Sadly, we’ve reached the final day of our voyage. Last night, the ship slipped into the tail end of a large storm system — and yes, we’re rocking once again!
Today will be spent packing, saying goodbye to the wonderful crew members who made this trip so special, and sharing some tearful farewells with fellow passengers we’ve grown especially fond of.
Our friend Mr. C, who lives in Sydney and is also disembarking tomorrow, is hosting a small gathering at his home tomorrow evening for friends and a few fellow passengers. Since the ship is overnighting in Sydney, some continuing passengers will even be able to attend.
Originally, our friends from near Brisbane planned to spend time with us here in Sydney, but unfortunately something came up that’s keeping them at home. Thankfully, Mr. C has stepped in and promised to show us parts of Sydney we haven’t seen on our prior visits. We’re excited to experience the city through his eyes!
As promised, here is our assessment of cruising with Seabourn compared to our many voyages with Princess Cruises.
If you’ve been following our blog since the beginning of this voyage, you already know we’ve highlighted quite a few differences along the way. We also recognize this isn’t a perfectly apples-to-apples comparison. However, if you typically book suites or Reserve Collection mini-suites with the Plus or Premier Package on Princess, you’re actually getting very close to Seabourn pricing — with an enormous difference in what you receive.
Seabourn is far more personalized and luxurious, with hospitality that feels genuinely warm and intensely personal. Thanks to a higher crew-to-guest ratio, the staff anticipates your preferences — from how you like your coffee to your dinner seating — often without you even asking. It’s less “cruise line service” and more “your own hospitality team at sea.” Think of Princess’ already excellent service — but more intuitive, more tailored, and more attentive.
The dining experience is significantly elevated. Multiple gourmet restaurants are included (no cover charges), with destination-inspired menus and wine, champagne, caviar, and spirits included at all times. The quality of the ingredients is noticeably higher than what you typically see on Princess. And the larger crew presence is obvious — there’s simply never any waiting for anything.
Their smaller ships (450–600 guests) create a completely different atmosphere. Spaces feel intimate, calm, and uncluttered. Lounges and deck areas are elegant without ever feeling crowded. The spa, wellness, and enrichment programs are destination-focused and high quality. If you enjoy Princess’ social vibe, Seabourn refines it into something more tranquil and tailored — almost like a private country club at sea.
Because of the smaller ships, Seabourn can access ports that larger vessels simply can’t reach. They offer more boutique destinations, frequent overnight stays, and deeper cultural immersion. It feels less like “checking off ports” and more like truly experiencing them.
The stateroom amenities are closer to what we’ve experienced at Four Seasons properties. This really differentiates Seabourn from Princess. From the plush bath sheets to — yes — even the toilet paper 😄 — everything is top quality and thoughtfully curated.
They also offer a Future Cruise Deposit program: $500 per person, fully refundable if not used within one year. That deposit provides a 5% discount, and if you book onboard, you receive an additional 5% discount. On top of that, they frequently run promotional offers.
The only downside we see is that with a fleet of just three ocean ships (and two expedition ships), itinerary choices are much more limited compared to Princess’ fleet of 17 ships.
Are the fares higher? Yes. But it is far more all-inclusive. No nickel-and-diming. No constant add-ons. Just a seamless, elevated journey.
🎯 Bottom Line: Think of Seabourn as what happens when Princess takes everything you already enjoy and elevates it to a true luxury level — without losing the heart of what makes cruising magical.
We’ve enjoyed Seabourn so much that we booked a 40-day voyage for 2027 and a 30-day voyage for 2028. We’ll still have Princess cruises in between — because separating ourselves from our many longtime staff and crew friends on Princess would be nearly impossible. ❤️
So if you're ready to take your cruising experience up a few luxurious notches, we would highly recommend giving Seabourn a try!
That's it for today. Our next stop tomorrow will be the Sydney Four Seasons Hotel...
