Seabourn Encore

The main pool sits at the center of a tiered sun deck, with a pair of whirlpools, shaded loungers and bars on two levels. A ledge runs around the pool so guests can sit with their toes in the water. Below, The Patio is a classic pool grill by day, with a made-to-order menu and a buffet. In the evening it becomes Earth & Ocean, a complimentary restaurant inspired by the regions the ship visits.

High on Deck 12, The Retreat is a private hideaway found only on Seabourn Encore and Seabourn Ovation. Fifteen cabanas ring a large central whirlpool under a flower-shaped canopy. Each cabana has curtains that pull shut, a fan, a flat-screen TV and Bluetooth headphones, with a dining table and loungers just outside. A dedicated bar and menu serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. The Retreat carries an extra charge, booked by the day or for the whole cruise.

Seabourn does spa exceptionally well, and Encore's spa has a full salon, a men's barber shop and a relaxation room with infused waters and teas. Treatment rooms include couples rooms, and the locker rooms each have a sauna open to all guests. The extra-charge thermal suite adds experience showers, an aromatherapy steam room, a Mediterranean sauna and six heated stone loungers, with a day pass or a better-value pass for the full cruise.

All the way aft, Solis serves a Mediterranean menu with flavors from Italy, Spain, Greece and beyond, built on the ingredients Seabourn is known for. A bar and lounge with a piano anchors the entrance, and many guests stop in for a cocktail even when they aren't dining. A wine room sits at the center of the dining room, and a large outdoor terrace offers al fresco seating. Solis is complimentary, with reservations required.

Encore is one of only two Seabourn ships with a dedicated sushi restaurant, alongside her sister Seabourn Ovation. Chefs make rolls, sashimi and nigiri to order, and the restaurant is generally open for lunch and dinner every day of the cruise. Like every restaurant on board, it's included in the fare. It makes an easy, lighter meal between bigger dinners, and Danny calls it an absolutely delicious option.

Danny compares Seabourn Square to the plaza at the heart of a European city, where everybody gathers. Baristas make espresso, lattes and cappuccinos, and the counters carry pastries, sandwiches and artisanal gelato, with dairy-free sorbets too. A full library lines the wall, Guest Services sits in the middle, and floor-to-ceiling windows look out to sea. Outside, an aft terrace has sofas, recliners and tables, and the future cruise desk is close by.

The aft pool deck is a quieter spot, with two whirlpools, a pool you can sit along and loungers facing the wake. Below it is one of the signatures of this class of ship: a marina that lowers from the stern on select days at anchor. Guests can kayak, paddleboard or ride the banana boat, with Zodiacs launched by crane. Marina days in places like the Mediterranean and Caribbean often bring Seabourn moments such as Caviar in the Surf.

The Restaurant serves plated breakfast, lunch and dinner across the full width of the ship, with natural light from both sides, chandeliers and elegantly set tables. The menu is extensive, and on the day Danny filmed there were 14 appetizers and salads to mix and match. Tables for two sit alongside larger tables for meeting new friends. Just before it, the atrium carries natural light down through the ship around elegant wood and glass.