What a difference a couple of years make. Three years ago when we first travelled on Seabourn Odyssey, when she was brand new, there were many Seabourn regulars who weren’t happy with the new class of ship. “Too big and lacking the old Seabourn charm” was the main complaint but on this cruise there are no detractors and Odyssey seems to have won people over.

Odyssey and her sister ships Sojourn and Quest have been receiving rave reviews since they came into service and now the smaller and more intimate Seabourn ships are to be sold off.

And the reason for that is pretty simple: with a capacity of 450 guests, there’s still plenty of space on board to find those quiet and intimate spots and Odyssey has one of the highest space-to-guest ratio of any ship at sea. But what sets her apart is the contemporary and modern style which basically makes her a floating boutique hotel, although some traditional amenities, like the forward jacuzzi, have been fused in to keep the cruise line’s fiercely loyal regulars happy.

All 225 suites have an ocean view and 90% with balconies. All suites feature flat screen TV’s with an extensive range of on-demand movies and entertainment, iPod docking stations, wireless internet access, 24 hour room service, complimentary champagne on arrival, fully stocked bar and fridge, walk-in closet, personalised stationary and writing desk, granite bathroom with separate tub and shower and a separate makeup vanity.

The legendary Seabourn service is also still a feature: crew make an effort to remember everyone’s names and what they like, and it’s attentive and friendly without being too “heavy”. While this is typical of Seabourn, the design elements of the Odyssey have been welcomed as an innovative and refreshing departure from the way traditional cruise ships are built. Quite simply, Odyssey has been hailed as the world’s most luxurious cruise ship and very few people can name anything better than this.

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