judy

A couple of people e-mailed me personally about wanting to hear about my SeaDream cruise so I thought I'd post. UN-BE-LIEVABLE!!!! It was primarily American passengers (75 of the 87, if I recall) and the vast majority were affluent but in no way pretentious (although there was a small element of what I'll kindly call EXTREMELY "high maintenance" and God bless the staff--I would have flipped 'em the bird and walked away). The suites were lovely with a marble bathroom that while smallish, had a glassed in shower with body jets that ran the entire depth of the bathroom. Bulgari toiletries. Liquor or wine of your choice in the fridge and a great flat screen tv (though I think they need to have more TV programming). No verandas and I really thought I'd miss that but it was so uncrowded that I could go out to the pool, have my morning coffee and have the solitude of a veranda anyway--and our suite was ideally situated for that. Smoking prohibited all throughout the interior of the yacht, including suites, but you could smoke on deck. All drinks and wine included, as well as tips. They have this incredibly cool retractable sports deck and a ton of water toys like wave runners, zodiacs, water skis, banana boat and stuff, or you can simply use the platform as a jump off point to swim right in the ocean. They used the platform to do the ever-so-decadent Seabourn caviar and champagne in the surf thing, with the waiters first leaping from the deck above into the ocean! Food was spectacular and I really can't say enough about the service! So attentive without being intrusive. The deck chairs and "Balinese Sunbeds" had to be experienced--like laying in the sun on your bedroom mattress! Like most yacht vessels, there wasn't a huge variety of entertainment in the evenings, just a tiny casino and a piano bar but this horse-shoe shaped bar, Top of the Yacht, was a blast to hang out at. And, when someone said something about wishing there was a place to dance, the very next day, they put together a disco night. That's how it was: Ask and you receive! I, being probably the only American woman interested in the World Cup Final, asked about a broadcast, and--wham bam--they fixed up a large screen in the main salon. And, yeah, there were only about five of us watching, but that didn't matter. The tours were run like clockwork and featured the best tour guides I'd ever had--in Florence, our guide had written a book on the city and also had a degree in art history so seeing David with him was an experience that nearly brought tears to our eyes. They also didn't push the tours down your throat for revenue and actually offered alternative free ones conducted by someone from the ship, like the chef taking people to a local market to show how he shops for the ship. No tux or gown required although there was an emphasis on casual in the brochure, while jackets were "preferred" on the nights we had dinner in the dining room as opposed to "under the stars" which was EVERYONE's preference but of course depended on the wind and weather conditions. There was a golf simulator room which did nothing for me not being a golfer, but people seemed to love it. Seems most of the passengers were devotees of Sea Goddess and they just LOVE the ship (some sailed her in one reincarnation or another 12-15 times). And a good number of the staff and crew were also Sea Goddess so they seemed to know a lot from previous sailings. When something DID go wrong--a leak in the pool--it was fixed by the next day. I think the thing that sums it up best was the driver we had when we disembarked for our journey to Rome. When we got in the car, I said to my husband "I'm SO not ready to go home!" and the driver turned to look at the ship and said "I think so she is the best one. Everyone who leaves this boat, they leave happy.

laurence

Judy, I am thrilled that you were able to experience such a nice and high end vacation usually experienced only by the well-healed. It is good to see your review and I am put at ease that things have not changed with all the shuffling of these boats over the past few year! I expect that my wife and I's next vacation will be as wonderful as they used to be when we travelled on these yachts when they were under the auspices of Cunard. Your comments though regarding "flipping the bird" and pretentiousness are uncalled for. You have to understand that by taking the cruise you did, you obviously threw yourself into a world that was unfamiliar to you ( high end travel with well-healed individuals). It is obviously a way of life you are not accustomed to. It's great that you were able to afford to party with this crowd, but coming from someone who has been involved with this crowd of people for many years, (we vacation in St. Moritz in the winter and the South of France in the summer) their way is not to be pretentious. It is the way things should be when dealing with this level of socialites. The crew is well aware of this and probably is used to it by now having previous worked on Seabourn. I hope your next vacation with this genre of individuals is as wonderful as this one was, and I hope you will understand to rise to the occassion rather than be crass about it.

Ginger

Dear Judy, <BR><BR>I am glad you enjoyed it so much. I use information like this for my clients, so thank you for being so detailed!<BR><BR>As for you, Laurence, I hope you read this, because you are the typical pretentious snob that needs to be flipped the bird!<BR><BR>We have clients that "vacation in St. Moritz in the winter and the South of France in the summer" and they are wonderful people. How dare you say she threw herself into a world she is not used to! I am constantly impressed by the unpretentious wealthy- and I would have mentioned the type of passengers as well. I have a millionaire client that YOU would call high class white trash because he does not like the elitist snobs of the world.<BR><BR>Judy, I, and many other travel agents, needed to know the type of clientelle on board, so thank you for adding that part. <BR><BR>And, Laurence, to jump into your "look what I have done in my life" boat, they taught me better english in my boarding school in England- please double check your sentences when you are attempting to impress those of us less fortunate-"but comming from someone who has been involved with this crowd of people for done just that many years."<BR><BR>"For done?" New one on me! But I guess since I don't care for Dom and was am fabulously bored on Silversea, I would not be aware of such language.<BR><BR>So Judy, congratulations on such a wonderful vacation, and Laurence, sod off, you name dropping git! <BR><BR><BR>

Mary

Yeah, Laurence, bugger off. And who ever heard of 'well healed' people. I've heard of 'well-heeled' people. If you do mean 'well healed' does that mean that they just had operations? And are all better again? You must have had a lousy education.

Tim

Judy....Thanks for the GREAT report!!! We are taking the SeaDream this Christmas (with our 14 and 10 year olds) and can't wait!!!!! We have enjoyed Seabourn and Silverseas cruises in the past and are looking forward to the same level of service!!!! As for our obnoxious buddy..........we do not consider ourselves well-healed, pretentious, snooty or any such thing.....simply great people who enjoy great things with other like great people!!!!! Tim

M.B.

Judy, did you happen to cruise on the Sea Dream with a fellow named Werner Lansberg, from Munich? We cruised with him on Seabourn's Legend and according to him, he STAYS on "now Sea Dreams" used to be Godess I and Godess II. Quite an interesting fellow! I know you had a great voyage!

Ginger

Tim, I have to ask, have your kids travelled on Silversea? And have they enjoyed it??? Ya know, all those snotty, rich people and all.<BR><BR>Honestly, as a travel agent, I have to know if they have enjoyed themselves. If not, what is a typical family cruise with them? I know children enjoy Celebrity, and Princess, but few enjoy Radisson or higher.<BR><BR>And to all of you booking these amazingly expensive cruises, need a travel agent??!?! (Sorry, but could not help that! It was a joke, as well, for anyone waiting to pounce!)<BR><BR>

Tim

Ginger.....You are quite funny!!!! Our children were the only two (besides the captain's) on our Mediterranean cruise....it was AWESOME!!!! The staff ate them up!!! We had a two bedroom suite on the front of the ship....pulling into Venice was breathtaking....cruising by Mt Aetna while it was erupting (on the day of our 15th wedding anniversary) was a once in a lifetime experience....docking in Monaco at the foot of the Hotel de Paris was magnificent!!!! Last Christmas...we did the Caribbean on Seabourn....snorkeling on Christmas day off Tortola was "over the edge". Again...we had the only kids.....but they like what we do....sunning...reading....fine dining...they especially enjoyed ordering room service and watching movies!!!! We believe your kids are what you make them!!!LOL And our travel agent (who we meet annually on Anguilla, at Cap Juluca)would kill us if we switched travel agents!!!!! Have you had any feedback about SeaDream????Thanks...Tim

ginger

Tim, I know children can be just as refined as adults, but it is strange to think of kids on Silversea. But as long as they enjoyed themselves!<BR><BR>And it warms my heart to know you book through a travel agent! Good on ya! (Lucky devil!)

Tim

Ginger...If you'd like to e-mail me directly (or if any of your clients would) I LOVE travel related questions!!! I didn't mean to sound snobby on the last post....we have also done two Disney Cruises with our children...and have done NUMEROUS other trips both with and without them!!! Tim

Andy

Judy==TERRIFIC cruise report--<BR>Now,big questions- to whom do I go to (cruise line) to book the Sea Dream since it is not Cunard anymore??Help!

Sailor

Here, Andy:<BR><BR>http://www.seadreamyachtclub.com/<BR><BR>Good luck!

ronda

Thank you all for your responses, but at this point I would like to hear from someone else like Judy who has taken this cruise so I can have a second opinion. We all agree that Laurence needs to reevaluate his priorities in life, but by continually posting comments we lower ourselves to his level. Let's just move on. Anyone else take this cruise?

judy

Woah, woah, woah... Haven't visited this site for a bit and I return to find Laurence's comments. Let me STRESS that I emphasized "small" element of these people and how I define their high maintenance quality is the fact that they rudely ordered the staff around like slaves. EVERYONE found these few people revolting. I certainly hope you're not suggesting that they were the "real" SeaDream clientele, while the other 80+ of us were these starry-eyed peons who just don't understand how the other half lives. In my experience in business and entertainment, I've learned that the truly successful are quite down to earth and easygoing, while the wannabes are the ones who push for attention to an obnoxious degree. And, by the way, I've also

judy

HATE THESE COMPUTERS!!! <BR><BR>What I was about to say is, by the way, other lines like Silversea and Radisson have also tolerated me and what you seem to consider my pedestrian ways, as well, so I'm no stranger to luxury. <BR><BR>On to other things, specifically, M.B. We sailed with a lovely German gentlemen who now lives in Moscow...but I don't believe his name was Werner...hmmmm...maybe it was. As I mentioned in my post, I was obsessed with seeing the World Cup Final and so was he so we had a lot to talk about! Wonder if it was him!<BR><BR>Thanks, everybody, for coming to my defense! We "riff-raff" have to bond together, I suppose!<BR><BR>

Ronda

I am still waiting to see this end and someone give me more tips on this cruise?<BR><BR>Judy: I appreciate your response. I am sure that if Laurence reads your response he will, hopefully, understand what you meant by "flipping the bird", but I feel that you are still adding fuel to the fire. Can you help put an end to these ridiculous convesations once and for all and give us some more constructive information? <BR>Thanks

Ginger

Ronda, we are just poking fun at Laurence for being so demeaning! Guess we can stop now. (Judy, WE understand what you are saying... that there weren't a load of Laurences on board! Ok, I am done! I am done!)<BR><BR>Anyway, this is a very new ship so a lot of people have not sailed on it. That is why Judy's words are helpful. But it would be nice if more people posted. Have you tried cruisecritic.com to see what people think? And I use the 360 degree views from cruisesinc.com 'cause it seems as if they take pictures of every ship afloat!

judy

more info. Let's see. There was just SO MUCH attention to detail and above-and-beyond sort of stuff. Off the top of my head, what really stands out is that when you returned from shore where it was, like 1000 degrees, there was a member of the waitstaff with a tray of neatly folded chilled, damp washcloths and another with ice water or punch. What a welcome! And those washcloths were scented...maybe cammomile or something. It was heaven! And a friend while we were in Capri bought some merengues and raspberries and that night at dinner, gave them to the maitre d' and said we wanted to have them with dessert. They weren't simply plated, but the chef did an incredible presentation, putting it all together with whipped cream and other garnishes. <BR><BR>I do want to hear from other people...actually (and I'm work so don't have time to find it) someone else posted on SeaDream--a very lengthy one, too. He or she boarded the day we disembarked. Do a search for SeaDream and you'll probably find it. That was very positive too.<BR><BR>Oh! and a tray of the chilled washcloths were also kept in a fridge in the gym too!

Paul Therault

You go girl!

Sunny

Finally, someone has some interest in SeaDream. We are leaving Tuesday for our Aug. 10 sailing on Sea Dream I. Judy and Tango have been the only ones so far who have been, and I have been looking almost daily here & cruisecritic since early June. Their reviews were GREAT! We are traveling with our 3 kids-19, 22 & 23 & my sister-in-law. We have a & different itinerary though, and are the 1st on it - Nice, Bay of Cannes, Monte Carlo, St. Tropez, Porquerolles, Port Vendres,(all France) Rosas (Costa Brava), Spain & Barcelona. I'll post on our return, Aug. 21. <BR>BTW, Judy, do you think a 5'10" teen could sleep on the couch? I have had conflicting info from SeaDream people. They will book 3 in a room, but no discount, full price, $2500, & there is only a couch for sleeping, so we aren't planning on it.