Everything you need to know about SeaDream Yacht Club
We were invited by SeaDream Yacht Club to spend 8 nights on board their ship cruising in the Mediterranean from Dubrovnik to Athens, including a transit through the Corinth Canal. In this blog we will focus on their ships but if you want to know more about the itinerary and general yachting experience then please read our upcoming SeaDream 1 in the Mediterranean blog.
Overview:
SeaDream I is a luxury mega-yacht, which along with her identical sister, SeaDream II, offers intimate, ultra-luxury yachting experiences, as per SeaDream’s own marketing, ‘its yachting not cruising"‘. Launched in 1984 SeaDream I was originally called Sea Goddess I. Since then it has undergone several refurbishments, most recently in 2022. With an approximate gross tonnage of 4,333 she is just 344 feet (105 meters) long with a 47.2 feet (14.4 meters) beam and 14.4 feet (4.4 meters) draft.
Her Passenger Capacity is just 112 guests staying in the 56 suites, most of which are similar in style and all of them ocean-view. For even more luxury there are up to 8 Commodore Suites which are formed by joining two staterooms, offering a spacious living area; an Admiral Suite with a separate living room and bedroom; and an Owner’s Suite, offering the most luxurious accommodation on board and featuring a master bedroom, a living room, and a dining area with sweeping views of the ocean.
Accommodation:
With 95 crew, SeaDream Yachts offer an exceptionally high crew-to-guest ratio which ensures a personalised service. The recently refurbished suites décor is contemporary and elegant, with a focus on comfort and luxury. As with all of the suites on SeaDream which have windows rather than balconies, our suite 414 had a large picture window located next to the bed making it beautifully light. With luxuriously soft bedding sleep is easy to come by, especially in the personalised pair of pyjamas that every passenger receives upon embarkation.
Each suite has a lovely, large seating area with a very comfortable sofa with a large TV on the wall opposite. The TV is a hve of information, from the daily programme to the room service menu, Spa and weather information, a small number of TV channels and a large selection of movies to watch on demand. Along with plenty of storage, a fridge for keeping your included drinks cold in and a plethora of sockets and charging around the suite each suite has a range of glassware and a SeaDream glass bottle and insulated holder for each guest.
Though the bathroom is small it is fully decorated in marble and has a range of nice toiletries as well as a robe and slippers. Although none of the staterooms feature balconies we never found this to be an issue as everything is so close, its easy to pop out to the open decks if you want to to sit outside, or you can simply enjoy the views from the large feature window in the coolness of your air conditioned room.
Dining:
There are three main dining options on SeaDream, including room service which offers a wide range of cuisine for guests to enjoy in their suites.
However, when the yacht is sailing in warmer climates, which is does most of the year round either in the Mediterranean or the Caribbean, food is mostly served in the al fresco Topside restaurant. Spanning over decks five and six, as well as a few tables at the very aft of deck four this is where breakfast and lunch are served every day, when a small buffet is laid out offering a range of self service options, as well as an a la carte menu which is cooked to order and served from a small cooking station.
If the weather is good, dinners are also served outside in the Topside restaurant. On our summer Mediterranean voyage five of the eight dinners were served outside making the most of the balmy evenings. On a couple of the evenings we even managed to secure one of the most sought after tables at the aft of the ship for a romantic dining experience accompanied by a gorgeous sunset.
We found the choice, quality and execution of the meals we enjoyed to be some of the finest we’ve enjoyed at sea with great attention to detail and individual requirements easily accommodated. The cuisine was largely Mediterranean in style but we also enjoyed some Asian and other cuisines, especially when the chefs prepared themed dinners and menus.
Dinner in The Dining Salon down on deck 2 somehow felt a little more special and formal since it was a rarer occurrence, with the Captain usually hosting a table as well. Greeted with a serenade from the on board guitarist the restaurant itself feels quite special even though the menu is the same as you would get outside.
Every evening offered a four course menu featuring at least one vegetarian dish, alongside a complete plant based four course menu. As well as this there was always a special five course chefs recommendation menu as well as always available dishes featuring a salad, soup, pasta, fish, lamb, beef and chicken dish. The menus were well labelled for dietary requirements but Head Chef was always willing and able to help with specific requirements.
Bars and Lounges:
Every evening before dinner there is a cocktail hour in the main lounge accompanied by tapas. The tapas change every evening and for special cocktail receptions the caviar comes out!
The lounge is the social hub of the ship and can accommodate all guests. It is the first place in the ship that embarking guests will see as they are welcomed on board and where most guests will start their evenings with a pre-dinner cocktail and the daily briefing from the cruise director. With free flowing drinks from the cosy bar tucked away in one corner of the room there is also a piano for nightly entertainment and a screen for showing movies or sporting events.
When sailing with SeaDream all drinks (except from some top shelf liquors) are included in your fare and free flowing. There is no drinks menu in any of the bars, just tell the knowledgable bar tenders what you want or what you like and they will make sure you always have a drink you like in your hand.
Aside from the lounge bar one of the main after dinner venues is the piano bar on deck 4. Sitting just off of the central staircase this bar does what it says in the tin, it’s literally a bar built around a piano and hosts late night entertainment and the occasional trivia or quiz night, around the bar, and conveniently located next to one of the smallest (but very popular) casinos we’ve ever seen. Though this bar is very small it is situated next to the lovely library lounge which is a quiet place to relax during the day and acts as an overflow for the piano bar and casino in the evening.
However, with the fabulous weather on our cruise, most evenings were spent outside at the Top of the Yacht bar on deck six with music curated by our fabulous entertainment team. This bar usually opens late afternoon with the pool bar on deck three offering drinks throughout the day. And often time while you’re sitting round one of these bars a snack will miraculously appear.
The Pool Deck:
Deck three pool deck is where guests embark and disembark the ship every time they leave or return, whether the ship is docked alongside or using its tenders. A little station is set up at the top of the stairs for crew to keep check on who’s on board and who’s ashore as well as a reminder of the all aboard time. And with a water refill station nearby to fill your water bottle before you leave and the pool bar ready to serve you a refreshing drink and a cold towel upon your return it really is perfectly situated.
The whole area at the aft of deck three is flanked by very comfortable sun beds around a small but refreshing pool and hot tub. But whilst the pool is lovely for a refreshing dip, SeaDream will deploy the marina deck wherever possible, allowing guests to swim in the sea, as well as enjoying water toys and this amazing water slide. Being just as inviting in the evening as it is during the day, the pool deck may also host an occasional movie under the stars, complete with popcorn.
Sun Deck:
The other place to get wet on the ship is one of the two individual jacuzzis which sit at the very front of deck six, a quieter place to soak in the sun and enjoy comfortable sunbeds, including an extra large Balinese sun bed, which guests can reserve overnight to sleep outside. Also up on deck six is a very comfortable hammock and when the heat gets too much, the coolest room in the ship is the fabulous golf simulator room, somewhere we visited most days of our cruise, even though neither of us play golf regularly.
At the aft of deck 6, the other side of the Top of the Yacht bar there are another 10 double Balinese beds, also available for reserving overnight, but more importantly a lovely place to come and relax during the day with stunning panoramic views.
Wellness and Spa:
While the top deck may also used for early morning included yoga and Tai chi classes, on our cruise it was so hot outside that they usually took place in the piano bar instead. For guests that prefer to undertake their exercise in the gym Sea dream has a small gym within the Spa and fitness area at the front of deck four. Though not massive for the size of ship the gym is well equipped with both aerobic, resistance equipment and free weights, it also affords lovely views out of these large ocean view windows. With its own Thai Spa we had one of the most authentic and best Thai massages we’ve ever experienced on land or at sea.
Service and Crew:
It’s impossible to leave this guide to sea dream ships without mentioning the most integral and important part of their ships, the incredible crew. With a Crew-to-Guest Ratio of nearly 1:1 service is highly personalized and attentive. At the heart of deck three is a central atrium area housing not only a small shop, but the cruise directors desk, which also acts as the future cruise desk. This is where you come if you have any questions, be they big or small, and the amazing crew at the concierge desk will seek to answer it for you. The crew seem to be able to anticipate every guests needs, and prides themselves on offering bespoke experiences. With a casual yet sophisticated atmosphere this is one of the friendliest ships we have ever sailed on, including the much seen and very personable Captain.
SeaDream I, along with its sister ship SeaDream II, has received numerous awards and accolades for its outstanding service, cuisine, and overall luxury experience, often ranking among the top in boutique cruise categories. The yacht will suit those who appreciate a low-key yet upscale environment with a focus on relaxation and gourmet experiences rather than large-scale entertainment. Whilst these cruises are a costly experience they offer an all-inclusive experience covering meals, drinks, tips, and water sports, as well as a very high level of service and exclusivity, offering a unique blend of comfort, elegance, and adventure.
Thank you to Seadream who hosted us on this 8 night Mediterranean cruise, covering the cost of our cruise excluding air fares which were paid for by us. SeaDream had no editorial control over any of our content, either before, during our after our voyage and have not paid us to promote them or this post.
If you enjoyed this blog why not take a look at some of our other blogs, especially our Emerald Azzurra Caribbean cruise or our Ponant Le Dumont d’Urville Caribbean cruise blog..
If you’re interested in booking a cruise like this, please consider contacting Panache Cruises, the leading specialist in Elite Ocean, River, Expedition and Yacht Style cruising. Simply click here or give them a call on the number below and one of their dedicated Cruise Connoisseurs will discuss your perfect cruise. Call this number now - 0161 513 8202 (UK) or 888 894-6153 (US) and don’t forget to mention that we sent you to receive exclusive benefits and invitations.
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