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Introduction to Seabourn Ovation Dining
Dining is a very important factor to us when we cruise. You could say we are Cruise Foodies and love to share our experiences with like-minded cruisers. In this article, we look at the dining options onboard Seabourn Ovation, the 600-guest Ultra Luxury cruise ship in the Seabourn fleet.
Launched in 2018, Seabourn Ovation is the latest ship in the Seabourn fleet and sister ship to Seabourn Encore. We have sailed on both ships and believe the dining experience on both ships is almost identical. Unfortunately, we often notice the lack of dining venues on Seabourn ships compared to newer ships from Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Silversea, lines with which we frequently cruise and that are identified as being in the Ultra-Luxury Cruise sector.
We love the fact that all the dining options are included in the cruise fare, unlike some other all-inclusive lines that charge extra for speciality dining.
We also found that there is plenty of choice for vegetarians and a great selection of non alcoholic drinks for those who wish to avoid alcohol. There is even a dedicated no alcoholic cocktail menu in the Observation Lounge called ZERO@SEA.
Helping you choose where to dine each evening, Seabourn provides a handy daily short-form Dining Guide that details each restaurant’s evening dinner menu.
The dining venues onboard include The Restaurant, Solis, The Colonnade, Sushi, The Patio Grill, which transforms into Earth & Ocean in the evening, Seabourn Square and Room Service. One hidden venue for dining is The Retreat, and we will mention this in more detail in this article.
The Restaurant, aka the MDR
Simply known as The Restaurant, this is the main dining room (MDR), which is located on Deck 4 aft. Designed by Adam D Tihany the famous hospitality designer based in New York The Restaurant is a space which has a soft contemporary feel although the ceiling does feel low in places.
In the central space there is a cathedral like ceiling with stunning lighting which makes the perfect location for larger tables or indeed hosted tables. Seabourn operates an open dining policy where no booking is required and you can dine when and with whom you wish.
There are tables of two, four, six and up to 10 guests, which makes it ideal for group events or multigenerational meals. This is the more elegant of the Seabourn dining venues and seats about 400 guests.
Interestingly, Seabourn still offers Hosted tables with officers or entertainment staff – we really like this option and accept whenever invited. The dress code in the restaurant is relaxed and generally is Elegant Casual with one or two formal nights on each voyage.
On arrival at the restaurant, the Hostess will greet you and allocate your table based on how full the restaurant is. Window seats always get taken first, as do the stations with the known best servers! Strictly no reserving of your favourite table!
The table settings in the restaurant are simple when compared with other Ultra Luxury brands and generally consist of plain white charger plates and crockery. Each table has a red rose, and Seabourn breadsticks adorn the table. These are very popular and so tasty.
The dinner menu has been simplified, offering a good choice of starters, main courses, desserts, and cheese. We found there were always plenty of vegetarian options available. Sadly, the classic “always available” menu seems to have been discontinued, which we found a little surprising, as it is nice to have one of the old favourites like Caesar salad, steaks, and pasta occasionally.
The restaurant now only seems to open for breakfast and lunch occasionally on sea days. On our latest voyage, it only opened for breakfast on one sea day and for lunch twice. As we love to avoid buffets at breakfast time, we found this quite disappointing.
The Restaurant Opening Times:
Breakfast – Some Sea Days 8:00 – 9:00
Lunch – Some Sea Days 13:00 – 14:00
Dinner – every day 18.00 – 21.00
Solis
Once every 7 days of your cruise, you can book a table in Solis. This beautiful restaurant, by reservation only, was formerly “The Grill” by Thomas Keller and is small, accommodating approximately 80 covers with tables for two, four, and six, as well as a few larger tables.
We are not big fans of the tables for two, finding them far too small and frustratingly close to your fellow diners. The bench-style seating at the rear also felt uncomfortably low. There is an outdoor space behind the restaurant for dining, but it didn’t seem to be used much during our visit. Previously, this was not allowed in Thomas Keller’s time.
The crockery is more glitzy than in other venues and portrays the upmarket Mediterranean feel of the restaurant. Offering an extensive menu of light, modern Mediterranean cuisine full of colour and imagination, Solis is all about the culinary experience. It is a delightful break from some of the more traditional dishes offered in The Restaurant, The Patio and even The Colonnade.
The menu is quite comprehensive, with numerous excellent options available, making it difficult to choose. You will find Appetisers, Risotto and Pasta, from the Garden, from the Sea, from the Butcher, from the Grill, Side dishes, Side Sauces, Cheese, Desserts, and Gelato.
We loved the Panzanella salad prepared at your table as an Appetiser and the Branzino Al Sal, a whole Mediterranean Sea Bass baked in a sea salt-encrusted pastry and served with Dauphinoise Potatoes and Grilled Mediterranean Vegetables – a truly special dish for seafood enthusiasts.
Solis is located at the aft of Deck 8 and is open from 6:00 to 9:00 pm; reservations are essential.
Solis does not open for lunch.
The Collonade
On deck 9, you will find The Colonnade, a Seabourn self-service buffet-style dining venue with seating both inside and outside, under a lovely canopy that provides welcome shade in hotter regions.
With approximately 280-300 covers, the Colonnade’s only downside is that large groups of guests can make it challenging to find a table during peak breakfast or lunch hours, especially if the outside space is closed due to bad weather. We always try to arrive early to ensure a good table.
There is a wide range of tables and a few cafe-style bar stools, as well as a large outdoor terrace that is heated to enable all-weather alfresco dining. On sunny days, the aft outside space fills up very quickly, so be sure to arrive early. Breakfast includes all the usual offerings such as pastries, yoghurt, smoothies, cereals, fruit, and berries from the buffet. Additionally, there is a vast selection of cooked items available from the serving station. A small selection of à la carte items, such as pancakes and eggs, can be ordered from your server along with Teas and coffees.
At lunch, The Colonnade offers a buffet salad bar, as well as premade options and hot dishes. These are quite often themed to the region in which you are sailing and include daily specials, local fish, regional dishes and a soup of the day. Burgers and hot dogs can also be ordered from your waiter. There’s a separate dessert section, plus four flavours of gelato are available from the Seabourn signature vintage-style Gelato cart. The colonnade is an excellent place for lunch and for us sitting outside on the terrace with beautiful sea views and a glass of chilled bubbles or a French Rose, it doesn’t get much better than this. We have always found the food in the Collonade to be excellent, with a vast choice which never disappoints.
Dinner typically starts at 6:00, but might be opened earlier to accommodate passengers going out on evening tours. It’s generally a themed menu with table service, some of which require a reservation. Menu items are limited to three starters, two mains, and one dessert, making it not the best option for picky eaters or vegetarians. During a Market Dinner, a display table may be set up as a special addition to the buffet with local items purchased during the previous day’s Shopping with the Chef outing. These evenings offer an excellent opportunity to experience local regional cuisine.
The Collonade usually opens from 7:00 AM until 9:30 AM and is the most popular venue on the ship for breakfast.
Seabourn Square
There is nothing quite like Seabourn Square. Located on Deck seven aft and also housing guest services and the future cruises desk, this is a busy spot. Open from 6:15 am to 6 pm. It’s a great place to meet, mingle and relax, mainly because at the front of Seabourn Square is the cafe.
The coffee served here is freshly roasted in their coffee roaster, and the barista’s prepared coffee is strong and rich, which is an excellent complement to the light breakfast options available from the food counter.
Takaways’ drinks are served in reusable ceramic cups. There are no charges for teas or coffees, and the assortment of muffins and lite bites– from fruit tart to grandma cake, shortbread and little chocolate pots and finger sandwiches tempts manyof us, even after a large breakfast.
From mid-morning, the breakfast fair changes to a light lunch selection, offering finger style sandwiches, cookies, biscotti slices of cake, and small bite-sized cakes with a special mention to the chocolate lava cookies, which are absolutely scrumptious. Lite Bites are available in Seabourn Square throughout the day until 6:00 PM. At the end of the bar is a separate gelato station. Which every day offers five or six different flavors of homemade gelato, which is made on board by a special chef who works through the night to deliver daily special flavors of gelato
Sushi
Also located on Deck 8, you will find Sushi, an intimate dining venue serving fresh sashimi and sushi. With approximately 30 covers, the restaurant is relatively small, but what it lacks in size it more than makes up for in style. The decor is light and features individual tables for two and four, as well as a sushi counter where diners can watch the chefs in action. Sushi is open for both lunch and dinner.
At lunch, you get to choose from a selection of bento boxes, all served with miso soup, a salad and dessert. Choices include Umi Bento with Grilled Salmon, Riko Bento with Teriyaki Chicken, Gyoza Bento and Noen Bento, plus Ramen noodles. You can get a side of sushi rolls including salmon, crab, BBQ eel, shrimp or vegetable. Our experience is that lunch at Sushi is better if you like Japanese/Oriental cuisine rather than just sushi.
The dinner menu features an array of sashimi and sushi starters, main courses, small plates, salads, and desserts. A selection of vegetarian options is also available, but there are no main course dishes that are not sushi or sashimi.
Among the drink choices are Japanese beer, sake, wine, Sencha green tea and Sushi’s signature cocktail Sake Verde. Surprisingly, no reservations are needed for Sushi despite it being very popular and having a small footprint. It is first-come, first-served. We found that arriving at the restaurant’s opening time usually means you can get a table.
Sushi is open for lunch from 12:00 -14:00 and for dinner from 18.00 to 20.45.
The Patio
With its truly Alfresco theme and located on Deck 9 Poolside, The Patio is Seabourn’s casual grill at one end of the pool. It offers breakfast and lunch and converts to Earth and Ocean in the evening.
Breakfast is a healthier option, with daily specials including Loaded Croissants, Tagines, and Tartines, which are delightful open-faced sandwiches. There are also overnight oats and Super Bowls (a bit ike a Poke Bowl). It’s generally much quieter here than at the colonnade, and for us, it makes for a very relaxing breakfast.
A buffet-style lunch is available from 1:00 p.m. with salads, pizza, and daily specials such as fajitas and grilled fish. There are also featured chef special events where the Chef will prepare a local delicacy for you to try. We tried the Moroccan couscous – divine. You can order grilled items, such as burgers, hot dogs, and the fish of the day, from the roving waiters.
Earth & Ocean
At night, the Patio transforms into a pop-up venue called Earth & Ocean. Developed by Seabourn’s culinary consultant, chef Anton (Tony) Egger, the concept features adventurous menus inspired by his world travels and rustic table settings designed by New York-based ceramic artist Wynne Noble.
With its eclectic twist and outdoor setting, Earth & Ocean is the ship’s most casual dinner option. It’s also the ship’s late-dining option, usually open from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Menus change nightly throughout the week and include three starters, three mains, and three desserts, plus a vegetarian option. Some of our favourite mouth-watering dishes included Oven-Baked Rigatoni Pasta, Garlic Shrimp, Baked Cod, and Peruvian-style Roasted Salmon. The menu choices were exciting and perfect for the alfresco setting.
While waiting for your food to arrive, it’s always hard to resist the bacon-flavoured breakfast toast, served with sourdough bread and accompanied by smoky chicken rillettes, which are dramatically revealed from a smoked-filled glass cloche. Sun-dried tomato paste and olive tapenade completed our nibbles board. All very theatrical, but can be a bit repetitive if you dine there often. If you’re sceptical about a pool deck dinner option, don’t be.
The food, service, and setting are all up to Seabourn’s high standards, and it’s lovely to dine alfresco or watch the sunset as the ship sails. This can be a very popular venue, and although booking isn’t necessary, we suggest arriving early, especially on the night of the pool deck party or if the weather is particularly warm.
Observation Lounge for Afternoon Tea
Located at the front of the ship on deck 11, the observation lounge is the place for afternoon tea. Boasting a 180-degree view over the bow of the ship, this is the perfect spot to enjoy this Seabourn special. Afternoon tea is served from 4:00 to 5 pm about twice a week.
You need to watch the daily program to check when afternoon tea is being scheduled. It features a selection of loose tea by TWG and is served in authentic teapots, complete with a strainer and a timer to indicate when to pour. Food is served on three-tiered cake stands, featuring a selection of bite-sized sandwiches, cakes, scones, and desserts. You can also opt for scones with jam and cream, which is our usual choice.
This is an excellent option if you have missed lunch or don’t feel like having a heavy dinner. Afternoon tea is a must-do for us, and it’s a very civilised way to while away your time at the end of the afternoon.
In Suite Dining
The Retreat
For those guests who enjoy the privacy and relaxation of the Retreat, this is one of the lesser-known dining options available. Opening at 9:00 am, there is no breakfast served in the retreat, but you will be offered a delightful fresh fruit plate on arrival.
For lunch, you can choose from a healthy options menu unique to the retreat. We loved the chop chop salad and club sandwich washed down with a fine champagne. Teas, Coffees, and snacks are always available, served by the wonderful Rereat team. Watch out for a special Dinner under the Stars in the Retreat. This is a chargeable special event with gastronomic delights, with a specially crafted menu paired with the finest high-end wines. Great for a romantic special occasion.
Final Words
There may not be as many dining options on Seabourn Ovation and Seabourn Encore, but what they do have work very well for a ship of this size. By introducing different themes and concepts for dining in each of the restaurants, depending on whether it is lunch or dinner, it gives a wide range of possibilities. We like the options on board, but think that perhaps it just needs either a dedicated Asian Fusion or Italian option.
We’ve captured every detail in our YouTube video tour, including menus and mouth-watering photos of the food, which you can see by watching our Video on YouTube by clicking on the image below.
Alternatively, why not visit our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@aboutluxurycruising for more Seabourn Videos
Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and comment if you’ve sailed Seabourn Ovation or are thinking about it.
Until next time—happy cruising and smooth seas! 🚢✨
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