My Luxury Seabourn Escape

Day 1 and we arrived into Rome via Ciampino airport and found plenty of buses with a direct route non stop into Rome. The bus did only take us to Termini station however this was perfect for us as our hotel was located just a couple of block away.

Having both been to Rome before we just had a relaxed evening in Rome with a couple of glasses of Pinot Grigio!

The next day was embarkation and we decided to take the train down to Civitavecchia port. We booked our tickets online for the direct fast service. Termini station was really easy to navigate and once on board we found our seats in first class. The journey time was under an hour. Making our way though Civitavecchia station we did have to use multiple elevators which worked fine for us however could maybe prove difficult if one was out of action!

Directly outside the station there were plenty of taxis to take us to the ship and they all charged a flat fee of 10 Euro per person.

Once at the cruise terminal our bags were taken and we proceeded on board with a speedy check in. I had downloaded the Seabourn Source app before I left the UK and found this really easy to navigate. There was no need for me to print off multiple pages of cruise documents as I was able to access everything via the App.

Once on board we headed straight for lunch in the Colonnade buffet style lunch. There was a huge choice for lunch and you definitely wont go hungry or thirsty!

After lunch we headed off on our own little ship tour. I find this so beneficial on my first day on board any ship I like to have a good wander and find my bearings.

Next stop our Suite. We had a Veranda Suite located on deck 8. We were welcomed in with a bottle of champagne on ice and we had already chosen our choice of spirit and mixers that were waiting for us inside.

The suite was really spacious with a full bathroom including a bath tub & separate shower and double vanity. The toiletries included full size Molten Brown bath & shower gels, shampoo & conditioner.

We had a walk in wardrobe with plenty of storage & coat hangers, bathrobes, slippers and a good size safe to store our valuables. There was a good size sofa, small dining table & chairs perfect for in suite dining. The balcony was also a really good size, perfect for a quiet spot to ready your book.

It was time to get ready for the evening so we decided to open our bottle of Champagne to enjoy whilst we got ready. We found out the next day our suite attendant had replaced this for us! Don’t be shy, if you want another bottle just ask for one!

Our first evening we dined in The Restaurant, a fantastic meal with some great wines was had by all. After dinner we headed down to the Theatre for the evening show. This was a fantastic show put on by the local on board team, music through the ages. The singers were all amazing and we had great time watching the show. We ended the evening in The Club with a cocktail and live music.

Day 2 and we arrived in the port of Salerno. This is a lovely little town with good access to the Amalfi coast, Seabourn offered multiple payable excursions from here. We decided to just have a wander around the local town and headed back on board for lunch.

Lunch today was at The Patio, this is the outside eating venue located at the Pool. They offered waiter service with a choice to also grab some food from the small buffet area too should you wish.

In the evening The Patio transforms into Earth & Ocean where you are served dishes from around the world under the stars. Even though we were in the Mediterranean in November and the evenings were a little cool there were plenty of outdoor heaters and lap blankets for use.

Day 3 and we arrived in Lipari, a small island close to Sicily. As we sailed in we had ordered our breakfast to be served in Suite.

Lipari port was a small area and the scenery was stunning. Unfortunately as it was a Monday most things on the island were closed. We had decided today would be a ship day. The weather was on our side and we managed to spend a few hours around the pool enjoying the sunshine & hot tubs. The wait staff around the pool were so attentive and constantly checking if we would like any drinks.

The Patio for lunch again where I had catch of the day, a lovely Swordfish steak and salad, with a lovely glass of wine.

After lunch the skies turned grey and the heavens open! Everyone went running for shelter but it didn’t stop the staff on board clearing everything away and then offering us hot chocolate with baileys to warm up.

With the weather on the turn we headed off for the afternoon quiz located in The Club. It was whilst in here we realised there was another pool and 2 whirlpools located outside The Club on the aft of the ship. Perfect for the weather as it wasn’t great as it was all sheltered. There wasn’t really a great bar service out here however there was a fridge where you could grab a soft drink.

Dinner this evening was in Solis, inspired by Mediterranean flavours with a great cocktail menu offering classic favourites. You are permitted 1 dinner reservation here per sailing and you can pre book this around 6 months prior to sailing.

Day 4 we had an early arrival into Gozo when we tendered at Mgarr port. Once we were off the tender there were plenty of taxis and bus tours available for anyone without any excursion reservations.

We jumped in a cab to Victoria, the short ride only took around 15 minutes. We were dropped off at the main square and this left us close to all the main attractions. We wandered up to The Citadel which offered amazing views across the whole of Gozo. We only had a morning stop here and needed to be all aboard by 2.30pm we headed back to the ship around 1pm and went straight to lunch at The Colonnade. The weather was on our side again, absolutely fantastic for the Mediterranean in November, we found a spot by the pool to grab some more sunshine as we departed to Valletta in Malta.

Arrival in Valletta was scheduled for 6.30pm. There was entertainment planned on the pool deck from 5.30pm so we decided on a bottle of Champagne whilst we were getting ready in our suite before heading to the pool deck, we found a spot, plenty of lap blankets for use as it was a little cooler this evening. Wait staff were coming round offering a cocktail of the evening and then the live singing started as we sailed into Valletta. Having never been to Malta before this was a great experience as we sailed through the old town walls of the Port into dock.

On arrival the ship was cleared for disembarkation pretty quickly and we headed off the ship into Valletta for a wander. The old town was stunning, with plenty of cafes, bars and restaurants and the shops were all open quite late. We spent a couple of hours here before heading back to the ship. No taxis were required as we were docked right in the centre although there were lots of steps and cobbled streets please consider this if you have any mobility requirements.

This was an overnight stop in Valletta and the ship wasn’t departing until 6pm the following day. This offers a great way to see cities at different times and experience different things.

Day 5 and it was time to say goodbye to Seabourn Ovation. We had an amazing time on board. Being the smallest ship I have sailed on I didn’t feel the ship was particularly small. There were plenty of places on board if you wanted a quiet spot and we never found it difficult to find a spot in the sun. The food was superb, with a great choice of wines. The staff were truly exceptional and always made time to stop for a chat.

My next time sailing with Seabourn I would love to experience Caviar in the Surf! Give me a call to hear all about this bucket list experience they offer.