For those who dream of the superyacht lifestyle but find the multi-million dollar price tag and annual running costs prohibitive, a luxury cruise can offer a comparable experience. Travel writer Jeff Mills documented his journey aboard the Seabourn Ovation, a vessel designed to provide a taste of high-end maritime living without the immense personal investment.
Superyachts, typically costing around £10 million, also require an estimated £1 million annually for crew, fuel, and mooring fees in exclusive locations like Monaco or Antibes. In contrast, a cabin on Seabourn Ovation provides a more accessible entry into this world of luxury.
The Seabourn Ovation, measuring 210 meters in length, presents a sleek, pointy-hulled design with an elegant deck and a discreet cocktail bar, evoking the image of vessels owned by billionaires such as Roman Abramovich, Mark Zuckerberg, or Jeff Bezos. Upon arrival at the Lisbon cruise terminal, Mills was met by a chauffeur and experienced immediate service as crew members handled his luggage.
Instead of conventional cabins, passengers are accommodated in "verandah suites." Mills described his suite as featuring a large bed, sofa, easy chair, dining table, a walk-in dressing room, a bathroom with a full-size bath and shower, and a complimentary mini-bar. The experience was further elevated by the presence of a personal butler, who promptly fulfilled requests, such as providing lemons for drinks.
Service aboard the ship is characterized by attentive crew members who readily offer assistance by the pool, in lounges, or restaurants. All food and drink are included, with an option to pay for premium brands, though the complimentary house champagne, spirits, and house wines were noted as being of high quality.
The dining options are described as top-class, with most venues not requiring reservations, except for the fine-dining restaurant Solis. Mills found particular favor with al fresco breakfasts at The Colonnade's terrace, lunches by the pool at The Patio, and dinners at the sushi restaurant.
Despite a capacity of over 600 passengers, the ship did not feel crowded, and queues were reportedly nonexistent. The social environment allowed for interactions with other passengers, including couples from the theatre industry and a woman who dedicated her life to cruising. One couple disembarked early to attend to their estate and private yacht in Hampshire.
The specific cruise undertaken by Mills was the 'Bay of Biscay, Spain and France Explorer,' which sailed from Lisbon to Dover, with stops in Porto, Portugal; Coruna, Gijon, and Bilbao, Spain; and Bordeaux and Rouen, France, before reaching Plymouth, Portland, and Portsmouth prior to disembarkation.
Shore excursions were available, including a trip from Rouen to Claude Monet's house and gardens at Giverny. The experience concluded with refreshments on the pool deck, further enhancing the sense of a superyacht-style vacation.
Travel facts indicate that a similar eight-day cruise, the 'Tides and Treasures of the Atlantic Arc' on Seabourn Quest, departing June 11-19, starts at £3,314 per person for a verandah suite. An eight-day 'Iberian Coast and Northern France' cruise on Seabourn Ovation, departing April 28, 2028, from Lisbon to Southampton, is priced from £3,998 per person.