Recommend June 2018 - 33

onboardreview

Veranda Suite
on board the Ovation.

Seabourn Ovation
Regina Baraban

During my first lunch on the brand-new
Seabourn Ovation, I mentioned to my waiter,
Miguel, that I was avoiding the beet salad
because it contained cheese. Five minutes
later, he brought me a bowl of beets, sans
cheese-without being asked.
Mind you, this was a shakedown cruise; a
preview sail for travel partners and media that
departed from the shipyard in Genoa, Italy
for a week of testing all the bells and whistles
on the ultra-luxury ship before its inaugural
voyage from Venice to Barcelona in early
May. Yet all of the touch-points during my
week on board reflected a level of personalized
yet unpretentious service that Seabourn
president Richard D. Meadows calls out as the
biggest differential on every Seabourn ship.
"The staff," he says, "is almost clairvoyant
when it comes to anticipating the needs of
the guests."

Ultra-Luxury Resort at Sea
Embarking onto the Ovation for the first
time felt like I was entering a refined and
exceedingly beautiful luxury yacht. The
Atrium, a curved, centrally located staircase
masterfully designed by Adam Tihany with
polished mahogany handrails and vivid blue
carpeting, defines the flow and gives star
power to everyone on the stairs. The standard
Veranda Suite took my breath away: A walkin closet! Marble bathroom with full-sized
bathtub and separate shower! Large, visually
private verandah! With 300 suites (all with
verandahs) and 12 decks, the Ovation is fifth
in the fleet and a sister ship to the Encore,
which launched in March 2016. Passengers
who have previously sailed on any of the ships
will find the overall floor plan to be familiar.

"Everything we do is fleetwide," notes Chris
Austin, Seabourn's sr. v.p., global sales &
marketing. "Consistency across the fleet is a
key focus and differentiator." This means that
repeat guests know what to expect on every
level, from the signature-scent Molton Brown
bathroom amenities to Michelin-starred chef
Thomas Keller's cuisine-and this consistency
is a key selling point for the Ovation. "The
Seabourn client is very loyal to the brand,"
says Wendy Romanow, director, cruise sales,
Virtuoso. As for the service, "what makes
Seabourn different is that they encourage staff
to be themselves-so you'll have a laugh with
one, a touching moment with another."
Younger travelers are sailing the Ovation's
shorter itineraries to the Mediterranean and
northern Europe this summer, adds Annie
Scrivanich, sr. v.p., Cruise Specialists.
"Most of our Seabourn clients are between
68 and 78 years old and have been on 10 or
more cruises. But we've been booking younger
guests in their 50s and 60s on the Ovation.
I think some of this has to do with the 7- to
10-day sailings."

The Ovation Experience
During my week on the Ovation, I learned
first-hand that Seabourn's exclusive celebrity
partnerships go beyond name affiliation to
give passengers authentic experiences. For
clients new to cruising, it all adds up to a
compelling story, says Austin. "My advice to
travel professionals who are trying to convince
luxury land lovers to take their first cruise is
to sell to their clients' passion points before
even mentioning the ship," he advises. "Talk
about the culinary offerings, including The
Grill by Thomas Keller, Dr. Andrew Weil's spa

and wellness offerings, even the design of the
interiors that rival any land-based luxury resort
or hotel."
While the ship is decidedly elegant, I found
many aspects of the Ovation experience to
have a modern sensibility. Think onboard
coffee roaster, a fun (and delicious) sushi
restaurant, homemade gelato, and a new
alfresco dining concept called Earth &
Ocean serving Moroccan tagines and other
international fare poolside. Among a wide
choice of spots to hang and unwind, I
especially liked the luxe cabana apartment on
the 12th floor Retreat (a passenger upsell) for a
romantic interlude, and the expanded lounge
area at The Grill for socializing.
Adding the Ovation to the fleet also
gives Seabourn "extraordinary destination
opportunities," notes Meadows, with a total of
470 ports of call in more than 100 countries
this year. "I love it that they're going to
places I've never been," says Valerie Wilson,
CEO, Valerie Wilson Travel, and a frequent
vacationer on Seabourn since its inception
more than 30 years ago.
Seabourn has a unique alliance with
UNESCO that promises deep dives into
significant World Heritage sites, including
sustainable tourism activities and special guest
lecturers on board.

Those Seabourn Moments
Everyone I spoke with on board the Ovation
experienced "Seabourn Moments"-those
memories that define the brand. Among
mine were customized stretching and yoga
sessions with fitness instructors Kyle and
David. Wilson had a special moment on the
Ovation as soon as she stepped inside her
suite and connected with her Portuguese
stewardess Ana Louisa, who revealed that
she will also be Wilson's stewardess when
she returns to the ship for a vacation this
summer, departing from Lisbon. For Virtuoso's
Romanow, sitting in the Observation Lounge
with her husband and asking for a "caviar
moment" that was delivered 15 minutes later
was extraordinary. If God is in the details,
Seabourn has it wrapped. ■
Contact Information
Seabourn: seabourn.com
june 2018 33
http://www.seabourn.com
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