Like your other videos, you did an excellent, balanced evaluation. I spent six weeks on Seabourn Venture in the Arctic and loved every minute of it. Like you, I was in a panorama veranda, and thought it was the best cabin on the ship. The food on my trip was excellent and the crew knew who I was. Of course, being on a ship for six weeks does make a difference. As a solo cruiser, the crew went out of their way to keep me involved with all activities. As you can tell, I loved my adventure.
6 weeks? I am a frequent cruiser but that’s quite a long time! Happy to hear you had a great experience and I hope you had someone come to mow your lawn 😂😉
I had the complete opposite and am also a solo traveller and the 36k aud for a standard balcony room was a real rip off after hearing what so many others had gotten.
We’re Seabourn veterans and your review is fair and reasonable. It’s a lovely ship but we were disappointed in the comparatively limited food and drink choices and sometimes very sketchy service. We suspect there were a lot of new recruits who needed a lot more guidance and supervision. This was especially obvious in the sometimes chaotic breakfast/lunch in the Colonnade. There’s some very obvious cost cutting now via Carnival HQ.
I couldn't agree more we tried the venture this summer as a taster for our Persuit trip to Antarctica next month. We loved it but agree with everyone's comments about the food as not as good as their larger ships ,I wish that Seabourn square had been open in the evening that was my only criticism,but you are there for the experience rather than the food.
@@nigelbest8756I disagree if you’re paying that much and you are paying for the experience, food is part of the experience and one of the most important things of your trip.
Lol, I like your poached egg test--one of the things I usually order for breakfast at a restaurant if I’ve never eaten there before is eggs Benedict…. In my opinion it’s very hard to mess up eggs Benedict if you’ve stressed: whites set, yolk runny. If they can’t cook a Benedict they’re probably not good at other things.
It's a funny coincidence that me and my wife suddenly getting targed Ads for seaborne today and this pops up at the top of my UA-cam feed. Also I don't believe in coincidence.
I dont really understand why people would go on an expedition cruise and expect (or want) big song-and-dance productions or casinos. Horses for courses, I guess.
Exactly, one of the best parts of expedition cruising is the, almost always, very interesting lectures. Not looking for song and dance on an expedition.
I am surprised that you didn't note that lifeboats on the Venture cannot be used as tenders, requiring passengers to use Zodiacs at all locations where the ship is not docked. Zodiacs are generally a lot of fun on an expedition cruise but leave passengers exposed to the whims of the elements in all cases. We sailed on the Venture from Iceland to Greenland in September 2022 and we had to use the Zodiacs even when debarking at Kangerlussuaq to begin our journey home. I have to admit that I found the food to be pretty good on the Venture, even better than what we had on the Quest in February 2019 but we were on board shortly after the Venture went into service. All in all we had a good time and it was nice to revisit the ship in your report.
So many people love to complain on these cruise line specific sites. It is a level of entitlement that is astounding. Thank you, Gary, for a fair review with no biases.
@@dlgregory35 Sounds like you need a vacation, desperately. Complain to the staff who can do something about it. Complaining after the cruise is non-productive and useless IMO but you do you.
@@evrose The point is people need to tell the staff when it happens (when someone can address the issue). Whining afterwards on a UA-cam channel doesn't solve the problem - it just sounds like a chronic complainer.
Wow! We went with Coral Expeditions and there were 28 passengers in TOTAL on a 120ft catamaran. Cruise director, 2 expert guides and very knowledgeable crew. We had such a good time, the food and entertainment were not a significant partof our trip. After we got off, we could download about 400 pictures taken by our guides. Best trip ever.
Gary - we are still on the Seabourn Pursuit, when I met you in the Kimberley (not the Seabourn Venture as you say in the start of this video). I agree with a lot you said - great ship. fantastic staff and a wonderful region - but i found the food well below the normal Seabourn standard, the wine was very poor and cheap, which also includes the pay for premium revenue wines, and the expedition team not as good as you make out , with the overall itinerary not very well planned - for example, they kept saying things are dependent on the tides, and yet tide charts are known years in advance. My experience is that I could not recommend them for the price they charge
Having literally just come back from a Seabourn cruise in no way would I recommend it. We chose them for a special birthday and I'm afraid to say felt completely let down. Embarkation was the worst we have ever experienced from any cruise line, and that was the starter for a cruise of disappointments. The food was average, the staff was fine, but not what you'd expect from "ultra-luxury" and the overall vibe from the ship was cost-cutting. No reason to ever return with all the competition out there. As someone once said "You can only spend it once" After our cruise it won't be with Seabourn ever again.
Just returned from a cruise 4 weeks ago. Totally agree. We had high expectations for the price and the way it as advertised. I can't believe how bad most of it was. I wasn't ultra-luxury, in fact it might not even be considered luxury in most areas. Everything you say here I echo fully, in all your points.
Just an FYI Gary, that aboriginal folk do not always look as if they are. Due to a couple hundred years or more of inter-racial marriages. I live in Canada and it seems half the indigenous folk we see on tv do not look so. It depends on the laws about one’s descendants. I have met a few that have their ancestry legalized as being native and I would never have known. When I lived in the UK I would not have thought about that. Thx for great video. I could only dream of trying Seabourn. Can’t do any cruising right now as waiting for a hip replacement. Take care.
I remember tipping when every time your cabin steward with leave an envelope with their name on it and one for your waiter and sommelier. That was before mandatory tipping in your charges.
Thanks for sharing. I'm more convinced than ever that neither luxury cruising nor expedition ships are right for me at this phase in my life. Maybe in 20 years I'll feel differently.
Do your travel bucket list as soon as possible. Tomorrow we could be struck down with terrible illness and never get to do any of it. Plus there are pandemics which waste our travel years. Believe me I know many folk who waited too long and now cannot do the trips.
I was on the Venture in the Arctic two months ago. Our food was quite memorable (and looked a lot better than some of those visuals you shared). At the same time, I thought the staff was very good at remembering me personally and my preferences for drinks, etc. So, I’m a bit perplexed by you and your fellow passengers’ experiences.
Our first choice for Antarctica was Silversea, however, it was cost prohibitive when compared to Seabourn Pursuit. We were able to snag a fantastic deal for Nov 2025. We love the Seabourn crew. Not fans of the food at all. Agree with you there.
We're planning an Antarctica Expedition cruise for winter 2026-2027. There's so many cruise lines to choose, and even with our travel advisor...how do you sort out a right match????
@@dogzdad123most cruises to Antartica don’t stop. You must choose a ship with less than 300 passengers if you want to get off the boat and walk on Antartica
Great video. We are sailing Viking expedition in early 2026. From what I can see from your video, Seaborne has slipped a bit from when we last cruised with them in 2019. Perhaps the regular ships have maintained their quality. This ship’s decor appears rather dark, and there doesn’t appear to be much light in the dining areas. This is very different. One of the things we love about Viking is the light-filled spaces, especially the main dining spaces. But the cost of this ship…OMG…sticker shock!
I looked at their North West Passage cruise today, it starts at $48000 per person for the most basic cabin type....27 days. I guess I move in the wrong social circles as I don't know anyone who can afford that.
Coral Expeditions do a Kimberly Cruise. It's Australian owned, I think. I don't think it is considered luxury though which would be my preference anyway.😅
Question - you say that there were no indigenous guides, but that person @ 13:23, he looks to be indigenous? And having been around a lot of Australia, I have to say that rugged individualism (inconsistencies) in stories about locations seems to be our default option. Oh! BTW, I have never been on a cruise as such, but I still thoroughly enjoy your videos and am fascinated by the information you provide, so, thank you for making them.
After the incident near the Titanic it makes you think twice about getting into one of those things. In the Kimberleys help is going to take quite some time to reach you should something go wrong on a submersible ride, in Antarctica even longer.
If you really want to go on a top notch expedition cruise use Lindblad/National Geographic. Did Antarctica with them and Iceland/Greenland with Seaborn. No comparison. Don’t waste your money on Seaborn food and food service mediocre- disappointing even Room care mediocre( I heard this from die hard Seaborn cruisers that they seemed understaffed) Food/drink orders taken and then not delivered??? This occurred multiple times, not just once and occurred in the lounge and both dining venues. Going to the Gala dinner at the end of the cruise and to be asked do you want coffee or tea and then place an order and wait and wait. And not get it. I just did not understand what was going on Expedition team good, but Linblad/Nat Geo better Everything included. No upcharges for kayaking or any activity. Consider how you spend your money. If you are spending this much spend wisely
I think it looks and seem great, but I do find the experience not living up to the price. I DO understand that expedition cruises are expensive so, oddly enough, its not the price of £11.000 for 10 days that get me to decline booking this trip. I just don't think the experience live-up to that price. It's a bit like paying for a big Mercedes but getting a VW Golf (nothing wrong with a Golf). I don't think this is a £1.100/day level of cruise... that's all.
Gary great video but I think you were on Pursuit, not Venture? Pursuit has indigenous godparents (there's a video of the ceremony somewhere), so I'm surprised if there were no local crew on board. We have literally (a week ago) just returned from 28 days on Seabourn Venture in the Arctic and I couldn't fault it. All the staff knew our names, all of the time, even though some crew, including our room stewards, changed half-way through. On an expedition, I'm not really looking for outstanding food but, with the exception of one dish I didn't like, I couldn't fault the food or the service. We did the submersible and it was wonderful. Regarding entertainment, I don't go on expedition cruises for the nightlife - in fact most of us were in bed very early! I've been on 3 Silversea expeditions where there was no entertainment whatsoever. We did have a Greenlandic guide for the first 2 weeks and there were local guides at all the places we visited that were inhabited. The ship itself is very impressive, especially its environmental credentials - essential for visiting those remote areas. For example, it is super quiet and does not use an anchor - it stays put with geo-positioning. Our expedition team was large and extremely knowledgeable - again couldn't fault them. We didn't have the outdoor deck experiences you had because it was cold! I think your report is balanced but if food and entertainment are people's priorities, they should do Classic cruises.
I would love that panaramic room also. Man to expensive for my taste. My brother was showing me that submersible tragedy. But would probably enjoy doing this feeling like a bond movie. Would think this thing have a massive spa place if no gambling.
Hey Gary - For a very long time husband and I have been looking into going on a cruise: expedition, river, and non-massive ship cruises that can go to more unique places and ports. My husband is 1.9 meters tall, so cabin height, bed length, and shower head clearance are information he feels he needs before making any decisions. (The poor fellow has hit his head and gotten backaches from slouching in rooms in charming old inns and hotels all across Europe). It would be wonderful if you would do a video on accessibility wrt being quite tall. Whereas cabin square-footage is readily available, cabin height, shower head height, and bed length are not. I can’t help but wonder if all of those have been trending downward in the name of being able to increase the cabin count. If we are going to pay a lot to spend a week or two on a cruise, we really want to choose a ship with a cabin my husband doesn’t have to think about needing to duck down to step out on a balcony or rinse the shampoo out of his hair.
This ship is called Expedition ship for a reason. Obviousely offeres are limitted: less crew , less entartainment, less Guest Launderrettes etc.!!!. All the suites and longes are generous in layaouts , considering again the ship design and purpose. Despite the regular crew who live in tin cans !, they always do an oustanding job to pumper all guests and offer the best service. From POV of a guest I know exactly what I'm expecting when I book an Expedition ship. If someaone feels unhappy for various reasons, are unlimited other cruiseships to explore🤘
I have been twice on the venture, food in the main restaurant was quite mediocre (all pre cooked and then warmed up, everything tasted the same) so I ended up eating in the colonnade (which was way better in the evening) and in the excellent sushi place. I found the expedition cruise members a bit on the arrogant side, the ship itself is beautiful but I found the suite design a bit boring and old school. The main restaurant could also use a more modern design, everything seems to be targeted around people in there 60es or 70es so they probably like that kind of traditional design. The zodiac excursion in the afternoon always felt a bit boring to me. Nice to see that they are reducing their submarine cost, it used to be 1k per person when they started sailing 2 years ago. Kayak was a lot of fun. Overall they are still a bit too traditional for an expedition cruise ship, they would need better and longer excursions to convince me to go back.
Good summary. I am unsure that I would want to do an expedition cruise having watched this. The food portions looked rather small and I am not a big eater.
I did this cruise from Darwin to Broome in late June 2024 and definitely found that the knowledge and performance of the zodiacs were very hit and miss. I don't know how you managed the 14k for deluxe cabin I paid 36k solo australian so dwelling majorly ripped off. The food and service were very poor with some nights taking 45 minutes to get a drink let alone the meal. Most of the menus were repetitive and as a fussy eater I found this very difficult to find meals i could eat and was often let down on quality. Other than cabin staff noone recognised or called me by my name. I would not go on their ships again and wouldn't recommend i agree with some of the stuff that Gary said
The Kimberley needs to be done not in luxury. Your best bet is to break your comfort in some manner: camp, hike alot, stay quiet and simple. I dont doubt an expo ship is nice but the joy of deep nature like the Kimberleys where people cant get to it - because of deep inlets, rainy season and 10 meters tides - is the reversion from habit and the blanketing of nature. You are right about not have indigenous guides being a negative, but there are 2 issues there: - They cant get their drunk selves (asses) out of bed (not really joking unfortunately) - They wont share traditional knowledge with us Euro's and foreigners because the relationship is both not worth it and not interesting or valuable personally to them. That said if you do get to hear traditional knowledge from someone with their head screwed on it is as wonderful as you can imagine.
Tipping. I'd really like to hear your comments . . . and those of listeners reading this Comment . . . about tipping on ultra-luxury all-inclusive lines. Your stewards' envelopes (early in this video) are the most "forward" I've seen of any line so far, but I am getting the impression that to receive that "know your name/preferences" treatment (described later in this video), the staff is increasingly looking for some added "vig" here and there. I sort of see this as increasingly common on Regent these days - you show it to be the case (at least with room stewards) on Seabourn . . . is this becoming a "thing" on all ultra-luxury lines? Btw, I don't really have an issue with it. I like to acknowledge superlative service directly. I am just concerned that this "economy" which I've begun to "sense" more definitively might suggest that wages combined with whatever share of the "all-inclusive gratuities" each receive is not fairly compensating the crew.
As much as I find you a little stuffy and feel a little insulted that i didn't get a hello response inMIA last Winter, I still can't get enough of your content. You're number one for a reason. The sheer diverse magnitude of ships you have been on is amazing to see and watch. I don't think those Expedition ships are for me as the extra money just doesn't seem worth it. If you have been on Carnival, I haven't seen a video yet. Interested on your take on one of the newer ships.
We did a Seabourn Holiday cruise last December LA to Hawaii and back. We've been Seaburn fans since 2004. Most of our cruises have been with them. Never Again, questionable food, most people on the ship got norovirus, a crew that did not know what to do, and rough seas going to Hawaii. I came down with norovirus on our second day in Hawaii. So I missed some islands, but we did two lunch cruises in the worst restaurants in Hawaii. Cheap, tasteless food with live chickens running around and jumping on tables where we ate. We will never sail on them again. It was very, very expensive and did not live up to Seabourn standards. I was in the doctor three times, and those guys were the best on the ship. Confined to suite most of the time. I wrote them a sharp letter outlining the horrible experience and have still not heard from them. Seabourn is too expensive to be let down on a long cruise, three weeks. The Hal People who run Seabourn have turned it into an ordinary cruise. I am sure we will find another line that will work better for us, A cheap cruise at a premium price.
You can always get more. Cruise lines are sick to death of the waste if food and folk having bigger eyes than stomachs. Waste is also bad for our planet.
Hi Gary, great video as usual, but I have to ask what is the luxury part of a so called luxury or ultra-luxury cruise?. Is all the extra money worth it or are people being ripped off? In this video, you showed a bottle of Penfolds Cabernet Sauvignon Bin 507 2010 and the price was USD 175 as I understand it the cruise lines get drinks food etc tax-free and duty-free. Onshore in Australia this same bottle of wine retail price at retailer Ben Dan Murphey is AUD 120 which is USD 81.68 and tax and duty have naturally been paid. There is a hell of a difference between those prices so what is so wonderful on a luxury or so called luxury cruise to make that bottle a fair and reasonable price. This goes on with all their beers, wines etc and applies to all cruise ships of course. Maybe a better bed and service and maybe the food a bit better, looking good does not mean it tastes good. Personally, Fred Olsen does the best all-round job in cruising at a fair price. You can keep the US owned cruise or exploration ships after all what do the US onwrs know about luxury when the US does not have a single 6 star hotel.
The small ship, low passenger to crew ratio, higher deck square / square metre per passenger ratio, luxury finish of the ship, and focus on more personalised service are what usually makes for an ultra-luxury cruise. The ultra luxury cruise lines would probably argue that there is a higher standard of food served, but it is still mass produced even on ships with 500 - 600 passengers.
@@gilbydog7350 Fred Olsen has small ships, good food, fair prices for drinks good beds great service from the crew only 1300 on their ships far better value than any so-called ulta luxury ships go into cruise critic and see what many say about the so-called ultra-luxury ships. Far from luxurious many complain about the cost-cutting, inferior not luxury food crew area always fine.
@@alex9621 Of course you can compare what world are you living in? The wholesaler and or retailer have to pay for the wise or spirits which includes taxes and duty. The cruise lines do not pay the local taxes and duty therefore making a huge mark up.
@@dlgregory35 That's the same thing that happens when you go to any restaurant and the charge you a 700% markup on a bottle of wine. Taxes aren't that much
Can you hang out with staff on any of these cruises (not just luxury)? What happens if you make friends with a singer/waitress/bartender... do they have any time off when they can hang out off duty?
I completely don't get the attention to the enertainment on cruise ships. Especially on expedition cruises. Perhaps many couples are incapable of actually talking amongst themselves or others and need any distraction while guzzling enough booze to get them to sleep. With multiple excursions daily, such a great source of entertainment is talking about the days activities with others on the ship. Although, the attitude amongst the cruise "veterans" is getting worse and worse. I am woefully weary of hearing them endlessly criticise every detail of the cruise in some adolsecent attempt to appear somehow superior. We loved the cruise. If I wanted a more luxurious experience, I would shut up and pay the $30-$50,000 a day for a private yacht.
Technically anyone born in Australia is indigenous. Just saying there should have been an aboriginal on the ship is actually quite patronising. European heritage Australians resident in the area have as much knowledge and love of the location as anyone else. It's a rugged, challenging environment to live in and only those who respect and love it can do so successfully regardless of their heritage.
It's an expedition ship. Honestly what entertainment do you expect. Spa on an expedition ship is a waste of time it proves no matter what cruise line they try and squeeze every nickel from you. If you are going on a ship why do you wish to do your laundry - send it to the ship laundry. I noticed you had no aboriginal guests either😮 So how does it compare price wise to the other expedition ships you mentioned???
Wow-great that you only had to pay a 25% solo supplement, and your suite looks fabulous! Ship looks nice, too. Nice details in this video. Yes, would have been nice to have an expedition crew member of Aboriginal descent. Nice that you could airdrop many photos. Yes, surprising they didn’t emphasize the availability of the blogs!
With no control surfaces, just turning the head? Can't see it myself, there has to be control surfaces to change the airflow. Turning the head is only one part of changing direction; the hawk was changing the shape and speed if movement of its' wings, not just turning its' head
Ouch. I haven't been following you as closely as I had a few years ago. This video seemed much less authentic to me. Your summation "LOVED IT" was not buttressed by the "just OK food" and the "OK but not great, somewhat greedy staff" content. But in the end you shilled shamelessly. Time to disembark.
I really appreciate that Gary Bembridge pays for his cruises and gives reviews I can trust because they are uncomped.
Like your other videos, you did an excellent, balanced evaluation. I spent six weeks on Seabourn Venture in the Arctic and loved every minute of it. Like you, I was in a panorama veranda, and thought it was the best cabin on the ship. The food on my trip was excellent and the crew knew who I was. Of course, being on a ship for six weeks does make a difference. As a solo cruiser, the crew went out of their way to keep me involved with all activities. As you can tell, I loved my adventure.
6 weeks? I am a frequent cruiser but that’s quite a long time! Happy to hear you had a great experience and I hope you had someone come to mow your lawn 😂😉
I had the complete opposite and am also a solo traveller and the 36k aud for a standard balcony room was a real rip off after hearing what so many others had gotten.
Cruising since the ‘60’s yours is the only opinion I trust
We’re Seabourn veterans and your review is fair and reasonable. It’s a lovely ship but we were disappointed in the comparatively limited food and drink choices and sometimes very sketchy service. We suspect there were a lot of new recruits who needed a lot more guidance and supervision. This was especially obvious in the sometimes chaotic breakfast/lunch in the Colonnade. There’s some very obvious cost cutting now via Carnival HQ.
I couldn't agree more we tried the venture this summer as a taster for our Persuit trip to Antarctica next month. We loved it but agree with everyone's comments about the food as not as good as their larger ships ,I wish that Seabourn square had been open in the evening that was my only criticism,but you are there for the experience rather than the food.
Thanks for commenting. We are considering trying the line on some repositioning cruises. May try their classic ships first.
@@nigelbest8756I disagree if you’re paying that much and you are paying for the experience, food is part of the experience and one of the most important things of your trip.
At over £1000 per night I would expect everything to be included with no upsells.
I really liked the deck plan overlay you added and going deck by deck!
That was very cool!
Lol, I like your poached egg test--one of the things I usually order for breakfast at a restaurant if I’ve never eaten there before is eggs Benedict…. In my opinion it’s very hard to mess up eggs Benedict if you’ve stressed: whites set, yolk runny.
If they can’t cook a Benedict they’re probably not good at other things.
It's a funny coincidence that me and my wife suddenly getting targed Ads for seaborne today and this pops up at the top of my UA-cam feed. Also I don't believe in coincidence.
It's NOT a coincidence
I dont really understand why people would go on an expedition cruise and expect (or want) big song-and-dance productions or casinos. Horses for courses, I guess.
I agree, never bother with the entertainment.
Yes, if you want big entertainment go for Royal Caribbean 😂😂😂😂😂
Exactly, one of the best parts of expedition cruising is the, almost always, very interesting lectures. Not looking for song and dance on an expedition.
I’m not into cruise ships but enjoy your insightful reviews
I am surprised that you didn't note that lifeboats on the Venture cannot be used as tenders, requiring passengers to use Zodiacs at all locations where the ship is not docked. Zodiacs are generally a lot of fun on an expedition cruise but leave passengers exposed to the whims of the elements in all cases. We sailed on the Venture from Iceland to Greenland in September 2022 and we had to use the Zodiacs even when debarking at Kangerlussuaq to begin our journey home.
I have to admit that I found the food to be pretty good on the Venture, even better than what we had on the Quest in February 2019 but we were on board shortly after the Venture went into service.
All in all we had a good time and it was nice to revisit the ship in your report.
So many people love to complain on these cruise line specific sites. It is a level of entitlement that is astounding. Thank you, Gary, for a fair review with no biases.
Their only purpose is to complain, travel comes second.
You mean you do not complain if things you paid for never get delivered to you? You must be the swindler's dream.
@@dlgregory35 Sounds like you need a vacation, desperately. Complain to the staff who can do something about it. Complaining after the cruise is non-productive and useless IMO but you do you.
It's not exactly inappropriate "entitlement" to expect a premium product when you're paying premium prices.
@@evrose The point is people need to tell the staff when it happens (when someone can address the issue). Whining afterwards on a UA-cam channel doesn't solve the problem - it just sounds like a chronic complainer.
Wow! We went with Coral Expeditions and there were 28 passengers in TOTAL on a 120ft catamaran. Cruise director, 2 expert guides and very knowledgeable crew. We had such a good time, the food and entertainment were not a significant partof our trip. After we got off, we could download about 400 pictures taken by our guides. Best trip ever.
Yep. I would suggest Coral Expeditions. I have never been on one but hope to in the future. I heard they are great.
Gary - we are still on the Seabourn Pursuit, when I met you in the Kimberley (not the Seabourn Venture as you say in the start of this video). I agree with a lot you said - great ship. fantastic staff and a wonderful region - but i found the food well below the normal Seabourn standard, the wine was very poor and cheap, which also includes the pay for premium revenue wines, and the expedition team not as good as you make out , with the overall itinerary not very well planned - for example, they kept saying things are dependent on the tides, and yet tide charts are known years in advance. My experience is that I could not recommend them for the price they charge
Great feedback.
Thank you Gary for your good comments! Nice to meet you on board.
Everything looks so perfect and beautiful !! Hard to believe some people complain about it !!
Having literally just come back from a Seabourn cruise in no way would I recommend it. We chose them for a special birthday and I'm afraid to say felt completely let down. Embarkation was the worst we have ever experienced from any cruise line, and that was the starter for a cruise of disappointments. The food was average, the staff was fine, but not what you'd expect from "ultra-luxury" and the overall vibe from the ship was cost-cutting. No reason to ever return with all the competition out there. As someone once said "You can only spend it once" After our cruise it won't be with Seabourn ever again.
Just returned from a cruise 4 weeks ago. Totally agree. We had high expectations for the price and the way it as advertised. I can't believe how bad most of it was. I wasn't ultra-luxury, in fact it might not even be considered luxury in most areas. Everything you say here I echo fully, in all your points.
Can I ask which Seabourn ship you were on ?
@@gilbydog7350 it was the seabourn odyssey
Ovation
@@gilbydog7350
Love this video. Hope to do an expedition cruise one day … I had better start saving now! 😂
All looks nice. I would prefer a cruise that does things like that. At half my year's income for 10 days. Think I will give it a miss.
Just an FYI Gary, that aboriginal folk do not always look as if they are. Due to a couple hundred years or more of inter-racial marriages. I live in Canada and it seems half the indigenous folk we see on tv do not look so. It depends on the laws about one’s descendants. I have met a few that have their ancestry legalized as being native and I would never have known. When I lived in the UK I would not have thought about that. Thx for great video. I could only dream of trying Seabourn. Can’t do any cruising right now as waiting for a hip replacement. Take care.
I remember tipping when every time your cabin steward with leave an envelope with their name on it and one for your waiter and sommelier. That was before mandatory tipping in your charges.
A first timer, considering solo cruises. A great review. Thank you.
Thanks for sharing. I'm more convinced than ever that neither luxury cruising nor expedition ships are right for me at this phase in my life. Maybe in 20 years I'll feel differently.
Ya just stick it virgin, MSC or even Norwegian better value for money
Do your travel bucket list as soon as possible. Tomorrow we could be struck down with terrible illness and never get to do any of it. Plus there are pandemics which waste our travel years. Believe me I know many folk who waited too long and now cannot do the trips.
Thank you for the video!
I was on the Venture in the Arctic two months ago. Our food was quite memorable (and looked a lot better than some of those visuals you shared). At the same time, I thought the staff was very good at remembering me personally and my preferences for drinks, etc. So, I’m a bit perplexed by you and your fellow passengers’ experiences.
I know that. My comment was noting that I (perhaps oddly) had a different experience on what is the Pursuit’s twin sister ship.
Great looking ship. Nice small size. I think I would like it alot, if I ever got the chance. Thank you for sharing. 😊
Our first choice for Antarctica was Silversea, however, it was cost prohibitive when compared to Seabourn Pursuit. We were able to snag a fantastic deal for Nov 2025. We love the Seabourn crew. Not fans of the food at all. Agree with you there.
We're planning an Antarctica Expedition cruise for winter 2026-2027. There's so many cruise lines to choose, and even with our travel advisor...how do you sort out a right match????
@@dogzdad123most cruises to Antartica don’t stop. You must choose a ship with less than 300 passengers if you want to get off the boat and walk on Antartica
Great video. We are sailing Viking expedition in early 2026. From what I can see from your video, Seaborne has slipped a bit from when we last cruised with them in 2019. Perhaps the regular ships have maintained their quality. This ship’s decor appears rather dark, and there doesn’t appear to be much light in the dining areas. This is very different. One of the things we love about Viking is the light-filled spaces, especially the main dining spaces. But the cost of this ship…OMG…sticker shock!
Ahoy Gary ☺️ Loving your channel, thank you friend 👍😘
I looked at their North West Passage cruise today, it starts at $48000 per person for the most basic cabin type....27 days. I guess I move in the wrong social circles as I don't know anyone who can afford that.
It's the "per person" bit that always smacks me. 😂
$4800 does seem qiite lux in my circle, but then I realize thati"s ten grand usd for a couple.
Very comprehensive review
I would love to go on the cruise to the Kimberly.
Coral Expeditions do a Kimberly Cruise. It's Australian owned, I think. I don't think it is considered luxury though which would be my preference anyway.😅
I still don't get what kind of ships interior (the usual contemporary staged look) they can sell these days as "luxury"... 🤷♂️
Question - you say that there were no indigenous guides, but that person @ 13:23, he looks to be indigenous?
And having been around a lot of Australia, I have to say that rugged individualism (inconsistencies) in stories about locations seems to be our default option.
Oh! BTW, I have never been on a cruise as such, but I still thoroughly enjoy your videos and am fascinated by the information you provide, so, thank you for making them.
The submersible looks like a large coffee carafe. I'm not getting in that thing!😊
😂
But they don't go down to the Titanic
After the incident near the Titanic it makes you think twice about getting into one of those things. In the Kimberleys help is going to take quite some time to reach you should something go wrong on a submersible ride, in Antarctica even longer.
Also, $700 for 45 min??!?
ETA: Ah, everything on this expedition is $$$
Thank you for this review! I have to say I think the Colonnade decor looks like a dormitory cafeteria.
If you really want to go on a top notch expedition cruise use Lindblad/National Geographic. Did Antarctica with them and Iceland/Greenland with Seaborn. No comparison. Don’t waste your money on Seaborn food and food service mediocre- disappointing even
Room care mediocre( I heard this from die hard Seaborn cruisers that they seemed understaffed)
Food/drink orders taken and then not delivered??? This occurred multiple times, not just once and occurred in the lounge and both dining venues. Going to the Gala dinner at the end of the cruise and to be asked do you want coffee or tea and then place an order and wait and wait. And not get it. I just did not understand what was going on
Expedition team good, but Linblad/Nat Geo better
Everything included. No upcharges for kayaking or any activity.
Consider how you spend your money. If you are spending this much spend wisely
Fair review
I think it looks and seem great, but I do find the experience not living up to the price. I DO understand that expedition cruises are expensive so, oddly enough, its not the price of £11.000 for 10 days that get me to decline booking this trip. I just don't think the experience live-up to that price. It's a bit like paying for a big Mercedes but getting a VW Golf (nothing wrong with a Golf). I don't think this is a £1.100/day level of cruise... that's all.
What a nice ship.
Gary great video but I think you were on Pursuit, not Venture? Pursuit has indigenous godparents (there's a video of the ceremony somewhere), so I'm surprised if there were no local crew on board. We have literally (a week ago) just returned from 28 days on Seabourn Venture in the Arctic and I couldn't fault it. All the staff knew our names, all of the time, even though some crew, including our room stewards, changed half-way through. On an expedition, I'm not really looking for outstanding food but, with the exception of one dish I didn't like, I couldn't fault the food or the service. We did the submersible and it was wonderful. Regarding entertainment, I don't go on expedition cruises for the nightlife - in fact most of us were in bed very early! I've been on 3 Silversea expeditions where there was no entertainment whatsoever. We did have a Greenlandic guide for the first 2 weeks and there were local guides at all the places we visited that were inhabited. The ship itself is very impressive, especially its environmental credentials - essential for visiting those remote areas. For example, it is super quiet and does not use an anchor - it stays put with geo-positioning. Our expedition team was large and extremely knowledgeable - again couldn't fault them. We didn't have the outdoor deck experiences you had because it was cold! I think your report is balanced but if food and entertainment are people's priorities, they should do Classic cruises.
I would love that panaramic room also. Man to expensive for my taste. My brother was showing me that submersible tragedy. But would probably enjoy doing this feeling like a bond movie. Would think this thing have a massive spa place if no gambling.
Hey Gary - For a very long time husband and I have been looking into going on a cruise: expedition, river, and non-massive ship cruises that can go to more unique places and ports.
My husband is 1.9 meters tall, so cabin height, bed length, and shower head clearance are information he feels he needs before making any decisions. (The poor fellow has hit his head and gotten backaches from slouching in rooms in charming old inns and hotels all across Europe).
It would be wonderful if you would do a video on accessibility wrt being quite tall. Whereas cabin square-footage is readily available, cabin height, shower head height, and bed length are not. I can’t help but wonder if all of those have been trending downward in the name of being able to increase the cabin count.
If we are going to pay a lot to spend a week or two on a cruise, we really want to choose a ship with a cabin my husband doesn’t have to think about needing to duck down to step out on a balcony or rinse the shampoo out of his hair.
This ship is called Expedition ship for a reason. Obviousely offeres are limitted: less crew , less entartainment, less Guest Launderrettes etc.!!!. All the suites and longes are generous in layaouts , considering again the ship design and purpose. Despite the regular crew who live in tin cans !, they always do an oustanding job to pumper all guests and offer the best service. From POV of a guest I know exactly what I'm expecting when I book an Expedition ship. If someaone feels unhappy for various reasons, are unlimited other cruiseships to explore🤘
Great overview.....
I have been twice on the venture, food in the main restaurant was quite mediocre (all pre cooked and then warmed up, everything tasted the same) so I ended up eating in the colonnade (which was way better in the evening) and in the excellent sushi place. I found the expedition cruise members a bit on the arrogant side, the ship itself is beautiful but I found the suite design a bit boring and old school. The main restaurant could also use a more modern design, everything seems to be targeted around people in there 60es or 70es so they probably like that kind of traditional design. The zodiac excursion in the afternoon always felt a bit boring to me. Nice to see that they are reducing their submarine cost, it used to be 1k per person when they started sailing 2 years ago. Kayak was a lot of fun.
Overall they are still a bit too traditional for an expedition cruise ship, they would need better and longer excursions to convince me to go back.
Good summary. I am unsure that I would want to do an expedition cruise having watched this. The food portions looked rather small and I am not a big eater.
You can always get more. Cruise lines are sick to death of all the waste and cruisers having bigger eyes than stomachs.
Then surely this is a good match?
I did this cruise from Darwin to Broome in late June 2024 and definitely found that the knowledge and performance of the zodiacs were very hit and miss. I don't know how you managed the 14k for deluxe cabin I paid 36k solo australian so dwelling majorly ripped off. The food and service were very poor with some nights taking 45 minutes to get a drink let alone the meal. Most of the menus were repetitive and as a fussy eater I found this very difficult to find meals i could eat and was often let down on quality. Other than cabin staff noone recognised or called me by my name. I would not go on their ships again and wouldn't recommend i agree with some of the stuff that Gary said
Thanks
Does the $14k include the upcharge for single? So a couple would be ~$11k per (~22k total)?
I have been to the Artic and the Antarctic with Silversea it was brilliant. This boat and experience does not look as good.
Try Scenic Eclipse next time
The Kimberley needs to be done not in luxury. Your best bet is to break your comfort in some manner: camp, hike alot, stay quiet and simple.
I dont doubt an expo ship is nice but the joy of deep nature like the Kimberleys where people cant get to it - because of deep inlets, rainy season and 10 meters tides - is the reversion from habit and the blanketing of nature.
You are right about not have indigenous guides being a negative, but there are 2 issues there:
- They cant get their drunk selves (asses) out of bed (not really joking unfortunately)
- They wont share traditional knowledge with us Euro's and foreigners because the relationship is both not worth it and not interesting or valuable personally to them.
That said if you do get to hear traditional knowledge from someone with their head screwed on it is as wonderful as you can imagine.
You didn't mention how well it handled the ' ice ' ?
We cruise to Puerto Rosario
Tipping. I'd really like to hear your comments . . . and those of listeners reading this Comment . . . about tipping on ultra-luxury all-inclusive lines.
Your stewards' envelopes (early in this video) are the most "forward" I've seen of any line so far, but I am getting the impression that to receive that "know your name/preferences" treatment (described later in this video), the staff is increasingly looking for some added "vig" here and there. I sort of see this as increasingly common on Regent these days - you show it to be the case (at least with room stewards) on Seabourn . . . is this becoming a "thing" on all ultra-luxury lines?
Btw, I don't really have an issue with it. I like to acknowledge superlative service directly. I am just concerned that this "economy" which I've begun to "sense" more definitively might suggest that wages combined with whatever share of the "all-inclusive gratuities" each receive is not fairly compensating the crew.
Took 3: Loved, frail, brain. (It was brain, but it could have been drain or grain)
As much as I find you a little stuffy and feel a little insulted that i didn't get a hello response inMIA last Winter, I still can't get enough of your content. You're number one for a reason. The sheer diverse magnitude of ships you have been on is amazing to see and watch. I don't think those Expedition ships are for me as the extra money just doesn't seem worth it. If you have been on Carnival, I haven't seen a video yet. Interested on your take on one of the newer ships.
We did a Seabourn Holiday cruise last December LA to Hawaii and back. We've been Seaburn fans since 2004. Most of our cruises have been with them. Never Again, questionable food, most people on the ship got norovirus, a crew that did not know what to do, and rough seas going to Hawaii. I came down with norovirus on our second day in Hawaii. So I missed some islands, but we did two lunch cruises in the worst restaurants in Hawaii. Cheap, tasteless food with live chickens running around and jumping on tables where we ate. We will never sail on them again. It was very, very expensive and did not live up to Seabourn standards. I was in the doctor three times, and those guys were the best on the ship. Confined to suite most of the time. I wrote them a sharp letter outlining the horrible experience and have still not heard from them. Seabourn is too expensive to be let down on a long cruise, three weeks. The Hal People who run Seabourn have turned it into an ordinary cruise. I am sure we will find another line that will work better for us, A cheap cruise at a premium price.
A Hal cruise at Seabourn prices.
It was the seabourn odyssey
Think the new Viking expedition ships are superior in many ways.
Based on the portion size, it looks like I would never be able to satisfy my appetite.
You can always get more. Cruise lines are sick to death of the waste if food and folk having bigger eyes than stomachs. Waste is also bad for our planet.
we will stick with Marella after this review.
Which Cruise line would you take a 100 plus day world cruise on?
A ship that does not spend its resources on shows and a gala? Where do I sign up?
Check the new explora ships, best food ever and great interior design!!
Yes, food is amazing there but it gets a bit boring after 1 week since they have fixed menus on all their restaurants.
The food on the ship looks amazing to me compared with the peanut and jam sandwich I'm eating while having a break from cycling :)
The decor looks really bland to me---all grey and brown!
@@pxn748 They went a little too low key with the colors. I agree!
I,thought Seaborne was a luxury line with better than average experience
With the cost, did that exclude flights?
Yes. I did say it was just the cruise but yes excludes any flights, pre- and post-stays and transfers
Hi Gary, great video as usual, but I have to ask what is the luxury part of a so called luxury or ultra-luxury cruise?. Is all the extra money worth it or are people being ripped off? In this video, you showed a bottle of Penfolds Cabernet Sauvignon Bin 507 2010 and the price was USD 175 as I understand it the cruise lines get drinks food etc tax-free and duty-free. Onshore in Australia this same bottle of wine retail price at retailer Ben Dan Murphey is AUD 120 which is USD 81.68 and tax and duty have naturally been paid. There is a hell of a difference between those prices so what is so wonderful on a luxury or so called luxury cruise to make that bottle a fair and reasonable price. This goes on with all their beers, wines etc and applies to all cruise ships of course. Maybe a better bed and service and maybe the food a bit better, looking good does not mean it tastes good. Personally, Fred Olsen does the best all-round job in cruising at a fair price. You can keep the US owned cruise or exploration ships after all what do the US onwrs know about luxury when the US does not have a single 6 star hotel.
You cannot compare retail price to restaurant prices. Of course when you buy a bottle at a restaurant you're gonna be paying a surcharge
The small ship, low passenger to crew ratio, higher deck square / square metre per passenger ratio, luxury finish of the ship, and focus on more personalised service are what usually makes for an ultra-luxury cruise. The ultra luxury cruise lines would probably argue that there is a higher standard of food served, but it is still mass produced even on ships with 500 - 600 passengers.
@@gilbydog7350 Fred Olsen has small ships, good food, fair prices for drinks good beds great service from the crew only 1300 on their ships far better value than any so-called ulta luxury ships go into cruise critic and see what many say about the so-called ultra-luxury ships. Far from luxurious many complain about the cost-cutting, inferior not luxury food crew area always fine.
@@alex9621 Of course you can compare what world are you living in? The wholesaler and or retailer have to pay for the wise or spirits which includes taxes and duty. The cruise lines do not pay the local taxes and duty therefore making a huge mark up.
@@dlgregory35 That's the same thing that happens when you go to any restaurant and the charge you a 700% markup on a bottle of wine. Taxes aren't that much
Can you hang out with staff on any of these cruises (not just luxury)? What happens if you make friends with a singer/waitress/bartender... do they have any time off when they can hang out off duty?
I completely don't get the attention to the enertainment on cruise ships. Especially on expedition cruises. Perhaps many couples are incapable of actually talking amongst themselves or others and need any distraction while guzzling enough booze to get them to sleep. With multiple excursions daily, such a great source of entertainment is talking about the days activities with others on the ship. Although, the attitude amongst the cruise "veterans" is getting worse and worse. I am woefully weary of hearing them endlessly criticise every detail of the cruise in some adolsecent attempt to appear somehow superior. We loved the cruise. If I wanted a more luxurious experience, I would shut up and pay the $30-$50,000 a day for a private yacht.
But....Did your cabin have a bidet? Ya gotta have a bidet.
Technically anyone born in Australia is indigenous. Just saying there should have been an aboriginal on the ship is actually quite patronising. European heritage Australians resident in the area have as much knowledge and love of the location as anyone else. It's a rugged, challenging environment to live in and only those who respect and love it can do so successfully regardless of their heritage.
It's an expedition ship. Honestly what entertainment do you expect. Spa on an expedition ship is a waste of time it proves no matter what cruise line they try and squeeze every nickel from you. If you are going on a ship why do you wish to do your laundry - send it to the ship laundry. I noticed you had no aboriginal guests either😮 So how does it compare price wise to the other expedition ships you mentioned???
Wow-great that you only had to pay a 25% solo supplement, and your suite looks fabulous! Ship looks nice, too. Nice details in this video. Yes, would have been nice to have an expedition crew member of Aboriginal descent. Nice that you could airdrop many photos. Yes, surprising they didn’t emphasize the availability of the blogs!
Wow. I just got back from a week in Madeira which cost £1,200 for the two of us. It must be really special to be worth that much more.
With no control surfaces, just turning the head? Can't see it myself, there has to be control surfaces to change the airflow. Turning the head is only one part of changing direction; the hawk was changing the shape and speed if movement of its' wings, not just turning its' head
wow
Never going on a cruise. Not for free, never. Couldn’t pay me to be trapped with a bunch of self entitled Karen’s and Ken’s.
Good for you, keep watching videos at home then
Dreadfull looking at all those people and having to mingle with them. Will stick to our charters and limit to 12-14 friends...
Tedious.
I would not go on an expedition ship to that location if it excluded the local first nations people. That is a big deal for me.
Ouch. I haven't been following you as closely as I had a few years ago. This video seemed much less authentic to me. Your summation "LOVED IT" was not buttressed by the "just OK food" and the "OK but not great, somewhat greedy staff" content. But in the end you shilled shamelessly. Time to disembark.
8:46 would they have corrected the typo by now?
Great review!
It was the seabourn odyssey