PASSENGER PERSPECTIVE
Lost in that SeaDream Style
In a special Passenger Perspective,
regular cruisers Roger White and Janet Hobart
detail their experiences aboard
SeaDream Yacht Club – and what makes the luxury line so special
whole adventure so much we repeated the same cruise the following year. We were hooked. While anchored off one island, what looked like a beautiful private yacht glided past; it was our first sighting of Cunard’s Sea Goddess. One day I thought, that could be us. More than 30 years later, on ships large, medium and small, we have found the best, Sea Dream Yacht Club (formerly the Sea Goddess ships). Their SeaDream I and II really are like a club.
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And, having now spent in excess of 125 days on board, it would be difficult to come close to the SeaDream experience in all aspects. We both look upon members of the crew as friends and can name more than 30 from each yacht. Embarkation is smooth and simple – a glass or three of champagne and a handshake from the Captain, cold towels from the beautiful spa girls, plus hugs and kisses all round. Another cruise to remember begins. Our fourth Atlantic crossing was part of a 30-day cruise we took from Barbados to Monte Carlo on Sea Dream II in April-May this year. The first week,
24 WORLD OF CRUISING I Autumn 2013
t has been more than 20 years since we embarked on our first cruise. After a direct flight to San Juan, Janet and I joined Cunard Countess, visiting 12 islands in 14 days. We enjoyed the
106 passengers sailed around the stunning islands of the Grenadines, including Bequia, Tobago Cays and Mayreau, where the usual BBQ, champagne and caviar in the surf was enjoyed by all. Mayreau, population approximately 250, was a far cry from St Thomas, Barbados, etc, where cruise ships swell the population by thousands. Three years ago, SeaDream docked in St Thomas and we were amazed at the size of the ship coming towards us. Our 4,253-ton vessel was joined by the 223,000-ton Oasis of the Seas completing her maiden voyage – and 6,000 passengers leaving the ship was quite a sight.
and, with 95 crew, we could expect some pampering. However, two days out from Bridgetown, one of the passengers had a nasty fall. The decision was made to return to Barbados and transfer the patient to hospital. The docking took place late at night in heavy rain and the passenger departed, bound for hospital. More food and fuel were taken aboard but we
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would now arrive in Malaga four days late, a 16-day crossing with no stops being a record for SeaDream, we believe. The number of passengers was actually
ur crossing was scheduled to last 12 days from Barbados to Malaga with a stop in Madeira. Only 36 passengers were booked
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