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Ship review: Seabourn Sojourn with Robyn Sinfield

Luxury travel advisors Robyn and Murray Sinfield of Home Travel Company in Tasmania recently spent eight nights on Seabourn Sojourn during a Mediterranean cruise. Read their impressions in this exclusive review for Karryon Luxury.

Luxury travel advisors Robyn and Murray Sinfield of Home Travel Company in Tasmania recently spent eight nights on Seabourn Sojourn during a Mediterranean cruise. Read their impressions in this exclusive review for Karryon Luxury.

We all have a first love, it could be your first born, your first car, or your first cruise. 

For us it’s always been Seabourn. It started in January 1996 on the Yachts of Seabourn. We have the most sea days with Seabourn but how will our first love compare in today’s world? 

Let’s see.

Embarkation and public spaces

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Robyn and Murray Sinfield enjoy a dinner in port during their Seabourn Sojourn cruise

We arrive in Barcelona (for a Barcelona return trip) at the cruise port to a very antiquated boarding system of chits of paper – then that bit of paper collected for another bit of paper collected; a terminal with no Wi-Fi, and a hard and fast 12.30pm check in regardless of cabin /suite type.

So 12.30pm comes around and we are in a priority boarding group. While we are first on there is no welcome champagne, no escort to the suite – none of the normal touches for which Seabourn was synonymous.

We head to Seabourn Square, which have always been the hub of the ship. We want to do some check in business and we are greeted by name and also receive timely help in a personal and private manner.   

Adjacent to the square is the Seabourn Sojourn’s library, the destination desk, the future cruise desk, and the entry to the boutique – but by far the most popular is the café where sit-in or takeaway drinks are popular, together with small bites.

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The Restaurant interiors.

Lunch is being served in the Collonade: the buffet restaurant open with themed food for lunch and dinner. One day it could be Mexican for lunch and Chinese for dinner. It’s housed in an open space with outdoor dining which is snapped up quickly on our gorgeous autumn day.

Like all ships of late, for the safety drill you need to present at the muster station or in the restaurant on deck 4; and you can watch the video in your suite (if you haven’t watched this your TV won’t begin and if you haven’t been to the muster station before sailing, you’ll be paged).

Our suite and service

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Owners suite on Seabourn Sojourn

We head to our suite #601, The Owners Suite in the bow. It’s roomy and all of our voyage paperwork is awaiting us including our tour tickets for our pre chosen days out; and ‘The Herald’ the daily newsletter with what’s happening around the ship, the dress code, the sunrise/sunset, the all onboard time, the sail time and more. 

We have two stewards taking care of us named Primrose and Hannah. They have a strong attention to detail and we notice it’s the little things. We moved the gorgeous arrangement of flowers off our dining table to a side board so they are there now without us having to do that. They noticed we like bananas from the fruit bowl so each day they are well replenished.  

Our suite has the bar full stocked with alcohol and also non alcohol in the mini fridge.  Water is provided in recycled bottles both in the suite and around Seabourn Sojourn.

The attention to detail came into play when I was talking to another guest and they advised they had a sleep aponeia machine. By their bed and without any fuss, bottled distilled water was placed each night – no need to ask, it just happened.

Seabourn Club

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Seabourn Sojourn

Seabourn Club has always been powerful for the global members. 

The membership has tiers and being Diamond we value the relationship with other club members onboard. What Seabourn does that others generally don’t is have a ‘first-time-to-Seabourn’ party where they meet the officers and Crew and have all things Seabourn explained – especially how to make another booking as they are now Club members after the first sailing.   

The cruise consultant onboard clearly advised them it was safe to book on board to save either a departure or an open dated credit (AUD$500 per person, paid valid for four years, fully refundable) and the booking goes back to their travel advisor.

Dining and drinks

Robyn and Murray Sinfield_Port of Livorno, Firenze for the day
Robyn and Murray Sinfield ashore in the Port of Livorno, exploring Firenze for the day

Solis is the 2024 new alternate restaurant, it’s light Mediterranean fare, very enjoyable but reservations are necessary – and if not booked before embarkation then there is a chance guests won’t get in. Dinner is only from 6-9pm. 

The restaurant is open for dinner every night. No reservations are necessary and it’s open for some lunches. The cuisine standard is excellent and HOT when delivered to the table. 

The Patio on deck 8 is located outdoors and is ideal for breakfast; and pool alfresco dining for lunch – and in the evening, no reservations are necessary for Earth & Ocean from 7-9pm. The heaters are good as the nights cool down.

Each night in the Club you can enjoy the Sushi Bar with casual dining from 5:30-9pm with no reservations needed.

There’s plenty of choice when it comes to enjoying a drink. The Club is open from 6pm until close with live music, a singer and a three piece band. The Observation Bar is arguably the most popular when a view is needed, located on deck 10 forward and with plenty of space and an outside viewing area.

For those who like to be on deck then Sky Bar on deck 10 is above all the action; or Patio Bar on deck 8 adjacent to the pool. 

All drinks are included in the fare. To be fair, the standard of house wines over the years has come down but if it’s not to your taste they will always find something else. If it’s standard US wines one day at lunch, you only have to say would like a French Cote du Rhone and it will appear.

Need to know

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Onboard spa

The Boutique was well stocked, of all of our cruises of late the most stock from everyday items to jewellery, handbags, perfumes and clothing. It’s a great place to spend the remaining onboard credits!

Deck 9 aft is the Spa and Wellness centre, a busy place with all sorts of treatments all priced at premium rates and in US dollars.  

Seabourn is inclusive of Wi-Fi for two devices, free of charge, per person. It’s really only suitable for social media and  emails. It’s USD$20 per day to upgrade to streaming and that allows connection for four devices and it’s quick and efficient.  

Gratuities are included the fare as well as dining at all restaurants including the alternate Solis and all entertainment onboard.

Guests pay for laundry, unless like us Diamond Club members, when laundry is free and we pay only for drycleaning. Free laundrettes are located throughout the ship and are popular. 

You pay for shore excursions and we are not against that if well travelled.  It’s not all in the fare and that’s good if you have already been there/ done that.  What we have seen across our sailing on this trip is that the ‘paid for’ is still great quality with small groups on large coaches. When the companies are including shore excursions, they are a bit more cookie cutter and a large coach with a large number.   

On the touring we did off the ship with Seabourn (on two days) the guides were fantastic, the group size was 15 or 20 transported comfortably on a large coach. It’s a seamless checkoff from the lounge on deck 6 and straight to the coaches. 

Disembarkation is very easy. Bags need to be left out by 11pm and guests out of their suites by 8am.

The verdict

Robyn and Murray Sinfield in France Bormes les Mimosas
Robyn and Murray Sinfield in Bormes-les-Mimosas in France

Seabourn is not pretentious in any way. Guests onboard are from all walks of life – from aged eight to those 88 – and they are easy to sit and converse with. The majority are American travellers but there are all nationalities represented including a good  mix of Aussies, Canadians and Brits on this voyage.

So what’s the verdict about our ‘first love’? It’s just as good with the same personal attention of having a coffee in the Seabourn Square. There’s a relaxed and chatty feel. The  greatest asset is the hard working team onboard Seabourn Sojourn who are attentive and cheerful; where senior managers and maitre d’hotels are hands-on, or the hotel manager serving hot chocolate in the laundry…..so that just about tops it! 

Coming back, indeed, have the onboard open dated deposit valid for four years or fully refunded, credited back to the travel advisor – oh yes, that’s me.

For more information visit seabourn.com

Robyn and Murray Sinfield travelled at their own expense.