Overview

We rate Seabourn Quest as one of the most luxurious cruise ships in the world. It has an intimate, club-like atmosphere and impeccable, personalised service. What’s more, Seabourn Quest has incredibly good restaurants as well as chic bars and sophisticated entertainment.

However, there are things worth knowing about a cruise vacation on Seabourn Quest; like whether or not the limited number of restuarants is an issue.

Seabourn Quest deck plan

The Seabourn Quest deck plan is easy to get around.

• Reception: Deck 7
• Main dining room: Deck 4
• Theatre: Deck 6
• Accommodation: Decks 4 to 10
• Observation lounge: Deck 10

It is worth noting that the forward elevator should be used to access the Observation Lounge, while the water sports marina is accessed via Deck 2.

About Seabourn Quest

The Seabourn Quest cruise ship is an Odyssey-class vessel belonging to Seabourn Cruises. Seabourn Quest was built in Italy by the shipbuilder T. Mariotti and entered service in June 2011. It is 195 m. / 650 ft. long with 11 passenger decks and has room for just 450 guests (double occupancy), so it never feels crowded.

Seabourn Quest was refurbished in 2018 with a fresh decor in the public areas and suites, as well as enhancements to the onboard spa.

Indeed, the intimate vessel is designed to feel like a private yacht with teak decks, stylish bars, fine dining and gracious suites. There is even a retractable marina at the stern.

Food on Seabourn Quest

The restaurants on Seabourn Quest all serve outstanding cuisine. The fact they are few in number was never a problem, because the main dining room had a spectacular, new menu each day.

The main dining room is The Restaurant. We rate it as the best dining venue on Seabourn Quest. The menu showcases innovative culinary trends and gastronomic classics.

On our voyage there was an exceptional Roasted Qual & Spiced Figs with Caramelized Fennel, Salsify Ragout, Pomegranate & Poultry Jus. Not to mention a succulent Roasted Rack of Lamb.

Desserts are temping too; like Strawberry Soup & White Chocolate Parfait with Fresh Berries Pistachio Crostini & Crackers.

The new Solis restaurant is been introduced to Seabourn Quest. The menu is inspired by the tastes of Mediterranean France, Italy and Greece. Dishes include Roasted Scallops with Toasted Brioche, Spinach Ricotta, Preserved Broad Beans & Crisp Yellow Beet Roots. For main course you can sample Tuscan-style grilled beef porterhouse steak or Confit of Lamb Shank.

The Colonnade is a casual buffet restaurant on the Seabourn Quest cruise ship. The buffet continues to set the at-sea standard for outstanding food quality and presentation.

There is also daytime poolside dining at The Patio buffet. In the evening the venue becomes Earth & Ocean at The Patio with an array of inventive dishes served à la carte, including Seabass with Eryngii Mushrooms, Stir Fried Super Greens, Toasted Garlic & Wasabi Lime Butter.

The Seabourn Square on deck 7 has a tempting selection of savoury snacks and pâtisserie, as well as gourmet coffee and teas.

Seabourn Quest nightlife

The nightlife on Seabourn Quest is stylish and sophisticated. A talented pianist entertains in the Observation Bar and a band play sets in The Club, where there is also a late night disco.

The Grand Salon is the theatre on Seabourn Quest. It plays host to production shows like the highly regarded “An Evening With Sir Tim Rice”, as well as guest entertainers.

Suites on Seabourn Quest

All the rooms on Seabourn Quest are suites and every one has an ocean view. The least expensive suites have a picture window, rather than a veranda.

We stayed in a Veranda Suite. These suites are the most popular on board. They are wonderfully spacious with a marble bathroom that has a separate soaking tub and shower. What’s more, there’s a luxurious teak veranda with outdoor furniture.

For those who like even more space the Seabourn Quest cruise ship also has larger suites with separate bedrooms and living areas, like the stylish Penthouse Suite.

Every room on Seabourn Quest has a Suite Host and Suite Attendant who create an atmosphere of comfort and luxury. On our voyage the Suite Host loved making so-called ‘Seabourn Moments’; bespoke memorable experiences. It helped make the voyage extra special.

Wellness at sea

The small Seabourn Quest has a big range of fitness and relaxation services. There is a well equipped gym with rooms for pilates and yoga. The ship has two pools; we enjoyed the solitude of the aft facing pool. There is also a whirlpool with a magnificent position atop the bow. Not to mention the Sun Terrace.

The Seabourn Spa & Wellness centre is a partnership with best-selling author Dr. Andrew Weil. It is the first of its kind at sea and offers indulgent massage and beauty treatments, as well as mindful living guidance and even acupuncture.

Unfortunately, Seabourn Quest does not have a dedicated jogging track. So most guests used the open space on deck 5 to jog or power-walk.

Seabourn Quest activities

Seabourn Quest has the usual shipboard activities including lectures from guest speakers, bridge and team trivia. There are also deck sports including golf, table tennis and shuffleboard.

Seabourn Quest also has wellness and mindfulness seminars, as well as complimentary walk-in hair consultations. There are ladies pamper parties, afternoon teas and even caviar sail-away parties too.

In addition, there are get-togethers for friends of Dorothy, friends of Bill W and solo cruisers.

The boutiques on Seabourn Quest are known as The Shops and they sell designer apparel, fragrances and jewellery.

All the activities on Seabourn Quest are in the daily Herald newsletter. Though it’s worth noting this is no longer printed, rather it is available through the Seabourn Source app.

Shore excursions

There are lots of different shore excursions available on the Seabourn Quest cruise ship. These include panoramic bus tours, speedboat trips, epicurean adventures, bike rides and bespoke private limousine journeys. Though it has to be said, some shore excursions can be significantly better than others. What’s more, cost doesn’t always reflect the quality of the excursion.

For instance, when we sailed on Seabourn Quest there was a lovely tour into the country side with lunch at a farm. On the other hand, a more expensive speedboat trip to an overcrowded Croatian beach proved somewhat disappointing.

Editor’s tip: Seabourn offer shore excursions to UNESCO World Heritage sites around the world. These are often the best shore excursions.

Shore excursions can be purchased online in advance of your cruise. You can also purchase shore excursions once you get on board.

Seabourn Quest dress code

The Seabourn Quest dress code is smart and stylish, but on our voyage it was never stuffy. Guests wear casual resort-style clothing during the day, but it’s worth noting that swimwear is not acceptable in any of the restaurants.

After dark there are two different dress codes: Elegant Casual and Formal.

Elegant Casual

Women wear slacks, skirts, and blouses. Men wear slacks and a collared shirt (jacket optional).

Formal

Women wear evening gowns while men wear Tuxedos or suits.

It’s worth noting that the Formal dress code only applies to The Restaurant. Dress in other dining venues is always Elegant Casual. The number of formal nights varies depending on the cruise duration. Voyages of up to 13-days have one formal night. Cruises lasting 14- to 20-days have two formal nights, while longer voyages have three.

Seabourn Quest inclusions

The Seabourn Quest cruise ship is all-inclusive. That means all meals, fine wines, Champagne and spirits are part of your cruise fare. Also included in a Seabourn Quest cruise fare are non-alcoholic beverages, specialty coffee and teas.

Editor’s tip: You can purchase premium alcoholic beverages, but on our voyage the house wines and spirits were excellent.

Gratuities are also included in the cruise fare; in fact tipping isn’t expected.

A Seabourn Quest cruise fare also includes shuttle bus transfers from the port to town when it is not nearby. Guests also get a smart Seabourn tote bag, plus exclusive Molton Brown bath products.

Fellow passengers

Seabourn Quest has a loyal following. Indeed, on our review voyage many passengers were return guests.

They are usually discerning and experienced cruisers who range in age from 40 to 70-years old.

Most guests are from the USA and the UK, however Australians, Canadians and Europeans are also onboard.

It’s worth noting that Seabourn Quest is gay-friendly.

Seabourn Quest conclusion

Seabourn Quest is a great choice if you enjoy the good life. It is an indulgent cruise vacation with fantastic food, wonderful wines and that most sort after of all luxuries, genuine and intuitive service. All things considered, we think Seabourn Quest offers an exceptional cruise experience.

The author sailed as a guest of Seabourn Cruises.