SeaDream I Ship Review

SeaDream I: Think Yacht, Not Ship

This 112-passenger vessel, and her twin sister, is as close as you’ll get to a yacht experience without the sails. Built a year a part back in the mid 1980s as the Sea Goddess I and II, both have been spruced up regularly and their generous teak decking, wood floors and upscale nautical décor have aged well.

Exotic floral arrangements and Oriental carpets create a sophisticated but comfortable décor that makes you feel like you’re on a private yacht. From the Main Salon and its small alcove bar where the weekly captain’s cocktail party is held, to the Piano Bar, tiny casino and cozy library, the Sea Dream I is outfitted with just enough amenities and public spaces to please restless guests, though clearly, the ship’s hub and most popular haunt is the Top of the Yacht bar. It boasts teak decking, rattan furniture, and blue-striped cushions.

Nearby are sunbeds where you can relax day or night — in fact, you can sleep on one under the stars if you prearrange it with the crew. Up on deck you’ll find a golf simulator, and pool and hot tub aft on Deck 3 for great views as the ships pull away from port. There’s also a watersports marina that unfolds from the bow stern for kayaking, sailing, snorkeling and more.

For a dose of pampering, the ship has a beauty salon and a surprisingly well-equipped gym and a great spa comprising three treatment rooms, considering the small size of the ship. You can prebook treatments online at www.seadreamspa.com.

All evening meals are served in the Dining Salon indoors, though once or twice a week dinner is served up in the open-air Topside Restaurant on Deck 5, where breakfast and lunch are offered every day.

SeaDream I Suites

Accommodations aren’t the highlights on SeaDream’s vessels. The adequate, though not particularly large or luxurious. Of the showers, be prepared to “soap up and spin.”

The Sea Dream I’s 54 one-room, 195-square-foot, oceanview suites are virtually identical, with real wood cabinetry and moldings complemented by blue-and-white fabrics to create an appealing nautical look. Each suite has a small sitting area with a couch (that can accommodate a third adult or a child) and a flatscreen TV with CD/DVD player — you can borrow a portable MP3 player from the reception desk, preprogrammed with music.

You’ll find a minifridge stocked with sodas and beer and compact bathrooms have marble-clad showers with glass doors and a generous supply of Bulgari toiletries. Guests also get use of extra thick bathrobes and can take home a set of personalized cotton pajamas with the SeaDream logo. There are two roomy suites with separate bedrooms, plus 8 standard suites can be combined with the cabin next door for a double room, or “commodore suite.”

The three things I love most about SeaDream Yacht Club:

1. You can sleep under the stars. That may not be for everyone, I realize, but it’s nice to have the option should the mood strike you. You make a reservation to sleep in one of the 11 beds (1o aft beds and one huge bed forward). On the night you’re scheduled to slumber under the stars, you’ll find pajamas that have been custom embroidered with your initials, a nice touch. The room stewardesses prepare a beautiful bed with crisp linens and a bottle of champagne. Truly romantic.
2. You can dine outdoors on some evening. True, a lot of ships offer this, but SeaDream’s vessels can seat the entire ship in the outdoor dining venue. There’s nothing quite like being off the coast of a small village in Italy or the south of France and dining within view of twinkling shoreline.
3. There’s a much-used watersports marina. Other ships have marinas that lower from the back of the ship (Seabourn, Windstar) but in my experience, SeaDream gets the most use of its watersports toys, such as jet skis, sailing boats, kayaks, etc.
4. Bonus. I forgot about one other thing I love about SeaDream. The captains will often lead walks or hikes or bike trips.

SeaDream Reviews

Also see:

• The Razor’s Edge: Who’s The Best? Luxury Cruise Lines Square Off
• Top Ten Reasons For Sailing SeaDream (updated)
• SeaDream II’s Staterooms