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?The Lazy Sea-Dreamer
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!
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!
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