SOUTH AMERICA
& CARIBBEAN SEA
FEBRUARY - APRIL, 2013
& CARIBBEAN SEA
FEBRUARY - APRIL, 2013
PART 4 of 4
We survived our adventures in the Amazon River (the dolphin bite wounds are healed). Now, it was time to continue north towards Florida. While living aboard our sail boat, PIZAZZ, we visited most of the islands in the eastern Caribbean. Yet, we had never been to Barbados (too far east) and, definitely, had never sailed near French Guiana (against the current). So, onward we go.
Our 50-day SOJOURN cruise which began in Valparaiso, Chile; headed south along Chile's long coastline visiting several ports; then cruised through the fjords to the southern tip of the continent. A day in Ushuaia, Argentina put us at the southern most city in the world. After a loop around Cape Horn, we visited the Falkland Islands. Back to the South America coast line, we spent a day in Uruguay before and after a short stop in Buenos Aires. Continuing along the east coast, we visited many ports in Brazil, including fabulous Rio de Janiero. The ship crossed the Equator before entering the waters of the Amazon River for 9 days of fascinating sights. Now, we are on our way to Devil's Island then through the Caribbean to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
SPEAKERS
Niki Sepsas, an excellent speaker, continued to entertain us with his presentations. Here are the topic titles for this portion of our cruise:
-Islands of the Devil: Journey to Devil's Island
-The Caribbean Sea of Columbus: The Fairest Sea I Ever Beheld
-Pirates! Swashbuckling Adventure
http://www.nikiwrites.com/biography.html
Bob Smolik, a current affairs expert.
-The Caribbean: A Continental Archipelago
Dr. Philip Martin, destination expert
-The Caribbean: Sun, Sugar, & Tourism
-Sex & Money: Population and Migration in the Caribbean
-Inside the Bottle: The Wine Business
ACTIVITES & ENTERTAINMENT-Islands of the Devil: Journey to Devil's Island
-The Caribbean Sea of Columbus: The Fairest Sea I Ever Beheld
-Pirates! Swashbuckling Adventure
http://www.nikiwrites.com/biography.html
Bob Smolik, a current affairs expert.
-The Caribbean: A Continental Archipelago
Dr. Philip Martin, destination expert
-The Caribbean: Sun, Sugar, & Tourism
-Sex & Money: Population and Migration in the Caribbean
-Inside the Bottle: The Wine Business
Team Trivia - We enjoyed this challenging, fun hour during days 'at sea'. Our team, The Boat Bumms, were not doing that well (where's Neville); we got really dumb near the end and finished in 7th place.
Cooking Demonstrations - Lourae enjoyed these demonstrations while sipping champagne and sampling the foods prepared.
Easter Egg Hunt - Easter was a rainy day 'at sea'; so, the eggs were hidden all around the interior of the ship, rather than the outside. It was amazing to see adults act like children, all running around looking for eggs just to receive a pack of playing cards, a visor, a key chain, and for the person who found the 'golden egg' -- a 4-foot tall chocolate bunny.
FRENCH GUIANA
The French flag is officially recognized by the French constitution as the national flag of French Guiana. In January 2010, the General Council (departmental council) of this overseas department of France unilaterally adopted a flag of French Guiana; the green represents the forests; yellow represents gold and other minerals of the region; while the red star represents socialism. This flag has not been recognized by the superior regional council.
The Devil's Islands archipelago consists of three small islands, located just a few miles off the coast of French Guiana. The group includes Ile du Diable (Devil's Island), Ile Ste-Joseph and Ile Royale.
Their original name was the Triangle Islands, but after decades of proving hazardous to shipping, their name was appropriately changed to the Devil's Islands, and how prophetic that name would later become.
Known throughout the modern world by the brutal history of the 19th century French penal settlement that was located here, it was Ile du Diable (or Devil's Island iteself) that perpetuated that story across the planet, especially with the release of a novel and movie called Pepillon. Although a fictional tale, it contained accounts of the difficult daily life gathered from actual surviving prisoners.
Now, 50 years after the last shackled convict returned to France, Devil’s Island has become a macabre tourist attraction. Boats make regular trips and helicopters fly over the crumbling cell blocks, where vines and creepers seek to purge the island of its hideous past.
There is so much information available about the history of this island.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devil%27s_Island
AND watch the movie, Papillon, with Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman
 |
| Get me outta here! I didn't do it! |
The SOJOURN was anchored (after two attempts as the wind and currents were strong) on April 1 (7am to 1pm) off Ile Royale. We took one of the first tenders ashore as we expected the weather to get warmer as the day went on; glad we did that because it did get warm walking around the paths when you get out of the breeze. It was interesting to walk through the ruins of the guard houses, the cell blocks, and see the rough waters separating the islands.
BARBADOS
The national flag of Barbados was officially adopted on November 30, 1966, the island's first Independence Day. The two blue bands are said to stand for the ocean; the golden middle band represents the sand on the island. The trident symbol was taken from Barbados' colonial flag; the broken lower part symbolizes the break from its status as a colony. The three points of the trident represent the three principles of democracy - government of, for, and by the people.
Barbados is occasionally called "Little England", and with good reason. While other Caribbean islands were passed among colonial powers like so many hot potatoes, Barbados flew only one flag -- the Union Jack -- for over 300 years until it gained independence in 1966. Traces of the British invasion remain in Barbados -- in the native tongue, in the cars driving on the left side of the road, in the Anglican churches found in every parish. But perhaps the greatest evidence of the British influence is, well, the British tourists. Barbados is a prime playground for Brits on holiday -- not to mention a healthy proportion of Yanks and other international visitors as well.
Go to this link for more information
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbados
After docking, we walked the waterfront of Bridgetown, just for the exercise. Nice cool morning for a walk. We had an early lunch before our afternoon adventure. Yet, while waiting for our tour driver, we found the Roti Lady (wish we would have found her before we had lunch); it's been many years since we have had a good Caribbean roti (similar to a tortilla wrap with curried meat and veggies).
Our adventure while in Barbados was a segway tour. Lourae contacted Jason http://www.segwaybarbados.com/ many months before our cruise and booked a 'private tour' (the ship offered the same tour at twice the price and only if there was a group of 15 people). In Barbados, Segways are not 'street legal', so Jason drove us along the scenic route to St. Lucy, the northernmost parish of Barbados. With Randy's GoPro camera mounted on his head, we zoomed all around the northeast coast to see the rugged coves of Little Bay and North Point Beach. A fun way to see the beautiful coast. Jason drove us back to the pier through other parts of Barbados. A fun day!
Come along with us on the Barbados Segway!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cZHgQQ4Up5lJJC1nT_TlzhAC9OxW8EFc/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cZHgQQ4Up5lJJC1nT_TlzhAC9OxW8EFc/view?usp=sharing
GUADELOUPE
Guadeloupe, an overseas region and department of France, has no flag with official status other than the French national flag. Next to the French flag an inscribed regional logo on a white field is often used as a regional flag. The logo of Guadeloupe shows a stylized sun and bird on a green and blue square with the subscript REGION GUADELOUPE underlined in yellow.
A cluster of eight islands off the southern coast of Guadeloupe, the Iles des Saintes are certainly off the beaten track. The population of Terre-de-Haut is mainly Caucasian, all fisherfolk or sailors and their families who are descended from Breton corsairs (pirates).
It was a nice sail from Barbados to Isles de Saintes. We sailed past Martinique around 3am; beautiful lights. We were always anchored at Martinique or sailed past during daylight hours. Then we sailed past Dominica about 6am watching the clouds form then rain at sunrise.
As we approached the islands that morning (April 4 from 10am to 6pm), a squall was rolling in that gave us a beautiful sunrise photo op and a cooling shower.
The main tourist attraction of the island is Fort Napoleon.
We walked uphill to enjoy the panoramic views and a garden filled with cacti and iguanas. Unfortunately, because of the rain delay, we arrived at 12:35pm (5 minutes after closing time) so we did not get to explore the barracks and former prison cells, or take in the collection of some 260 contemporary paintings, focusing largely on surrealism or cubism, or see the large exhibit of the world's greatest sea battles.
We returned to the very busy town of Terre-de-Haut (SOJOURN and the STAR CLIPPER were in port that day) in search of lunch. We found a restaurant/deli (one of many) to enjoy a poulet (chicken) sandwich on a fresh baguette with cold Corsair beer. We walked through a few shops (most were closed since it was lunch time) before returning to the ship. We hoped that the ship's Marina would be operating, but no such luck; it was closing. We missed it! Why didn't they announce that it would open today?
If you want to learn more about this fabulous place, click the link
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%8Eles_des_Saintes
Isle de Saintes was one of our favorite places while we were cruising the Caribbean on our sailboat. We were there in 1994, 1996, and 1997. Very quaint; very quiet; very French. Loved the fresh baguettes and we remember the croissant man delivering fresh croissants to the boats in the anchorage every morning. Great place. Some interesting architecture.
We departed at 6pm and sailed along the west coast of Guadeloupe. We had sailed this coast aboard PIZAZZ, but never at night. Another island full of lights.
SAINT BARTHELEMY
The official flag of St. Barthelemy is the French tricolor. This is because Saint Barthélemy is a self-governing overseas collectivity of France. An unofficial flag of Saint Barthelemy consisting of the island's coat of arms centered on a white field is also used on the island.
When celebrities want to throw a birthday bash or to host a New Year's Eve party on their chartered yachts, St. Barth's is the island of choice. The favorite of celebrity jet-setters, the island is known for its chic French ambiance, its cuisine, and its white-sand beaches. That's quite a lofty success for a stony, volcanic, eight-square-mile island with no fresh water and little workable land. Named for Christopher Columbus' brother, Bartolomeo, St. Barthelemy is located near the northern end of the Lesser Antilles group in the West Indies, 15 miles east of St. Martin. Many St. Bartians are descendants of 17th-century settlers from Brittany and Normandy. In the 18th century, France leased the island to Sweden in exchange for trading rights to the Baltic. Almost a century later, locals voted to restore rule to the French. Today, St. Barth's, with a population 6500, is an overseas collectivity of France.
The island's beautiful beaches lend themselves to water sports -- from windsurfing, scuba, and snorkeling to jet skiing, sailing and deep-sea fishing. The island's other claim to fame is its fine dining, considered among the best in the Caribbean. Lunch or dinner at one of the island's top restaurants can be a major splurge. Our lunch at Le Select of 2 burgers and 2 beers was $40!
Surrounded by elegant designer boutiques, topless beaches, vibrant nightlife and waterfront bistros, it's easy to think you are in the South of France. St. Barth's even has its own Riviera-like festival calendar, including winter music and film festivals and a spring food festival.
We visited St. Barth's several times during our cruising days on PIZAZZ (1992, 1994, and 1997). Our day in St. Barth's was to drive around the island on an ATV (quad bike). We enjoyed the ride on decent roads (no pot holes like in Bonaire) seeing the numerous homes, beautiful beaches, fancy shops, etc. Almost entire island has been developed with little vacant land remaining.
It was interesting to watch the planes land at the small airport. They come in from the west and then immediately drop down after crossing the road and slam on the brakes (it is a short runway) or they crash into the bay at the end of the runway. We heard the story of a taxi that had tire marks on its roof; a plane dropped a little too quickly.
The weather was perfect, although we spotted clouds towards the east that looked like they would bring some rain to the island. When we returned to Gustavia (the main town), we went to Le Select for burgers and beers. Le Select does not pretend to offer amazing cuisine, nevertheless it’s the place to go in St-Barts, as it probably is the heart of the island. It is not just any snack bar, it is "THE SNACK BAR" with its burgers and the famous Marius Special. Singer Jimmy Buffet, a regular customer, has made it known in the United States with his famous song “Cheeseburger in Paradise”. Everybody on the island comes here for a cold beer or a hamburger, with their families or with friends. It is also the first place to stop at for numerous tourists getting off their mega yachts, just for the atmosphere and for their friend Marius who opened it in 1949!
The rain clouds came after lunch. We decided it was time to head back to the ship. We had driven around the whole island and seen everything there was to see. Except, we didn't hit the shops. Saved some money as there are many designer shops but there was also Lou Lou's Marine Store. We remembered this store from our sailing days. In fact, I think I bought dinner plates for PIZAZZ at this store in 1994. Today, the store sells t-shirts for $35 and other tourist goods.
This was a fun day on a beautiful, expensive, exclusive island!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zlPQXJugMj8KDPtO3Pc6HF09IA1uXwlS/view?usp=sharing
It was a beautiful clear evening for our sail to the British Virgin Islands. Before dinner, we went to the Sun Deck (Deck 11) to spot the International Space Station. Randy had his green laser pointer and, sure enough, there it was. It was fun to point at this bright light as it rushed across the night sky.
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS 
The flag of the British Virgin Islands shows the colors of its British heritage. The badge shows St. Ursula, patron saint of the British Virgin Islands, attired in white and wearing sandals, carrying one of the twelve oil lamps. Beneath the shield there is a golden ribbon that says 'VIGILATE', which means 'be watchful'.
Jost Van Dyke
The mountainous Jost Van Dyke, just 4 miles long and home to about 150 residents, is compact and one of the Caribbean's true getaway spots with nary a posh resort or casino in sight. We visited this island when we were aboard PIZAZZ in 1994. Now, we were here aboard the SOJOURN for just half of a day.
More info? Here is the Wikipedia link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jost_Van_Dyke
We had a nice sail from St. Barth's to Jost Van Dyke, crossing the Anegada Passage. When aboard PIZAZZ, we crossed this "Oh My Godda" passage three different times and none of those passages were fun; in fact, they were terrifying, wet, and bashing. Our early morning arrival at JVD (April 6) brought us another photo op for sunrise/cloud pictures.
The chances of The Marina (at the stern of the SOJOURN) being open had been 1 for 4 at the perfect places that it should have been open. So, for our short stay in JVD (8am to 2pm), we booked a catamaran snorkel trip. The weather was fabulous; Sandy Isle was pure sand; the water was Caribbean warm; but, sadly, there were no fish to see while snorkeling. We did enjoy the snacks, the sun, and the sailing.
Sail along with us in our Jost Van Dyke Sail movie
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BwH2r1lz1qYimS5jyipLTubNHweLDTyM/view?usp=sharing
When we returned to Great Harbour, our mission was to find Foxy's for a cold beer. Foxy's has been a legend in JVD since the mid-60s. The bar is right on the beach and is full of character, particularly the character of Foxy himself, who greets visitors with impromptu songs to a calypso beat.
And, there he was, sitting in his chair, watching the people enjoy themselves at the bar or enjoying BBQ lunch. Randy talked to him briefly, telling Foxy that "you look the same as when I last saw you 20 years ago". Foxy flashed a big smile and said "I don't think so!". Randy cooled down with a Red Stripe beer (Jamaican) and Lourae enjoyed the Carib beer (St. Lucian). Welcome, or should we say Good-bye, to the Caribbean.
Returning to the ship, we discovered that The Marina had been open for 2 hours while we were out sailing. And, there was 'caviar on the beach' at White Harbour. Why don't they inform passengers ahead of time so people can participate?
HOME
Another two days 'at sea' brought us into Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; our disembark point for our 50-day journey. Our final day, April 9, began with an early arrival at the dock. We had packed our luggage the prior day and it was in the hallway by 11pm the night before. Almost all of the passengers were departing. We were finished with breakfast and vacated our suite by 8:30am, going to Seabourn Square (a nice gathering place) to wait for the call to depart the ship. Everyone's departure is color-coded based upon your travel arrangements. By the time we exited the ship, claimed our luggage, and cleared Immigration, it was nearly 10:30am. We had arranged for a private van to travel to Miami airport (about an hour drive) for our 3pm flight to Curacao followed by a connecting flight to Bonaire. Of course, check-in in Miami for Insel Air always takes a long time, yet we still had time for an airport lunch before boarding. Finally, we were back at VillaBlue in Bonaire about 9pm.
SEABOURN SOJOURN was built in Genoa; debuting on June 6, 2010 in the middle of the River Thames in London. The godmother of the SOJOURN is the fashion icon and actress, Twiggy.
The Sun Terrace (Deck 11 Forward) - double sun beds were arrayed for enjoying sunshine by day and stars & moon by night.
A warm spot when we had sun in the lower latitudes.
The Retreat (Deck 11) - this was a multi-use plaza with two shuffleboard courts and a 9-hole contoured golf-putting green.
Observation Bar (Deck 10 Forward) - a stunning round lounge with a square bar for panoramic 270° views. Early Risers coffee and tea every morning, Tea Time each afternoon, live piano music for drinks and conversations before and after dinner. This was a nice place for drinks and meeting friends.
Spa Terrace (Deck 10 Aft) - The upper level of The Spa contains a private Spa Villa, a breezy outdoor relaxation cabana, as well as a small whirlpool for use by spa patrons. (Soon to be converted into suites; as the space is not being booked.)
Sky Bar (Deck 9 Midship) - an alfresco oasis for drinks and socializing overlooking the Pool Deck.
The Spa (Deck 9 Aft) - the large spa facility included treatment rooms, a thermal area featuring a large hydro-pool, dry float, sauna and steam rooms, a full-service salon, well-equipped gym, a motion studio, and Thai massage area. We used the gym equipment and Lourae had a manicure/pedicure.
The Colonnade (Deck 8 Aft) - an expansive indoor-outdoor dining venue serving buffets for breakfast and lunch, as well as table-side, themed dinners. We went here for breakfast most days; yet had about three dinners here (the service was so slow).
Restaurant 2 (Deck 8 Midship) - an intimate alternative dining venue serving innovative small-plate tasting menus for dinner. THIS WAS OUR FAVORITE DINNER PLACE!
Pool Patio (Deck 8 Midship) - an expansive open deck surrounding the swimming pool and two whirlpool spas; sun loungers and cabanas are arrayed in a mix of sun and shade. A stage provides occasional live music for dancing.
Patio Grill (Deck 8 Midship) - casual poolside dining, for lunch and dinner, featuring grilled specialties, with a buffet of sides and salads, and freshly baked pizzas. We had many lunches here.
Patio Bar (Deck 8 Midship) - full beverage, cocktail, and wine service as well as fruit smoothies and gelato. Margarita Time!
Seabourn Square (Deck 7 Aft) - Seabourn's innovative 'living room' replaces the conventional reception lobby with a welcoming lounge filled with comfortable sofas, easy chairs, and cocktail tables. In the center, versatile Guest Services Specialists sit discreetly at individual desks, ready to assist with pursers' business, advice and guidance, shore excursion tickets, and just about anything else. Outside their enclave, the walls are lined with fiction, non-fiction, and reference books; computer stations are available for guests to use. The gleaming espresso machine attracts guests to a European style coffee bar serving specialty coffees, drinks, sandwiches, pastries, and gelato. An open deck terrace is located aft of the Square. The 'choco-latte' was very good - hot chocolate with a chocolate lolly-pop (and maybe add a splash of Bailey's).
The Shops (Deck 7 Midship) - three duty-free shops are arrayed along the starboard side of the walkway.
Grand Salon (Deck 6 Aft) - the ship's main showroom can accommodate all guests. Lectures, cooking demonstrations, movies, and other gatherings are held here during the day. In the evenings, live music for dancing before dinner gives way to vocal production shows, cabaret performances, comedy, and classical recitals.
Forward Whirlpool Spa (Deck 6 Forward) - a single large whirlpool spa is located on the open deck.
The Club (Deck 5 Aft) - the liveliest lounge on board. It is a popular spot for pre-dinner drinks and dancing to live music. After dinner, the dancing music continues and, later, a DJ spins dance music late into the night. Another terrace of open deck aft of The Club boasts a plunge pool and two small whirlpool spas. We spent many hours at Team Trivia in the lounge; and most of our deck time outside (less crowded than around the pool).
The Casino (Deck 5 Midship) - forward of The Club on the starboard side, a casino offers blackjack, roulette, poker, and slot machines. We never played there nor saw anyone else in there.
The Restaurant (Deck 4 Midship) - the main dining venue is capable of accommodating all guests for breakfast, lunch, and dinner on an open-seating basis, inviting guests to dine when, where, and with whom they wish for every meal. We met many people at dinner.
Medical Facility (Deck 3 Forward) - a small but modern, basic medical facility is staffed by a doctor and a nurse. It is equipped to provide medical care for illness or accidents. Luckily, we never saw this place.
The Marina (Deck 2 Aft) - in select, warm-water locations, the captain will anchor and deploy a water sports marina inviting guests to enjoy board sailing, water-skiing, kayaking, banana boat rides, and pedal boating right from the ship. A steel cage enclosure allows safe swimming in the sea. Unfortunately for us, we did not get to use these facilities. One occasion it was raining all day and, at another time, we had an excursion booked.
Walk through the ship with us.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/10jOivTr2f-ZHgg7CHM4xvqExqjZrjKZK/view?usp=sharing
Let us give you some numbers
- 50 days aboard the SOJOURN plus 3 land/travel days
- 20 days were 'AT SEA'
- 29 ports of call
- 10 countries
- 12,240 sea miles
- 4,563 air miles
- 7 Time Zone changes
- 48 days of sunshine
We had a wonderful time on this cruise. We visited many interesting places and saw many fascinating sights. The ship, and its amenities, were nice. Yet, the Seabourn quality of service, as well as the quality of food and wines were that of a 4-star ship; not what we expected. Here is a picture of the gift received.
Yeah, that was it!
Here are pictures of gifts received on our Silversea cruises.
Our final comment about Seabourn - "If you want a Seabourn experience, book a Carnival cruise and save money." (By-the-way, Carnival owns Seabourn.) Our next cruise will be aboard a Silversea ship or maybe a different cruise line. Never again aboard Seabourn.
Until next time....... All the best to everyone!
Lourae and Randy
We had a nice sail from St. Barth's to Jost Van Dyke, crossing the Anegada Passage. When aboard PIZAZZ, we crossed this "Oh My Godda" passage three different times and none of those passages were fun; in fact, they were terrifying, wet, and bashing. Our early morning arrival at JVD (April 6) brought us another photo op for sunrise/cloud pictures.
The chances of The Marina (at the stern of the SOJOURN) being open had been 1 for 4 at the perfect places that it should have been open. So, for our short stay in JVD (8am to 2pm), we booked a catamaran snorkel trip. The weather was fabulous; Sandy Isle was pure sand; the water was Caribbean warm; but, sadly, there were no fish to see while snorkeling. We did enjoy the snacks, the sun, and the sailing.
Sail along with us in our Jost Van Dyke Sail movie
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BwH2r1lz1qYimS5jyipLTubNHweLDTyM/view?usp=sharing
When we returned to Great Harbour, our mission was to find Foxy's for a cold beer. Foxy's has been a legend in JVD since the mid-60s. The bar is right on the beach and is full of character, particularly the character of Foxy himself, who greets visitors with impromptu songs to a calypso beat.
Returning to the ship, we discovered that The Marina had been open for 2 hours while we were out sailing. And, there was 'caviar on the beach' at White Harbour. Why don't they inform passengers ahead of time so people can participate?
HOME
Another two days 'at sea' brought us into Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; our disembark point for our 50-day journey. Our final day, April 9, began with an early arrival at the dock. We had packed our luggage the prior day and it was in the hallway by 11pm the night before. Almost all of the passengers were departing. We were finished with breakfast and vacated our suite by 8:30am, going to Seabourn Square (a nice gathering place) to wait for the call to depart the ship. Everyone's departure is color-coded based upon your travel arrangements. By the time we exited the ship, claimed our luggage, and cleared Immigration, it was nearly 10:30am. We had arranged for a private van to travel to Miami airport (about an hour drive) for our 3pm flight to Curacao followed by a connecting flight to Bonaire. Of course, check-in in Miami for Insel Air always takes a long time, yet we still had time for an airport lunch before boarding. Finally, we were back at VillaBlue in Bonaire about 9pm.
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Take a look at our Caribbean Sea movie
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_cwVLL1956WvwG2_XgEJhp_P-GRL4rcr/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_cwVLL1956WvwG2_XgEJhp_P-GRL4rcr/view?usp=sharing
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Before we finish, let's take a tour of the Seabourn Sojourn. SEABOURN SOJOURN was built in Genoa; debuting on June 6, 2010 in the middle of the River Thames in London. The godmother of the SOJOURN is the fashion icon and actress, Twiggy.
The Sun Terrace (Deck 11 Forward) - double sun beds were arrayed for enjoying sunshine by day and stars & moon by night.
A warm spot when we had sun in the lower latitudes.
The Retreat (Deck 11) - this was a multi-use plaza with two shuffleboard courts and a 9-hole contoured golf-putting green.
Observation Bar (Deck 10 Forward) - a stunning round lounge with a square bar for panoramic 270° views. Early Risers coffee and tea every morning, Tea Time each afternoon, live piano music for drinks and conversations before and after dinner. This was a nice place for drinks and meeting friends.
Spa Terrace (Deck 10 Aft) - The upper level of The Spa contains a private Spa Villa, a breezy outdoor relaxation cabana, as well as a small whirlpool for use by spa patrons. (Soon to be converted into suites; as the space is not being booked.)
Sky Bar (Deck 9 Midship) - an alfresco oasis for drinks and socializing overlooking the Pool Deck.
The Spa (Deck 9 Aft) - the large spa facility included treatment rooms, a thermal area featuring a large hydro-pool, dry float, sauna and steam rooms, a full-service salon, well-equipped gym, a motion studio, and Thai massage area. We used the gym equipment and Lourae had a manicure/pedicure.
The Colonnade (Deck 8 Aft) - an expansive indoor-outdoor dining venue serving buffets for breakfast and lunch, as well as table-side, themed dinners. We went here for breakfast most days; yet had about three dinners here (the service was so slow).
Restaurant 2 (Deck 8 Midship) - an intimate alternative dining venue serving innovative small-plate tasting menus for dinner. THIS WAS OUR FAVORITE DINNER PLACE!
Pool Patio (Deck 8 Midship) - an expansive open deck surrounding the swimming pool and two whirlpool spas; sun loungers and cabanas are arrayed in a mix of sun and shade. A stage provides occasional live music for dancing.
Patio Grill (Deck 8 Midship) - casual poolside dining, for lunch and dinner, featuring grilled specialties, with a buffet of sides and salads, and freshly baked pizzas. We had many lunches here.
Patio Bar (Deck 8 Midship) - full beverage, cocktail, and wine service as well as fruit smoothies and gelato. Margarita Time!
Seabourn Square (Deck 7 Aft) - Seabourn's innovative 'living room' replaces the conventional reception lobby with a welcoming lounge filled with comfortable sofas, easy chairs, and cocktail tables. In the center, versatile Guest Services Specialists sit discreetly at individual desks, ready to assist with pursers' business, advice and guidance, shore excursion tickets, and just about anything else. Outside their enclave, the walls are lined with fiction, non-fiction, and reference books; computer stations are available for guests to use. The gleaming espresso machine attracts guests to a European style coffee bar serving specialty coffees, drinks, sandwiches, pastries, and gelato. An open deck terrace is located aft of the Square. The 'choco-latte' was very good - hot chocolate with a chocolate lolly-pop (and maybe add a splash of Bailey's).
The Shops (Deck 7 Midship) - three duty-free shops are arrayed along the starboard side of the walkway.
- The Seabourn Shop features shield-emblazoned logo wear
- The Boutique offers fashions, cosmetics, scents, and designer luxury goods
- The Collection is a curated selection of fine watches and jewelry including a private showroom for diamonds and other gemstones.
Grand Salon (Deck 6 Aft) - the ship's main showroom can accommodate all guests. Lectures, cooking demonstrations, movies, and other gatherings are held here during the day. In the evenings, live music for dancing before dinner gives way to vocal production shows, cabaret performances, comedy, and classical recitals.
Forward Whirlpool Spa (Deck 6 Forward) - a single large whirlpool spa is located on the open deck.
The Club (Deck 5 Aft) - the liveliest lounge on board. It is a popular spot for pre-dinner drinks and dancing to live music. After dinner, the dancing music continues and, later, a DJ spins dance music late into the night. Another terrace of open deck aft of The Club boasts a plunge pool and two small whirlpool spas. We spent many hours at Team Trivia in the lounge; and most of our deck time outside (less crowded than around the pool).
The Casino (Deck 5 Midship) - forward of The Club on the starboard side, a casino offers blackjack, roulette, poker, and slot machines. We never played there nor saw anyone else in there.
The Restaurant (Deck 4 Midship) - the main dining venue is capable of accommodating all guests for breakfast, lunch, and dinner on an open-seating basis, inviting guests to dine when, where, and with whom they wish for every meal. We met many people at dinner.
Medical Facility (Deck 3 Forward) - a small but modern, basic medical facility is staffed by a doctor and a nurse. It is equipped to provide medical care for illness or accidents. Luckily, we never saw this place.
The Marina (Deck 2 Aft) - in select, warm-water locations, the captain will anchor and deploy a water sports marina inviting guests to enjoy board sailing, water-skiing, kayaking, banana boat rides, and pedal boating right from the ship. A steel cage enclosure allows safe swimming in the sea. Unfortunately for us, we did not get to use these facilities. One occasion it was raining all day and, at another time, we had an excursion booked.
Walk through the ship with us.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/10jOivTr2f-ZHgg7CHM4xvqExqjZrjKZK/view?usp=sharing
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SUMMARYLet us give you some numbers
- 50 days aboard the SOJOURN plus 3 land/travel days
- 20 days were 'AT SEA'
- 29 ports of call
- 10 countries
- 12,240 sea miles
- 4,563 air miles
- 7 Time Zone changes
- 48 days of sunshine
We had a wonderful time on this cruise. We visited many interesting places and saw many fascinating sights. The ship, and its amenities, were nice. Yet, the Seabourn quality of service, as well as the quality of food and wines were that of a 4-star ship; not what we expected. Here is a picture of the gift received.
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| Canvas Bag |
Here are pictures of gifts received on our Silversea cruises.
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| Silver Spirit - 2 lined jackets & Tumi bag |
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| Silver Explorer - 2 back packs & water bottle |
Our final comment about Seabourn - "If you want a Seabourn experience, book a Carnival cruise and save money." (By-the-way, Carnival owns Seabourn.) Our next cruise will be aboard a Silversea ship or maybe a different cruise line. Never again aboard Seabourn.
Until next time....... All the best to everyone!
Lourae and Randy
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