Archive for the 'SeaDream Yachts' Category

Here at Soper’s Hole, in the British Virgin Islands, it’s hard to believe it’s Friday, a workday mind you. The tiny harbor is bustling with leisure boats, coming and going, some setting sail under the gentle breeze. It is a playful and carefree atmosphere, with dolphins frolicking astern of SeaDream I, one of the few passenger vessels able to get into this secluded bay in Tortola.  Read more... (161 words, 1 image, estimated 39 secs reading time)

Today, on my SeaDream sailing, I hiked to the highest point in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. No, I’m not geographically challenged. The Netherlands, as anyone knows, is as flat as a stroopwafel, but within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, situated in the Netherlands Antilles, is Saba, a rugged island rising abruptly from the sea to a height of more than 3,000 feet.  Read more... (208 words, 19 images, estimated 50 secs reading time)

I’d never been to Nevis until this morning, and while it was a pleasant stop, Nevis was not nearly as beautiful as Virgin Gorda, where SeaDream I called yesterday.

The great thing about yachting, however, is that you don’t need to feel guilty if you decline to disembark. “We’re past the point of ticking off a list of destinations that we’ve visited,” one passenger told me. He and his wife slept in, had a leisurely breakfast, hit a few balls at the golf simulator and stretched out in a couple of sun loungers admiring Nevis from SeaDream I’s pool deck.  Read more... (172 words, 16 images, estimated 41 secs reading time)

6 a.m. and SeaDream I is anchored off the island of Nevis with Saba visible in the distance.

SeaDream Yacht Club emphasizes the yachting lifestyle over the cruising lifestyle, a point well-illustrated in this photo. You may not notice at first, but against the backdrop of the large cruise ship in the background, in a photo snapped at 6:30 a.m., someone is sleeping in the Balinese-style beds. Sleeping under the stars, in fact, is one of the highlights for some passengers, and tonight, I’ll try it myself. Stay tuned.

Have questions about SeaDream Yacht Club? Or want to see photos of the yacht or the on-board lifestyle? I’m sailing on SeaDream I with 82 other guests on a nine-day itinerary from San Juan to St. Thomas, and I’m happy to snap photos that you’d like, ask questions or conduct interviews for you. Just let me know.

Join in on the discussion by following me on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/cruisereports.  Read more... (112 words, 30 images, estimated 27 secs reading time)

I’ve just been looking over a press release about all the good cruise values being offered. There’s two-for-one pricing, kids sail free, early-booking offers — and more.

Personally, I think it’s a great time to latch on to some of the bargains and plan a get-away for the spring or summer. Following is a sampling of the offerings. Check with your cruise consultant. He or she may have even better value offerings.  Read more... (669 words, estimated 2:41 mins reading time)

Click To Play

After sailing on SeaDream II, I’m better qualified to answer the question I posed at the outset of my cruise, and that was: How do SeaDream’s twin yachts, both more than 20 years old, outperform all others — at least to readers of Conde Nast Traveler.

There were aspects of my cruise that were not unique to SeaDream, and you could argue that other cruise lines do the job as good as or better than SeaDream.  Read more... (419 words, 2 images, estimated 1:41 mins reading time)

Click To Play

Whether you’re up for a bumpy Banana Boat ride or skimming the seas on waterskis, the watersports activities are a big part of the SeaDream experience.

You can spend an afternoon of play on a Waverunner or speed away on a Zodiac.

All of these activities and more are launched from the sports platform at the back of the ship. It’s where all the toys are found, and they’re available free of charge.  Read more... (78 words, 2 images, estimated 19 secs reading time)