Unique Black Sea Voyage Aboard SeaDream

I don't usually discuss specific cruise itineraries unless I'm writing a review, but here's a new offering from SeaDream that's a bit out of the ordinary. While there are many, many Western Mediterranean offerings, SeaDream I's voyage #1835 sailing from Istanbul, Turkey on August 23, 2008 will focus on the Black Sea.

Ports of call include:

Nessebar, Bulgaria—A UNESCO World Heritage site, the well-preserved city is known for its medieval architecture including many churches.
Constanta, Romania—Here, in this prominent Black Sea port-of-call, the history of winemaking dates back to the 4th century.
Odessa, Ukraine—Founded in 1783 by Russia’s Catherine the Great, this prosperous, cosmopolitan city is home to Count Leo Tolstoy’s elaborate mansion.
Sevastopol, Ukraine—Where Count Tolstoy began his career, Sevastopol is a popular Medieval-style seaside resort referred to as the “Gem of the Crimean Riviera.”
Yalta, Ukraine—Summer residence of the Russian Czars, Yalta was the site of the 1945 historic World War II meeting of Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin.

Priced from $5,399 per person, based on double occupancy of staterooms, the voyage (as do all SeaDream voyages) includes all meals, complimentary wines with luncheon and dinner, an open bar, and use of “water toys” from the yacht’s stern Marina and gratuities.

If you're interested in doing a back-to-back cruise, you can opt for either a pre or post seven-night Greek Isles sailing. Prices for the combined voyages are from $10,259 per person, double occupancy.

For more information, visit SeaDream's website.

Photo courtesy of SeaDream Yacht Club.

Seabourn Odyssey Website Launched

Have you reserved a cruise during Seabourn Odyssey's inaugural season in 2009? If not, you might want to surf over to http://www.seabournodyssey.com to learn a bit more about this forthcoming 32,000-ton luxury cruise ship.

The site showcases artists' renderings of the ship's exterior, various public rooms, the ship's open-seating restaurant, pool patio, suite accommodations, water sports marina, and more. You can also access documentary-style photos taken at the shipyard in Porto Nogaro, Italy, where the construction of the hull is underway.

If you do wish to sail during Seabourn Odyssey's maiden year, you can find full itineraries and fare information for each voyage at this site. There are 13 categories of ocean-view suites, from a 295-square foot Category A Seabourn Suite to the four, super extravagant Grand Suites incorporating up to 1,182 square feet of indoor space and as many as three private verandas adding another 301 square feet of private space. Depending on voyage and suite category, fares range from $3,387 to $49,247 per person, double occupancy.

In addition, Seabourn Odyssey's inaugural world cruise, set to embark in January of 2010, is outlined in a special section, which displays the complete 108-day itinerary and invites interested travelers to put their names on a waiting list for reservations, which will open on February 1, 2008.

Although considerably larger than her smaller 10,000-ton sister ships, the new vessel will carry just over twice as many guests (450), boasting among the highest space-per-guest ratios (71.1) in the cruise industry and nearly one staff member per guest.

For more information, visit this new website for Seabourn Odyssey.

Illustration courtesy of Seabourn.

Multi-Million Dollar Makeovers for Seabourn Sisters

Seabourn announced today that its three yachts—Seabourn Pride, Spirit, and Legend—are undergoing multi-million dollar renovations during drydock maintenance periods scheduled between September of 2007 and April of 2008. The renovations, which are the most extensive since balconies were added to 36 of each ship's suites five years ago, include major overhauls of two of the intimate ships' popular open-air alternative dining venues, to increase seating capacities and enhance the options for guests to enjoy evening entertainment "Under the Stars."

"As we prepare for the launch of Seabourn Odyssey, we are also investing in the future of our existing fleet," said Pamela C. Conover, Seabourn's president and CEO. "These enhancements will ensure that our award-winning Seabourn Pride, Spirit, and Legend will continue to attract and satisfy the most discerning travelers," she continued.

The ships' indoor/outdoor Veranda Café, located all the way aft overlooking the wake when the ship is underway, is converted each evening into Restaurant 2, serving innovative tasting menus and themed dinners in a casual setting. The renovation will enlarge the outdoor section, increasing the venue's seating capacity and adding a graceful new awning for enhanced weather protection.

The Sky Bar, overlooking the sun deck and whirlpool spas, is a popular gathering spot both day and night, where Sky Grill dinners are occasionally served. During the renovation, twin staircases leading from the deck below are being replaced with a single stairway, allowing an increase in the deck space adjacent to the Sky Bar. Existing fixed cocktail-sized tables are being replaced with more versatile furniture, some of which can be removed to clear the deck space for occasional on-deck entertainment and dancing.

Further features of the renovations include an upgrade of the bedding in all guest suites, new carpets in many public areas, upgrades to the treatment rooms in The Spa at Seabourn, and new furniture in the card rooms and Internet centers.

Seabourn Pride just completed the process in Germany. Seabourn Spirit's turn will be at Singapore in January, 2008, and Seabourn Legend's at Lisbon in April, 2008.

One change will be immediately visible as guests arrive to embark. The ships' livery is being updated, with the decorative line along the shear of the hull being changed from dark blue to black, and the distinctive shield emblem on the ships' stacks highlighted in gold rather than blue.

For information, contact your travel agent, call Seabourn at 1-800-929-9391, or visit Seabourn's website at www.seabourn.com.