There are some who staunchly claim that only a small company can operate a small cruise line – one with a personal touch and an understanding of individual tastes and needs. In fact, so long as the management, both on land and at sea, has the correct focus, the ultimate size of the company is neither here nor there – and Seabourn, Carnival Corporation’s smallest and most prestigious brand, is living proof!

We returned to Seabourn Legend for a brief trip last weekend after an absence of some three years – our last experience was on a Baltic cruise, with the most civilised group of fellow passengers I have ever encountered. Customer reports have been consistently good – indeed the overwhelming opinion has been that the line is improving – so it was a pleasure to check for myself.

The three Seabourn sisters are, of course, getting on a bit. Pride and Spirit were built in 1988 and 1989 respectively, whilst the younger sister, Legend, came into service as Royal Viking Queen in 1992. The ultimate in luxury cruising in their day, they suffered as result of inferior hardware when new lines appeared in the 90s, and their lack of verandahs was the major setback. The introduction of ‘French Balconies’ to selected suites (these consist of sliding doors opening onto a little shelf, glass fronted to waist height) was a good compromise, although those who like to sit out on the verandah might still be tempted to go elsewhere. The Owners Suites are quite small, and have very small verandahs. The deck area is slightly limited, with the pool awkwardly positioned between the atrium and the verandah café, which itself can only be reached by going outdoors. So much for the negatives.

On the plus side, the public rooms are comfortable and intimate, and the suites beautifully designed and decorated, with nice dimensions and well-equipped. Guests can choose to enjoy a secluded deck space in the bow, with its own Jacuzzi, or to swim in a netted pool at the back when the marina is down, as well as participate in water-sports.

Many clients had spoken positively about the Sky Bar, and it was indeed a delight to enjoy this wonderful outdoor space, where casual grill food is served during the day, and drinks available both before and after dinner. Likewise, evening alternative dining at the Verandah café offers an excellent outdoor dining option, with an outstanding tasting menu ranking high in our ‘top dining experiences at sea’ list. As a rule, ships which come into their own when ‘al fresco’ are rather disappointing in cool weather, but these little ships strike a happy balance between the two.

Above all, I must comment on the exceptional levels of attentive service, both from the crew, but also from the highly participative offers and cruise staff who consistently host tables and are visible around the ship, creating amongst the select group of just 200 passengers a friendly family atmosphere which is hard to match.

Regular readers of these pages will be more than aware that Seabourn is building two, and maybe three, new ships, to accommodate 450. Whether they will be able to replicate the very special Seabourn ambience on the new ships remains to be seen, but the investment currently being made ($5 million per ship) in refurbishing the existing fleet (including extending the Sky Bar, sprucing up and enlarging the outdoor area in the verandah café and replacing carpets and soft furnishings throughout) is a mark of commitment to the whole fleet, and confidence that the two sizes of ship will be able to operate side by side, with a slightly different style on each. The refurbishment is already complete on Seabourn Pride, and Spirit and Legend will follow in January and April respectively.

By the time this issue of Cruise News hits your doorsteps, the preview brochure featuring the Maiden Season of Seabourn Odyssey will be available, going on sale over the next few weeks. Included will be the 2010 World Cruise itinerary, which will go on sale in early 2008. To ensure you receive your copy of the brochure, call us now.