The fare
The Seabourn Ovation sailings we would shortlist run from about $6,200 per person for 7 nights, depending on ship, suite, season and itinerary.
ResearchLines, ships and destinations, in detail
Seabourn
Seabourn Ovation
Small, sociable, quietly luxurious; Seabourn at its most polished.
Overview
Seabourn Ovation entered service in 2018 and carries around 600 guests in all-suite, all-veranda accommodation with a largely inclusive fare, several restaurants and the sociable, grown-up tone Seabourn is known for.
Ovation is the newest of Seabourn's classic ships and the most refined: The Restaurant, The Grill by Thomas Keller, Sushi, the Colonnade and a very good patio grill, a spa with a thermal area and the Retreat of private cabanas on the top deck.
It suits couples and grandparents traveling as a pair who want a small ship where the crew learn names and the evenings are long dinners. The Norwegian fjords from Dover and the Mediterranean are its best itineraries.
At a glance
- Line
- Seabourn
- Size
- Small ship, around 600 guests
- Entered service
- 2018 (approximate)
- Our pick
- A Veranda suite midship on Deck 7
Thinking about Seabourn Ovation?
We will say whether Seabourn Ovation is right for your party, which suite we would book and which sailing, or name the ship we would choose instead.
Best for
- Couples who want a sociable small ship
- Grandparents traveling without children
- Travelers who want the fjords without flying
- Food-led travelers
Not for
- Families with children
- Anyone who wants big-ship entertainment
- Travelers who want the lowest fare
Price
What Seabourn Ovation costs
Upper luxury with drinks, dining and gratuities included; excursions extra. Planning figures on each sailing page.
What it costs
Planning figures for Seabourn Ovation
Planning figures from the sailings on this page, not a quote.
What that includes
All-suite accommodation; Drinks and dining; Gratuities; Expedition activities on expedition ships. Anything not on that list, we price alongside the fare so there is no surprise on board.
Around the ship
Flights, hotel nights before and after, private transfers and any excursions outside the fare sit on top. Your proposal sets out the cruise fare and additional costs so you can compare the full trip.
Have a budget in mind?
Tell us what you are looking for and the figure you have in mind. We will say what it buys on each line, and where the same money goes further.
On board
Suites, cabins, dining and evenings on Seabourn Ovation
In our words, from the questions we are asked most. Suite names are the line's; which one we would book is ours.
- Suites
- Veranda suites are the core and generous; Penthouse suites add a separate living area; Owner's, Signature and Wintergarden suites at the top.
- Cabins we would book
- A Veranda suite midship on Deck 6 or 7; a Penthouse for a living area. Avoid the far forward on the fjords route if sensitive to motion.
- Dining
- The Restaurant, The Grill by Thomas Keller, Sushi, the Colonnade, Earth and Ocean on the patio; all included, with open seating.
- Entertainment
- A small theater with cabaret, live music in the Club and Observation Bar, Seabourn Conversations lectures. Evenings are social rather than staged.
Want the right suite on Seabourn Ovation?
Tell us who is traveling and we will name the deck and the suite numbers we would hold, and the ones we would avoid.
Children, grandparents, mobility
Seabourn Ovation for the whole family
Three honest notes: what the ship does for children, what it does for grandparents, and what it asks of anyone with limited mobility.
- Children
- No club; children are welcome but there is nothing for them. Not our pick for families.
- Grandparents
- Among the easiest ships for a couple in their sixties and seventies: small, sociable, a crew who remember how you take your coffee, and scenery from the veranda.
- Accessibility
- Accessible suites in a few categories; some fjord and Mediterranean ports use tenders. We check each itinerary.
Planning for the whole family?
Connecting suites, different activity levels, dining that works for everyone, and transfers that suit grandparents and toddlers alike. The best family suites go first, so start early.
Where it sails
Where Seabourn Ovation goes
The regions this ship sails as far as we know; the itinerary confirms the ports and the season.
Norwegian Fjords
No long flight, dramatic scenery from your terrace, and a season made for grandparents.
Mediterranean
The easiest great cruise there is: short flights, famous ports, and a ship for every kind of family.
Baltic & Northern Capitals
Copenhagen, Stockholm, Tallinn and Helsinki in a week, with culture the whole way.
Greek Islands
Small ships, island overnights, and a late season that runs into October.
Caribbean
Winter sun for the whole family, on ships that make Christmas and half-term easy.
Sample itineraries
Sailings we would consider on Seabourn Ovation
Planning figures per person; the final price depends on date, suite and availability.
Seabourn Ovation: the Norwegian fjords from Dover
No flight, a small sociable ship, and scenery from the veranda from breakfast to midnight.
Not sure where to go?
Give us the month, who is traveling and how far you will fly. A specialist will name the two or three regions and ships we would choose.
Deck plans and photographs
Deck plans and pictures of Seabourn Ovation
On Seabourn's official site; we send the marked-up plan with every proposal.
Seabourn Encore, sister ship to Ovation, approaching DubrovnikPhoto: Wolfgang Fricke · CC BY 3.0 
Seabourn Quest at sea, seen from the starboard sidePhoto: Piergiuliano Chesi · CC BY 3.0 
Seabourn Sojourn under way, twin funnels and tiered aft decksPhoto: kees torn · CC BY-SA 4.0 
Seabourn Venture, the dark-hulled expedition ship, under way on gray waterPhoto: kees torn · CC BY-SA 2.0 
Seabourn Pursuit, Seabourn's second expedition ship, under wayPhoto: Shipsoftheworld11 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Our promise
We will say no.
We do not recommend a cruise because it is expensive, and we do not put people on the wrong ship. If Seabourn Ovation is not right for your party, we will tell you and suggest the one that is, even if it costs less or is sold by someone else. We are an advisor, not a booking engine.
Speak to a specialistGood to know
Seabourn Ovation FAQs
Is Seabourn Ovation good for families?
For adult families, yes. There is no children's club and nothing laid on for them, so for grandchildren we would steer you to Explora.
Same line
Other Seabourn ships we have written up
Seabourn Encore
Ovation's elder sister: the same ship, two years older.
Seabourn Quest
The smaller Seabourn ship that goes to Antarctica and the fjords.
Seabourn Venture
Seabourn's purpose-built expedition ship, with two submarines.
Compared
Seabourn against the alternatives
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Where the food is genuinely worth the fare: Oceania, Silversea, Regent, Seabourn and Explora compared for restaurants, inclusions and the kind of traveler each suits.
The best luxury cruises for over-60s
Luxury cruise lines that suit travelers in their sixties and seventies: pacing, comfort, inclusive fares, accessibility, no-fly options and the ships we recommend most.
Plan your Seabourn Ovation cruise with Blackbury Travel.
Our pick: A Veranda suite midship on Deck 7. Tell us who is traveling and when, and we will say which sailing and which suite, or whether another ship would suit you better.