Seabourn Odyssey - The Suite Details

Some of you have inquired about the suites on the Seabourn Odyssey and how the compare to the triplets and other luxury cruise lines. I will give it a shot, trying not to be too numbers oriented (as many can't tell size from reading square footage) or adding too much "stuff" about things you would expect in a luxury suite. (All suites have separate bathtubs and showers and twin sinks, flat screen tv(s), etc.)

Here goes:

The suites will have 13 varieties of suites ranging from a few oceanview to many balconies and some really incredible premium suites.

- The Seabourn Suite are oceanview suites that are slightly larger than the present oceanview suites at 295-302 sq. ft., but which have the mentioned separate tub and shower. The Veranda Suites are approximately the same size and have the same amenities, but also have a balcony ranging from 32 sq. ft. (only two of these 745 and 746) to 66 sq. ft. Comparison: About 35% bigger than the standard balcony on the Regent Seven Seas Mariner and Silversea Cloud/Wind and about 10% larger than the Silversea Whisper/Shadow.

- Penthouse Suites are 436 square feet (except 635 which is a wheelchair suite at 611 sq. ft.) and support dining for four guests, two flat screen tvs and a 98 sq. ft. balcony. Comparison: Regent Seven Seas Mariner's Penthouse suites has a 15% smaller interior and a 25% smaller balcony. Silversea doesn't really have a comparable suite.

- Owner's Suite range from 611 to 675 square feet of interior space with a 149-212 sq. ft. balcony, all with whirlpool tubs, but which vary in amenities and layouts - one having a sofabed and others having separate living and dining areas with a butler pantry. On Regent, its Mariner Suite compares nicely as to size. Silversea they are in between the Whisper/Shadow Medallion and Silver suites.

- Signature Suites are 819 sq. ft. with two verandas totalling 236 sq. ft. with a living room/dining area and forward facing windows. Regent Mariner really doesn't have a comparable suite nor do the Silversea ships.

- Wintergarden Suite - at 914 sq. ft with a 183 sq. ft. balcony the really cool feature is the private glass enclosed solarium. Regent Mariner's Grand Suite is similar in interior space, but has only about 40% of the balcony space. Silversea's Whisper/Shadow's Royal, Grand and Owner's Suites in a single bedroom configuration are about the same size...and the comparisons to the other upper Seabourn suites in various configurations follow.

- Grand Suites are 1,135 to 1,182 sq. ft. internally with two bedrooms, but are of two types: Forward with 3 verandas totaling 301 sq. ft. or with a solarium and 2 verandas totalling 236 sq. ft. Regent's and Silversea's top suite compare nicely, as they should. These are essentially created by utilizing the adjoining suites to the Signature and Wintergarden Suites.

There is a lot of information which will be forthcoming on the Odyssey. Some of the information has been released, but others have yet to be announced. Keep checking back!

Seabourn Odyssey - The Details.

So what is this new Seabourn Odyssey all about?

First, let me state the obvious...which might not be that obvious to those who have not cruised on Seabourn. The new ship is about service. Consistent service. The service you expect.

Carnival, Princess and Royal Caribbean have far more toys and venues than the Odyssey, but you would never cruise on them expecting the same level of cruise experience. So when thinking about the new ship, don't think you need to go WOW! about anything. (OK, the Spa is a WOW!) Think about how the venue, its setup, its atmosphere blends, embellishes, or compliments Seabourn Service.

I will keep away from most statistics because they are to most just boring or, worse, confusing.

SEABOURN SQUARE

Every hate the feeling of having a barrier between you and the purser, when you want to discuss something? Dread lining up to talk about a tour or to book your next cruise? Well Seabourn is implementing something pretty cool (actually somewhat more akin to what private banking used to be like). You will be able to sit in comfortable chairs in a lounge atmosphere and deal with your requests, inquiries and needs in a most civilized manner. And what would make your feel a bit more comfortable? A coffee bar will be located in the same area....and just down the corridor from the Card Room.

DINING:

Main Dining Room - Seabourn has done something pretty unique. It has very shrewdly designed the Restaurant to be essentially two mirror-images of the triplet's dining room (as far as layout in the dining room and galley). Even the waiter stations are in the same locations. Why you might ask? So that any staff that comes from one of the triplets knows exactly where to go, were things are, and how to serve. While the room will be beautiful, the service will be - here's that word - consistent.

Restaurant 2 - Again consistent with the Pride, Spirit and Legend, this alternative restaurant will feature innovative menus with wine parings.

The Colonnade - This is an indoor/outdoor restaurant with an open kitchen serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. It will feature a different theme each evening. Sound familiar? How about both indoor and outdoor seating?

Patio Grill - This is not just any poolside grill. There will be nice touches that make it a bit special at various times of the day. Wander by with a cup of coffee in the morning and you will be greeted with the aroma of warm cinnamon buns.

In Suite - Seabourn does this the best of any cruise line. Your meal will be served course by course, timed as you like it, with the Main Restaurant's menu available. If you simply want a late night pizza or an afternoon snack, there will be an extensive menu available.

SPA

Seabourn will have a unique, two story, indoor and outdoor spa with expanded services. But what is really exciting is that there will be 750 sq. ft. Spa Villas which provide you a private indoor area with seating and dining areas, a double bed lounger, two treatment beds, an oversized bathtub and shower...plus a private outdoor wraparound terrace with sun loungers. You will be able to rent these villas for your private treatment sessions for half or, demand permitting, full days.

In addition to Finnish saunas and aromatic steam rooms, there will be seven private treatment rooms with a much broader spectrum of services than is available on the triplets including a full service salon.

Seabourn will also be providing a state of the art gym for cardio, strength and weight training along with a Kinesis Wall. (For those of you that don't know what that is, don't worry about it - you will never use it!)

And for those wanting to just relax, the indoor pool will be located on Deck 8 and the Spa's own outdoor whirlpool will be located on Deck 9.

POOLS

If the triplets have glaring weakness it is the pool's location and layout. No more. On the Odyssey the outdoor pool is centrally located on Deck 8 with two whirlpools adjacent thereto. Modern, upgraded, lounges will be provided as well.

There will be a second smaller outdoor pool with two more whirlpools aft on Deck 5, as well, providing a quiet place to relax.

Wait until you see the water effects.

MARINA

Seabourn will have its very popular marina installed on the Odyssey and the offerings will be expanded to include water skiing and windsurfing in addition to snorkeling, banana rides, etc.

LOUNGES

One of the interesting things is that the lounges are designed to keep the intimate settings that exist on the triplets. Yes, The Club and the Observation Lounge will be larger, but their layouts are such that they are broken up into smaller spaces. Seabourn has not forgotten that it is the socialization among its guests that is one of its strongest features and these spaces are designed to enhance conversation.

Also, while the Sky Bar will be present in its familiar location and with a now fairly consistent look (thanks to the recent upgrades to the triplets!), there will be a second outdoor bar one deck down...right by the main pool.

STAFF

I have kept the best for last.

Seabourn is doing an incredible amount of work to make sure the staff on the Odyssey is trained, knowledgeable and, of course, familiar. Continuing with the tradition of European and South African staff, Seabourn has put in place an extensive shoreside education and training program.

But as you know, there is nothing like actual experience, so Seabourn is doing something unheard of. It is sacrificing suites on the triplets to house some staff so that they can shadow the current staff and learn "on the job" while not compromising either your upcoming cruise on the triplets or having you face an untrained staff member on the Odyssey. While I am sure it will not be perfect, the effort to make the service as consistent as possible from stewardesses to bartenders, pursers to waitstaff, is remarkable.

If you have questions or would like more information on any particular aspect of the Odyssey, leave a comment or drop me an email. Better yet, give me a call!

Seabourn Odyssey Is NOT a Silversea Ship - Updated

There is a rumor being spread on Cruise Critic that the Seabourn Odyssey is a Silversea ship that Seabourn sort of took away from Silversea. That is simply untrue...as are some of the other conjectures. It amazes me how this stuff gets started.

Now, let's just take a moment and think about it. Would Silversea let Seabourn "take" its ship? Use its design? Steal its place in a production schedule? Would Seabourn want that sort of albatross?

Here are the facts: Silversea was in no position financially to build any new ships when Seabourn decided to build the Odyssey and 2 other sisterships. Further T. Mariotti was not negotiating with Silversea to design something that wasn't going to be built. Yes, there are some similarities in overall design with the newest Silversea ship, but that is a function of T. Mariotti; not Silversea.

One of the most time consuming and costly aspects of designing a new ship is its hull. Not only is there a huge investment into "What is it we want to fit on this ship, but how much ship do we need to fit it all in?" Once you have the "above the waterline" design info you need to design the "wet" or "below the waterline" ship...and that can be time-consuming and costly. You need to deal with hydrodynamics, or how the ship will move through the water. You need to deal with stability issues (how she will handle seas, if she will be top-heavy, if she will roll too much for a passenger vessel, etc.) After computer generated analysis there must be models built and the hull tank tested. (There are special tanks which can test various hull models with to-scale waves, currents, etc. It is pretty cool stuff - though the photos of the process do not make it look very exciting; it is, after all, "dry" engineering. Sorry for the pun; I couldn't resist!)

So, how does one accellerate a process? Do not reinvent the wheel. If there is a basic wheel out there that works, there is a huge economy in time and money if you can exploit prior work. Seabourn apparently did just that. (An example you may be familiar with: The Jaguar X-Type has the same basic platform as the Ford Contour. Does anyone what to claim that the quick, all-wheel drive, automatic everything, leather and burl wood clad, etc. luxury care is the same car as a Contour? Obviously there will be someone who will, but your personal experience says that they may be similar, but very different.)

As far as what is being offered on the Odyssey that Silversea never had or contemplated: a Marina platform; a two deck, indoor/outdoor spa; a profile that compliments the present triplets...and there is more, but that is for a post later this week. That is why you will see some similarities, but there will be many, many differences.

An please keep this in mind: How many actually cruise Seabourn for its hardware? That's right: Very Few. What Seabourn is bringing to the Odyssey is its software: Its people. Its service. Its style. And that is, of course, why most people cruise Seabourn.