What's the skinny on Seadream? I ran across some heavily discounted cruises at about 55% off brochure - sounds very interesting - yes the staterooms are smaller ( about the size of the PG Standard Suites) and no balconies - but it seems much more intimate at less than 100 passengers. Any comments?

Hi Todd!

Michele, Don, Gary and I were on SeaDream in January. Good friends of ours have cruised SeaDream several times and were also on that cruise. Here's the link:
Sea Dream Rio to Buenos Aires Jan 07

It's a different, but equally elegant, sailing experience from Regent. It's a more international mix of fellow passengers. We loved having the sports platform available at most stops and the bikes for seeing some of the port countrysides.

I'd rather sail on SeaDream than Regent for the the Greek Isles or the Dalmation Coast. Choose an itinerary that doesn't try to cover too much area. The itinerary we took simply stretched the ship's reach. I believe they cancelled the second season in that area. A transatlantic crossing? No way - the ship bobs around like a cork. The beds are on the outside wall of the ship, so the motion is amplified when you are sleeping.

Cheers, Anne

Todd, timely question..Susan Walsh (Browne & Keene) just received a presentation from Seadream Wednesday and received brochures and DVD's--she sent me some. She is real excited about Seadream...a good friend (retired AF Col, fighter pilot) sailed with them this spring as a guest lecturer for the first time--he also took his bride..here are his comments, fyi...

We just returned from my first gig as lecturer. It was incredible. 3 days in San Juan; 14 day (smooth) crossing to Madeira and 4 days in
Barcelona. Only 70 people on the Seadream yacht and 92 staff pampering us. Captain said we broke a record, consuming 1,021 bottles of wine and champagne plus untold quantities of hard stuff. Seadream is ultra-inclusive
and their translants are a super deal at $150/day - you couldn't even
buy the food they serve for that. We are going to take the east-west translant in Nov 2008. I'll keep you posted on that.


Todd, IMO their Caribbean itineraries are interesting to me (like to dive) but the TA above not so much, due to the size of their ships--would be concerned for stability in open seas during the crossing (see Anne's comments above..."like a cork bobbing"

Hopefully Susan will see your post and chime in too

I'd agree they have lovely Caribbean itineraries. We don't dive and have enjoyed the Caribbean numerous times onboard a cruise ship. These days, I'd prefer a land trip for Caribbean destinations.

SeaDream would certainly be happy to have a cosmos cook-out, starring the Cosmos King!

Cheers, Anne

Todd, I've been wanting to try Sea Dream for the past few years, and I just booked the December 16th departure with Susan last week. The dates, itinerary, price and the fact that it's roundtrip from San Juan finally worked out for us.

Wes, I am definitely planning on doing some diving! I just need to take a refresher course since I haven't been diving in about 5 years.

The two ships are the original Seabourn Goddess ships. When Carnival purchased Seabourn they did not really fit Carnival plans so the former Seabourn owner purchased them and totally redid them from the steel up in 2002. Each ship has 55 staterooms for a total of 110 people. Each stateroom has a flat screen TV, DVD, and CD Player. They have Belgian linens and bedding with Bvlgari bath products.

SeaDream is all inclusive except for shore excursions, internet, shop, and spa. They are open dining, all casual and they like to go into ports where larger ships cannot such as Iles Des Saintes or Jost Van Dyke in the Caribbean or Itea, Hvar or Ravenna in Europe. They also like to stay overnite so guests can be out during the day, come back for dinner, and then go back ashore after dinner.

They offer very personalized service such as they run the tenders when guests want to go to and from shore, not on a schedule. They will set dinner up on deck for 2, 4 or whatever depending on what the guests want. If you want to sleep out under the stars they will set one of the 20 balinese beds up with bed linens. The beds are complimentary and available throughout the cruise.

If you are interested in water sports they offer complimentary kayaks, Sunfish sailboats, waterskiing, jetskis, and snorkel gear. They also have zodiacs where you can go out for a tour and ride behind on a wakeboard or banana boat. There is a 30 course golf simulator, mountain bikes, Segway human transporters, and a Caviar and Champagne Splash party.

Their spa is company owned and there are at least 6 Thai trained specialists per cruise.

I have several guests sailing in December and January so hopefully they will post their reviews on their return.

They do have a pool, whirlpool, and fitness center as well as small casino.

I sailed the Sea Goddess II when it was still with Seabourn (prior to all the upgrades) and it still stnads out as an all time favorite cruise. We had 78 pax on a Christmas cruise and it could not have been more special. I would love love love to go back on the reburbished yachts! (However, that will be a cruise for 2 - not a family vacation!) ;)

To add to Susan's comments:

The casino is very small and most nights was not active. I want to say it was one blackjack table. I don't recall there being a slot machine (I'm asking myself how could that be?). It's directly across from piano bar near library. Very nice atmosphere for after-dinner if the top of the yacht is too windy.

The cabin internet hook-up was lightning fast. $35/day, but you can use Skype service. I figured it paid for itself because we could use the Skype service (and did) quite a few times.

Deck 2 is least expensive and, based on what we saw, a great choice. It's portholes, but one spends very little time in the cabin. The area at the Top of the Yacht bar/Balinese beds is great, as are the deck chairs around the pool area off Deck 3.

I also thought the Balinese beds were available for sleep-overs. The downside is they are right under the smokestack. My sleep-out under the stars was actually set up at the front of the sun deck. That's limited to one cabin a night. It's far more private than the Balinese beds area. You've got to reserve it in advance. As Michele noted, most people last an hour or two up there then go back to sleep in their cabins. The sleep-out option is not available every night, depending on weather and whether the ship is under sail. My stewardess seemed shocked I stayed up there all night.

As Michele also noted, it's the crew that makes the ship experience special. Our hotel director Sean was simply fabulous. There were few officer hosted tables during our cruise, and that was fine with all concerned. The hotel director doubled as the maitre d' in the dining rooms and was very active in setting up all the shoreside services. Quite different role than the Hotel Director on the Regent ships.

There's a far more diverse crew. They are quite international in their passenger complement. If I remember correctly, they strive to provide a crew member (all of whom are fluent English speakers) for any of 60 different languages, should a passenger need or want to communicate in something other than English. Several crew members can fluently speak 6 or 7 languages. The upside is it's quite a diverse community of passengers; the downside is the passengers logically split into language-friendly groups. I'd be a lot happier going on a SeaDream with friends than on my own.

Cheers, Anne

Wow! Does this mean this will be one of the lines Brown and Keene will be selling on a regular basis and part of their website (with prices and discounts posted)?

I saw some incredible rates (I thought it was on the Seadream Site - but now not sure) in October/November 2007 - I would love to try this out one of these days - I can't this year as I will be on Silversea in November 2007.

Anne - I did look at your report and some of your pictures - thank you!

Todd, you've got all the good info above. I would only add that I definitely would do SeaDream in the Caribbean. Would not do a crossing. I had quite enough of the "bobbing cork" experience off the Brazil/Uruguay coast. I loved the water sport's platform. Equipment was up=to=date & the crew was very helpful. It would be great to do dives, Wes, with this set-up, (editing to add: but they may not offer scuba from ship like the Paul Gauguin. They do, however, offer dive excursions). It's EASY to acclimate to the size of the ship. Love the top deck for sunning, breakfast, lunch, great bar, & friendly atmosphere. Met several couples who are diehard SeaDreamers. Yes, for the right itinerary, I would do SeaDream again in a heartbeat!

I remember getting a really nice brochure from them last year and now I can't find it...I presume their rates do not include airfare?

Wonder if they would ever do a central america (either pacific or atlantic or both, going thru the canal) specific cruise only...the smaller ships would be suitable and a lot great diving spots in Belice, Honduras and Costa Rica!

SeaDream does not offer air and does not sail in S. America. At this point they are strictly Europe, Caribbean, and Transatlantic when they have to get from one side to the other. Todd we can definitely help you if you have an interest in SeaDream and I can send you a DVD and brochure if you would like, but I doubt we will post itineraries and pricing on our website as the offerings are limited.

Susan-

I'll take a Brochure and DVD. Thank you!

Susan -

Also - are there reduced rates for October/November 2007? I thought I saw rates around $2500 pp. True? I think it was Med itins. I can't go - I just thought some others might be interested.

We booked the Seadream for Sept 12, 2008 (Venice to Athens). Thanks to Michele and Anne for their candid reviews and advice. We are looking forward to this sailing. I hope that the waters are smooth - my DH wouldn't do well with the bobbing.

I would have contacted Susan but didn't know B&K offered this.

I can't wait to hear all about your cruise in Sept., Miriam! I love the Dalmation Coast &, like Anne said, SeaDream should be fine there. There are so many little nooks & crannies to explore. It should be beautiful. That was the best part of our trip along the coastline of Brazil...exploring the villages/resorts where larger ships could never go. Have fun!

Todd,
Sorry I didn't respond sooner. I was out of town for the weekend with my two youngest sons working on their final Scuba Certification dives so we can take them on a 7 day cruise out of Galveston to dive in Grand Cayman and Cozumel. I will get the DVD and brochure off to you in the morning. Most of the remaining Med sailings are more in the $3500+ range. Only the 11 day crossings are in the $2500 range and then some of the December Caribbean are $2599+.

Susan-

Was there some spectacular 3 day sale in July? I saw a post about it over on Cruise Critic.

Oh I think I found it:

Todd,
Yes sorry we missed that one. Maybe they will have something else special in the not so distance future.

Todd,
I just received a new updated list of sailings some with up to 49% savings. For example October 20 on the SeaDream I roundtrip from Civitavecchia for 7 days, brochure price $6,900 for as low as $3199 or November 10 Barcelona to Lisbon for $3799. Guess one just needs to be retired and flexibility to go at the drop of a hat. Unfortunately, not a luxury I have.

Great rates!

Not great timing for me but they have a cruise January 6 St. Thomas to San Juan for $1999.

Susan how do we find the deals????

Wow it just keeps getting better!

The Jan.6th cruise at $1999 is for 5 days only.