After stressing over the meticulously prescribed health declarations and medical protocols necessary to board Seabourn Cruise Line’s Seabourn Odyssey in Barbados for its 2021 restart, the sheer normality of the actual onboard experience was a surprising relief. In fact, every guest I spoke to on my late July sailing basked in the warm glow of safety and security that permeated the ship, allowing them to finally let down their guard — and their masks — to relax.
The ship’s current 7-day Caribbean sailings, which operate between Bridgetown, Barbados, and Philipsburg, Sint Maarten (also sold as 14-day roundtrip voyages), provide a relaxing journey through some of the Caribbean’s smaller, out-of-the-way ports that are typically off-limits to larger ships.
Operating under the aegis of the Barbados and Sint Maarten governments with a 100% vaccine mandate for guests and crew, Seabourn’s ultra-luxury experience has been altered slightly in light of COVID-19, but certainly not diminished. Although fully vaccinated, all team members (crew) wear masks as an added protective measure.
Pre-cruise protocols for these sailings, at least in the short term, also require a negative, standard PCR test and a “sterile corridor” transfer from the airport to the ship for same-day arrivals.
Once onboard, however, comfortably ensconced in Seabourn Odyssey’s protective bubble, I was pleasantly surprised to encounter many pre-pandemic hospitality features that have since disappeared from land-based resorts, such as self-service buffets for breakfast and lunch; no social distancing requirements; guests without masks; and twice-daily housekeeping service in suites.
Seabourn Square, the ship's "living room"
Credit: David Yeskel
Meanwhile, the biggest operational change (from the guest’s perspective) was significant, but likely temporary: the inability to explore independently onshore. A wide range of “bubble” shore excursions are currently offered by the cruise line’s Destinations team, all guided by fully vaccinated and tested local operators who maintain their respective groups’ distance from other visitors and/or locals. And while this protocol certainly reduces spontaneity (and, by definition, shopping opportunities), it does serve to protect and preserve the onboard safety bubble.
After an extensive, ship-wide refurbishment in mid-2019 — and, let’s face it, not much wear-and-tear since — Seabourn Odyssey looks and feels new, with a particularly handsome redesign evident in Seabourn Square (the ship’s social hub), and a stunning refresh of the elegant Restaurant. New LED walls in the Grand Salon enhance the already high-caliber evening musical entertainment.
And despite the 16-month operational pause, Seabourn’s vaunted service standard did not suffer on my sailing, with team members seemingly anticipating every need, then delivering with the grace, warmth and efficiency that has become their hallmark.
The line’s gourmet cuisine — a perennial barometer of the industry’s luxury segment — has been further enhanced with more than 300 new dishes. Particularly impressive are the intricately prepared, innovative bites served with pre-dinner cocktails in the Club, and a quinoa-based “Super Bowl” devised for the new breakfast service on the Patio.
Meanwhile, Seabourn’s partnership with uber-chef Thomas Keller continues to entice foodies with reimagined classic steakhouse fare at The Grill, equally impressive four-course, family-style dinners in the Colonnade, and the custom-developed Napa Burger and Yountwurst at the Patio. Topping it all off is Seabourn’s incredibly decadent, signature “Caviar in the Surf” event, which takes place once per week at an idyllic private beach on St. Kitts.
I asked Seabourn president Josh Leibowitz (who was visiting the ship during my sailing) to sum up the company’s successful Caribbean restart.
“I know it’s hard to get here,” Leibowitz said. “But once you’re onboard, with our multiple medical protocols, surrounded by like-minded guests and happy team members, this is a safe haven.”
And seemingly for the first time in 16 months, I exhaled deeply, and agreed.
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Seabourn Cruise Line
