Boston Herald
July 14, 2002
These Cruise Ship Yachts are a Dream

Aside from owning your own yacht, there aren't many other ways you
can leisurely crawl between the British Virgin Islands or along
the French Riviera with few rules and regimented activities. The
SeaDream Yacht Club's pair of identical 110-passenger ships, the
SeaDream I and SeaDream II, are as close as you'll get to living
the pampered, yachting life Jackie O and Aristotle enjoyed a few
decades back. This pair of shiplets, each with a crew of 89, is
nothing like today's homogenous megaships with their set itineraries
and busy roster of bingo, napkin folding and Vegas-style shows.

"Our guests are not looking to travel with their 2,000 closet friends,
they're looking for something that is intimate," says SeaDream Yacht
Club Chairman & CEO Larry Pimentel, who as past president of Seabourn
Cruise Line and later president and CEO of the merged Cunard and
Seabourn, is a co-owner of the new venture along with Seabourn founder
Norwegian entrepreneur Atle Brynestad. On the SeaDream yachts, the
captain alters itineraries, with guests' approval, on a whim (like
if an upcoming port is too crowded), and a raft of high-tech toys
are on hand, from ski jets to portable MP3 music players, mountain
bicycles, and a golf simulator.

Formerly the mid-80s-built Sea Goddess I and Sea Goddess II of Cunard
and then Seabourn Cruise Line, in August 2001 the ships were sold
to the new venture and completely renovated. Now, they're geared
to a younger, active 40s crowd who wants luxury and top-end cuisine
without stuffiness, ties or tuxes.

Rates for weeklong jaunts remain enticingly low through year-end
as they do with many cruise lines trying to drum up business in
the aftermath of September 11. Mediterranean cruises are going for
as low as $2,100 a person, and Caribbean and Bahamas sailings start
at $2,200 a person. For as little as $300 a person per day, you
get an incredible week of pampering, including accommodation in
comfortable nautically-styled 195-square-foot outside staterooms
with stocked mini-bars, terrycloth robes, Bulgari bath products,
CD and DVD players, flat-screen TVs, and Internet access. Unlimited
spirits and wine, and gratuities are included in the rates, as well
as extras like decadent champagne and caviar beach barbeque parties
on Jost Van Dyke and Virgin Gorda.

Extensive renovations completed earlier this year included adding
more outdoor deck space, namely up top on Deck 6. Here, the outdoor
Top of the Yacht Bar, with its rattan furniture, royal blue-striped
cushions, and endless wood, is the ships' hangout of choice. Across
this deck are extravagant queen-sized Balinese sun beds for sunbathing
(and sleeping under the stars), along with captain's chairs and
high-powered binoculars. Below decks is the main restaurant, piano
bar, small casino, gift shop, library, gym, and elegant spa, spaces
featuring stained wood floors, Oriental carpets, and exotic floral
arrangements. On Deck 5 aft, is the casual open-air Topside Restaurant,
and two below that is a pool and hot tub on a patch of open decking
that juts out over the sea.

Like true yachts, there's a port of call every day on most itineraries,
including many late night and overnight stays so guests can spend
the evening on shore.

Most of the seven-night Mediterranean cruises offered through late
October sail from Nice on Saturdays, visiting French and Italian
ports including Monte Carlo, Villefranche, and Portofino. This fall,
seven-night Bahamas cruises sail Saturdays roundtrip out of Palm
Beach, Florida, visiting Nassau, Rose Island, and San Salvador,
in The Bahamas, as well as Turks and Caicos and Key West. Weeklong
Caribbean trips depart from St. Thomas, visiting St. John, St. Croix,
St. Barts, St. Martin, Virgin Gorda, and Jost Van Dyke. Beginning
in February of 2003, all Caribbean cruises will have Sunday departures
to cater to honeymooners. Though more than half of the line's business
is full-ship charters (rates start at $350,000 if you're interested),
the ships generally depart in tandem from the same port so guests
can be switched to the adjacent sister yacht at the last minute
if necessary.

While there are a handful of organized shore excursions offered
for a fee, like a private Vatican tour in Rome or a wine tasting
in a local French restaurant, most activities are included in the
rates. Onboard, there may be an informal wine tasting at the Yacht
Bar, a stroll up to the bridge when the mood strikes (it's always
open to passengers), and of course the ships' wide selection of
water sports.

Anchoring at many of its scenic ports, activities like water skiing
and sailing are offered from the ships' retractable marinas. Or
join the captain on a kayaking and snorkeling jaunt he may be leading
to a quiet Virgin Gorda cove, meet up with the chef for a tour of
local bakeries in Provence, or follow the bartender for a night
out to a local watering hole, like Foxys on Jost Van Dyke.

"We attract an active audience," Pimentel says. "Our ships are clearly
not floating geriatrics units."

(For more information, call 800-707-4911 or go to www.Seadreamyachtclub.com).