It’s tricky writing about expensive cruise lines. You have to assume the best of everything. I’m mainly highlighting the shortcomings.

On Seabourn Ovation (600 pax) many of the cabins are the same, as was ours. Good size and comfortable with two areas for improvement. For us no bath is needed so get rid of it and have a decent size shower and also a bigger walk-in wardrobe. Then provide us with large fluffy towels not the ordinary things we had.

Our biggest issue, and I know it’s very personal but there was no table tennis table – which cruise ship doesn’t have ping-pong? It helps keep you moving and fit amongst all the food and drink. Food was good everywhere but the service in all the dining areas was erratic, except perhaps at the pool deck or the steak place. Drinks and champers available anywhere. Many of us were annoyed on disembarkation day as we all got less than we expected. The Hotel day room turned into a hotel day pass with no chance to shower or change. We Brits all had late flight-times.

The ship was very nice and designed differently from the run of the mill designs. Coffee bar excellent. Receptionists could not smile (except one).

Fantastic time, staff couldn’t be more attentive and friendly, lovely clean rooms, bottle of champagne on arrival, food excellent, plenty of choices and eateries, great entertainment every night, would highly recommend and saving to go again

I’m sorry to say that we chose Seabourn for a milestone birthday celebration for my wife. We were ready for an ultra-luxury 6-star cruise but this never even got close to that. An awful embarkation with literally no welcome, no drink, and no directions, we were amazed. That set the tone for an okay cruise that had no highlights other than the lovely passengers we met. The food was okay at best, the staff did their job but nobody excelled, and the ship seemed dated. We wouldn’t go back, there are far too many competitors doing a better job, and much better value. Before our trip, we read about cost-cutting and that’s the vibe the ship gave off. Either you’re a 6-star cruise ship or not, perhaps Seabourn needs a rethink.

The ship is very comfortable and never seems crowded. Our cabin was fantastic. We marveled more than once at the way the boat maneuvered and was docked in sometimes stiff winds. Everything on board was terrific and with excellent service throughout. We loved having the option of having a sushi restaurant on board and its very high quality and imagination. The Thomas Keller restaurant is also first rate. We found the Earth and Ocean fare to be very good and also creative for dinner. Some of the ports of call were much better than others, but that was to be expected. We wish we had more time in Porto and a few of the excursions from ports could be improved, but it was overall a most memorable and enjoyable cruise. While we have sailed with Seabourn before, this was our first time on Ovation and we booked another cruise for next summer while onboard the same ship. We are considering another trip before then. It is so very comforting to have a reliable, predictable option for our trips. Seabourn has delivered in spades for us. While we love boats and the water, we were at the start reluctant and hesitated about taking a cruise. On our first sail with Seabourn out of Stockholm and in the Baltic, we knew we had found a line that spoke to us.