Seabourn Encore
Seabourn Encore / Seabourn Cruise Line
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The Retreat
The Retreat / Seabourn Cruise Line
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Seabourn Square
Seabourn Square / Seabourn Cruise Line
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The Grill
The Grill / Seabourn Cruise Line
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Terrace seating at The Colonnade
Terrace seating at The Colonnade / Seabourn Cruise Line
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Pool Deck
Pool Deck / Seabourn Cruise Line
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Coffee Bar at Seabourn Square
Coffee Bar at Seabourn Square / Seabourn Cruise Line
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The Colonnade
The Colonnade / Seabourn Cruise Line
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Wintergarden Suite
Wintergarden Suite / Seabourn Cruise Line
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Observation Lounge and Bar
Observation Lounge and Bar / Seabourn Cruise Line
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Sushi Bar
Sushi Bar / Sherri Eisenberg
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Seabourn Encore

Our Ship Review
Deal Expert / Travel Blogger

The all-suite Seabourn Encore launched in December 2016 as the first in the luxury line’s new Encore class, which was followed in 2018 by Seabourn Ovation. The biggest departure from the line’s older Odyssey-class vessels: the size. At 600 passengers compared to 458, the larger ship also has an additional deck.

But for longtime fans of the Seabourn brand, this ship will seem comfortingly familiar. In fact, it doesn’t feel like much of a departure from the Odyssey class at all. That additional deck means the line was able to expand one specialty restaurant space dramatically and add an entirely new one as well.

Adam Tihany, the ship’s designer, made subtle changes throughout the vessel, removing the large boxy reception desk from the Seabourn Square area to open up this lounge-like space, where guests gather for coffee, puzzles, and to settle into a comfy leather recliner with a good book. He also removed the square central bar in the Observation Lounge, the space used for afternoon tea and piano-filled pre-dinner cocktail hours. The dining room, which, on Odyssey class, has artistic arches and lots of white columns, has been infused with pops of bright blue color in everything from striking water glasses to gorgeous chandeliers decked out in blue crystal balls reminiscent of Christmas tree ornaments.

What We Love

Consistently Cosseting Suites: Seabourn Encore’s 300 suites, all of which have verandahs and range in size from a comfortable 246 square feet to a spacious 989 square feet, look remarkably similar to those on Odyssey-class ships. Each features the same fabulous walk-in closets and roomy marble bathrooms. The differences are subtle, such as glass-topped tables instead of wooden ones.

A Welcome Sushi Bar: Traveling often means lots of rich, heavy food, and while we love main dining room indulgences, they’re often not light. So if there were anything we would wish for on a ship it would be a light, healthy option. Enter Sushi, an intimate bar/restaurant that has no additional fees attached or limits on how many nights you can dine there. Best of all, you can take your maki or sashimi to go, and eat it by the pool or on your verandah. PS: In early 2024, the Mediterranean-inspired Solis restaurant will be another venue offering fresh, lighter fare. It replaces The Grill by Thomas Keller.

Best Known For

The Retreat: This exclusive lounge on deck comes with 15 cabanas tricked out with couches, ceiling fans, and flat-screen TVs, with a shared hot tub in the middle and a full bar as well as amenities such as fresh fruit and sunscreen. The most striking aspect of the space is the elegant flower-shaped canopy that shades the area. There is a daily cabana rental charge per couple on sea days, and there’s no access to the area without paying the full-day rate.

Who It's Best For

Luxury Lovers: Seabourn’s brand of all-inclusive cruise includes open bar at all times, including in your cabin. Best of all, the house Champagne — which is unlimited — is Montaudon Brut, and you can order a flute with your room service breakfast, by the pool, before dinner, and during the evening show. The cruise line is also known for its “Caviar in the Surf” beach barbecues on appropriate itineraries.

World Travelers: Seabourn focuses on international itineraries, and the passengers on this ship tend to be older English-speaking couples who are looking for new and interesting places to cross of their list as they sail around the globe playing cards and engaging in heated debates at Team Trivia. Case in point: Seabourn Encore was christened in Singapore and spent her inaugural season in Asia and Australia before heading to Europe for the summer. The ship’s whirlwind world schedule has continued with port calls in countries such as India, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Dubai, and Oman, complementing cruises in the Adriatic and Aegean.

Don't Say We Didn't Warn You

It’s Not a Party Crowd: Fans of Seabourn love the cruise line for its elevated service and exceptional cuisine — as well as its ships’ refined and relaxed onboard atmosphere. You should expect quiet sea days by the pool (along with guest lectures, card games, and trivia contests) and evenings centered around cocktails, dining, and low-key entertainment that includes cabaret-style performances by solo pianists and a small troupe of resident singers and dancers. There’s also a casino. 

Sherri Eisenberg
Deal Expert / Travel Blogger