LUXURY CRUISING
claim that the first in the trio of recently- launched 32,000-ton vessels was a ‘game- changer’ held true on a cruise filled with 456 passengers. My yardstick was the experience of sail- ing on the smaller scions of the Seabourn fleet. Could this new vessel – three times the size of her smaller sisters, yet accom- modating only twice as many – deliver the impeccable levels of service I had previ- ously enjoyed? Quest is the last of three larger siblings offering an ultra-luxe take on the genre of boutique bateaux. As I was to discover, this is no floating, faceless, five-star resort at sea complete with unsmiling, grey-suited robots; Seabourn’s latest addition is a seri- ously classy ship, with some eye-catching features and staffed by a crew who shadow guests’ preferences with an unerring in- stinct – most of the time.
E
njoying a late breakfast on our balcony, we surveyed a backdrop of rolling hills filled with dense olive
groves and pine forests on the island of Lésbos. Later that afternoon, under a sky more impersonal than the iridescently-blue Aegean, we strolled along the harbour- front of the capital Mytilene, where villag- ers and visitors alike sat at cafés drinking strong black Greek coffee and taking in the action, such as there was. We were glad of a restful day prior to our visit to Ephesus just 10 miles from the port of Kusadasi. In sweltering heat, we arrived at this former Ionian city in ancient Anatolia, second in importance only to Rome during its peak in the first and second centuries, and one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The Marble Avenue, Library of Celsus
– which once held 12,000 scrolls – and the richly-carved façade of the Temple of Hadrian all trumpet the glories of the Roman Empire. Seated in the 24,000-seat Odeon, it is easy to imagine the scene when St Paul preached against the Ephe- sians’ worship of Artemis saying: “There are no gods made with hands.” After a refreshing shower and early dinner back on board, it was time to set off once again for this showpiece of Aegean archaeology and an exclusive experience, compliments of Seabourn. Following cocktails, the warm night air was filled with the music of Mozart, Bach, Haydn and Brahms, performed by the Aegean Chamber Orchestra in this most surreal setting. It was an evening of pure serendipity.
“Plying the sea-lane LESS TRAVELLED is a SEABOURN HALLMARK and this cruise from Istanbul to Athens would prove to be NO EXCEPTION”
THREE-SY DOES IT
Conceived by the celebrated Oslo-based design company Yran & Storbraaten to appeal to contemporary tastes and lifestyle, Seabourn Odyssey, Sojourn and Quest exude an ambiance that pleases the eye and soothes the soul.
These intimate and stylish ships boast double-height ceilings in their restaurants, while in other public rooms, domes are incorporated to create the illusion the ceiling has disappeared. Effective use of lighting and mirrors visually enhances the slightly bland, brushed-ash palette in the suites while honey-coloured marble and travertine, dressed with café-au- lait suede, set the tone in the public areas such as the delightful Seabourn Square. These three are without doubt spacious for the number of passengers they carry, yet nowhere did I get the impression of a big ship. Indeed, the passenger space ratio of 71.1 is an industry benchmark for personal space and is the highest of any ships featured in the Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising.
Autumn 2011 I WORLD OF CRUISING 69
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100