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A Debut on the Grand Canal
By James Shillinglaw
Published on: June 26, 2009
I arrived in Venice last Sunday for the Seabourn Odyssey pre-inaugural cruise with other journalists and travel agents. But as my bus from the airport passed the port, I suddenly thought I might have a problem – the ship wasn’t at the dock as expected.
So I checked into my hotel near the Piazza Roma and, after doing a little work, I decided to take a hike through Venice’s maze of alleyways to Piazza San Marco, still one of my favorite places in the world. On the way, I had a quick dinner at a trattoria and stopped at an outdoor bar where they were showing an Italy-Brazil soccer game.
I ended up standing along the Grand Canal near the Doges Palace at around 10 p.m. just as the Seabourn Odyssey was sailing into Venice. At first, I wasn’t sure it really was the Odyssey – it just seemed too big to be a Seabourn ship. Then I remembered: This ship is nearly three times the size of the other vessels in Seabourn’s fleet.
As I later learned, the ship had been delayed by construction glitches at Mariotti shipyard in Genoa. Carnival Corp. Chairman Micky Arison, who has been intimately involved in the ship’s construction, told me that 98 percent of everything was completed, but nothing was fully finished – to the point where he was considering delaying the christening. But during the two-day sailing, the crew worked tirelessly to finish the ship and clean it – and workmen were still at it when we were aboard.
Seabourn Odyssey bears a physical resemblance to the line’s other ships, but is much larger at 32,000 GRT with a passenger capacity of 450 guests double and 333 crew. So I watched as this very beautiful vessel sailed up the canal toward the Stazione Marittima and disappeared up the Giudecca Canal behind the large white dome of the Santa Maria della Salute church.
The next day I grabbed my bags and walked over to the port to board the ship. I immediately took a tour of this impressive vessel, which should set a new standard in luxury cruising (at least until the next new luxury ship is introduced). Seabourn Odyssey is the first vessel in the luxury category to be built since Regent Seven Seas christened the Seven Seas Voyager in 2003. It’s also the first new vessel for Seabourn since 1993 and part of a three-ship order, with Seabourn Soujourn set to debut next year and a similar but as-yet-unnamed vessel set to be introduced in 2011. This will effectively revamp the Seabourn fleet, which up until now consisted of three similar, 250-passenger vessels – Seabourn Legend, Pride and Spirit.
Seabourn’s goal was to keep its signature yacht-like ambience even in a larger ship. In a certain sense, it has succeeded. While the vessel did not seem that much smaller than some of the other big cruise ships docked in Venice, on the inside its spaces are more intimate, clean and inviting. Surfaces are light wood paneling and lighter color schemes with lots of glass. Much of the artwork around the vessel is renderings of the ship’s design itself, although there are a few original sculptures.
Odyssey’s 225 staterooms and suites are certainly much larger than in the line’s other ships – measuring 295 to 1,192 square feet in size. Ninety percent of them have verandas – a shortcoming in previous Seabourn ships, which were built before most luxury ships began featuring verandas. A V-class standard stateroom has a queen-size bed, separate sitting area with nearly full-size couch, small flat-screen interactive TV, small refrigerator, walk-in closet, and veranda with deck chair, two chairs and a table. The granite bathroom has two sinks and separate shower and full-size tub. There are several categories of suites, including a Penthouse Suite and two Owner’s Suites.
One of the ship’s great new features is a much larger, 11,400-square-foot, two-level spa. This comes outfitted with the latest equipment in its fitness center as well as a “Kinesis Wall,” a new exercise device that offers low resistance exercise “bands.” Three are also two outdoor spa suites for couples on the upper level.
Dining areas have been dramatically expanded, though the cuisine is still overseen by celebrity chef Charlie Palmer. On Deck 4, the Restaurant, which can hold the ship’s full complement of passengers for breakfast, lunch and dinner, offers a wide variety of seating (tables for two, four, six, and eight, as well as raised tables with bar stools for 18). On Deck 8, the Colonnade offers food stations and table service for breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as indoor seating and a larger outdoor seating area, which is very popular. Just forward of the Colonnade, Restaurant 2 features a dinner tastings menu by Charlie Palmer. Finally, the poolside Patio Grill has hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza and salads.
The main Pool Patio, located midships on Deck 8, is much larger than other Seabourn ships, with a pool and two whirlpools, as well as cabanas. And if things do get a little crowded there is a secluded (and well shaded) secondary pool and two whirlpools on Deck 5. If that doesn’t appeal, guests can lie in one of 18 double sun-beds on Deck 11 near the bow, with full drink and cold towel service, or play shuffleboard or mini-golf just behind that area.
Seabourn Odyssey also features much larger lounges and clubs. One innovation is the Seabourn Square, a combination lounge, coffee bar, Internet center, library, pursuer’s and concierge office, which is effectively the center of the ship (even though it’s located near the stern on Deck 7). The Club and Casino, located on Deck 5, offers a lively place for dancing and gaming. The Grand Salon, on Deck 6, is the ship’s main theater for performances, movies and lectures. Finally, the Observation Bar, on Deck 10, is a quieter piano bar overlooking the bow.
Overall, the Seabourn Odyssey, with its larger size, offers many more nooks and crannies where guests can find that “special” spot for themselves. The vessel’s sleek new design is geared for a somewhat younger luxury clientele – a direction Seabourn has been heading in for the past few years now. As one Seabourn executive told me, Seabourn Odyssey is just a “sexier” ship. And it should usher in a new level of luxury in the cruise market today.
For more information, visit www.seabourn.com.
James Shillinglaw
Editor in Chief
TravelPulse.com
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