This is luxury cruising’s most relaxed, enjoyable ship

Who enjoys being in a ship’s laundry room? As if I don’t have somewhere better to be: the hot tub on the pool deck, the Observation Bar with its dainty canapes and sumptuous views or, for that matter, in my spacious stateroom, planning tomorrow’s port adventure with my feet up.

So when I plod into the laundry room on Seabourn Encore, I’m expecting nothing more than whirling clothes and fellow passengers sorting socks, as frustrated as I am. Instead, I do a double take. Hotel manager Peppi Schuppler, gold epaulettes flashing, is popping champagne.

Luxury and smart design – tiered decks rise above the pool deck to create an amphitheatre.Credit:

Would I care for one? Well, yes, I would, and so would everyone else, and soon doing the laundry seems less like a chore, more like an oddly themed party amid ironing boards and decorative safety instructions.

I arrived at a lucky moment, of course; Schuppler isn’t always in the laundry room because I frequently spot him flitting about the well-run ship with Austrian efficiency. And yet, I’m not entirely surprised to find a festive laundry experience. This is luxury cruising’s most enjoyable ship.

Some luxury ships wow you with lavish decor. Some try for old-world European elegance. Many are filled with rich people who keep to themselves and often look bored. Encore is different. Its decor is chic but won’t drop your jaw. The atmosphere is relaxed. Passengers look happy, as if life still has something to offer, and they’re glad to be sailing the Mediterranean.

Anyone for drinks?Credit:

Most of all for such a quality ship, the vibe is lively. It’s more than murmured conversation, staid service and tuxedos at dinnertime but far from raucous. There are lectures on weighty destination-relevant topics, yet there’s a friendly, unpretentious, party-minded spirit.

You’ll be sailing away to oysters and cocktails on deck, serenaded by the Encore Duo. You can have coffee with the officers in Seabourn Square. An ABBA-themed party has guests jiggling as waiters circulate with drinks, lamb skewers and Turkish delight. The officers are there too, some breaking out disco moves as the sun semaphores between wine glasses and the swimming pool.

It’s not just the get-togethers that provide a laid-back vibe, though. Dining is excellent but informal, so you never have to fret over forks, strangle yourself in a tie or worry that the sommeliers will bamboozle you. This is fine dining for the relaxed and chatty.

The ship’s unusual layout is conducive to conviviality too. Three tiered decks rise above the pool deck, providing an amphitheatre onto sail-away parties and other events. At the ship’s aft, Seabourn Square rolls lounge, cafe and customer service desks into one attractive, light-flooded space scattered with sofa arrangements that invite conversation.

Encore at sea.Credit:

But its greatest asset is its crew. Encore’s hardworking, attentive but most-of-all cheerful crew can take much of the credit.

Senior managers are hands-on – you’ll see them serving caviar at sail-away parties as they bop to the music. In the cafe, baristas Julin and Festus are tirelessly efficient yet cheerfully chatty. Receptionist Kiki ushers guests into The Colonnade restaurant with irrepressible charm, and waiters from Sarah to Shawn add pleasure to meal times.

The hotel manager serving champagne in the laundry room? That tops it all. This ship’s name couldn’t be more appropriate because you’ll be wanting more of that – and just about everything else.

THE DETAILS

CRUISE
Seabourn Encore is in South-East Asia from December 2024 until March 2025, after which it relocates to the Americas. Seabourn has six other ocean ships, including Encore’s sister ship, Seabourn Ovation.

A 14-day “Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam” cruise departs February 16 on Seabourn Encore to sail between Hong Kong and Singapore and visits destinations such as Halong Bay, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, Sihanoukville and Thai island Ko Kood. From $12,298 a person. See seabourn.com

The writer was a guest of Seabourn.