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.
Friday, September 21, 2007
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Pride of America Deluxe Penthouse Suite (AB 10000)
Trip Report Note: Sorry we weren't able to blog live from Hawaii last week. Due to a mishap on Oahu, our laptops and camera gear went missing. We'll have to rely on press photos and a few shots we managed to e-mail home before disaster struck. Neither the Marriott Waikiki or NCL were involved in our luggage mishap.
This was the moment of truth! We had just boarded NCLA's Pride of America and had our first glimpse of our Deluxe Penthouse Suite. Some fellow cruises asked if we got this cabin as the result of an "upsell" call from NCL. We actually booked this cabin from the get-go, so we did not receive the famed upsell call offering suite accommodations at a discounted rate.
It would take all week to decide if this cabin was worth the expense (it was). We'd been looking forward to our trip to Hawaii for weeks so we had a feeling it would be a fantastic vacation! (We're true believers in making the most of every situation!)
First of all, a one-week stay in an AB suite on this ship costs about the same as a seven-day Tahitian cruise aboard Regent Seven Seas' Paul Gauguin or a 10-day Panama Canal itinerary from Crystal Cruises. The difference being, you'd be in the lowest category aboard those vessels while an AB suite is one of the top categories on the Pride of America.
NCLA is a mass market line but they do advertise several suite categories and try to provide some luxury services.
What appealed to us were the following benefits:
There are only a handful of AB suites on the Pride of America, but we selected a forward cabin (AB #10000). We've heard the wind can be a problem on some itineraries but it was not in Hawaii. We spent a lot of time on the balcony while we were sailing and never encountered an issue.
Here are some photos of the suite. (If you click on each photo, a larger version will pop up.)
Yes, the balcony for AB suite 10000 on NCL's Pride of America really is this big. It stretches across the bow.
Here's the hot tub that's on the balcony of NCL's Pride of America AB suite 10000. Unfortunately, it was broken when we arrived! Ten demerits for NCL. It took two entire days and several requests before anyone came to fix the tub. It turned out that the switch was broken and couldn't be replaced while we were onboard. We could use the hot tub, but we had to keep our finger on the button if we wanted the jets on. Nice and relaxing. The onboard mechanics told us it looked like the unit hadn't been used or serviced in a long time. So, if you've booked a room with a balcony hot tub, make sure your room steward(ess) cleans it thoroughly before you use it. Lots of yucky bacteria can grow in these tubs if they're left sitting without use for long periods of time.
Here's the bedroom that can be partitioned off by both French doors between the living room and bedroom and a heavy curtain between the bedroom and the closet/vanity area. What you can't see in this photo is a second flat-screen TV and the sliding glass door that leads to the balcony (opposite end from the hot tub). (The leis pictured here were NOT from NCL. We received them from LeiGreeting.com when we landed at the Honolulu Airport the day before.)
A few of the living room, looking into the bedroom with the French doors closed.
Here's the living room, dining area, and wet bar. (The second sliding glass door to the balcony is located right next to the chair in the foreground of this photo. This leads to the hot tub side of the balcony.)
The desk area includes an Internet connection for your laptop. Service is very slow and there were many times we couldn't get online. (See the entrance door on the near left.)
The dining room is one of the outstanding features of AB suites. It makes it easy to order room service and dine in the privacy of your own stateroom.
Here's the wet bar area where you'll find a coffee/cappuccino maker. There is also a mini-fridge located here, although when you arrive it will be empty except for one large bottle of water. Additional beverages may be ordered from your butler, but make sure to tell him how many of everything you want. We asked for the fridge to be filled with diet Coke and ginger ale and we received all of four cans for the week. Every time we ran out of soda, we had to call the butler to order refills.
The bathroom was incredibly spacious and had an "open" concept with two double sinks, a vanity area, a separate toilet, separate walk-in shower, and a jacuzzi with a window (one-way glass) looking out to the sea over the balcony.
This is the jacuzzi in the bathroom. It was terrific!
The walk-in shower. This also has a one-way window looking out onto the balcony.
As you walk from the bedroom to the bathroom, you pass this makeup/vanity area.
The forward location of this suite was perfect because it gave you the ultimate in privacy and quiet! The view was also amazing! It afforded us a front-row seat whenever we entered or left port. The Napali Coast sail-by on Kauai was so special since we could enjoy it by ourselves on our own private balcony.
While we do have issues with NCL's service, the room was a perfect 10.
To learn more about NCL's suites and villas, click here.
Photos courtesy of Leonard Hospidor
This was the moment of truth! We had just boarded NCLA's Pride of America and had our first glimpse of our Deluxe Penthouse Suite. Some fellow cruises asked if we got this cabin as the result of an "upsell" call from NCL. We actually booked this cabin from the get-go, so we did not receive the famed upsell call offering suite accommodations at a discounted rate.It would take all week to decide if this cabin was worth the expense (it was). We'd been looking forward to our trip to Hawaii for weeks so we had a feeling it would be a fantastic vacation! (We're true believers in making the most of every situation!)
First of all, a one-week stay in an AB suite on this ship costs about the same as a seven-day Tahitian cruise aboard Regent Seven Seas' Paul Gauguin or a 10-day Panama Canal itinerary from Crystal Cruises. The difference being, you'd be in the lowest category aboard those vessels while an AB suite is one of the top categories on the Pride of America.
NCLA is a mass market line but they do advertise several suite categories and try to provide some luxury services.
What appealed to us were the following benefits:
- Priority embarkation
- Butler and concierge service
- Sparkling wine, gourmet hors d’oeuvres, and bottled water upon arrival
- Living room, dining room, and master bedroom
- Private balcony with hot tub!
- Flat-screen TV with DVD player
- Espresso/cappuccino machine
- Invitation to VIP cocktail party
- 24-hour room service with special suite menu
- Full in-room breakfast menu (hot and cold food)
- Hors d’oeuvres delivered twice during cruise
- Fresh flower arrangement and fresh fruit basket
- Priority boarding of tenders to shore
- Priority disembarkation
There are only a handful of AB suites on the Pride of America, but we selected a forward cabin (AB #10000). We've heard the wind can be a problem on some itineraries but it was not in Hawaii. We spent a lot of time on the balcony while we were sailing and never encountered an issue.
Here are some photos of the suite. (If you click on each photo, a larger version will pop up.)
Yes, the balcony for AB suite 10000 on NCL's Pride of America really is this big. It stretches across the bow.
Here's the hot tub that's on the balcony of NCL's Pride of America AB suite 10000. Unfortunately, it was broken when we arrived! Ten demerits for NCL. It took two entire days and several requests before anyone came to fix the tub. It turned out that the switch was broken and couldn't be replaced while we were onboard. We could use the hot tub, but we had to keep our finger on the button if we wanted the jets on. Nice and relaxing. The onboard mechanics told us it looked like the unit hadn't been used or serviced in a long time. So, if you've booked a room with a balcony hot tub, make sure your room steward(ess) cleans it thoroughly before you use it. Lots of yucky bacteria can grow in these tubs if they're left sitting without use for long periods of time.
Here's the bedroom that can be partitioned off by both French doors between the living room and bedroom and a heavy curtain between the bedroom and the closet/vanity area. What you can't see in this photo is a second flat-screen TV and the sliding glass door that leads to the balcony (opposite end from the hot tub). (The leis pictured here were NOT from NCL. We received them from LeiGreeting.com when we landed at the Honolulu Airport the day before.)
A few of the living room, looking into the bedroom with the French doors closed.
Here's the living room, dining area, and wet bar. (The second sliding glass door to the balcony is located right next to the chair in the foreground of this photo. This leads to the hot tub side of the balcony.)
The desk area includes an Internet connection for your laptop. Service is very slow and there were many times we couldn't get online. (See the entrance door on the near left.)
The dining room is one of the outstanding features of AB suites. It makes it easy to order room service and dine in the privacy of your own stateroom.
Here's the wet bar area where you'll find a coffee/cappuccino maker. There is also a mini-fridge located here, although when you arrive it will be empty except for one large bottle of water. Additional beverages may be ordered from your butler, but make sure to tell him how many of everything you want. We asked for the fridge to be filled with diet Coke and ginger ale and we received all of four cans for the week. Every time we ran out of soda, we had to call the butler to order refills.
The bathroom was incredibly spacious and had an "open" concept with two double sinks, a vanity area, a separate toilet, separate walk-in shower, and a jacuzzi with a window (one-way glass) looking out to the sea over the balcony.
This is the jacuzzi in the bathroom. It was terrific!
The walk-in shower. This also has a one-way window looking out onto the balcony.
As you walk from the bedroom to the bathroom, you pass this makeup/vanity area.The forward location of this suite was perfect because it gave you the ultimate in privacy and quiet! The view was also amazing! It afforded us a front-row seat whenever we entered or left port. The Napali Coast sail-by on Kauai was so special since we could enjoy it by ourselves on our own private balcony.
While we do have issues with NCL's service, the room was a perfect 10.
To learn more about NCL's suites and villas, click here.
Photos courtesy of Leonard Hospidor
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