Lauren* and I have signed up for a Seabourn cruise departing from Lisbon, Portugal on 8 April 2027 along with another couple from the S2Ki.com community. The itinerary is as follows:

• 8 April depart LIsbon at 17:00 local time
• 9 April the Seabourn Ovation will have a day at sea
• 10 April arrive in Cadiz (Seville) Spain at 08:00 departing at 23:00
• 11 April arrive in Ceuta Spanish Morocco, Spain 08:00, departs at 18:00
• 12 April arrive in Motel (Granada) Spain at 07:00 departs at 18:00
• 13 April arrive in Caragena, Spain at 08:00 departs at 18:00
• 14 April the Seabourn Ovation will have a day at sea
• 15 April arrive in See, France at 08:00 departs at 18:00
• 16 April arrive in La Jolette (Marseille ) France at 07:00 departs at 17:00
• 17 April arrive in Ajaccio, (Corsica) France at 09:00 departs at 17:00
• 18 April arrive in Genoa, Italy at 07:00 and disembark the ship

If you wuold like more information about Seabourn may I suggest that you visit their website at www.Seabourn.com

I am a BIG fan of Seabourn and this will be my tenth cruise with them. Small ships (The Ovation has a maximum of 600 passengers), and great service as well as being all inclusive. They do NOT "nickle and dime" one to death, as tipping is not required or expected so one does NOT have to tip the following:

• Cabin attendants
• Maitre d'
• Servers (including 24 hours room service)
• Bar tenders

All inclusive includes wine, beer and liquor (NOT excursions) On the other hand there was a report on WTOP.com that on other cruise lines the average "drink package" for a seven day cruise costs $800.00.

* Lauren went on her first Seabourn cruise with me in New Zealand in December of 2023. I was concerned that I had "over sold" Seabourn to her before the cruise. When we arrived in our cabin she turned to me and said: "I am beginning to see why you like Seabourn, the boarding process took six minutes. The last cruise I went on the boarding process took one and half hours!" Then the "icing on the cake" was when she discovered that the cabin not only has dual vanity sinks. but a full size bath tub as well as a shower. We arrived back in our cabin after an excursion to find this:




I have working with my Personal Cruise Consultant since 2009 and on our trip to and from New Zealand / Australia she saved us over $4000.00 on our air fare compared to what we could find on our own.

Her contact information is as follows:
Debra Patrick
Phone: 800-929-4747 Extension 29482
E-mail: DPatrick@Seabourn.com

If you have any questions for me feel free to post here or send me a PM.

 

That sounds like a great cruise, I never thought about a cruise leaving from Lisbon Portugal, but that is nice. Hopefully you can spend a day or two in Lisbon before embarking , it is a nice place to visit. Too bad they don't give you any time in Portugal besides leaving from there, and no other stops. Very nice trip from the sounds of it.

 

As Lauren has never been to Lisbon (and I spent a day there on my way home from a Seabourn cruise in March of 2024) we are planning on flying out of Washington Dulles (IAD) on Monday, 5 April to spend a few days there before the cruise, Then also spend two days in Genoa after the cruise.

 

We’re not super experienced cruisers but we did the Vancouver - Juneau cruise with Seabourn and it was much better than our previous Holland America cruises.

Already booked another Seabourn trip. Expedition to Antarctica in ‘27. Truly excellent.
We were celebrating an anniversary and birthday during our Seabourn cruise and they really helped make it extra special.

And Lisbon is worth it for the food alone. That should be a great trip.

 

"Cruise ship" -- see Petri Dish.

-- Chuck

 

I have a year and a half of sea time with the US Navy. The only time I have paid money to go back to sea was a one week cruise on Holland America leaving Vancouver for Seward going up the inland passage. Had a very nice deck with chairs and a table ( I had no such accommodations on an aircraft carrier) in which we watched the scenery glide by.

As a kid, I did sail both ways from San Francisco to Tokyo on very nice passager ships as my Dad was stationed in Japan. Would not mind crossing the pond again like that.

 

OK so cruises aren't for you. You don't need to rain on the parade of others by posting.

 

I love to cruise but the cost for a single person is about 3/4 of the cost for a couple.

 

Petri Dish: Just consider it a warning to keep in mind especially ships originating in foreign ports. Aircraft in international flights are dangerous enough but you're only exposed for a few hours.

-- Chuck

 

The Norwalk virus' on cruise ships is a real issue that happens quite a bit. Don't let it sway your decision as it can be hit or miss but it certainly happens.