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Just when you think it can't get any better, it does.

Seabourn Encore Cruise Review to Europe - Western Mediterranean

Cruises: 7+ cruises
Reviews: 3
Helpful Votes: 165

Overall rating:

4.8 out of 5
Verified Review
Seabourn Encore

10 Night Yachtsman's Mediterranean (Monte Carlo To Barcelona)

Sail date: September 12, 2018

Ship: Seabourn Encore

Cabin type: Suite

Cabin number: 624

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 5 years ago

Review summary

This was our first cruise with Seabourn and it exceeded our expectations. We are spoiled and cannot take any cruise line with less service/luxury in the future, which is the very same sentiment we heard from several other passengers. (first Seabourn/can't do anything else). We booked 11 months out with a 'guarantee' at a great rate (and had sailed on Cunard before) and got a major upgrade. Just do it. It is worth the slightly additional premium.

Embarkation

5 out of 5

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

5 out of 5

Onboard Activities

5 out of 5

Entertainment

5 out of 5

Children's Programs

Service and Staff

5 out of 5

Ship Quality

5 out of 5

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5

Ship tip

book the Thomas Keller restaurant almost immediately upon embarkation

Thumbs up

Ports of call

Monte Carlo, Monaco

5 out of 5
spectacular scenery of a lifetime. Did not take an excursion; been there twice before
Thumbs Up

Portoferraio, Elba

4 out of 5
don't think there's a whole lot to do there, but we enjoyed going to Napolean's summer home while in exile. Lovely scenery.
Thumbs Up

Amalfi, Italy

5 out of 5
don't miss this. The excursion by boat from Amalfi to Positano and back is lifetime memorable
Thumbs Up

Taormina, Sicily

4 out of 5
Our preferred shore excursion was sold out, so we went with plan b, the wine tasting and mt etna (area) tour which was good. After that we had time to take the free Seabourn shuttle in to Taormina. I think that previously our free shuttle had been a shore excursion for $104. Not sure what happened with that.
Thumbs Up

Gozo Island, Malta

5 out of 5
Definitely worth seeing. Seabourn went with plan b and stayed 2 nights at Valletta instead of 1 night Valletta and one night in Gozo (and gave us a $250 per suite onboard credit) which was fine because when we went to Gozo we saw another Seabourn ship at anchor there and there wasn't much close that one could do. On our shore excursion, the Hypogeum and other archeological ruins, our group took the ferry from Valletta to Gozo and back which was a plus.
Thumbs Up

Valletta, Malta

5 out of 5
Spectacular harbor scenery and architecture and buildings. Had been there before and was glad to go back. We saw so much more than Valletta and Mdina which we saw on our previous visit. Our shore excursion took us all around the island including archeological ruins.
Thumbs Up

Bonifacio, Corsica

5 out of 5
This was the best port of the cruise. the cliffs at Bonifacio are more spectacular than the cliffs of Moher in Ireland. Our shore excursion started on a wonderful smooth, quiet electric boat hybrid in various caves and grottos. This was our 26th visit to Europe and this stands out as a day we will never forget and want to revisit.
Thumbs Up

Bandol, France

3 out of 5
There is really not much there except a nice harbor (nothing like Monte Carlo) and beach. Even our shore excursion to Cassis was Ok, not really much there either. A resort for locals or retirees. Upscale and nice (Cassis) but not much to see or do.
Thumbs Up

Palamos, Spain

3 out of 5
Much more 'happening' than Bandol, but again, not a lot to see and do. We took the shore excursion to the Greek and Roman ruins which was great, which also visited an upscale town of Begur, which was nice.
Thumbs Up

Barcelona, Spain

5 out of 5
This was our 4th visit to Barcelona, which we love. This is a good choice for a port stop for any cruise line. 4 ships were in port when we docked. Since the Seabourn Encore is relatively small, we were able to anchor closer to the city, and could walk from the ship with our luggage to our hotel just off the Ramblas. On previous cruises on larger ships we had to take a bus from the ship to near the Christopher Columbus statue and then walk to our (same) hotel just off the Ramblas.
Thumbs Up

Disembarkation

5 out of 5
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