SeaDream Yacht Club: Follow My Journey – Part Three – The Yacht

NOTE: Due to a technical glitch, the final couple of blogs from this journey never published. So we have combined them into one final post.

ORIGINAL TEXT: For the past five days, Premier Custom Travel Founder and President Chris Grum has been onboard SeaDream II, one of the two ships in the SeaDream Yacht Club fleet for a five-night Caribbean cruise. In the third and final installment in this series, Chris gives you a look inside the yacht and shares what makes a SeaDream journey so different from other cruises.

I only have one night left onboard, and I plan to make the most of it. This has truly been a remarkable experience and I cannot wait to sail with SeaDream again. It is unlike anything I’ve experienced at sea across my previous 58 cruises. The SeaDream slogan is “It’s Yachting, not Cruising. Enjoy the difference.” That phrase is key to understanding what really happens on this vessel.

THE EXPERIENCE

At first glance, you might think the daily schedule is boring or lacking options. Absent are the traditional trivia games, bingo, live music venues, production shows, and shopping events. There are no roller coasters, go-cart tracks, ice skating rinks, or other attractions that you see the big ships brag about. Here’s an example of today’s onboard schedule of events:

6:00 – 8:00 – Early Morning Coffee – Piano Bar
7:00 – Coffee with a view – Top of the Yacht
8:00 – 10:30 – Breakfast – Topside Restaurant
8:00 – SeaDream II anchors off at White Bay, Jost van Dyke, BVI
Approximately 10:30 – A tender service and tax to the beach will be established & run on a continuous basis until 16:30

Morning Activities
8:15 – Yoga Class – SeaDream Spa
9:15 – Tai Chi – SeaDream spa
9:30 – SeaDream Active Hike with Club Director Jamie (approx. 45 minutes each way)
11:00 – Snorkel equipment is available
Approximately 12:00 – Caviar & Champagne is served SeaDream style followed by our Beach BBQ lunch

Afternoon Activities
14:00 – Bridge, Scrabble & Backgammon – Library
16:30 – The last zodiac departs from the beach
14:00 – 17:00 – The SeaClub is open for sunbathing – Deck 6
17:00 – Drinks with a breeze – Top of the Yacht
17:00 – 15% Off Future Voyages with Club Director Jamie – Concierge Foyer

Evening Activities
18:30 – 19:30 – Farewell cocktails – Main Salon
19:15 – A brief review of tomorrow’s Disembarkation with Club Director Jamie – Main Salon
19:30 – 21:30 – Farewell Dinner – Dining Salon

After Dinner Activities
21:30 – Top of the Yacht bar opens with bartenders Daniel and Georgije
21:30 – Piano bar opens with Pianist Spencer & Chief Bartender Nic
21:30 – Casino opens with Casino Manager Ioana
21:30 – 15% Off Future Voyages with Club Director Jamie – Concierge Foyer

Sailing Plan
16:30 – Last tender departs the pier to the yacht
23:59 – SeaDream II navigates to Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, USVI

Opening Times
Fitness Center – 7:00 – 20:00
SeaDream Spa – 8:00 – 20:00
Concierge Desk – 8:00 – 23:00
Boutique – 9:30 – 21:30
Hospital – 9:00 – 10:00; 17:00 – 18:00
Casino – from 21:30
Future Voyages – 17:00; 21:30

I must admit I was a bit concerned about having things to do during the day and in the evening, but that has turned out to not be an issue at all. Within 24 hours, you have most likely met everyone onboard (passengers and crew) and probably made some new friends. Socializing is a key element of the experience. But the other is allowing things to flow on their own schedule. The food is so excellent (and more of a variety than I could have imagined for a ship this size) that you want to savor each meal. Breakfast and lunch featuring magnificent views from the outdoor restaurant on deck five, while each evening’s multi-course dinner is served either in that same outdoor space or in the main dining salon, depending on location and weather conditions. These are meals you don’t want to rush.

The evening activities, while somewhat sparse, are enough to keep the 112 guests onboard entertained in various venues. Some will opt for the piano bar and some karaoke, others might visit the blackjack table, while the rest may choose a night on one of the Balinese beds on the top deck or simply playing games or chatting with friends in one of the bars.

One complaint I often hear about the more luxury-based lines is that the parties end early and by 11pm, there’s nothing to do or everyone is in bed. I found it to be the opposite onboard SeaDream. The piano bar was often going past midnight and the Top of the Yacht bar was open until the last customer left. I know for a fact because on the first night, we were the last to finally go to bed.

TOUR THE YACHT

On Tuesday evening, we did a live version of THE ITINERARY from onboard the yacht. Part of the show was me giving a tour of the ship. You can watch the entire episode on demand anytime on our Facebook page.

WHAT MAKES SEADREAM UNIQUE

If you watch the show or read my blogs and posts, you’ll see amazing food, a gorgeous, intimate yacht, and beautiful destinations. What you won’t see is what I believe is SeaDream’s secret sauce – the people.

I’ve always believed that the crew makes a cruise, no matter what size ship you’re onboard. I’ve always been amazed by how they can remember names, preferences, and even the most minor detail about their guests. This is especially impressive when you consider that they have an entirely new group of passengers every few days. I wish I had that kind of memory retention – and I honestly think mine is fairly good. The crew of cruise ships are on a whole different level.

And if those larger ships are on a different level, then SeaDream is on another planet, perhaps even in a different universe. The ship holds 112 guests and there are almost that many crew onboard. The level of service is unmatched and something I have not experienced anywhere else on the water. Every single crew member seemed to know my name from day one, even if I had not interacted with them before. I was greeted by name almost every single time, and the attention to my needs was consistent and constant without being annoying or imposing.

Even more impressive was the direct interaction with the key officers and staff onboard. There wasn’t a meal where the Executive Chef Tomasz Kozlowski didn’t check on us to make sure every aspect of our meal was perfect. Was there something else we wanted? It’s not on the menu? Let me see what I can do. I also frequently interacted with the Captain, Hotel director, and other key personnel and these were not just simple “hellos” or “hope you’re having a good time.” They were in depth, lengthy, and friendly chats where they never seemed rushed or forced. They wanted to interact with us and make sure everything was perfect.

I had the honor of enjoying dinner with Club Director Jamie Sommers and we also found time throughout the voyage to chat and even share a cocktail. That’s a level of interaction you rarely see on the larger ships and it really does help foster a sense of community. That said, I never felt forced to interact with passengers or crew, although every single interaction was positive.

DIFFERENT IS GOOD

I’ll wrap up my thoughts on SeaDream with a thought – different is good. This sailing was a very different experience than anything I’ve encountered on the 50+ cruise lines we sell. Despite being trained in the brand, I was not sure exactly what to expect once onboard, and I was certainly not sure if this would be a type of vacation I’d enjoy. I was very pleasantly surprised to find that not only was this an enjoyable experience, but I’d rank it high on my list of favorite sailings. I’m already thinking of when I can go back again, which I think is the highest compliment I can give to a company.

Not all of our products are for everyone, but I believe SeaDream Yacht Club has a much wider appeal than I had initially expected. I never missed the features of the larger ships and learned to embrace what was onboard and what the smaller sized ship offered. I understand now the difference between Yachting and Cruising. Both are excellent options and I truly enjoy both. But there’s a time for cruising, and a time for yachting.

What time is it for you?

Have questions about my experience or want to chat about experiencing this amazing brand yourself? Drop me a line at chris@premiercustomtravel.com.