Champagne and Caviar On Board Seabourn Encore

'Welcome on board, your suite is ready for you' that was the greeting from our Cruise Director as we boarded the Seabourn Encore in Barcelona at the end of August 2019. It is one of the many advantages of cruising on a luxury cruise ship that only accommodates 600 guests, there’s no waiting around for your suite to be prepared. There is no queuing for anything, getting on and off the ship is easy. Shortly after we were enjoying our complimentary bottle of champagne in our mid-ship veranda suite which had a spacious bathroom with full glass shower and bath tub, a walk in closet and plenty of storage space. We even had a personal ‘welcome on board’ note from the Captain.

After enjoying lunch outside at the Colonnade restaurant (with a great view of Barcelona) we went to discover everything that Seabourn Encore has to offer. There are 6 restaurants on board including The Grill by Thomas Keller which is the only restaurant which you need to reserve in advance. All the dining venues are complimentary, there are no supplements to pay. You can also dine where, when and with whom you wish. There is also 24 hour room service so you can even enjoy breakfast or dinner on your balcony. Or perhaps champagne and caviar. It’s all included.

With 7 bars and lounges it's always possible to find somewhere quiet even when the ship is full, as it was on our sailing. Complimentary premium spirits and fine wines are available on board at all times and complimentary in suite bar is stocked with your preferences. Tipping is neither required nor expected. Service is personalised and provided by staff passionate about exceeding guests expectations.

The entertainment is varied, we enjoyed a comedian, a show in collaboration with Sir Tim Rice featuring music and dance from some of his best known musicals as well as a piano recital and a great deck party hosted by our Cruise Director and the resident Seabourn Band.

Our ports of call included Valencia, Cadiz, Casablanca, Tangiers and Malaga. A full range of shore excursions were available in each location (chargeable). A complimentary shuttle is available in each port if you wish to explore independently. Sometimes the ship can dock right in the port and there is no need for a shuttle. Another advantage of luxury small ship cruising. There is something very special about returning to the ship after a morning or afternoon ashore, perhaps to enjoy a light afternoon tea with champagne in the Observation Bar!

All the Seabourn ships are intimate ships with a private club atmosphere. I loved my time on board Seabourn Encore and plan to be back on board soon! We extended our holiday with 3 nights in Gerona before the cruise and 1 night in Malaga post cruise. This is a great way to extend your holiday and make the most of enjoying the port where the cruise starts and finishes. I also managed to match it up with Bournemouth flights. If you would like to know more about tailor making ground arrangements to match your cruise or if you would like more information on Seabourn cruises, please get in touch with me. I have lots of cruise experience to share!