Lift Off! On the Way to San Juan, Puerto Rico

Today's the day we leave for Puerto Rico! Yeah! We've got a nonstop flight but it's booked solid so an upgrade isn't looking good. Oh well. At least it's only a four-hour flight. We can handle that! Knowing we've got a yacht waiting on the other side will certainly help us look on the bright side no matter how crazy the airport or flight becomes!

We'll spend the night at the Caribe Hilton in San Juan before embarking on SeaDream Yacht Club's SeaDream II for a seven-night voyage. (While the Sheraton Old San Juan is the closest hotel to the pier, it was sold out so our next best option was to use our Hilton HHonors points for a free night's stay at the Caribe Hilton.)

We've never sailed with SeaDream before but are looking forward to it since the line promises an intimate yacht experience with a crew of 95 catering to just 112 passengers. One of our favorite cruise companies is American Safari Cruises with its fleet of yachts (all significantly smaller than SeaDream I and SeaDream II). We're wagering that the vibe, service, and amenities will be right up our alley.

Ports of call on our SeaDream II yacht adventure include:

San Juan, Puerto Rico
Culebrita, Puerto Rico
Esperanza, Vieques, Puerto Rico
Cruz Bay, St. John, United States Virgin Islands
Marigot, St. Martin, French West Indies
Saba, Netherlands, Antilles
Gustavia, St. Barthelemy, French West Indies
Jost van Dyke, British Virgin Islands
Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands

If everything goes according to plan, we should check in to the Caribe Hilton this evening. We're looking forward to a nice late-night dinner at the hotel. On Saturday, we'll be up early to explore Old San Juan before meeting SeaDream II at pier 1E. Wish us luck!

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photo of Old San Juan, Puerto Rico courtesy of iStockPhoto.com

Q&A with Carole of The Lazy Sea-Dreamer Blog

Tomorrow we depart for San Juan and will be one day closer to our first SeaDream Yacht Club voyage. One resource we've read forwards and backwards to prepare for our cruise is The Lazy Sea-Dreamer blog. This is a fantastic place to start learning about this boutique line that's all about intimate yacht adventures.

The blog is authored and published by a traveler named Carole who's devoted to SeaDream and sails with them as often as she can. Carole graciously agreed to answer a few questions for me about her passion for yachting.

Interview with Carole, Author of
The Lazy Sea-Dreamer

Were you a devout cruise fan before you discovered SeaDream Yacht Club?

Actually, I'd never cruised before our Mediterranean cruise on SeaDream I in November 2007. We loved it so much that we found ourselves on SeaDream II in the Caribbean five months later.

Do you recall how you found SeaDream and what convinced you to give the line a try. After all, their motto is "It's yachting, not cruising." Were you looking for a small ship experience or did SeaDream's marketing materials or an online cruise forum convince you to give it a go?

I'm a researcher by nature. I spent countless hours scouring the Internet, looking for a luxury cruise line that would suit us. That's how I found SeaDream, along with many other luxury cruise lines.

Though I wasn't initially looking for a small-ship experience, it was indeed SeaDream's ship size that convinced me to give the line a try. At maximum occupancy, each mega-yacht holds only 56 couples who are famously pampered by 95 crew. That's a fantastic crew-to-passenger ratio!

Once I chose SeaDream, I did visit a cruise forum for more specific information. Passenger-generated information, in my personal opinion, is far better than any type of marketing materials.

See my article, What Keeps Us Coming Back for More for more reasons why I chose SeaDream.


Your blog, The Lazy Sea-Dreamer, definitely shows your passion for SeaDream. In a nutshell, what are the three aspects of a SeaDream cruise that are most appealing to you?

Thank you for the compliment.

In no particular order, the three aspects of a SeaDream cruise that are most appealing to me are:

1. The Onboard Crew and Service. Simply put, they are the best in the industry! They make you feel like the yacht is your very own and that you're the only passenger they're expertly taking care of.

Service is personal and seamless, always offered with a genuine smile and a can-do attitude.

Your name is memorized almost instantaneously, as are your personal preferences. One morning right after being seated for breakfast, our server greeted me with a bottle of chilled champagne & a carafe of fresh-squeezed orange juice. He knew I enjoyed a mimosa with my breakfast and he poured me one without even asking.

2. Yacht Size. This is one of the most important aspects of the SeaDream experience and affects the passenger in many positive ways.

From the quick, effortless embarkation procedures (you shake the Captain's hand at the top of the gangway, then are given a flute of champagne!) to the ability to dine al fresco for dinner even though everyone else is inside the Dining Salon on Deck 2—the entire yacht and her Crew are literally at your fingertips.

Plus, there are no lines, no stress, no hassles anywhere to be found. What's not to like?!?

3. Intimate Ports. Because of her size, SeaDream I & II are able to visit smaller ports for a more intimate experience.

While in-port, we can choose to participate in fee-based Yachting Land Adventures (that's Yachtspeak for, "shore excursion") OR opt for a casual walk with a few Crew Members (known as a, "Shoreside Casual Walk with the Crew"). These casual walks are free and loads of fun.

See my articles The Chef's Walk (detailing our experience in St. Tropez, France with SeaDream I's Chef) and Gustavia, St. Barts (featuring a casual walk through the island, including SD's aft marina and water toys).


As a first-time SeaDream cruiser, what advice can you give me? What's not-to-be missed (signature meals, shore excursions, etc.)?

Here are a few first-timer tips:

1. Don't unpack right away. If travel allows, be at the pier shortly before the 2:00 embarkation (you will not be allowed to board before 2:00).

Once onboard, drop your bags in your stateroom and head straight for a Sunbed on Deck 6. Lounge there for an hour or so with a glass of champagne (or your favorite beverage—the bar will be open). This is the perfect vantage point from which to meet fellow passengers (another great aspect of SeaDream—you'll meet some wonderful people onboard!). If you're hungry, ask for a snack. Remember, it's all-inclusive and there are no checks to sign.

2. Dine al fresco for dinner. If dinner is being served inside the Dining Salon on Deck 2, you can dine al fresco. Just inform the Hotel Manager (or any Crew Member) of your preferences as early as you can. You can dine with your significant other or with a great group of fellow passengers. It'll be a magical experience and you'll truly feel like you own the yacht.

Here are a few samples of SeaDream dinner menus from one of our voyages.

Meal Tips

• Be sure to order the mussels that are served during lunch. They're typically served on the first day only.
  
  
• The dark-chocolate-filled croissants served at breakfast are to die for.
  
  
• If the coffee is too weak for your taste, request an espresso to mix into it.
  
  
• Try the espresso martini—it's splendid!
  
  
• The Chef's Degustation Menu is a highlight. This special, elegant, multi-course dinner is usually served toward the end of the cruise.
  
  
• Feel free to experiment with extravagant foods you've never tried. Remember, it's an all-inclusive cruise—there's no better time to find a new favorite!
  
  
• Finally, don't forget your fat jeans. The food is *that* good and you're gonna need 'em!

3. Shore Excursion: The America's Cup 12-Meter Regatta Yachting Land Adventure. Your particular cruise includes a stop in St. Martin (Marigot) and this excursion is not to be missed. For more information on other not-to-be missed excursions, visit my Interview with James Cabello on my blog (he's a former long-time SD Club & Activities Director).

4. Concierge. The well-trained Concierge (Deck 3) can, and will, do virtually anything to make your experience a pleasant one. Don't hesitate to ask, no matter how trivial the request may seem. For example, a recent SD passenger was able to borrow the Concierge's free Internet card for a few moments the day before disembarkation to check in/print their airline boarding pass.

5. Sleep Under the Stars. Stop by the Concierge Desk early on embarkation day to reserve the forward Dream Bed. There's something magical about sleeping under the stars. Read my article, Sleeping Under the Stars, for more information.

6. Book a Future Cruise Onboard. In order to take advantage of the onboard booking discount, be sure to book a future cruise before you disembark. The Club & Activities Director schedules a consultation time toward the end of the cruise to assist interested passengers (see the onboard Daily Program for details).

Which upcoming SeaDream itinerary is your "dream" itinerary?

That's a tough question! Personally, I love the onboard experience so much that sometimes it supersedes the itinerary.

I've sailed the Caribbean and Mediterranean with SeaDream. Next on my list is a trans-Atlantic crossing. I'm also interested in SeaDream's recently announced, new Northern European itineraries. Have a fabulous time on your upcoming SeaDream cruise!

—Carole Publisher, Author The Lazy Sea-Dreamer Blog

Thanks for all the tips, Carole! We'll be blogging from Puerto Rico starting on Saturday, January 9 and we'll board SeaDream II on Sunday. I'll let you all know how we find the yacht. We're really looking forward to this trip!

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photo courtesy of The Lazy Sea-Dreamer

Silversea Rolls Out Relais & Chateaux L'Ecole Des Chefs

Many of the top-tier cruise lines offer itineraries focused on gourmet cuisine and onboard cooking schools. Signing up for a course during your cruise is always a fantastic way to meet people, learn some tricks in the kitchen, and enjoy meals developed by world renown chefs.

Silversea Cruises just announced an exclusive partnership with Relais & Chateaux. Together, they are introducing L'Ecole des Chefs. This is an interactive cooking school that can be booked on 11 itineraries in 2010.

Silversea executive chef David Bilsland will host the program, which combines a culinary curriculum with social events. Bilsland himself was a chef instructor at Le Cordon Bleu culinary school in London. The course he'll present was developed in partnership with Jacques Thorel, owner of L'Auberge Bretonne and a Grand Chef Relais & Chateaux.

Sign up for this program and you'll learn basic knife techniques, kitchen terminology, and secrets to sauces and baking. Cooking demonstrations—complete with wine pairings—and cooking competitions between Bilsland and the ship's culinary team round out the program. And, of course, you'll take lots of recipes home.

Some voyages also offer an escorted "Market to the Plate" tour featuring a local market excursion followed by a cooking class, and a "Culinary Outing" to a local restaurant, hotel, or other venue where guests can enjoy a unique culinary exploration.

"Thanks to our partnership with Relais & Châteaux we're able to offer the exclusive L'École des Chefs program and provide our guests with a top-notch, in-depth cooking class that is also fun and entertaining," said Rudi Scholdis, Silversea's culinary director. "Of course, in addition to this new program, we'll continue to offer our popular Culinary Arts voyages showcasing the artistry of award-winning chefs of top dining establishments from around the world, including the internationally acclaimed chefs of Relais & Châteaux."

Select L'École des Chefs voyages will also feature Silversea's celebrated wine consultant, Lyn Farmer. The James Beard Foundation Award-winning wine and food writer—a passionate advocate of experiencing different cultures by sharing wine and food—will host lectures, conduct tastings and guide guests through wine and food pairings as part of Silversea's Wine Series enrichment program.

Here's the list of the L'École des Chefs voyages for 2010. Fares listed are per person based on double occupancy for a Vista Suite and do not include port charges and handling fees that range from $150 to $575 per person for these voyages, depending on the itinerary.

AFRICA & INDIAN OCEAN

Voyage 2035: Silver Wind departs Athens November 9 on a 16-day sailing to Dubai with calls in Rhodes, Alexandria, Sharm-el-Sheikh, Aqaba, Safaga and Muscat. Silver Savings fares start at $7,318.


ALASKA & PACIFIC COAST

Voyage 3012: Silver Shadow departs Los Angeles May 13 on a 12-day sailing to Vancouver with calls in San Francisco, Ketchikan, Sitka, Juneau, Skagway and Victoria. Guests will also enjoy a Wine Series program hosted by Lyn Farmer. Silver Savings fares start at $3,678.

CARIBBEAN, MEXICO & PANAMA CANAL

Voyage 3005: Silver Shadow departs Los Angeles March 5 on a 17-day sailing to Fort Lauderdale with a crossing of the Panama Canal and calls in Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Zihuatanejo, Acapulco, Puerto Quetzal, Cartagena and Santa Marta. Silver Savings fares start at $5,478.

Voyage 3011: Silver Shadow departs Fort Lauderdale April 28 on a 15-day sailing to Los Angeles with a crossing of the Panama Canal and calls in Santa Marta, Cartagena, Puntarenas, Acapulco and Cabo San Lucas. Silver Savings fares start at $4,838.

Voyage 5039: Silver Spirit departs Fort Lauderdale November 22 on a round-trip, 10-day sailing with calls in Grand Turk, Antigua, St. Bart's, St. Kitt's and Spanish Town, B.V.I. Guests will also enjoy a Wine Series program hosted by Lyn Farmer. Silver Savings fares start at $4,182.

Voyage 5042: Silver Spirit departs Fort Lauderdale December 20 on a round-trip, 14-day sailing with calls in Grand Turk, Antigua, Bequia, Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Bart's, Spanish Town, B.V.I., and Key West. Guests will also enjoy a Wine Series program hosted by Lyn Farmer. Silver Savings fares start at $6,598.

FAR EAST & SOUTH PACIFIC

Voyage 4002: Silver Whisper departs Sydney January 18 on an 18-day sailing to Singapore with calls in Brisbane, Whitsunday Islands, Cairns, Thursday Island, Komodo Island, Bali, Semarang and Karimunjawa Archipelago. Silver Savings fares start at $6,118.

MEDITERRANEAN

Voyage 2033: Silver Wind departs Nice October 20 on a 10-day sailing to Istanbul with calls in Portovenere, Livorno, Sorrento, Taormina, Athens, Santorini and Kusadasi. Guests will also enjoy a Wine Series program hosted by Lyn Farmer. Silver Savings fares start at $4,678.

NORTHERN EUROPE

Voyage 1017: Silver Cloud departs London June 7 on a 10-day sailing to Stockholm with calls in Rostock, Visby, Tallinn and St. Petersburg (extended three-day, two-night stopover). Guests will also enjoy a Wine Series program hosted by Lyn Farmer. Silver Savings fares start at $5,082.
SOUTH AMERICA

Voyage 4034: Silver Whisper departs Santiago December 3 on a 16-day Chilean Fjord sailing to Buenos Aires with calls in Puerto Montt, Laguna San Rafael, Punta Arenas, Ushuaia, Puerto Madryn and Montevideo. Guests will also enjoy a Wine Series program hosted by Lyn Farmer. Silver Savings fares start at $6,998.

TRANSOCEANIC

Voyage 1011: Silver Cloud departs San Juan April 14 on a 15-day transatlantic sailing to Barcelona with calls in St. Maarten, Antigua, Tenerife, Las Palmas, Casablanca and Malaga. Silver Savings fares start at $4,398.

For more information about Relais & Chateaux L'Ecole Des Chefs, talk with your travel agent or contact Silversea.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photo courtesy of Silversea