Seabourn Ovation Review: A Southern Caribbean Luxury Cruise
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Why Seabourn — and Why Ovation
The Veranda Suite and All-Inclusive Living
Southern Caribbean Ports and Excursions
Entertainment and Onboard Life
🎧 PREFER TO LISTEN?
Hear Krystal and Sherry break down the full Seabourn Ovation sailing on this episode of Luxury Cruising.
Why Seabourn — and Why Ovation
Returning guest Sherry came back to Luxury Cruising to talk about her second Seabourn sailing — this time aboard Seabourn Ovation through the Southern Caribbean. A retired lawyer who runs, cycles, and travels the world with her husband, Sherry once assumed cruising was too stodgy for her, until a Greek Isles voyage on sister ship Encore proved she was a “cruise person” after all. With a winter to fill and a knee on the mend, the couple booked a seven-day Caribbean itinerary and went straight back to Seabourn. Ovation and Encore are near-identical twins, so the second trip carried the comfort of familiar spaces and remembered tricks, like mobile-ordering coffee in Seabourn Square.
The Veranda Suite and All-Inclusive Living
Nearly every cabin on Seabourn is a veranda suite, which Sherry loves: no one is treated as second class. Hers had a king bed, a seating area, a balcony, a walk-in closet, and a bath with double sinks, a deep tub, and a rotating selection of upgraded bath products. The all-inclusive promise is the real luxury here. Only the spa, excursions, and a few ultra-premium wines cost extra, so a bottle of scotch or sparkling water in the suite simply appears. Two dedicated attendants per room kept it stocked and greeted the couple warmly every day.
Dining Aboard Ovation
Breakfast happened at The Colonnade, a fresh-made buffet where a juice station turned out a different two-fruit blend daily. The Restaurant served an ever-changing set menu, the sushi venue delivered standout service (the assistant manager even remembered Sherry from Encore), and Solis offered Thomas Keller–inspired French fare, a touch heavy for her taste. A daily highlight: traditional afternoon tea in the Observation Lounge, with finger sandwiches, scones, and clotted cream, all included.
Southern Caribbean Ports and Excursions
The route ran from St. Martin to the British Virgin Islands, St. Kitts, Martinique, Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Barbados, with one day at sea. Seabourn’s signature “caviar in the surf” on a private St. Kitts beach was pure theater, and a Grenada history tour through an 1800s fort and a medicinal garden was a favorite. Sherry’s one wish: more active excursions. She found the Caribbean options tamer than Greece and booked her own hikes and private guides through GetYourGuide and Viator.
Entertainment and Onboard Life
Here’s where Sherry was candid. The entertainment skewed sleepy: yacht-rock bands, a skilled violinist, and a clever magician, with only the final-night deck disco getting the crowd moving. Her plea was simple: mix it up and bring the dancing earlier in the week. The excellent fitness center and the included yoga and Pilates classes, though, kept this active couple very happy.
The Verdict
Sherry’s definition of luxury is being treated as if it matters that you chose them, and between attentive room staff, a sushi manager who recognized her, and a birthday surprise of cake and rose petals, Seabourn delivered. Her takeaway: she adores the line but leans toward more historic, active destinations like the Greek Isles, Northern Europe, or South America for the next voyage.
Until next time, we wish you safe and luxurious cruising.
