Photo by Theresa Norton Masek
Sailing on the SeaDream II in the Caribbean this week, I had the chance to do something for the first time ever - sleep outside on deck under the stars.
SeaDream Yacht Club, which operates two lovely little yachts accommodating just 112 people, has double-wide sun loungers with thick cushions on its open sun decks. The line calls them Balinese beds.
They're popular during the day but also at night, when guests make reservations to sleep overnight on them. The Balinese beds are made up just like the beds in the staterooms, with a bottom sheet, duvets and pillows.
What was even more perfect was that the night before, a set of SeaDream logo pajamas was delivered to my stateroom. My name was embroidered on the long-sleeve T-shirt, which was paired with plaid, elastic-waist cotton pants. Every guest gets a pair of the comfy jammies, which were the perfect attire for a night under the stars.
I found my reserved bed because a little card with my name on it was taped on the duvet. My bed was located near the Top of the Yacht bar, so when I turned in at about 11 p.m., there was still some music and late-night laughter, but it quieted down soon. The bed was somewhat hard, but still cozy, and I soon drifted off to the cool Caribbean breezes as the ship gently rocked its way from St. John to Virgin Gorda.
I awoke before dawn broke, more to answer the call of nature than encroaching sunlight. I was a little stiff but honestly slept better than I thought I would. And as I returned to my stateroom, there was a brief rain shower of the type so common in the Caribbean - glad it held off until I was awake and inside!
Each SeaDream yacht has 11 Balinese beds, including one at the front of the ship that is the biggest, quietest and most private.
"People like to try sleeping under the stars, but most don't spend the entire night outside," Adrienne d'Annunzio, manager of the SeaDream Club and Guest Relations, wrote to me in response to questions about the practice. "Often they will eventually return to their room after enjoying the stars. We really never have all the beds in use at night. It's just that front one goes first."
The practice started when SeaDream was established in 2001. "We started offering it from the very beginning because we know those beds were something unique, not just for daytime use," d'Annunzio said. "People found it different and pretty cool."
As did I. Very cool and part of what sets SeaDream apart from other cruise lines.
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