Seabourn Cruise Line

Small and intimate, these quiet, comfortable mega yachts lavish all guests with personal attention and very fine cuisine

Strictly upper-crust Seabourn caters to guests who are well mannered and who prefer their fellow vacationers to be the same. They disdain pool games and deck parties, preferring instead a good book and cocktail chatter. Not to say there is anything pretentious or stuffy about this group; no one talks about how much they have or how they got it, and everyone appreciates a good joke. The service is exceptional, worthy of the finest European hotels. Personal attention is the key here; staff members greet you by name from the moment you check in. This is a cruise line for upscale old-money types.

Top-shelf service. Staff seems to know what you need before you ask, and there's more staff per passenger than most any other line afloat. On the Goddesses, you'll even be served champagne and caviar on the beach when in port.
All alcoholic beverages included in rates. As of early 2001, unlimited wines and spirits are now included on all but the Sun.

Excellent cuisine. Rivaling the best restaurants ashore, cuisine is as exquisite as it gets at sea, with creative dishes and an extensive wine list.

Remote ports of call. These small ships are able to visit less-touristed Caribbean ports (like the British Virgin Islands) that larger ships can't.

Large cabins on Legend and Pride. While not as large as those on Radisson's Seven Seas Navigator and Mariner, roomy suites have walk-in closets, bathtubs, Neutrogena bath products, and complimentary stocked minibars.

Aging vessels. When compared to the new ships being built by its competitors, Seabourn's 10- to 14-year-old Legend and Pride lack luster, suffering from wear and tear and some unfortunate design decisions.