Fine Dining Aboard SeaDream II

There are a handful of questions I'm often asked about cruising. One of them is, "How's the food on cruise ships in general?" and another is "Which cruise ship prepares the tastiest cuisine?"

These days, the food aboard many luxury vessels is certainly on par with similarly rated land-based restaurants. Rating food is totally subjective and what I really appreciate may be a turnoff to you and vice versa.

I have to admit though, I haven't had one meal on SeaDream II that I wouldn't order a second time. We've enjoyed gourmet food and this definitely ranks among the very, very best at sea. Josselin Jeanblanc is the Chef de Cuisine and, at just 30 years old, he's definitely one to watch.

Internet is slow here so I'm just going to post some photos of the meals we've enjoyed this week. Once we get back on land (with a faster Internet connection), I'll come back and add more details, along with descriptions of each dish.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

BREAKFAST

LUNCH

DINNER

Photos courtesy of Leonard Hospidor and Andrea Rotondo

SeaDream II Arrives at St. Barths at Sunset

We arrived this evening at St. Barths in time for a beautiful sunset! SeaDream II is hosting a Caribbean cocktail hour followed by dinner under the stars (also with a Caribbean motif). After everyone's enjoyed a delectable meal, they'll be a movie under the stars as well (Good Evening, New York City starring Paul McCartney).

Caribbean Madness Cocktails

Champagne Always Flows Freely on SeaDream II

Cocktail Hour By the Pool

More Cocktail Nibbles

Tomorrow we'll stay at St. Barths all day. Our plan is to wake up early and go to Shell Beach with Amy Boothman (activities director) at 7:30 am. Let's hope we hear the alarm go off in the morning!

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photos courtesy of Leonard Hospidor

Day 5 Aboard SeaDream II: Saba

This morning we visited Saba. It's definitely an off-the-beaten-path destination. There are no beaches here and the roads are more narrow and winding than even those on St. Barths! Diving is the main draw here, but we took SeaDream's Yachting Land Adventures shore excursion, Saba Sights, to get the lay of the land.

Saba's port

The Bottom, Saba's capital

Sacred Heart Church

Signposts on Saba

Saba's Airport, with the shortest commercial runway (400 meters) in the world

The tour guide was a longtime local resident and it was interesting to learn about this tiny nation of just 1,600 citizens. The tour, in an air-conditioned minivan, lasted about 2.5 hours.

We were back on SeaDream II by early afternoon and set sail for St. Barths, where we'll overnight and spend all of Friday.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photos courtesy of Leonard Hospidor and Andrea Rotondo

Day 4 Aboard SeaDream II: Marigot, St. Martin

Today we docked outside Marigot, St. Martin. This was a "yacht day" for us since we've seen St. Martin several times and we spent the day talking with our fellow passengers and crew, enjoying the pool, and taking photos throughout the vessel.

We need some time at the computer to prep those shots, but I hope to post a lot of SeaDream II photos to the blog on Thursday.

For now, enjoy this towel animal prepared by our lovely cabin stewardess, Arla.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photo courtesy of Andrea M. Rotondo

Day 3 Aboard SeaDream II: Cruz Bay, St. John

On Tuesday SeaDream II anchored at Cruz Bay, St. John. Since we'd never been to the island, we decided to rent a Jeep Wrangler (cost was $82 for the day plus $10 insurance) and drive to a few of the gorgeous beaches this island is known for.

We first stopped at Trunk Bay and did some snorkeling. This is where one of SeaDream's shore excursions visited and we saw a lot of passengers from the yacht during our time here.

We then drove up to Maho Bay, turned around, and stopped at Cinnamon Bay, Caneel Bay, Hawksnest, and Honeymoon Beach for some photo opportunities.

Driving in St. John is a bit nerve-wrecking due to the steep hills and blind turns. You really do need a four-wheel drive vehicle on the island! Once we'd had our fill of beaches, we parked at Mongoose Junction and enjoyed a delectable lunch at Ocean Grill (spicy fried calamari, lobster tacos, and mahi mahi sandwiches). Browsing in the shops followed before we returned the Jeep and took the tender back to SeaDream II.

The rest of the late afternoon was spent at the Top of the Yacht bar talking with passengers and the bartenders (Zoltan and Chad are amazing). Zoltan noticed that I never order alcohol so he offered to make me fresh lemonade. It was a very nice gesture and appreciated! Cookies and ice cream were served as we set up our camera gear to try and capture the sunset. It looked very promising but at the last moment a cloud came into our view and sunset was a bust.

No worries though. It was on to the Captain's cocktail party and then dinner with fellow guests and SeaDream II's chief purser, Jennifer Mager. We passed the night away with great conversation and an excellent version of Lobster Thermidor.

Before we knew it, it was time for bed. This was the evening we booked "Sleep Under the Stars" and we were looking forward to it. I'll tell you more about that in the next post.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photo of Maho Bay, St. John courtesy of Leonard Hospidor

Day 2 Aboard SeaDream II: "Bioluminescent Bay" (Mosquito Bay), Vieques

On Monday evening we experienced something extraordinary....something that can only be experienced in a handful of places throughout the globe. SeaDream II was anchored off Vieques, Puerto Rico and offered a fascinating nighttime excursion to Mosquito Bay, a bioluminescent bay.

Known locally as "Bio Bay," this spot combines the perfect conditions to create a community of dino-flagellates. These are microscopic organisms—part plant and part animal—that live here off the nutrients in the bay. What makes them unique is how they react to motion: they glow neon blue. So, while you can't see the organisms with the naked eye, you can see the light they produce when they come in contact with you, a fish, a boat, etc. The effect is other-worldly!

You can find dino-flagellates throughout the world but rarely in the concentration found at Mosquito Bay here in Puerto Rico. That's why this really is one of those must-do excursions. In fact, if you are fascinated by nature you should come to Vieques to experience this phenomenon. Scientists understand how these dino-flagellates emit light, but they aren't quite sure why it happens. It's theorized that it's a defense mechanism.

On this particular cruise, SeaDream offered two excursions to Mosquito Bay: one departing the ship at 6pm and a second tour at 7pm. You'll tender to Vieques where a school bus will greet you. The ride to the bay in the school bus is worth the price of admission alone! If you've ever been on an African game drive—off road—you'll understand what the ride is like to Bio Bay. It's bumpy, tree branches and scrub scrapes the sides of the bus, and you'll wonder just what you've gotten yourself into! But don't lose heart...the ride is totally worth it.

On the way to the bay, your tour guide will explain how bioluminescent bays works and why this particular bay supports this unique ecosystem. Once on location, you'll transfer to an electric pontoon boat and will push off silently into the bay as the sun sets (as we did during our 6pm tour). The guide will point out the stars at various intervals of the trip so you can see how the night sky transforms as sand slips through the hourglass. It's pitch dark on the bay and so very quite...you'll hear the songs of tree frogs calling to each other on shore.

The pontoon boat will stop in the middle of the bay, you'll don a floatation belt, and lower yourself into the water via a ladder. (The ladder had plenty of rungs and it was quite easy to get in and out of the water—there's no excuse not to do this tour!) You'll be wowed by bioluminsensce the moment you hit the water! Just move your arms and legs and a strange blue light will "glow" from your body! Lift your arms out of the water and you'll see individual "stars" or "diamonds" emit sparks of light.

It is so hard to explain just how unusual and beautiful this experience is. Photographing the effect is very difficult since you're in complete blackness and if you use a flash, you'll flatten the "glow." This is something you'll have to do yourself and then you'll also be telling people, "You must visit Vieques and Bio Bay!"

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Day 2 Aboard SeaDream II: Culebrita & Vieques, Puerto Rico

This morning we were gifted with picture-perfect weather so we decided to venture to Culebrita for some beach time.

Since this tiny island is an uninhabited nature reserve, there is no dock nor any facilities of any kind on the island. Even the lonely old lighthouse at Culebrita's peak has long-since been abandoned to nature. Because there's no dock, it's a "wet" landing via Zodiac.

For those who are wary of hopping out of the Zodiac and getting back in, don't be. I am not athletic in the least and I was able to do it (with a bit of help from my husband). The crew is also very helpful and will give you tips for the best spot to place your foot, leg, arm, etc. as you hoist yourself off or onto the boat.

The beach we landed on was very beautiful (soft white sand) but Amy (the activities director who accompanied our group ashore) led us across the island (a 10-minute walk) through a bramble-filled trail to the other side of the island. This half-moon bay was ideal for swimming and sunbathing.



Note: When you're on the trail, you'll arrive at a crossroads where you can go left or right. Go left for this calm beach or go right for one that's more wavy and rough. Don't forget to wear shoes on the trail! It's rocky and you will need the protection.

Culebrita is truly not-to-be-missed and SeaDream Yacht Club is the only cruise line I know of that calls here. Check it out!

We're now sailing to Vieques where Leonard and I will head to "Biobay" with our fellow passengers for what sounds like it will be an incredible excursion. I'll write more about that later tonight.

In the meantime, don't miss my Twitter messages and instant pictures.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photos courtesy of Andrea M. Rotondo

SeaDream II Embarkation in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico

Oh yes. What they say about SeaDream Yacht Club is true. "This is yachting, not cruising." We arrived at Pier 1 East in Old San Juan at 2pm today. Our luggage was screened and we were ushered onboard in minutes. A few berths down was the Carnival Victory...a much, much larger ship. I can only imagine how long it takes to board that ship with thousands of other guests.

The Main Salon bartender, Brian, took excellent care of us and we enjoyed champagne and wine along with a few canapes. Many guests arrived at the same time so we had to wait about 45 minutes before actually setting up our onboard account and getting our cabin keys.

Arla is our room stewardess. She gave us a tour of the cabin (it's pretty compact so there's not too much that could be missed!). After the cruise we'll post an in-depth review of the cabin, and the entire ship, complete with many photos. For now though, we'll just whet your appetite with a few shots here and there. We're on Deck 4 with a picture window, close enough to the Piano Bar that we can hear the crowd singing together.

Amy Boothman is the ship's Club & Activities Director and we attended her presentation this afternoon. She told us more about the ship and the types of activities we can expect to enjoy all week. We've already signed up for one shore excursion (more on that later).

Tonight's dinner was served (by Silvio and wine steward Chad) in the Main Salon tonight (a huge downpour just rained upon us). The meal was very good as was the company—we dined with two terrific couples, one from Canada and one from our home state of New Jersey. Here's what I ordered:

Grilled Scallops

Filet Mignon

Strawberries, Olives, and Vanilla Ice Cream

Well, it's about 11:30 pm and the Piano Bar is shutting down for the evening. We're downloading photos and reviewing tomorrow's agenda before we settle in for bed. The Captain tells us that we'll be leaving Puerto Rico at approximately 3am. Where will the morning find us? Culebrita.

We'll be posting more commentary and photos soon. In the meantime, if you have any questions about SeaDream, please let us know and don't miss our Twitter messages and TwitPics.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Top photo courtesy of Leonard Hospidor; other photos by Andrea Rotondo

A Few Hours at the Caribe Hilton in San Juan, Puerto Rico

Yesterday's travel day was actually a breeze. We walked right through security at JFK, had a nice lunch at the new steakhouse in Terminal 8, and then relaxed in the Admiral's Club before heading to the gate. We lifted off right on time.

By 7:30pm we touched down in San Juan, Puerto Rico and were at our hotel, the Carib Hilton, by 8pm. Our king room overlooked a lagoon (in the direction of the Conrad). The room was hot so we turned on the AC and went to dinner at the Pina Colada Club. The mahi tacos were excellent!

By this time we were pretty tired and just wanted to go to bed. Alas, when we returned to the room we found it hadn't cooled off at all—the A/C was broken. So we called the front desk and they said they'd send something "right away." Well, that didn't happen and since we just wanted to get to sleep, we called the front desk again to ask for a new room. You'd think this sort of thing never happened before.

The clerk said he didn't have anything else. Hmm. Really. I found that hard to believe. Leonard explained they'd need to come up with a better solution and they finally moved us to a room at the Lagoon Villas next door.

That room was actually very nice. The same as our first king room, but with a full kitchen, sliding glass doors, and a veranda over looking the water.

While the hotel is okay, we're not very impressed with the service.

Service hiccups included...

• the A/C not working and us having to explain to the front desk what we'd consider a suitable solution (i.e., moving to another room, even if it was a higher room category than the one we booked)
  
  
• no direct dial button to the front desk on the in-room phones so you need to call the Concierge first in order to be re-routed
  
  
• the front desk phone ringing 30 times before someone answered is
  
  
• asking the front desk about restaurant options that were open upon our arrival and being told only the bar and Italian restaurant were open (that wasn't accurate)
  
  
• asking the concierge where we could get a meal and getting vastly different info from the front desk clerk
  
  
• no in-room minibar and the vending machine on our floor not working
  
  
• in the villa room, there was only a bedside table on one side of the bed (weird; no where to put my bottle of water)
  
  
• requesting and receiving late check-out only to have the maid knock on the door and look totally befuddled when I said we had been authorized for 1pm late check-out

Yes, these are all tiny things when taken separately but as a whole I believe it represents a management team that's not adequately training the hotel staff—at many levels.

Even with those pet peeves though, this may be the right hotel for some. It's in a good location, the restaurants are varied (and the one we tried was very good), the beach and pool are lovely, and if you're using Hilton HHonors points, you can't go wrong.

It's a large chain hotel so if you're looking for intimacy or something more boutique-ish, you'll need to look elsewhere. Next time we're staying in San Juan, we'll try to book earlier (we booked this room two weeks out and most hotels in and closer to Old San Juan were already sold out) and stay at the Hotel El Convento or the Sheraton Old San Juan (both are much closer to the cruise pier).

We're packing up our bags and will head to Pier 1 East to board SeaDream II at 2:00 pm. Check back later for photos of our morning in Old San Juan and boarding the yacht.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Lift Off! On the Way to San Juan, Puerto Rico

Today's the day we leave for Puerto Rico! Yeah! We've got a nonstop flight but it's booked solid so an upgrade isn't looking good. Oh well. At least it's only a four-hour flight. We can handle that! Knowing we've got a yacht waiting on the other side will certainly help us look on the bright side no matter how crazy the airport or flight becomes!

We'll spend the night at the Caribe Hilton in San Juan before embarking on SeaDream Yacht Club's SeaDream II for a seven-night voyage. (While the Sheraton Old San Juan is the closest hotel to the pier, it was sold out so our next best option was to use our Hilton HHonors points for a free night's stay at the Caribe Hilton.)

We've never sailed with SeaDream before but are looking forward to it since the line promises an intimate yacht experience with a crew of 95 catering to just 112 passengers. One of our favorite cruise companies is American Safari Cruises with its fleet of yachts (all significantly smaller than SeaDream I and SeaDream II). We're wagering that the vibe, service, and amenities will be right up our alley.

Ports of call on our SeaDream II yacht adventure include:

San Juan, Puerto Rico
Culebrita, Puerto Rico
Esperanza, Vieques, Puerto Rico
Cruz Bay, St. John, United States Virgin Islands
Marigot, St. Martin, French West Indies
Saba, Netherlands, Antilles
Gustavia, St. Barthelemy, French West Indies
Jost van Dyke, British Virgin Islands
Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands

If everything goes according to plan, we should check in to the Caribe Hilton this evening. We're looking forward to a nice late-night dinner at the hotel. On Saturday, we'll be up early to explore Old San Juan before meeting SeaDream II at pier 1E. Wish us luck!

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photo of Old San Juan, Puerto Rico courtesy of iStockPhoto.com

Q&A with Carole of The Lazy Sea-Dreamer Blog

Tomorrow we depart for San Juan and will be one day closer to our first SeaDream Yacht Club voyage. One resource we've read forwards and backwards to prepare for our cruise is The Lazy Sea-Dreamer blog. This is a fantastic place to start learning about this boutique line that's all about intimate yacht adventures.

The blog is authored and published by a traveler named Carole who's devoted to SeaDream and sails with them as often as she can. Carole graciously agreed to answer a few questions for me about her passion for yachting.

Interview with Carole, Author of
The Lazy Sea-Dreamer

Were you a devout cruise fan before you discovered SeaDream Yacht Club?

Actually, I'd never cruised before our Mediterranean cruise on SeaDream I in November 2007. We loved it so much that we found ourselves on SeaDream II in the Caribbean five months later.

Do you recall how you found SeaDream and what convinced you to give the line a try. After all, their motto is "It's yachting, not cruising." Were you looking for a small ship experience or did SeaDream's marketing materials or an online cruise forum convince you to give it a go?

I'm a researcher by nature. I spent countless hours scouring the Internet, looking for a luxury cruise line that would suit us. That's how I found SeaDream, along with many other luxury cruise lines.

Though I wasn't initially looking for a small-ship experience, it was indeed SeaDream's ship size that convinced me to give the line a try. At maximum occupancy, each mega-yacht holds only 56 couples who are famously pampered by 95 crew. That's a fantastic crew-to-passenger ratio!

Once I chose SeaDream, I did visit a cruise forum for more specific information. Passenger-generated information, in my personal opinion, is far better than any type of marketing materials.

See my article, What Keeps Us Coming Back for More for more reasons why I chose SeaDream.


Your blog, The Lazy Sea-Dreamer, definitely shows your passion for SeaDream. In a nutshell, what are the three aspects of a SeaDream cruise that are most appealing to you?

Thank you for the compliment.

In no particular order, the three aspects of a SeaDream cruise that are most appealing to me are:

1. The Onboard Crew and Service. Simply put, they are the best in the industry! They make you feel like the yacht is your very own and that you're the only passenger they're expertly taking care of.

Service is personal and seamless, always offered with a genuine smile and a can-do attitude.

Your name is memorized almost instantaneously, as are your personal preferences. One morning right after being seated for breakfast, our server greeted me with a bottle of chilled champagne & a carafe of fresh-squeezed orange juice. He knew I enjoyed a mimosa with my breakfast and he poured me one without even asking.

2. Yacht Size. This is one of the most important aspects of the SeaDream experience and affects the passenger in many positive ways.

From the quick, effortless embarkation procedures (you shake the Captain's hand at the top of the gangway, then are given a flute of champagne!) to the ability to dine al fresco for dinner even though everyone else is inside the Dining Salon on Deck 2—the entire yacht and her Crew are literally at your fingertips.

Plus, there are no lines, no stress, no hassles anywhere to be found. What's not to like?!?

3. Intimate Ports. Because of her size, SeaDream I & II are able to visit smaller ports for a more intimate experience.

While in-port, we can choose to participate in fee-based Yachting Land Adventures (that's Yachtspeak for, "shore excursion") OR opt for a casual walk with a few Crew Members (known as a, "Shoreside Casual Walk with the Crew"). These casual walks are free and loads of fun.

See my articles The Chef's Walk (detailing our experience in St. Tropez, France with SeaDream I's Chef) and Gustavia, St. Barts (featuring a casual walk through the island, including SD's aft marina and water toys).


As a first-time SeaDream cruiser, what advice can you give me? What's not-to-be missed (signature meals, shore excursions, etc.)?

Here are a few first-timer tips:

1. Don't unpack right away. If travel allows, be at the pier shortly before the 2:00 embarkation (you will not be allowed to board before 2:00).

Once onboard, drop your bags in your stateroom and head straight for a Sunbed on Deck 6. Lounge there for an hour or so with a glass of champagne (or your favorite beverage—the bar will be open). This is the perfect vantage point from which to meet fellow passengers (another great aspect of SeaDream—you'll meet some wonderful people onboard!). If you're hungry, ask for a snack. Remember, it's all-inclusive and there are no checks to sign.

2. Dine al fresco for dinner. If dinner is being served inside the Dining Salon on Deck 2, you can dine al fresco. Just inform the Hotel Manager (or any Crew Member) of your preferences as early as you can. You can dine with your significant other or with a great group of fellow passengers. It'll be a magical experience and you'll truly feel like you own the yacht.

Here are a few samples of SeaDream dinner menus from one of our voyages.

Meal Tips

• Be sure to order the mussels that are served during lunch. They're typically served on the first day only.
  
  
• The dark-chocolate-filled croissants served at breakfast are to die for.
  
  
• If the coffee is too weak for your taste, request an espresso to mix into it.
  
  
• Try the espresso martini—it's splendid!
  
  
• The Chef's Degustation Menu is a highlight. This special, elegant, multi-course dinner is usually served toward the end of the cruise.
  
  
• Feel free to experiment with extravagant foods you've never tried. Remember, it's an all-inclusive cruise—there's no better time to find a new favorite!
  
  
• Finally, don't forget your fat jeans. The food is *that* good and you're gonna need 'em!

3. Shore Excursion: The America's Cup 12-Meter Regatta Yachting Land Adventure. Your particular cruise includes a stop in St. Martin (Marigot) and this excursion is not to be missed. For more information on other not-to-be missed excursions, visit my Interview with James Cabello on my blog (he's a former long-time SD Club & Activities Director).

4. Concierge. The well-trained Concierge (Deck 3) can, and will, do virtually anything to make your experience a pleasant one. Don't hesitate to ask, no matter how trivial the request may seem. For example, a recent SD passenger was able to borrow the Concierge's free Internet card for a few moments the day before disembarkation to check in/print their airline boarding pass.

5. Sleep Under the Stars. Stop by the Concierge Desk early on embarkation day to reserve the forward Dream Bed. There's something magical about sleeping under the stars. Read my article, Sleeping Under the Stars, for more information.

6. Book a Future Cruise Onboard. In order to take advantage of the onboard booking discount, be sure to book a future cruise before you disembark. The Club & Activities Director schedules a consultation time toward the end of the cruise to assist interested passengers (see the onboard Daily Program for details).

Which upcoming SeaDream itinerary is your "dream" itinerary?

That's a tough question! Personally, I love the onboard experience so much that sometimes it supersedes the itinerary.

I've sailed the Caribbean and Mediterranean with SeaDream. Next on my list is a trans-Atlantic crossing. I'm also interested in SeaDream's recently announced, new Northern European itineraries. Have a fabulous time on your upcoming SeaDream cruise!

—Carole Publisher, Author The Lazy Sea-Dreamer Blog

Thanks for all the tips, Carole! We'll be blogging from Puerto Rico starting on Saturday, January 9 and we'll board SeaDream II on Sunday. I'll let you all know how we find the yacht. We're really looking forward to this trip!

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photo courtesy of The Lazy Sea-Dreamer

Silversea Rolls Out Relais & Chateaux L'Ecole Des Chefs

Many of the top-tier cruise lines offer itineraries focused on gourmet cuisine and onboard cooking schools. Signing up for a course during your cruise is always a fantastic way to meet people, learn some tricks in the kitchen, and enjoy meals developed by world renown chefs.

Silversea Cruises just announced an exclusive partnership with Relais & Chateaux. Together, they are introducing L'Ecole des Chefs. This is an interactive cooking school that can be booked on 11 itineraries in 2010.

Silversea executive chef David Bilsland will host the program, which combines a culinary curriculum with social events. Bilsland himself was a chef instructor at Le Cordon Bleu culinary school in London. The course he'll present was developed in partnership with Jacques Thorel, owner of L'Auberge Bretonne and a Grand Chef Relais & Chateaux.

Sign up for this program and you'll learn basic knife techniques, kitchen terminology, and secrets to sauces and baking. Cooking demonstrations—complete with wine pairings—and cooking competitions between Bilsland and the ship's culinary team round out the program. And, of course, you'll take lots of recipes home.

Some voyages also offer an escorted "Market to the Plate" tour featuring a local market excursion followed by a cooking class, and a "Culinary Outing" to a local restaurant, hotel, or other venue where guests can enjoy a unique culinary exploration.

"Thanks to our partnership with Relais & Châteaux we're able to offer the exclusive L'École des Chefs program and provide our guests with a top-notch, in-depth cooking class that is also fun and entertaining," said Rudi Scholdis, Silversea's culinary director. "Of course, in addition to this new program, we'll continue to offer our popular Culinary Arts voyages showcasing the artistry of award-winning chefs of top dining establishments from around the world, including the internationally acclaimed chefs of Relais & Châteaux."

Select L'École des Chefs voyages will also feature Silversea's celebrated wine consultant, Lyn Farmer. The James Beard Foundation Award-winning wine and food writer—a passionate advocate of experiencing different cultures by sharing wine and food—will host lectures, conduct tastings and guide guests through wine and food pairings as part of Silversea's Wine Series enrichment program.

Here's the list of the L'École des Chefs voyages for 2010. Fares listed are per person based on double occupancy for a Vista Suite and do not include port charges and handling fees that range from $150 to $575 per person for these voyages, depending on the itinerary.

AFRICA & INDIAN OCEAN

Voyage 2035: Silver Wind departs Athens November 9 on a 16-day sailing to Dubai with calls in Rhodes, Alexandria, Sharm-el-Sheikh, Aqaba, Safaga and Muscat. Silver Savings fares start at $7,318.


ALASKA & PACIFIC COAST

Voyage 3012: Silver Shadow departs Los Angeles May 13 on a 12-day sailing to Vancouver with calls in San Francisco, Ketchikan, Sitka, Juneau, Skagway and Victoria. Guests will also enjoy a Wine Series program hosted by Lyn Farmer. Silver Savings fares start at $3,678.

CARIBBEAN, MEXICO & PANAMA CANAL

Voyage 3005: Silver Shadow departs Los Angeles March 5 on a 17-day sailing to Fort Lauderdale with a crossing of the Panama Canal and calls in Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Zihuatanejo, Acapulco, Puerto Quetzal, Cartagena and Santa Marta. Silver Savings fares start at $5,478.

Voyage 3011: Silver Shadow departs Fort Lauderdale April 28 on a 15-day sailing to Los Angeles with a crossing of the Panama Canal and calls in Santa Marta, Cartagena, Puntarenas, Acapulco and Cabo San Lucas. Silver Savings fares start at $4,838.

Voyage 5039: Silver Spirit departs Fort Lauderdale November 22 on a round-trip, 10-day sailing with calls in Grand Turk, Antigua, St. Bart's, St. Kitt's and Spanish Town, B.V.I. Guests will also enjoy a Wine Series program hosted by Lyn Farmer. Silver Savings fares start at $4,182.

Voyage 5042: Silver Spirit departs Fort Lauderdale December 20 on a round-trip, 14-day sailing with calls in Grand Turk, Antigua, Bequia, Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Bart's, Spanish Town, B.V.I., and Key West. Guests will also enjoy a Wine Series program hosted by Lyn Farmer. Silver Savings fares start at $6,598.

FAR EAST & SOUTH PACIFIC

Voyage 4002: Silver Whisper departs Sydney January 18 on an 18-day sailing to Singapore with calls in Brisbane, Whitsunday Islands, Cairns, Thursday Island, Komodo Island, Bali, Semarang and Karimunjawa Archipelago. Silver Savings fares start at $6,118.

MEDITERRANEAN

Voyage 2033: Silver Wind departs Nice October 20 on a 10-day sailing to Istanbul with calls in Portovenere, Livorno, Sorrento, Taormina, Athens, Santorini and Kusadasi. Guests will also enjoy a Wine Series program hosted by Lyn Farmer. Silver Savings fares start at $4,678.

NORTHERN EUROPE

Voyage 1017: Silver Cloud departs London June 7 on a 10-day sailing to Stockholm with calls in Rostock, Visby, Tallinn and St. Petersburg (extended three-day, two-night stopover). Guests will also enjoy a Wine Series program hosted by Lyn Farmer. Silver Savings fares start at $5,082.
SOUTH AMERICA

Voyage 4034: Silver Whisper departs Santiago December 3 on a 16-day Chilean Fjord sailing to Buenos Aires with calls in Puerto Montt, Laguna San Rafael, Punta Arenas, Ushuaia, Puerto Madryn and Montevideo. Guests will also enjoy a Wine Series program hosted by Lyn Farmer. Silver Savings fares start at $6,998.

TRANSOCEANIC

Voyage 1011: Silver Cloud departs San Juan April 14 on a 15-day transatlantic sailing to Barcelona with calls in St. Maarten, Antigua, Tenerife, Las Palmas, Casablanca and Malaga. Silver Savings fares start at $4,398.

For more information about Relais & Chateaux L'Ecole Des Chefs, talk with your travel agent or contact Silversea.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photo courtesy of Silversea

Seabourn Picks Name for Its Newest "Baby"

It's Thursday, January 7, 2010 and The Yachts of Seabourn announced the name of its newest mega-yacht: Seabourn Quest. As you'll recall, Seabourn ran a contest in which travelers could guess the name of the ship in the hopes of winning a 7-night Seabourn cruise aboard Quest during its maiden season.

2,100 people played the Guess-the-Name contest and 120 individuals guessed "Quest". Kevin Staub ended up winning the cruise from the pool of 120 correct answers. Congratulations, Kevin!

Seabourn Quest will set sail in 2011 and will join her sisters, Odyssey (sailing now) and Sojourn (debuting in London on June 6, 2010).

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Three Romantic Valentine's Day "Best Bet" Cruises

It's 3 degrees in Minneapolis, MN right now... 24 in New York City... 28 in Sante Fe, NM and 41 in Jacksonville, Florida. It's cold everywhere today!

Nasty weather has gripped just about all of the United States and if you don't have a cruise booked this winter, you may want to reconsider! There's actually still time to book a Valentine's Day cruise.

Below you'll find three of my Valentine's Day suggestions. The cruise lines aren't all in the luxury category, but the itineraries definitely rank high when it comes to the romance factor!

My Three Valentine's Day Picks

Antigua Roundtrip Aboard 112-Passenger SeaDream II from SeaDream Yacht Club
February 14, 2010
Antigua • Guadeloupe • Little Bay, Montserat • Gustavia, St. Barthelemy • Anguilla • St. Martin • Nevis, British West Indies • Antigua
VacationsToGo.com is advertising this cruise for $5,299 per person.

Barbados Roundtrip Aboard 312-Passenger Wind Surf from Windstar Cruises
February 14, 2010
Barbados • Bequia, Grenadines • Roseau, Dominica • St. Lucia • Mayreau, Grenadines • Grenada • Tobago • Barbados
VacationsToGo.com is advertising this cruise for $1,399 per person.

Note: The smaller Windstar Wind Spirit embarks St. Martin for a very enticing roundtrip on February 13. I just hate flying in to St. Martin, but if you don't mind a steep landing and takeoff, take a look at this itinerary too.


Phuket, Thailand Roundtrip Aboard Star Clippers' Star Clipper
February 13, 2010
All ports are in Thailand unless otherwise noted: Phuket • Surin Island • Similan Island • Hin Daeng • Ko Rok Nok • Langkawi, Malaysia • Ko Kraden • Phang Nga • Ko Khai Nok • Phuket
VacationsToGo.com is advertising this cruise for $1,375 per person.

Note: Star Clipper is not a luxury experience but the ports are fantastic!


As for us, we'll spend a quiet Valentine's Day at home as we each have deadlines hitting throughout February!

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photo of Phuket, Thailand courtesy of iStockPhoto.com

My SeaDream Caribbean Cruise Wish List

I've talked with many travelers who've just raved about their cruises aboard SeaDream Yacht Club's two vessels: SeaDream I and SeaDream II. The all-inclusive experience is meant to offer everything you'd expect from a luxury cruise as well as many surprising perks that make SeaDream unique.

Here are the things I'm most looking forward to:

1. Sleeping on deck under the stars. That's right, those super comfy queen-size bed/loungers on Deck 6 may be reserved for those who wish to sleep under the stars. SeaDream will make up the bed for you (Balinese Dream Beds are Deck 6 aft and the Sun Beds are Deck 6 forward). This may not be for everyone, but we're looking forward to it!
   
   
2. Trying out a wave runner at the Marina. SeaDream II is one of the few luxury ships that offers an onboard marina (Seabourn Odyssey and m/s Paul Gauguin also have onboard marinas). From the SeaDream Marina you can borrow one of several PWCs (personal watercraft). If I'm brave enough, I'll try a wave runner while my husband will definitely want to snorkel and kayak. There's also water skiing, a banana boat, tubing, and Sunfish sailing.
   
   
3. Siting by the pool and let the crew cater to my every whim. Decadent? Absolutely! That's what cruises are for! The SeaDream crew anticipates the needs of the passengers and strikes the right balance of attentiveness without being obtrusive. From drinks and cool snacks to complimentary sunglass cleaning, the pool attendants know how to treat sun-worshippers!
   
   
4. Checking out the "surprise" embarkation gift. If you read a lot of cruise reviews, you already know the in-room gift SeaDream leaves for each guest upon embarkation. I'm not going to tell you what it is though! There aren't enough nice surprises in the world these days!
   
   
5. Enjoying a romantic al fresco dinner. SeaDream II has dozens of hidden alcoves that are perfect for sharing a quiet meal under the stars. Weather permitting, we hope to do this at least once during our Caribbean cruise.

If you've sailed aboard SeaDream II (or I), please share your favorite things about the yacht. What's not to be missed?

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photo courtesy of SeaDream Yacht Club