Small restaurant almost away from everything else, the Sushi is open for lunch and dinner. There you can find all the classics of a real Japanese restaurant, which are prepared behind a very Japanese counter. At noon, the menu is simplified, with bentos and ramen. In the evening, it’s à la carte. And on gala evenings (“formal” attire required), a 7-course menu is added.
No reservations required, this is not the busiest restaurant on the boat. Yet it is the one that I certainly frequented the most. The staff was incredibly caring, especially after coming back again and again.
Sushi : starters
Sushi : Sashimi
Sushi : Maki
Sushi : desserts
Sushi : lunch
Sushi : 7-course menu (formal nights)
For this first time with Seabourn, aboard the Ovation, I found the experience very pleasant. We quickly take to the taste with the total absence of constraint. I’m not a big fan of too chic environments, and apart from the formal nights where you have to dress “in penguin”, the atmosphere remains sufficiently light.
The service is of excellent quality and the willingness to remember your habits and preferences to please you at all times is notable. Room service is arguably the best I’ve had on a ship. The food, without being flashy, is consistently good. A downside for the restaurant presented as superior, The Grill, which lacks the level of its dishes, although good, they did not live up to the announcement.
Unlimited drinks, including good champagne (even if it’s not Veuve Clicquot), are a plus to accompany the different moments on board. When you ask for a glass of champagne, you often end up with the whole bottle. Go ! The caviar served in the cabin is a little touch that is not forgotten.
The cabin, the ship’s equipment, the wifi, the application… so many good points, compared to what is done in the world of cruises. New flat for the spa, paying, and unremarkable.
The atmosphere on board is not comparable to cruises whose main objective is to party. So Seabourn would not necessarily be suitable for party people of the seas.
I spent a good part of my time comparing my recent experiences with Viking Ocean Cruises. And with a few exceptions, it is still the latter that wins the battle in my eyes. The food, the design, the spa, the gym, the atmosphere, and even the service sometimes: Viking wins my vote again!
The cabin and the drinks included are the 2 points that undermine this comparison a little more.
For 14 days from Miami to Central America in a “guaranteed” cabin (Veranda) cost $5399 all-inclusive, or $385 per night, a price slightly lower than the usual company’s practices.
Will I return to Seabourn? Possible, if the opportunity presents itself. Certainly not at full price, but on the occasion of a promotion perhaps and for a better curated route and far, really, of the ports frequented by any other company.
