Seabourn Spirit Ship Review

Still going strong after more than two decades, Seabourn Spirit at Sea

Seabourn Spirit Overview

Launched in 1989, the 10,000-ton, 208-guest Spirit was Seabourn’s second vessel, following 1988’s Seabourn Pride. Like all the Seabourn ships before or since, she’s intimate and high-toned, with a spare, minimalist Scandinavian decor and no excesses of ornamentation or gimmickry.

Guests come to these ships for the excellent service and cuisine, the conscious lack of distractions, the itineraries, and the opportunity to socialize quietly with like-minded souls.

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Public Rooms & Activities On Seabourn Spirit

The most attractive public room on board is the forward-facing observation lounge, which functions as a quiet venue for afternoon tea, pre-dinner drinks, or just sinking down with a book into one of its buttery leather chairs or couches.

In the stern, the intimate Club is a multi-purpose entertainment lounge, hosting music, before-dinner drinks and hors d’oeuvres, after-dinner cabaret, and gambling in a tiny adjacent casino. Just downstairs is the ship’s somewhat less attractive main show lounge, which is used for lectures, featured entertainers, etc.

As aboard her sister ships, Spirit’s pool deck leaves quite a bit to be desired, crammed in between the ship’s twin funnels and hemmed by hanging lifeboats. Much better is the hot tub and sun deck perched all the way forward on Deck 5, offering great views.

For a more active option, on designated days Spirit’s crew lowers the ship’s retractable, wood-planked watersports marina from the stern, allowing passengers to go kayaking, windsurfing, water-skiing, or snorkeling right from the ship, or swim in mesh-enclosed saltwater pool.

On other days, the fitness-minded can work out at the small gym, or take a yoga, Pilates, and aerobics class in a lounge or on deck. The ship’s roomy spa also offers relaxation and beauty treatments, plus two saunas and a beauty salon.

Dining On Seabourn Spirit

At mealtimes, Spirit guests have three options. The main restaurant, called simply The Restaurant, is a large, elegant, low-ceilinged room with widely spaced, candlelit tables. It’s open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

The main alternative dining option is the Veranda Café, which offers a combination of buffet and table service at breakfast and lunch and in the evening transforms into the specialty restaurant Restaurant 2, serving multicourse tasting menus.

Weather permitting, guests can also get casual lunches and steak-and-seafood dinners at the pleasant Sky Bar on Deck 8, which also offers evening music and dancing some evenings.

Seabourn Spirit Staterooms & Suites

The vast majority of Spirit’s accommodations are 277-square-foot Ocean-View Suites or Balcony Suites, the two categories identical aside from the inclusion of tiny French balconies that aren’t large enough to stand on much less adorn with furniture, but which do provide good views, and allow for sea breezes and extra sunlight in your stateroom.

Inside, decor is pleasantly Scandinavian, with muted color schemes, lots of bleached oak or birch-wood trim, and amenities like a spacious sitting area, a stocked minibar, a desk, flatscreen TV with DVD player, CD player, spacious walk-in closet, and a white marble bathroom stocked with upscale bath products.

For more space (and luxury), there are two 400-square-foot Classic Suites with separate living rooms and bedrooms, forward-facing windows, and a small private balcony.

Even bigger are the two Owner’s Suites (one 530 square feet and the other 575 square feet), each of which offers a large semicircular living room with forward-facing view, a private balcony (also forward-facing), a separate bedroom, and a slew of amenities.

 Quick Facts About Seabourn Spirit

Carrying 208 guests each, Seabourn Pride, Seabourn Spirit and Seabourn Legend, offer:

• Spacious accommodations of 277 square feet or more (some staterooms feature French balconies)
• Complimentary wines and spirits throughout the cruise.
• Menus designed by celebrity chef Charlie Palmer.
• Innovative Massage Moments on deck.
• Designer soaps, Molton Brown toiletries and Pure Pampering therapeutic bath menu.
• And all of the above with no tipping required or expected.

Avid Cruiser Posts Featuring Seabourn Spirit:

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• 'Spirited' Competitor In The Luxury Sector