Luxury on the waves with a compact cruise

If big ships aren’t your thing, and you want a luxurious cruise for a special occasion, consider Seabourn.

The line operates all around the world, from short seven-day Caribbean and European cruises to exotic 100+ day cruises around the world.

It’s now owned by Carnival Corporation, which also includes Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Carnival Cruises, Cunard Line, Costa Cruises, P&O Cruises and AIDA Cruises.

Seabourn passengers typically range in ages from the 40s to the 60s, but children are still welcome.

It’s a classy experience from the off. It should be it’s not cheap, with the least expensive cruise in 2014 coming in at £2699 a week. But it’s good value for the superb quality on offer.

Hubbie and I fall into the average age range and are no novices at cruising, but it’s been 15 years since we were on a Seabourn vessel and things have changed.

This one is far larger than its older cousin. Seabourn Odyssey is one of the newest and largest of the Seabourn fleet, launched in 2009 and costing nearly £200 million. She carries 450 passengers and the 333strong crew offer them every luxury imaginable.

Of the 225 air-conditioned suites (note suites, not cabins on this little beauty) 90% have private verandahs, all have marble bathrooms, separate showers and interactive flat-screen TVs with a vast array of cable channels and movies.

A feature of the new ships is Seabourn Square, an innovative “concierge lounge” inviting guests to access every shipboard service in a relaxed, club-like atmosphere designed to encourage sociability. The Square includes a library, up-market shops, an outdoor terrace and a coffee bar, as well as concierges ready to respond to every request.

There are four ‘dining venues’ with differing levels of formality, six open bars, two swimming pools, seven whirlpools, a spa, gym, theatre and so on.

The friendly cosmopolitan crew are almost as many in number as the passengers and they are falling over themselves to be welcoming. You won’t have to lift a case or move a sunbed or even carry your tray from the buffet at breakfast if you don’t want to. Ladies are escorted to their table on the arm of a dashing waiter at dinner in the formal restaurant, and the crew will learn your name (and favourite drink) within the first hour.

We had a port every day so no enforced formal evening for dresscode, though we had one optional formal and 99% of guests chose to don the dickie bow or cocktail dress.

Unlike on some larger cruises there’s no cheesy on-board photographers snapping you when you least want it, and you won’t find your towels contorted into shapes resembling mating swans on your bed, but you will find the entire ship spotless and the standard of cuisine worthy of a Michelin star.

Captain Mark Dexter had Yours Truly at his table one night and it transpired from our chat that he is the son of a Royal Navy chap and spent much of his childhood at Faslane a place well known to hubbie and me as one of our sons is a naval officer.

Captain Dexter’s mother still lives in Skelmorlie, where we have cousins small world. He is an experienced, charming captain with just the right touch on the PR side while concentrating on the somewhat more important job of overseeing a 32,000 tonne vessel around the waters of the world.

It’s the little touches that set Seabourn apart. They offer experiences such as galley tours, shopping with the chef and a personal shopper.

They can also help you save time and score on shopping excursions with a savvy local guide and there are water sports from Seabourn’s own marina, where you take to the water right from the ship, with kayaking, water-skiing, sail-boards, swimming and more.

All meals and drinks including fine wines, spirits and champagne are included. No gratuities are expected, transfers are included and there’s a launderette on board if you wish to do your own laundry.

All the entertainment is included and you pay no extra to eat in the low-lit Restaurant 2 (though I found the five-course menu in there too fussy for my liking).

Seabourn offers more than 220 destinations including:

Europe Greece, Turkey, Dalmatian Coast, Italy, France, Scandinavia, Russia, British Isles, Norwegian Fjords, Mediterranean, Red Sea, Spain, Rivers of Western Europe, Slovenia and Portugal.

North America and The Caribbean Barbados, Antigua, B.V.I., Puerto Rico, Martinique, St Lucia, Grenada, St. Vincent, Grenadines, Nevis, St Kitts, St Thomas, U.S.V.I. and Guadalupe.

Asia/Pacific Thailand, Vietnam, India, China, Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Indonesia; Australia and New Zealand.

Africa and The Middle East Egypt, Jordan, Oman, United Arab Emirates and Israel.

South & Central America Argentina, Peru, Ecuador, Uruguay, French Guiana, Chile, Panama, Belize, Costa Rica, The Amazon and Antarctica.

The first seven-day cruise in 2014 on Seabourn Odyssey departs on May 24. Rates start at £2699 for an oceanview suite and £2899 for a veranda suite.

Rates include taxes, all meals, drinks (including premium brand alcohol), entertainment and porterage.

See seabourn.com