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SEADREAM Yacht Club

Sep 18, 2018 | 0

SeaDream Yacht Club

SeaDream was created for lovers of luxury who shun formality and stiff upper lips and instead embrace a casual “no-jackets-required” elegance on route to the British Virgin Islands, Cuba, Italian Riviera, Adriatic Sea, and other chic pockets of the world. SeaDream’s two mini-cruisers feel like yachts in many ways, with their classic thick wooden doors, bar tops and furniture, and all the brass details and navy-blue fabrics. There’s lots of outdoor deck space for passengers to hang out on sipping endless glasses of Prosecco or other free-flow libations, all included in the fares.

SeaDream’s beloved champagne and caviar beach party.  *  Photo: Heidi Sarna

In port, the SeaDream MO is to stay late in places like St. Barts and St. Tropez so passengers can sample the local restaurant and bar scene. When possible, the ships anchor in places where passengers can zip through the surf on a WaveRunner, and in port, pedal around on a bicycle, both stowed on board. The line’s beloved champagne and caviar party on a remote beach is a cruise highlight and epitomizes SeaDream’s laid-back style of indulgence.

Before SeaDream was founded in 2001, its two ships had another life; they were originally built for Sea Goddess Cruises and named SEA GODDESS I and SEA GODDESS   II. From their launch in the mid-80s, the pair was considered two of the poshest small-ships on the high seas. They changed hands a few times over the years, becoming a part of the Cunard and then Seabourn fleets, before joining SeaDream. The pair, now approaching 40 years in service, are showing their age. The loyal repeaters, however, come for the outdoor living experience at sea that does not change.

Ship, Year Delivered & Passengers

• SeaDream I (built 1984, 112 passengers)
• SeaDream   II (built. 1985, 112 passengers)

Passenger Profile

Mostly Americans and some Europeans and Canadians, majority 50+. Holidays and summers you’ll see extended family groups too, sometimes several generations; though these ships are not geared in any way to young kids under about age 12. A good slice of the line’s business comes from full-ship charters, often by large (rich) families. Occasionally there are big groups on board that take over half the ship; when booking ask if there are any on your sailing to avoid feeling like an outsider.

Passenger Decks

5; an elevator connects all but top deck.

$$-$$$  Expensive

Included Features

Wine at lunch and dinner, spirits and all drinks throughout cruise, gratuities, use of water “toys” from the yacht’s marina and mountain bikes.

Itineraries

• Many 7 days and others 5- to 9-night Eastern Caribbean cruises with closely packed island calls, so there is often very little sailing during the day as the focus is either water sports or island visits with beaches high on the list.  7- to 11-night cruises in the Med, between ports including Lisbon, Barcelona, Monte Carlo, Nice, Civitavecchia (for Rome), Adriatic ports, Piraeus (for Athens), Greek Islands, and Turkish coast. Cruises may easily be combined without any repeat port calls. Mediterranean itineraries have a more cultural focus.
• Transatlantic positioning cruises between the Caribbean and Mediterranean seasons have the option of tacking on a Caribbean and/or a Mediterranean itinerary at either or both ends. From the last port in the Caribbean to the first in the Mediterranean may have but one port call, or even none at all, so these voyages are for those who love just being at sea. The ships are small so expect some movement if the sea kicks up. N.B. Northern Europe, and especially Scandinavia, will be offered in late spring, summer and early autumn 2025.

The mini SeaDream cruisers can slip into ports and waterways the biggies cannot. * Photo: Ben Lyons

The ships are casually chic and all-inclusive, and you can’t beat the size: large enough for two restaurants, a pool and a hot tub, and small enough to feel intimate enough to make friends easily. A crew of 95 means there’s almost one crewmember for every passenger; they may even lead walking tours or bike rides in port, called “shore-side casuals.” Service isn’t stuffy or cloying, but trust us, you’ll want for nothing.

When to Go?

The SeaDream twins cruise in three regions of the world (West Indies, Mediterranean and Northern Europe at the best time to visit.

All the cabins feature lots of real wood furniture and cabinetry for a nautical feel, plus an efficient entertainment center with a flat screen TV, DVD/CD player and iPod docking station that also incorporates a vanity, desk and mini-bar, stocked with beer, soft drinks and water. A sofa can accommodate a third guest in all cabins, ideal for an older child.

There are 54 Yacht Club cabins measuring a comfortable 195 square feet, and 16 of them can be combined to create 8 double rooms called Commodore Suites (cabins on Deck 2 have portholes, those on Decks 3 and 4 have large picture windows). There are also two large suites. Beds are clad in Belgian linens are very comfortable, though on the narrow side, and storage space is generous.

Cabins = simple beauty. * Photo: Heidi Sarna

Marble covered bathrooms have showers and are small, but functional. The Bulgari toiletries are appreciated and so are the free cotton SeaDream-logo pajamas. Other extras include cotton robes, slippers, personal safe, individually controlled AC, make-up mirror, personal stationary and hair dryer. Cabins have dataports for Internet Access (for a fee), but on our last cruise, it was veryyyy slow. These ships are not recommended for passengers using wheelchairs, as doorways to cabins are not wide enough and elevators don’t reach all decks.

Public Rooms

There are two restaurants — one indoor, one out — plus the roomy Main Salon lounge with a dance floor and small bar, that’s used for port talks, movies, and pre- and post-dinner dancing. It leads out to the stern-facing pool deck and bar. One level up on Deck 4 is the Piano Bar, often the scene of sing-alongs, and adjacent to it, a tiny casino and a small library.

Forward on Deck 4 is the surprisingly well-equipped ocean-view gym with half a dozen cardio machines and a spa with four treatment rooms and outdoor space. Up on Deck 6, is the Top of the Yacht Bar, where a thick wooden U-shaped bar holds pride of place under a sail-like roof with the rest of wonderfully open to the elements. It’s the place for drinks any time, and it’s especially fab at sunset. If the crowd is eager, the bartenders will crank up dance music after dinner and patrons can dance and let their hair down.

A typical delicious lunch buffet on board.  *  Photo: Heidi Sarna

Eating is a high point, especially when the weather allows dining in the open-air Topside Restaurant up on Deck 5; otherwise, it’s the more traditional Dining Salon inside down on Deck 2. On most itineraries, far more meals will be enjoyed outside. The Topside’s cozy tables for two or three tucked into the wooden banquets along the edges are much sought after, while the wake-facing tables for four are wonderful if the wind isn’t too strong. Seating is open, with plenty of tables for two and four, but a few days into the cruise, most people are eager to dine with new friends at larger combined tables.

In Topsiders, breakfast and lunch are buffet style, with elaborate displays of homemade breads and pastries, as well as fruits. Similarly, at lunch, the buffet is generously laid out with a variety of salads, cold cuts and cheeses; at both meals there are ala carte items prepared in the galley, from eggs Benedict and crepes at breakfast, to grilled fish or a noodle dish at lunch.

For dinner in the Dining Salon, choose a de Degustation (tasting) menu or go with Japanese, raw food or pan-Asian dishes in addition to popular western standards. Mid afternoon snacks are served poolside and if you’re hankering for caviar, just ask for it if you don’t mind paying extra. There’s 24-hour room service for snacks and lite meals.

Life on a SeaDream cruise is lived up on deck.  *  Photo: Heidi Sarna

Activities & Entertainment

When the ships are on the move, passengers love sunbathing and snoozing on the firm Queen-sized sunbeds that line the top-most deck (though depending on the wind direction, soot from the funnels can make things a tad unpleasant). They also love sipping a refreshing glass or two (or more) of refreshing Sauvignon Blanc at the open-air bar or around the small pool on the protruding aft deck, with great views of the ship’s wake.

When anchored, weather and conditions permitting, a watersports platform at the stern allows you easy access to kayaks, sailboats, stand-up paddleboards, snorkel gear, personal water craft (Jet Skis), water skis and a floating island/trampoline. There are also mountain bikes for use in port (mostly in Europe and the Caribbean) and each ship has a golf simulator and wii gaming consoles for use in the Main Salon.

On all cruises in the Caribbean, and in the past in Asia too, the high point of the week’s activities is SeaDream’s indulgent “Caviar and Champagne Splash” held on a remote stretch of beach somewhere. Passengers happily wade through the surf to grab plastic glasses of champagne and dollops of caviar from waiters standing chest high in the ocean and serving the goodies from floating life rings and surfboards.

It’s all giggles and guzzles, as passenger revel in the frivolous (and fun) absurdity of it all. The beach bubbles are followed by a full lunch at tables set up in the sand. Evenings on board, entertainment consists of drinks with new friends, sing-alongs at the piano bar, gambling in the tiny casino, dancing on deck at the Top of the Yacht Bar, and a weekly outdoor movie shown under the stars.

During the day, occasionally there are talks or special films shown about the destination, but generally SeaDream does not host expert lecturers. There are however, a handful of wine appreciation theme cruises every year, with tastings and a winemaker’s dinner hosted by a guest winemaker or winery owner.

Along the Same Lines

Windstar may be the closest, especially its sailing ships but with less pampering and less expensive fares.

The nimble Sea Dream ships can cruise close to shore.  *  Photo: Christina Colon

Contact Info

601 Brickell Key Drive, Suite 1050 Miami, FL 33131; www.seadream.com; 800-707-4911 or 305-631-6100.

RELATED: 12 Reasons to Take a SeaDream Cruise. by Heidi Sarna

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About The Author

QuirkyCruise

Ted & Heidi are long-time travel writers with a penchant for small ship cruising. Between them they've traveled all over the world aboard hundreds and hundreds of small cruise ships of all kinds, from river boats to expedition vessels and sailing ships.

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• CruiseMapper
• SeaDream Yacht Club

Former names: Seabourn Goddess I, Sea Goddess I

Cruise line SeaDream Yacht Club

• St Thomas Island USVI (Charlotte Amalie, US Virgin Islands)
• Piraeus-Athens (Greece)
• San Juan (Puerto Rico)
• Philipsburg St Maarten (Netherlands Antilles)
• Civitavecchia-Rome (Italy)

SeaDream I current position

SeaDream I current location is at West Mediterranean (coordinates 43.53724 N / 7.01292 E) cruising en route to FR ST.TROPEZ. The AIS position was reported 5 minutes ago.

Current itinerary of SeaDream I

SeaDream I current cruise is 7 days, one-way from Villefranche-sur-Mer to Civitavecchia-Rome . The itinerary starts on 25 Aug, 2024 and ends on 01 Sep, 2024 .

Specifications of SeaDream I

•   Itineraries
•   Review
•   Wiki

SeaDream I Itineraries

SeaDream I Review

Review of seadream i.

The 1984-built SeaDream 1 yacht was constructed by STX Finland (Petter Yran & Bjorn Storbraaten, Helsinki Finland ). Previously, the cruise ship was operated by Cunard Line as "Sea Goddess I". The vessel is in SeaDream Yacht Club's fleet since 2001. The only fleetmate is the sistership SeaDream 2 (1985), with a newbuild planned for the future - SeaDream Innovation (concept superyacht).

The vessel (IMO number 8203438) is currently Bahamas- flagged (MMSI 308908000) and registered in Nassau .

History - construction and ownership

The 112-passenger ship SeaDream I is indistinguishable from the sistership SeaDream II . She was designed for independent, experienced travelers who dislike large ships with kids running around, and all the dressing up - ties are useless here. Inside SeaDream I, there is a feeling of discreet sophistication. The public rooms are elegant and chic, with potpourri and flowers everywhere.

Decks and Cabins

The superyacht SeaDream 2 has a total of 56 staterooms (all are Suites, in 4 grades) and max passenger capacity 112 (plus 100 staff-crew. Most are the Yacht Club Staterooms (54 total, sized 195 ft2 / 18 m2), of which 16x can be converted/connected into Commodore Suites (8 total, sized 390 ft2 / 36 m2).

The ship has no cabins with step-out balconies. The largest accommodations are the Owner Suite (445 ft2 / 41 m2) and Admiral Suite (375 ft2 / 35 m2).

Each stateroom features a marble bathroom (Bulgari bath amenities, plush cotton bathrobes, magnifying mirror, massage shower units), spacious living room, smart UHDTV, CD/DVD system, USB charging ports, Internet outlets, iPod stations, personalized stationeries. Refrigerators and mini-bars are stocked with soft drinks, beers, bottled spring water (all beverages are complimentary).

The boat has 6 decks , of which 5 are passenger-accessible and 3 with cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

A delightful feature of SeaDream cruises in warm areas is the beach barbecue "caviar in the surf" (land BBQ dining experience). Another benefit is the drinks onboard, which except connoisseur wines and premium brands, are all free. All meals in the Dining Room are open seating, all the time. Breakfast is typically served at the ship's Topside Restaurant. Guests can choose from a small array of fruits, bread, cereals and yogurt at a mini-buffet. Hot dishes are ordered from a menu. Lunch is also served at the Topside, while dinner locales vary.

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

SeaDream entertainment options include a Piano Bar, Main Lounge, Boutique, Promenade (on Deck 5), Spa, Gym, Beauty Salon, first-run movies, aft-sundeck's swimming pool and Jacuzzi/whirlpool. The main gathering places for passengers are the lounge, as well as the delightful library and living room. Have a night at the piano bar (also serves as a Karaoke Bar), or stay at the small casino with 5x slot machines and 2x blackjack tables. Complimentary to all tourists are provided snorkeling gear, kayaks, wakeboards, stand-up paddleboards, sailboats, jet skis, Hobie Cats (sailing catamarans), a banana boat, a floating island and a trampoline, as well as electric mountain bikes.

Both SeaDream yachts feature "Top of the Yacht" bars (added during the drydocks in 2001), along with the 8x alcoves set to the starboard and port sides of the Funnel/smokestack (equipped with padded two-person loungers). At the front part of the Sundeck, there are large hammocks, more sunloungers and 2x Jacuzzies (added during the drydock in 2022), as well as a Golf Simulator (with 30+ golf course choices) that doubles as Cinema/Theater.

The superyacht has 1 elevator (midship, interconnecting all decks but 1-CrewDeck and 6-Sundeck) and Infirmary/Medical Facility (hospital and pharmacy, served by a resident physician).

Itineraries

Traditionally for SeaDream yachts, SeaDream 1 itinerary program is based on Mediterranean voyages (homeporting in Civitavecchia-Rome , Venice , Piraeus-Athens , Istanbul Turkey ), as well as Caribbean voyages (mainly 7-days in length) with homeporting in Bridgetown Barbados .

The cruise ship is also open for private charters with custom-designed itineraries.

Following the Coronavirus crisis, both SeaDream yachts restarted operations in July 2021 (Europe/Mediterranean deployment). The Caribbean operations were restarted in November 2021, with SeaDream 2 from San Juan Puerto Rico (Nov 20) and SeaDream 1 from Bridgetown Barbados (Nov 26).

Photos of SeaDream I

SeaDream I ship related cruise news

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•   show more news

Other SeaDream Yacht Club cruise ships

• SeaDream II

SeaDream I Wiki

SeaDream 1 cruise ship is the line's first of all 2 (for now) top luxury all-inclusive cruise yachts. Her sister in the fleet is the yacht Sea Dream 2 . The ship was built in 1984 and chartered to Sea Goddess Cruises (as "Sea Goddess I" between 1984-1998), as "Seabourn Goddess I" (to Cunard and Seabourn , between 1999-2001) and operated under its current name by the shipowner since 2001.

SeaDream 1 cruises in the Mediterranean (visiting islands and ports in Italy, Greece, Turkey, France / French Riviera , Spain, also the Black Sea) and in the Caribbean (during winter). Transatlantic cruise deals are offered seasonally on the yacht's the Atlantic Ocean repositioning crossings. Some of the itineraries can be combined into back-to-back cruise deals (longer, discount-priced voyages). While generally departures and call port times are pre-set, the Captain can modify the yacht's cruise schedule and adjust those times (even seaports) along the route - if that would please his guests. Also, while most Caribbean cruise ships depart from ports of call in late-afternoon, SeaDream 1 is often departing in late-evening - just to give its affluent guests the chance to enjoy the local restaurants or the nightlife. Many cruise itineraries additionally feature scheduled overnight stays in ports.

The yacht's passenger capacity is only 112 guests, making it perfect for cruise ship charters, that usually serve corporate business meetings, "rich family" reunions, celebrities' anniversaries at sea, etc. On such deals, the cruise itinerary route for the yacht's charter is determined by the booking party.

SeaDream 1 refurbishments review

In 2022 (January and May), SeaDream conducted a USD 10 million (EUR 8,8M) drydock refurbishment project for both yachts at Navalrocha Ship Repair Lisbon (Portugal).

Works included full-scale renovations of all staterooms (new furniture, hardware, textiles, wardrobes, electrical upgrades / USB charging ports, Wi-Fi, fingerprint sensor lights, 55-inch smart HDTVs), all outside deck spaces (premium teakwood flooring, premium mahogany Balinese beds and sun loungers, Loro Piana upholstery and cushions, Frette towels, TUUCI parasols and hammocks), upgraded cabin amenities (woven lines, silk pajamas, silver ice buckets, GioBagnara Miramar trays).

Forward on Deck 6 (Sundeck's sunbathing area) were installed 2x new Jacuzzies and 2x new rain showers.

The aft-located/stern Marina Platform was also upgraded.

Princess Cruises just hiked a fee that some cruisers find outrageous

Bad news, Princess Cruises fans: You're about to pay more in fees to cruise with the line.

The world's fifth-largest cruise brand has quietly raised the daily service charge it levies on customers to its highest level in the history of the company.

The new rate for what Princess calls a "crew appreciation" fee is now $17 per person, per day for those staying in most cabins.

That's a 6.25% increase from the previous rate of $16 — more than twice the rate of inflation in the U.S. over the past year.

Princess last raised its service charge rate Dec. 14, 2022.

As part of the change, Princess also is raising its service charge for passengers staying in suites to $19 per person, per day — a 5.6% increase from the previous rate of $18.

Passengers staying in minisuites, cabanas and Club Class cabins will now pay $18 per person, per day — a 5.9% increase from the previous rate of $17.

The news of a service charge increase at Princess comes just six months after sister line Holland America pushed through a similar increase to its service charge rate. Holland America also currently charges $17 per day in service charges for passengers in most cabins and $19 per day for passengers in suites.

With the increase at Princess, a family of four in a typical cabin on one of the line's ships will pay nearly $500 in automatic gratuities on a seven-night cruise.

That puts Princess ahead of several of its key competitors when it comes to gratuity fees. Among other major lines, Carnival Cruise Line , Cunard Line , Windstar Cruises and MSC Cruises add $16 per person, per day in service charges to passenger bills for most cabins.

Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean add $18 per person, per day, and Norwegian Cruise Line adds $20 per person, per day in such gratuities to passenger bills. Viking levies a $17 per person, per day service charge.

Related: Tipping on a cruise: What to know about cruise ship gratuities

Such sky-high service charges increasingly are a sore point for some cruisers, who see them as a veiled way for lines to hide the true cost of their sailings in the fares they market online.

In an explanation on its website, Princess says the service charges are distributed to crew on ships "in the form of compensation, including bonuses." In other words, the money is used to pay crew wages.

The recent fee hikes at Princess and Holland America come amid a surge in price hikes at cruise lines for all sorts of things, even as they cut back on service in some cases.

Rising fees at cruise lines

Most of the biggest cruise lines, such as Holland America, Royal Caribbean, Carnival and Norwegian, automatically add some sort of gratuity or service fee to passenger bills. Passengers often have the choice to prepay the fees when booking or have them added to their bill for onboard expenses, paid at the end of each sailing.

That said, the total number of lines with a service fee has been shrinking over the years. Many smaller and higher-end cruise operators have been folding these charges into their base fares.

Lines that now include gratuities in their fares include Azamara , Ponant Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises , Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours, Seabourn , SeaDream Yacht Club , Silversea Cruises and Virgin Voyages .

For those lines that do have them, service and gratuity charges are touted as a convenient alternative to the practice of cash tipping on ships — something that was once common.

The cruise lines with such charges typically increase their rates every year or two.

Note that, in some cases, passengers who are unhappy with the service they receive on Princess ships can adjust the amount of daily gratuities posted to their accounts while on board by visiting the Guest Services desk.

Related: The ultimate guide to Princess Cruises ships and itineraries

Adjustments are only allowed when gratuities are being charged to onboard accounts during sailings. Passengers who have prepaid gratuities cannot adjust the amount they have paid while on board.

The increase in service charge rates at Princess comes as the line pushes customers to buy a prepaid bundle of extras for sailings that include service charges, as well as dining in extra-charge specialty restaurants and a drinks package. The line recently added unlimited specialty dining and unlimited drinks to its top-tier bundle, which is called Princess Premier. At the same time, the line raised the fee for the Princess Premier bundle from $80 to $90 per person, per day.

Princess has been adding new fees across its ships as it pushes the bundles.

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SeaDream Yacht Club

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I Cruised the Croatian Coast on a Ship With Just 38 Passengers — Here’s What It Was Like

The small, ultra-luxe 'MV Memories' was the best introduction to Croatia.

The Staterooms

• Bars & Restaurants
• Amenities & Entertainment

Cruise Itineraries

Shore excursions, family-friendly offerings.

Courtesy of Unforgettable Travel Company

Floating in the clear Adriatic near an uninhabited island off Croatia’s coast, I marveled as the sea changed hues from deep blue to turquoise and emerald as it reached the rocky shore. Our daily swimming stops quickly became my favorite part of the cruise, although I also loved arriving at different cities where we could just walk into the town or along the promenade that seemed to be a feature of each harbor. My contemplation of the Adriatic’s color was interrupted by laughter as one of my fellow cruisers gamely struggled once again to stand on his paddleboard, wobbled, and splashed into the sea.

Every morning aboard MV Memories , the captain found a secluded cove for the perfect swim; the Adriatic was cool enough to refresh without feeling chilly for more than the first few seconds. This delightful routine led to our three-course lunch, afternoon cruise time, and arrival at the next port. In some cities, there was a walking tour before we had the late afternoon and evening on our own for exploring and dinner.

Patricia Doherty/Travel + Leisure

Thirty-eight strangers quickly became friends as we mingled at breakfast and lunch tables, learning our fellow travelers’ names and where they were from. We were blessed with sunny, warm weather every day, so afternoons could be spent sunbathing on the upper deck, reading a book, napping on a cushioned lounge, or enjoying a cold gin and tonic in the shade (my choice most days). Arriving at a new city each day was exciting, as medieval towers, ancient city walls, and historic buildings greeted us. Walking tours provided background and an introduction to most of the cities, and then we were on our own for dinner and the evening. How cool it was to stay out late and then just walk back to the waiting ship for the night.

MV Memories instantly became a comfortable and welcoming home-away-from-home for the week, whether in our well-appointed cabin, on the sun deck, or relaxing in a shaded lounge chair. "The vessels we operate were built in 2021, and we’re proud to have the youngest fleet of ships in Croatia. This really enhances the cruising experience for guests as the staterooms they rest their heads in, the dining areas they eat in, and the expansive lounge and sundeck areas around the ship all feel new and modern, like a luxury boutique hotel," Graham Carter, chief commercial officer at Unforgettable Travel Company, told Travel + Leisure.

"Unforgettable specializes in balcony ships, and most of our vessels have upper deck cabins with private balconies, so our guests can relax and watch the islands go by from the comfort of their balcony," Carter added. "We also operate the longest vessels in Croatia, which stand at 170 feet, compared to most vessels in Croatia, which are around 150 feet. This additional space means our cabins are slightly larger than most.”

Dreamer4787/Getty Images/Courtesy of Unforgettable Travel Company

Carter pointed out another advantage of the ship’s size: "The benefit of exploring the Croatian coast on a small vessel like ours is the ability to get into smaller hidden destinations off limits to bigger ships or even yachts. As our vessels are all registered in Croatia, we can dock directly in smaller ports overnight, giving our guests the ability to enjoy excursions and dinner on shore each evening without the rush of having to get back to the ship before it leaves."

Every detail during the week felt both luxurious and comfortably casual at the same time. Each day offered surprises — like an unexpected pizza party one late afternoon — along with what quickly became familiar. Alex and Vlada, our hosts, made everyone feel welcome and pampered, and, like the other guests, felt like old friends by the end of the cruise — which came way too soon. I wholeheartedly agree with Carter’s comment: “We find that guests board as complete strangers, and by the captain’s dinner at the end of the week, it’s like a happy family where everyone knows one another, and they’re swapping phone numbers on the last day.”

Here are more details about our seven-night cruise along the coast of Croatia aboard MV Memories .

MV Memories

• All 19 cabins feature spacious storage, terry cloth robes, showers with great water pressure, convenient charging ports, individual air conditioning controls, and either balconies (11 upper deck) or portholes (eight lower deck).
• For our daily dips in the Adriatic, the main deck platform with two ladders made it easy to dive in and climb out. There were also paddleboards, styrofoam floats, kayaks, and a jet ski for a fun ride with one of the crew.
• The breakfast buffet included fresh fruit, juices, baked goods, eggs, vegetables, meats, pancakes, and a menu offering individually prepared dishes, plus brewed coffee and delicious cappuccino from an excellent (all-day) coffee machine. 
• The two hosts who served breakfast, lunch, and our special dinners, as well as all day and evening cocktails, were excellent, and their hospitality and friendly, professional style created the perfect atmosphere.
• Our Cruise Director was personable, organized, and fun, keeping everyone informed about plans and joining our group for the walking tours and bus trips.

The 19 staterooms each measure between 161 and 183 square feet of efficiently used space. They have a desk, nightstand with two drawers, twin or full beds, spacious closet, small sofa, safe deposit box, life jackets, and a window (or porthole on the lower deck). The bathrooms have a shower, sink, hair dryer, and toilet, and each cabin has individually controlled air conditioning. Free, dependable Wi-Fi is available throughout the ship.

Nearly identical in design, the MV Bellissima and MV Memories , Unforgettable Travel’s Croatia Signature cruise ships, were launched in 2021. They feature state-of-the-art technology and modern design details. MV Memories offers one Superior VIP Deck Cabin and 10 VIP private balcony cabins. MV Bellissima features 11 VIP private balcony cabins; both ships have eight lower deck porthole cabins.

Bars & Restaurants

A buffet breakfast is served daily in the main dining room from 8 until 9:30 a.m.; coffee and tea are available from 7 a.m. There’s a daily three-course lunch with a delicious soup, salad, or risotto starter, main course, and dessert. Two dinners — the welcome dinner and captain’s dinner — are provided, and wine is offered along with meals. A full bar with a lounge area is on the main deck; on the sun deck, there’s a large bar in the shaded area. Dining is informal, with no dress code. Alex, our head bartender, hosted a wine and olive oil tasting aboard the ship one afternoon.

Amenities & Entertainment

During cruising — or anytime on the ship — guests can find lounge chairs, a jacuzzi, and shaded and sunny areas on the upper deck. The main deck features the restaurant and a covered outdoor lounge with sofas. The ships offer many places for sunbathing, quiet time, or gatherings. Board games, playing cards, and novelty games are available for guests.

From May to October, the ships cruise between Split and Dubrovnik with adults-only, seven-night cruises.

Several shore excursions took guests inland from the Adriatic coast to see more of Croatia. We traveled on plush, air-conditioned buses to Krka Waterfalls National Park, the Blue Cave on the Island of Bisevo, Mljet National Park, a winery, and an oyster farm in Ston. In addition, walking tours were offered in Split, Hvar, Old Town Korcula, and Dubrovnik. Tour guides were professional, informative, and entertaining.

The Signature Croatia Cruises are adults only; guests must be at least 18.

Unforgettable Travel Company offers seven-night cruises for $2,295 per person, including breakfast, lunch, private transfers, all excursions, and Wi-Fi. Flights are not included. For further information on 2025 departures, visit https://unforgettabletravel.com/ or call +1-844-879-7838. 

Related Articles

Canadian dead, several others missing after superyacht capsizes off Sicilian coast

Mother who survived held 1-year-old daughter above waves until rescue.

Canadian dead, others missing after superyacht sinks near Sicily

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A Canadian man has died after a luxury yacht was struck by an unexpectedly violent storm and sank off the coast of Sicily early on Monday, local officials said.

The British-flagged Bayesian, a 56-metre-long sailboat, was carrying 22 people and was anchored just off shore near the port of Porticello when it was hit by ferocious weather, the Italian coast guard said in a statement.

Eyewitnesses said the superyacht vanished quickly beneath the waves shortly before dawn. Fifteen people escaped before it went down, including a one-year-old girl.

The Palermo Port Authority told CBC News officials recovered the body of Recaldo Thomas, a Canadian-born man who had been living in Antigua. He had been the ship's on-board cook.

Some media, including CBC, had earlier mistakenly reported his name as Thomas Recaldo or Ricardo Thomas.

Global Affairs Canada said it was "aware of reports" Canadian citizen had died.

"We extend our deepest sympathies to everyone affected by this tragic event," it said in a statement.

• What we know about the capsized superyacht off the Sicilian coast

Six other people were missing after the sinking, including British tech magnate Mike Lynch, his teenage daughter Hannah and Jonathan Bloomer, president of Morgan Stanley International, La Republicca reported.

The Italian coast guard said those who were missing had British, American and Canadian nationalities.

'The ship behind us was gone'

"The wind was very strong. Bad weather was expected, but not of this magnitude," a coast guard official in the Sicilian capital Palermo told Reuters.

Salvo Cocina of Sicily's civil protection agency said a mini tornado known as a waterspout that forms above the water had struck the area overnight. 

Eight of the 15 people rescued were transferred to local hospitals. All were in a stable condition, local media reported.

One of the survivors, identified as Charlotte Emsley, said she had momentarily lost hold of her one-year-old daughter, Sofia, in the water, but then managed to hold her up over the waves until a lifeboat inflated and they were both pulled to safety, Italian news agency ANSA reported, quoting the mother.

The father, James Emsley, also survived, Cocina said.

The captain of a nearby boat told Reuters that when the storm hit, he turned the engine on to keep control of the vessel and avoid a collision with the Bayesian.

"We managed to keep the ship in position, and after the storm was over, we noticed that the ship behind us was gone," Karsten Borner told journalists.

He said that his crew then found some of the survivors on a life raft, including three who were seriously injured, and took them on board before the coast guard picked them up.

'The ship behind us was gone,' says captain who rescued yacht passengers

Mother saves 1-year-old daughter.

The Bayesian was built by Italian shipbuilder Perini in 2008.

The luxury ship has an aluminum hull and can carry 12 guests and a crew of up to 10, according to online specialist yacht sites.

It was owned by a firm called Revtom Limited, according to the shipspotting.com website. Lynch's wife, Angela Bacares, is named as the sole shareholder of the firm on company documents.

'It was a big disaster,' boater says of storm that capsized luxury yacht

Cocina of the civil protection agency said Bacares was among those rescued, but it wasn't immediately clear if she required hospital treatment.

Lynch, 59, is one of Britain's best-known tech entrepreneurs. He built the country's largest software firm, Autonomy, from his groundbreaking research at Cambridge University. His PhD thesis and the software that made his fortune was based on one of the mathematical theories of English statistician Thomas Bayes, after whom the yacht was named.

Lynch sold the firm to HP in a multibillion-dollar deal in 2011, before the transaction unravelled spectacularly following the acquisition, with the U.S. tech giant accusing him of fraud.

Lynch spent much of the last decade in court defending his name. He was acquitted by a jury in San Francisco in June after he spent more than a year living effectively under house arrest.

In a grim coincidence, one of his co-defendants in the U.S. fraud trial, Autonomy's former vice-president of finance Stephen Chamberlain, was hit by a car while out running in Cambridgeshire on Saturday morning, two days before the Bayesian capsized. He was placed on life support and died Monday, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke with Reuters.

Divers find wreckage

The coast guard said divers were inspecting the wreck of the Bayesian, which was lying at a depth of 49 metres.

Prosecutors in the nearby town of Termini Imerese have opened an investigation to look into what had gone wrong.

Storms and heavy rainfall have swept down Italy in recent days after weeks of scorching heat, which had lifted the temperature of the Mediterranean sea to record levels, raising the risk of extreme weather conditions, experts said.

"The sea surface temperature around Sicily was around 30 C, which is almost three degrees more than normal. This creates an enormous source of energy that contributes to these storms," said meteorologist Luca Mercalli.

"We can't say that this is all due to global warming, but we can say that it has an amplifying effect."

The boat left the Sicilian port of Milazzo on Aug. 14 and was last tracked east of Palermo on Sunday evening, with a navigation status of "at anchor," according to vessel tracking app Vesselfinder.

A U.K. Foreign Ministry spokesperson said British officials were in contact with local authorities over the capsizing and were ready to provide consular support for Britons who were affected.

Corrections

• A previous version of this story identified the Canadian Antiguan killed in the sinking as Thomas Recaldo. In fact, his name is Recaldo Thomas. Aug 21, 2024 9:12 AM ET

With files from CBC's Megan Williams and The Associated Press

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