Seabourn Pride
Small Ship, Big Advantages

Despite being just 10,000 tons, each of Seabourn's three ships offers large advantages. First of all, the size allows the ships to enter ports that bigger ships cannot. And if conditions arise that cause mild disruption in an itinerary, the staff is able to respond instantly.

On one seven-night "Grenadines & Venezuela" cruise, for example, the Seabourn Pride met with unfavorable conditions for anchoring at its first scheduled port, Charlotteville. The marine and shore staff worked together to dock the ship on the other side of the island, at Scarborough, and still managed to run virtually all the planned shore excursions.

Each of Seabourn's three ships can accommodate up to 208 guests, and the company prides itself on offering a luxury experience, with 164 crew members.

Accommodations: The Seabourn Pride has an all-suite, all-oceanview configuration, with six categories. There are essentially three types of rooms. Eight suites (two each in four categories) are larger than the rest of the rooms, ranging from 400 to 575 square feet.

The other two categories, with rooms measuring 277 square feet, are essentially identical. However, about half of them feature French balconies (added to the ship a few years ago) that allow guests to step outside and enjoy the sea air and the sights. Though not large enough for lounge chairs or tables, these balconies are lovely and worth the extra price. All of the cabins have the amenities one would expect on this quality of ship, including Bose Wave Sound Systems, flat-screen TVs with DVD players, and fully stocked bars.

Public Spaces: One would not expect a lot of public rooms on a ship this size. Prior to and following meals, the most popular areas are the Magellan Lounge and The Club, both of which offer live music in the evenings. Another popular spot is the Constellation Lounge. Other facilities on board include a spa and gym, a beauty salon, a casino, shopping venues, a library, card tables and computer spots. No facilities exist on board for children and, in fact, Seabourn doesn't market itself as a family-oriented cruise line.

Dining: All inside meals take place in The Restaurant, an elegant dining room that features multicourse meals. In addition, there is the casual Verandah Cafe, which serves buffet and cooked-to-order items for breakfast and lunch and offers indoor and outdoor seating. At night the Verandah is transformed into an elegant alternative for dinner, with different menus featuring the eclectically designed "Tastings @ 2" menus. Seabourn has also recently added a grill area as part of the Sky Bar for casual outdoor dining.

Entertainment and Activities: There are not a lot of planned activities on abord the Seabourn Pride. Evening entertainment is mostly provided byt he cruise director and his team, along with the occasional special performer brought on board. The ship's marina, an opening in the hull from which such small watercraft as banana boats depart, is open for guest use when conditions permit.