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Overview
Seabourn Encore is sophisticated, gastronomic, exciting and playful. Indeed, it is a delight from the moment you step on board. This ultra-luxury cruise ship has a chic decor as well as outstanding dining venues and thrilling entertainment options. What’s more, every guest stays in a designer suite.
Pros
- Ultra-luxury suites.
- Free wine, champagne and spirits.
- World-class dining.
- Caviar on demand.
Cons
- The Club with its strange bar.
- Can seem crowded on sea days.
- Faux-teak verandas.
Our review ratings
| Staff | Rating |
|---|---|
| Service efficiency | (4.5) |
| Enthusiasm | (4.5) |
| Problem solving | (5.0) |
| Language skills | (5.0) |
| Amenities | Rating |
|---|---|
| Rooms | (5.0) |
| Dining | (5.0) |
| Nightlife | (4.5) |
| Wellness | (4.5) |
Seabourn Encore deck plan
The Seabourn Encore deck plan is easy to get around. There are a total of 9 passenger decks, the highest of which is deck 12.
- Reception: Deck 7
- Accommodation: Decks 5 to 11
- Main dining room: Deck 4
- Theatre: Deck 6
- Observation lounge: Deck 11
About Seabourn Encore
Built in Italy and officially launched in Singapore in 2017, Seabourn Encore is the first in a new class of luxury cruise liners. Indeed, she is known as an Encore-class cruise ship.
Seabourn Encore is bigger, measuring 207 m. / 690 ft. in length. There is space for 600 guests which is 31% more than Seabourn Odyssey, Quest or Sojourn. Guests stay in all-suite accommodation which is mostly positioned midship and forward.
A larger ship means more space. However, it also means service can slip. I noted that service levels had slipped slightly during my review voyage. Perhaps this was because of the increased number of guests on board, or the fact that the cruise ship was still new.
In spite of that there is a lot to love about this luxury cruise ship, as my Seabourn Encore review explains. The famed hotel and restaurant designer Adam D. Tihany created her interiors. Gentle curves and dark timbers evoke the charm of the great ocean liners. There are also splashes of navy blue and chrome highlights. It really is quite beautiful.
There are a range of accommodation types. The most popular is the spacious Veranda Suite (categories V1 to V6), however there are larger Penthouses as well as palatial apartment-style suites. The best suite onboard is known as the Grand Wintergarden Suite. It has two bedrooms, a dining room for six, a glass-enclosed solarium with tub and day bed, as well as a bathroom with a huge whirlpool bathtub.
Seabourn Encore also has five excellent restaurants to choose from, including one speciality venue by Michelin-starred chef Thomas Keller. There are also two glamorous indoor lounges as well as two casual poolside bars.
Keeping fit is easy on this luxury cruise ship. There is a fully equipped gym and pilates studio, as well as two pools. However, it’s worth noting that there is no outdoor jogging track. There is also a deluxe spa that offers treatments from the American wellness guru Dr. Andrew Weil.
Seabourn Encore inclusions
Your Seabourn cruise fare is all-inclusive. That means gourmet meals, champagne, wines and spirits are all included in your cruise fare. It is worth noting that there are no speciality dining supplements either.
When I reviewed Seabourn Encore the house champagne was Nicolas Feuillatte. It was most enjoyable. For an additional charge you can purchase premium alcoholic beverages, however I found the house offerings were mostly excellent.
Bottled water and soft drinks are also included, as well as speciality tea and coffee.
Also included are gratuities, so there’s no need to tip. Although you might consider rewarding good service if a staff member goes above and beyond the call of duty.
There is also a shuttle service between the port and town if it’s not nearby. In addition, guests receive a tote bag which is very handy on shore excursions or when visiting the pool.
Dining on Seabourn Encore
Dining in any of the restaurants is a culinary treat. The quality of the produce is exceptional, the presentation is perfect and the tastes are sublime.
There are five restaurants on board Seabourn Encore. These include the main dining room which is known as The Restaurant, The Colonnade, Sushi and the poolside Earth & Ocean restaurant. There is also the speciality dining venue called The Grill by Thomas Keller. My Seabourn Encore restaurants review rates them all.
In-suite dining is also available 24-hours a day. Light snacks and coffee are served throughout the day in the ever popular Seabourn Square.
What to wear
The Seabourn Encore dress code ranges from resort casual to formal. During the day you can wear casual, resort-style clothing like shorts, jeans and T-shirts. After 6:00pm guests wear either elegant casual or formal. The daily Herald newsletter will indicate this. For men elegant casual attire includes slacks and a shirt (jacket optional), for women slacks, skirt and blouse.
On formal nights guests will require a Tuxedo, suit or evening gown if they are dining in The Restaurant. Other indoor venues simply ask that men wear a jacket. However, during my Seabourn Encore review voyage many guests chose to dress up even if they weren’t dining in The Restaurant on formal nights.
The number of formal nights depends on the cruise duration. Cruises up to 13 days have one formal evening. There are two formal evenings on cruises of 14 to 20 days and three on longer voyages.
Who sails on Seabourn Encore
Seabourn Encore is very popular. On my review voyage many guests were Seabourn regulars keen to try out the new ship.
The guests have seen much of the World and they are mostly experienced cruisers. The majority of them come from the U.S.A. and U.K. although there’s usually a contingent of Australians and Europeans on board too.
Like all the ships in the ultra-luxury Seabourn fleet, Seabourn Encore is gay-friendly.
Seabourn Encore conclusion
The Seabourn Encore is boldly luxurious, yet it retains a relaxed ambiance. The interior designs by Adam D. Tihany are undeniably beautiful and the spacious suites make Seabourn Encore feel like a home away from home. With perks like gourmet meals, caviar on demand and an all-inclusive lifestyle Seabourn Encore is as good as it gets. Visit the Seabourn website for voyages and destinations.
Read the accommodation section of this Seabourn Encore review by clicking the button below.
About the Author: Jason Kerr
