was not over and Seabourn had time to wow me some more...and it did.  (Trust me on this:  I do not get paid to say everything is wonderful.  I get really offended if anyone tells me to say everything is wonderful.  I couldn't sleep if I said something was wonderful if it wasn't.  The Seabourn Sojourn, its staff and crew are just that darn good.  Amazing!)

We had a second dinner at Restaurant 2 with some friends.  I won't bore you with the menu, but suffice it to say the menu won't bore you because it changes frequently.  Dinner was excellent and the service was great.  (What amazed me was a quiet "apology" the next morning that the service wasn't 100% perfect.  It wasn't?  I must be slipping...or Seabourn keeps raising the bar!)

After dinner I slipped in to see a bit of the Seabourn singers, having been my one comment of concern.  What I saw as much better, if still not my cup of tea.  But was of very promising note were the comments made to me and overheard (nah, I don't do that) that there was huge improvement in the show.  Possibly the first night was a matter of jitters.

OK, so now I am all set for Heimay Island, Iceland.  We have a boat tour organized, then a leisurely lunch, pack up and fly to Reykjavik for the evening and next day.  The plans came to a crashing halt when it was announced:  DUE TO ROUGH SEAS, HEIMAY ISLAND WAS BEING PASSED BY.  And with three sea days the next chance I had to fly home to the kids and pressing business would have been four days later.  I told Seabourn the world would not come to an end, but getting off would have been a much better option for me.

So what did Seabourn do?  Pam Conover, luckily onboard, gave the order:  The Seabourn Sojourn was to turn around and head back to Heimay Island...and had a pilot boat come out for me and my wife!  (And, no, I didn't ask for such treatment...It just happened!)

Talk about being embarrassed!  So we packed up in a hurry, the excitement spread around the ship, in typical Seabourn fashion, we had time to enjoy a last cup of coffee in the Seabourn Square with some friends and clients...very civilized.  Civilized right up to when they put life vests on us and passed us, while still underway, from the Seabourn Sojourn to the local pilot boat!  My embarrassment continued when I saw guests on their balconies supervising the operation!  (At least it gave the remaining guests something to do and talk about after the port was canceled.)  NOTE:  Seabourn does have a policy of never saying "No".  That policy may not apply to a request for a mid-cruise custom disembarkation on a small volcanic island in the middle of the North Sea.  As your travel agent I prefer you do not ask me to arrange same.

But of course Seabourn also had its port agent waiting for us and assisted in getting our day reorganized.  (And this is why I love travel.)  Having already done the partial circumnavigation of Heimay Island, seeing the nesting kittiwakes and puffins, the place the reacclimated the orca known as Free Willy and the spectacular scenery and cliffs...and the rough seas...we decided to give our 11:30 a.m. boat tour a miss.  This left us with lots of time to kill on a pretty rainy day before a 5:20 p.m. flight to the mainland.

We plunked ourselves down in Café Kro, where we were to pick up our boat tour tickets.  The owner, a lovely woman, named Unnur (pronounced almost like it looks!), was making up place settings and began to chat with us.  She told us about her family, her trip on a motorcycle riding down Route 66 (and showed us the local paper's article about it), life on the island, how she got married, the wonders of how only one of her children has blond hair (the others being ginger)...all over a cup of coffee and a bowl of soup.  And then she said that we could exchange the boat tour tickets for bus tour tickets as she owned the café, her husband, Capt. Simmi owned the boat and one of her sons operated the tour bus!  Who knew we would cozy up to the mogul of Heimay Island!

As we waited for the 1:30 p.m. tour Unnur showed us a video of the truly devastating volcanic eruption on the island in 1973 which consumed over 200 homes.  Heimay Island is a very small island and you can literally see the lava flows just outside the harbour - where they fought to stop the lava flows with millions of gallons of cooling sea water.  It gave a whole different perspective to this place and a much greater respect for those who live there.

After a nice freshly caught cod lunch it was time for our bus tour...with about 10 other people.  Unnur and Capt. Simmi's son was quite funny with a dry sense of humor.  I am glad we took the bus trip, not only because we were able to see this wonderful little island, but because it was more like spending time with new friends than your typical tour.  BTW, Heimay Island is supposedly one of three windiest places on earth.  Note to self:  Find out the other two and don't go there!  The wind was absolutely incredible when you left the harbour.

A cold beer and some fries at Café Kro and it was time for our flight to Reykjavik.  We made our flight without issue (no security, no luggage tags, and they served chocolates on the 20 minute flight...are you jealous?) and started the end of our adventure.  But, alas, our trip is not over!

Seabourn Sojourn Inaugural and Maiden Voyage - Part IX

Today, which is not over, has been a great day.  It started with my Icelandic horseback riding adventure and has, so far, ended with a fantastic and creative Seabourn Experience.  (Isn't it great to know at it is after 5:00 PM and there is still great opportunity to be wowed on a Seabourn cruise?!)

Today started with a 30 minute drive where my wife and I arrived at a horse stable for the long anticipated ride on Icelandic horses.  The weather was perfect:  Beautiful blue skies, light wispy clouds, a very slight wind and 60 degree temperature. (Yes, its true.  What I write is always true!).  My mount was a large, handsome, incredibly well behaved and responsive horse with an Icelandic name I do not have the slightest clue how to pronounce.  (In Iceland you just get used to it...and there is nothing you can do to pick the language up in a day or two.)  Our group was small (only four people), but unfortunately one person just should not have been there so it slowed us down.  In the end - as you will shortly understand - that just might have been a good thing.

Off we rode into some truly beautiful landscape with high peaks, green valleys, yellow, white and purple wildflowers, clear streams, all sorts of birds flying by and singing.  It was storybook...except for the riding thing.

All that stuff you read and hear about how smooth the ride on an Icelandic horse is, I think, fantasy....or possibly fraud!  After having things bounced that were never intended to be so treated, our guide explained there are two kinds of Icelandic horses, four gate and five gate horses.  The five gate are the ones that have the great ride (though my wife - riding by my side - will dispute this).  I, of course, was saddled with (sorry about the pun) a four gater.  My horse's transmission was, it seems, faulty!  Sore bits aside, he started, stopped, increased speed (and my pain) and slowed down on command.  He went left, right, uphill, downhill...even in a circle.  He allowed me to feel for those two hours of actual riding time that I actually had a clue what I was doing.

After our truly beautiful ride we were given a light lunch and then taken directly back to the ship so that we would not be late for the Seabourn Experience.  I would highly recommend this private experience, but will make this blog post required reading so you know what you are getting into!

After a quick dash onto the Seabourn Sojourn to change clothes we were lead onto a bus to an event  never held in Iceland (or anywhere I am aware of) and something no other cruise line could pull off:  The Land of Fire and Ice - A Journey Through Time.

We were first taken to the past: a recreated Viking Village where there were all sorts of tents and activities set up with actors in full costume engaging in blacksmithing, sword fighting, guarding the jail (complete with prisoners), engaging in games (participation encouraged!) and, of course, a taste of the local Icelandic aquavit (I didn't catch the name, but went back for seconds in a valiant but futile effort to remember the name).

We were than ushered past 1,000 year old Icelandic glacier ice into the largest tent available in Iceland where we were treated to both ancient and modern Icelandic music performed by the local star, Ragnhildur Gisladottir (see what I mean about the names) and in between was a wonderful folkloric tale acted out and told by a truly talented and funny Icelandic actress, Thorunn Clausen.

Being Seabourn, we were treated to - yes, can you believe it? - another fantastic meal (you know, the one between lunch and dinner).  I noted that the menu was in error...because there was more offered than what was on the menu.  It was modern Icelandic cuisine including:

- Monkfish with Chili and Ginger
- Pan Seared Reindeer with Sesame
- Grilled Lobster
- Smoked Salmon, Cottage Cheese and Asparagus
- Prawns, Butterflied and Fried.

Desserts included Fresh Strawberries dipped in Praline, Icelandic "Sorur" (which I think was a really good chocolate puff pastry/tart thing) and two other chocolate offerings with a marzipan cookie.  It sort of felt like a Restaurant 2 "Lite".

After the show we were back to the busses and given a small piece of Icelandic lava as a gift.  That kitsch, however, wasn't the real gift but rather a memory of the actual gift.  The recent volcanic eruptions have killed thousands of trees in a country that is, for the post part, devoid of them.  In honor of this Icelandic event, Seabourn donated one tree to Iceland for every guest on the Seabourn Sojourn's Maiden Voyage.  It was a very touching moment which the lava will remind me of.

A funny thing (at least for me) I am reading a book now which I will review later which gave me some insight into the Swiss approach to life.  When we were back on the bus heading to the ship I asked the man sitting next to me if he liked the event.  He said it was "just long enough".  I asked him if he was Swiss, which lead to an interesting conversation as to how I knew.  A quick, but interesting, international travel bonus.

Not done, we arrived back to the ship with the staff and crew lined up with the Seabourn Welcome Home banner not only before the gangway, but into the ship, past security and down the hall.  I guess with so many more staff onboard the Seabourn Sojourn than the little sisters, it takes that much more room to have everyone welcome you home!

But of course being Seabourn, while we waited the 2 minutes to board, we were offered Hot Chocolate with Bailey's.  The perfect setup for a late afternoon nap!

Seabourn Inaugural and Maiden Voyage - Part VIII

I took the time yesterday to speak with John Barron, the cruise director.  I knew John and his wife from another cruise line, but he now makes Seabourn his ‘home”.  John has a wonderful dry sense of humor that I truly enjoy along with an upbeat persona that is fun…rather than the prototypical cruise director of “always happy”.

For example, the other day during the middle of a Scottish folkloric dance Captain Buer came on with his scheduled 4:30 pm pre-departure announcements.  The dancers were literally in midair when the music stopped and the typically slow Norwegian talk began.  They didn’t know what to do, everyone was laughing (with them, of course)…and then John came racing through the Grand Salon towards them – with a plate of cookies.  It was perfect.

John can and does, on occasion, sing.  And he can sing.  Seabourn, at least on the bigger ships, has the cruise directors do more directing and less entertaining.  John may do a few weeks on one of the little sisters and it will be interesting to see how he likes doing double duty.

The venue entertainment has been really good.  The woman who plays piano and sings has been so good that my wife, who tends to be a bit shy, actually stopped the singer to let her know how wonderful she was and that it was a pleasure to sit and listen to her.  The female singer in The Club is a real talent as well.  It seems that on cruise ships there is an affinity for singing ABBA songs; something this aging rock-n-roller doesn’t care for.  Last evening the singer put a personal spin on an ABBA son g that (heaven forbid) was such that I actually enjoyed it.  The “house band” is also good and is able to play a wide variety of music for all tastes…with taste.

It is great that the old days on Seabourn where there was really not very good entertainment are near gone.  At least this is one man’s opinion.

With the internet access quite poor in this part of the world due to weather (which, by the way, has been quite good – relatively speaking) and location, it can be a bit of a frustration.  With our shipboard adventure almost coming to a close (we disembark on Heimay Island, Iceland tomorrow) I will try to post at least one more time.  Why?  Because today we are supposed to go riding on Icelandic horses…and I don’t know how to ride!  Wish me luck.

The luxury cruise Yacht Seabourn Sojourn

In its first new route went liner luxury Sojourn Luxury Passenger Yacht, which replenished the fleet of the company Yachts of Seabourn, a member of the holding company Carnival Corporation. Route 14-day journey aboard the Seabourn Sojourn includes stops in Scotland, Denmark, Iceland, Norway and the Netherlands. Cruise will end on June 20 in Dover.
The ceremony of christening the ship took on board the ship during a cruise on the River Thames. Godmother of the new super-liner was the famous British supermodel the 60's, the actress and singer Twiggy (Twiggy). According to her, elegant interior and smooth contours make the ship one of the most elegant in the sea.





The luxury cruise Yacht Seabourn Sojourn.

Seabourn Sojourn Inaugural and Maiden Voyage - Part VII

Two nights ago started out with a wonderful experience and ended with a disappointing one on the Seabourn Sojourn.

First, the disappointment. The entertainment was, to be honest, bad. The Seabourn singers were amateurish and awkward. I don’t tend to do the shows and this only reinforced my disdain for them. Enough of that.  (Postscript June 12, 2010 - The second show was much improved.  While still not my personal cup of tea, what was both amazing and encouraging were the number of US and UK guests who made a conscious effort - with enthusiasm - to say how improved the second show was.  Possibly a case of opening night jitters??)

Now the wonderful experience: Dinner at the Seabourn Sojourn’s Restaurant 2 was great. For those of you who are not familiar with this unique alternative restaurant (which is provided at no extra cost – Silversea, are you listening?), the concept is to provide a number of small and contrasting “meals” each of which is quite complex. There are no choices and there is no salt or pepper provided. You also dine in the order the food is presented. You might consider this restrictive, but the reality is that it frees you from any thought. You just go with it. The restaurant is modern in black with white and touches of red and each plate is unique and designed to assist with the presentation of each course. In other words, it puts you off balance…in a good way.

Think of a luxury experience…not one of slapping half-cooked meat on a stone (ala Silversea’s Hot Rocks) or oversized portions of commonly cooked steaks or crab (ala Regent Seven Seas Prime 7). Yes, there is a place for everything, but calling something luxury or classy doesn’t make it so. This experience IS luxury and classy!

Our meal started with Crispy Foie Gras with a Port Wine Splash.

This was followed by a plate of three dishes: Lobster Roll with a yogurt and caviar sauce; Bacalito (codfish) Fritter with avocado and tomato sauce; and, Seared Panela Salmon with a white bean salsa and piquillo coulis. At this point the score was 4 great dishes.

Next up was an Oxtail and Manchengo cheese potsticker with a wonderful beef consume; an Asparagus Vanilla Cappuccino (a favorite of mine) and a Mushroom Toast (not my favorite). Now I am thinking what is with Restaurant 2…it seems more like Restaurant 3? And after seven small plates one begins to understand that small amounts of incredibly well prepared food are very satisfying…and enjoyable.

The main course, if you will, was Turbot marinated in sake with Swiss chard and a hazelnut vinaigrette and Braised Veal with mascarpone mash potatoes. Oh, Restaurant 2 now makes sense.

Only three rounds of desserts to go! Limon cello Tiramisu Foam with marinated oranges; then a trio of Dark Chocolate Panache (with a wonderful cookie base), Espresso Citrus Pane Cotta and a condensed milk ice cream. Last but not least: a Kahlua Frappe “shot”.

There was not a portion that was over 2 inches in size or much over an ounce of liquid. Elegant, complex flavors, beautiful presentation and incredibly satisfying.

Yesterday we were in Invergordon, Scotland. We went off on our own. My wife being from Scotland decided that now would be a great time for me to purchase a kilt. That (no photos to follow!) was followed by a short visit to The Dalmore distillery and a “wee dram” of a very nice whisky. After a visit to the local grocery store to stock up on British candies, we walked to the nearby down of Alness where we sought out a haggis supper – haggis deep fried with French fries.

And this is where travel is wonderful. As we are waiting for our “gourmet” lunch at the local chippy (Food Feast) I notice a number of Turkish items on the menu. So I ask if they are from Turkey and the next thing I know my wife (who lived in Turkey) is have a conversation in Turkish about Istanbul! Who would have thunk?! The funniest thing was that when one of the Turks spoke in English he had a pretty good Scottish accent!

And now for another Seabourn moment: The chef called me and said he ran out to buy haggis for me and my wife, so tomorrow for lunch: Haggis, Neeps and Tatties! (He refuses to eat it, but obviously will cook it.) Why lunch? Because friends of ours have ordered a special lamb curry dinner tomorrow evening that we will be joining them for.

Not only is this so totally Seabourn, it is pretty amazing that on a Maiden Voyage things are going so smoothly that special requests are not only not a problem, the chef is going out of his way to create them!

Life is good aboard the yacht known as the Seabourn Sojourn...other than the cold I picked up.

Seabourn Sojourn Inaugural and Maiden Voyage - Part VI

Today is a sea day; thankfully so! Last evening was the Maiden Voyage celebration.

After an early dinner, we had to be on deck by 8:45 p.m. for the sailaway. Seabourn surprised the guests with the British Royal Marine Band followed by a fireworks display. Considering the large British contingent onboard and Pamela Conover’s British heritage, it was quite touching.

The evening progressed into a bit too much champagne with friends and then the sharing of some reserve whisky that Seabourn arranged as a surprise for another guest until far too late into the night.

But I now digress. It was extremely interesting to be onboard with no other guests. I walked the ship observing the Seabourn crew confidently, but excitedly, getting ready for the Seabourn Sojourn’s first real guests. There were some butterflies obvious, but things proceeded with a very “We know our jobs. We can do this with Seabourn style.” Because there are so many crew from the other ships, and the lessons learned on the Seabourn Odyssey having been integrated, things proceeded almost flawlessly. (I wasn’t given Glenfiddich, but vodka. I mean really!Hahaha.)

Probably the most telling of how well things are going was the Q&A session this morning with Pam Conover. There was not a single complaint…other than wanting Seabourn to some itineraries they don’t do or the discontinuation of others that are loved. Quite a testament indeed. Honestly, I think Pam Conover was presently shocked that not a single negative was uttered.

This afternoon I was treated to a private wine, cured meat and cheese tasting in the Seabourn Sojourn’s main galley. Executive Chef Bjoern Wassmuth and Sommelier Tilmar Pfefferkorn put on quite a show. I am not sure I have them all or are noted correctly, but here goes:

Wines – Barolo DOCG, Cancello del Barone Barolo (2000); Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Antinori; and Graham’s Late Vintage Port.

Meats – Parma ham; salamini mignon (3 types), salami feline, spinata calabra

Cheeses – Taleggio; pecorino paglia fieno, local cow’s milk cheese, an unlabeled cheese wrapped in vine leaves, a wonderful local sheep’s milk cheese; pulgia(?)

It was quite a fun and enjoyable experience among friends.

Tonight is the first formal night. As I have enjoyed the menu on a previous night (the Inaugural), I am dining in Restaurant 2 . I will let you know how it goes.

Seabourn Sojourn Inaugural and Maiden Voyage - Part V

After two days onboard the Seabourn Sojourn I am so very pleased to report (and enjoy) that all seems to be running extremely well.  Everyone from President Pamela Conover to Executive Chef Tony Eggar to the stewardesses and waiters have smiles and confidence in anticipation of the guests who will be arriving in just a few hours for the Maiden Voyage.  It is, honestly, everything Seabourn is about. It is a treat to see it from the "inside" as I get to observe things as both a partner and a guest...but before the guests arrive.

Last night was a charity gala for the 10th Anniversary of Breast Cancer Haven.  I had the true privilege of dining with Howard Frank, the CFO of Carnival Corp. and his wife, Mary.  What wonderful and friendly people.  I anticipated a rather strained and formal evening, but it was anything but that.  We spoke of everything from the start of Carnival and his fondness and respect for Ted Arison to grandchildren to Venetian art history.  The evening was both inspirational and a joy.  It flew by.

After an evening cocktail (or two) at the Sky Bar I retired to my suite.  After my wife fell asleep I just sat on my balcony watching the Thames drinking a nice whisky and smoking a Cohiba one of my dear friends gave me as a bon voyage gift yesterday.  Life is good aboard the yacht!

Starting later today the ship will be up and fully functioning, with all the venues open and cruising guests aboard.  I can't wait.  It does seem a little like Christmas morning...just waiting for everyone to wake up so you can watch them unwrap the presents and see their faces.

The Quest of the Seabourn Sojourn - The Inaugural & Maiden Voyage Travelogue - Part IV - The Naming and Inauguration

I am aboard the Seabourn Sojourn and I am happy to report the ship is, well…Ship Shape!

The staff is smiling and on their game with friendly and familiar faces greeting us at the gangway after our short tender ride from the Four Seasons Canary Wharf – the staging area for the very quick boarding process.

The champagne is flowing, the stewardess arrived promptly with more champagne, canapés and a choice of Hermes, L’Occitane or Essence soaps. Our suite (No. 622) is perfectly completed…as is the rest of the ship.

No crew rushing around. No apologies. No making things work. No, the issues with the delivery of the Odyssey are pretty much non-existent. Even the little things, like the deck on my balcony is clean and the trim freshly painted. All the furniture is not only in place, it is all perfectly staged with towels, cushions, awnings, etc.

My stewardess was literally bragging that within four days of arriving in Genoa from the Seabourn Pride the crew area was complete and she was able to move onboard. That allowed her, and the rest of the staff, to get into their routines early and consistently. So they confidently present a polished product right from the start.

I guess I must ask myself, “Why am I even mentioning the problems with the delivery of the Seabourn Odyssey?” And I guess the answer is because the delivery of the Seabourn Sojourn shows, once again, why I am such a believer in Seabourn. Seabourn may not be perfect, but the people of Seabourn will do everything they can to make it so.

I have notice a few changes/improvements; most of which are quite subtle (such as the elimination of the large silver “walls” at the rear of the Grand Salon – what a difference!), but the Spa has really been improved in a few significant ways. I will discuss these in a later post – with specifics – but the focus has been on delivering a consistent product at the highest levels of quality.

I was going to delay in describing the Inaugural Events because I don't want to ruin anything for those attending the charity event tonight or the Maiden Voyage events, but I have been told that other in the UK have published some of the details.  Soooo, with the preface that it is pretty hard to get Iamboatman to tear up, there were quite a few watery eyes last night.  It started with a wonderful cocktail party on deck in 75 degree weather which included beautiful flower arrangements everywhere...including the center of the pool....a huge martini ice bar (complete with Seabourn insignia) and wonderful passed tastes. 

Twiggy was announced and made her grand entrance, followed by her brief and very classy speech including the requisite, "This is My Yacht" and a bottle of champagne ran on a line running from the forward mast to a plague christening the Seabourn Sojourn.

After a wonderful dinner - flawless service and with great cuisine (my halibut was perfect, but Bjoern is the chef!), it was back to the pool deck for the big event.  A quartet of beautiful women played some incredible upbeat classical music that was mesmerizing.  Then, with the strings in full crescendo...Fireworks.  And the fireworks were seemingly times to the music.  It was, without question, very emotional.

It was, without question, very Seabourn.  A new, more energized and youthful Seabourn.

As I dine, drink and am entertained I will write more. But for now, if you are booked on the Sojourn you can rest easy (and with positive excitement). If you have been waiting to book because you were concerned about the shape of the ship on delivery…wait no more.  I feel like I am on one of my flawless Seabourn cruises and that the Quest has been very, very successful.

Leisure yachts. Yacht Charters

Today in the world, there are several varieties of the charter, depending on the degree of comfort and the type of services provided. This, in turn, helps clients choose the best option.

The first type of charter - the so-called "bare-boat", ie yacht without crew. This yacht offers tourists without a professional team, ie tourists themselves should manage it. Naturally, before the adoption of a tourist boat owner must prove that he can handle such a vessel. Despite the lack of a professional team, the yacht is fully equipped with everything necessary for such a voyage. They must be available means of communication (radio), rescue equipment, means of alarm (emergency buoy, flares). With regard to supplies of goods and liquids, the yacht is issued to the client is fully fueled and water. After the boat trip should be returned to the owner, too, fully fueled and water. Yachts are also usually equipped with detailed descriptions of the suggested routes and maps navigation. In the descriptions of the routes, except for places may be even pointed out where the good fishin 'and some hotels and stores on their way most advantageous. Suggested routes usually start and end at the same port, but by agreement with the charter company you can leave the boat at any convenient for you to port.

There are two varieties of this type of charter. In one of them gets a tourist boat on the form of "bare-boat", but with skipper-guide on board. A modification of this type of charter is the so-called "charter of the fleet." This is a sailing trip with a group of yachts, you can make yourself or join the fleet, organized charter company. The flagship of the fleet managed by an experienced skipper, ready to help, but you remain responsible for the yacht and crew. Fleets are organized by charter companies, primarily for those who just received a license and still not feel sufficiently confident in a separate trip. In addition, the flotilla adds communication, fun, introduces an element of racing excitement. Often this form of charter is used for corporate rest. Also, very often charter companies conduct rally race. It's as simple sporting regatta, which may be open to all, regardless of the level of training.

The next widely practiced form charter - the so-called "crewed charter". This implies that the yacht must be equipped with. Tourist on a boat is a "guest" and if he does not want, he does not necessarily participate in the management of the yacht. The team usually consists of a captain, the number of men depends on the size of boats and the number of passengers, often in the team include the Coca-steward. Maintenance of this type of charter greatly increases its value, but it saves tourists from liability for the vessel and allows them to more fully enjoy swimming.

Seabourn Sojourn - She Is Ready For Her Close-Up!

I have heard from the Seabourn Sojourn and have been advised she is beautiful and "completely ready"!

For any of you considering a Northern European cruise this summer, but were afraid to consider the Sojourn after the problems associated with the delivery of the Seabourn Odyssey, you may want to consider booking now.

I have some incredible fares available with my Private Sale that are very limited and extraordinary values.  Don't complain when you wait and there is no availability. But if you are still not sure, think about it for a couple of days and I will let you know from my personal observations as I board her on June 4th for nine days.

You know me:  I am always available!