Aboard the Seabourn Ovation

Despite having 11 passenger decks, the Seabourn Ovation accommodates only 604 guests on board.

After a day of cold, wet and jet-lagged touring in Reyjkavik, we enjoyed a wonderful nine hours of warm, uninterrupted sleep. Come Saturday morning, we were delighted to note the weather was being more cooperative. While still very cool, the sun was shining and the skies were blue, which made for perfect sailing weather. So, we were more than ready to hit the ground running and looked forward to all that awaited us on our journey aboard the Seabourn Ovation. The 101 Hotel called us a taxi for the relatively short ride to the cruise terminal. The embarkation procedures were a bit time consuming though. The vessel’s itinerary included stops in the United Kingdom and it appeared as though staff were only just getting used to the UK Electronic Travel Authorization ETA) requirement. They were asking to see written proof from the UK Visas and Immigration Home Office. As visa-exempt visitors from the US, we were required to obtain an ETA (along with citizens from Canada, Australia and EU nations). The ETAs cost £20 each and allow for multiple journeys for stays up to six months. It's valid for a 2-year period or until passports expire. Once those formalities were taken care of, we boarded and headed to our suite.The Seabourn Ovation is an ultra-luxury, all-suite cruise ship that carries a maximum of only 600 passengers. Designed by Adam Tihany to feel like a private yacht, the 40,350-ton vessel features expansive glass-fronted suites, a complimentary open-bar policy, and highly personalized service from nearly 450 crew members.

Being on Deck 9 of the Seabourn Ovation put us close to the mid-ship Patio and The Colonnade.

We had booked cabin # 925, a Category V4 Veranda Suite located on Deck 9. This luxury balcony stateroom offered approximately 300 square feet of interior living space, plus a private veranda. It featured a queen-size bed fitted with custom linens and we were also given a pillow menu from which to choose prior to embarkation. The living area included a compact sofa (that had seen better days in terms of comfort), a small dining table, a writing desk, a mirrored makeup vanity and a walk-in closet with personal safe. A sliding glass door led to the balcony with two patio chairs, footrests and a cocktail table, all for enjoying the ever-changing ocean views. Our marble bathroom featured a full-size bathtub as well as a separate shower, double vanities and Molton Brown bath products. We also had a small refrigerator and bar, both fully stocked with our preferred wines, spirits, waters and soft drinks. One of the nicest perks associated with a Seabourn cruise was having our own Suite Host. Alicia made sure we had welcome Champagne and Canapés on arrival as well as nightly turn-down service and daily upkeep. Ruffy was our Suite Attendant who assisted her throughout the voyage. The pair met every request with a smile and worked hard to ensure we had a very pleasant stay.

Shortly after settling in, we watched the safety video and then scanned in at The Club on Deck 5, our designated muster station. Following that formality, we visited Vanessa, the internet specialist, who sorted out our premium streaming package and stopped by Seabourn Square on Deck 7 to finalize our upcoming tours. With all that behind us, it was time for the buffet lunch at The Colonnade aft on Deck 9. It featured an open kitchen and offered indoor seating as well as an alfresco dining terrace at the back of the ship, which I’m sure would have been a very popular spot in warmer climates than that of Iceland. We had an opportunity to meet Jerry the Sommelier who introduced me to the Matchbook Red Gravel Cabernet Sauvignon, a full-bodied wine produced in Dunnigan Hills, California.

The Restaurant is an elegant, contemporary space and is the Seabourn Ovation's main dining room.

Later that evening, we enjoyed cocktails in The Observation Bar located forward on Deck 11. As the highest indoor viewing point on the ship, this venue featured wraparound floor-to-ceiling windows that provided sweeping, 270-degree panoramic views of the ocean. It was a popular spot throughout the day, featuring a grand piano for live music, afternoon tea service, as well as evening cocktails. We later enjoyed dinner in The Restaurant on Deck 4 aft. The Restaurant was the ship's primary, open-seating dining room, offering à la carte breakfast, lunch, and dinner in a refined and elegant atmosphere also designed by AdamTihany. It was a full day and before we turned in, we visited The Grand Salon on Deck 6 for the evening show titled Detroit City Sounds featuring the Seabourn Six. 

Puffins spend up to eight months each year on the open ocean. They only return to land for breeding.

For us, Sunday dawned bright and sunny as the ship was docking in Heimaey, the only inhabited island in Iceland’s Westman Islands. After a satisfying room service breakfast, we made our way back to the Grand Salon for the Puffins, Volcanoes and Culture Excursion, which departed at 8 o’clock. With our Viking Tours guide Kitty and driver Totty, we soon took in sweeping panoramic views of the rugged island and the distant mainland glaciers, passing the historic local wooden church and old fortifications. This tour allowed us the opportunity to explore the natural amphitheater and see replicas of ancient Viking turf houses dating back to 900 AD. A visit to the interactive museum built directly around a home excavated from the dramatic 1973 Eldfell voleruption was also included. But, the highlight was seeing all the puffins along the towering sea cliffs and inner bays of Heimaey Island. In fact, both Kitty and Totty claimed they had never seen so many puffins on any recent tour. While they may have been exaggerating for our benefit, it was nonetheless a thrilling site to see these amazing birds with their glowing, multicolored bills flapping their short wings (up to 400 times per minute) in order to stay airborne. .

Relaxed poolside dining at the Patio Grill would be the ideal place for a casual meal in nice weather.

Returning to the ship, we grabbed lunch at The Patio, midship on Deck 9. This was the ship’s casual, open-air dining venue. It offered made-to-order grilled specialties, a fresh salad and pizza buffet, and signature menu items, all with roving waiters providing top-notch service. The balance of my afternoon was spent working and enjoying a latte at Seabourn Square before we went to The Colonnade for dinner. Although that was formal night on the ship, the designation applied strictly to The Restaurant while other venues remained casual. And with that, we wrapped up yet another fun-filled day on the Ovation.

There were still another five days left to enjoy this cruise. I’ll tell you all about those adventures in a future post.

Until next time…safe travels.