The last time Eric and I went on a cruise without kids was – well – pre-kids. Over thirteen years ago. So when a kid-free, week-long sail through the Caribbean aboard Seabourn’s Ovation appeared on our radar, it felt like an exclamation point at the end of a very long sentence. I shook off as much mom guilt as I could (let’s call it 80% managed, 20% lingering), and off we went. Eric, of course, commenting on the number of suitcases I packed, as if this were somehow new information after all these years.
We arrived in St. Maarten the night before setting sail and kept things intentionally low-key. A quiet evening, a slow morning walk along the beach, and then a car arrived to whisk us to the port, just 5 minutes away from the hotel. From the very beginning, it was clear this would be a different kind of cruise experience. The onboarding process was quick and seamless. Impeccably organized, calm, and efficient. Within fifteen minutes, we were checked in, onboard, and settling into our suite. Champagne appeared almost immediately, along with treats and a thoughtful tour of the room’s amenities by our concierge, down to personalized designer soap options that were noted, remembered, and replenished throughout the sail. That level of detail set the tone for everything that followed.
Exploring the ship
As we explored the ship, what struck me most was how little it felt like a traditional cruise. With just over 600 passengers, Ovation has the intimacy of a yacht rather than the buzz of a floating city. The atmosphere was tranquil, elegant, and refreshingly unhurried – completely my speed. There were endless beautiful seating areas and multiple smaller pools and hot tubs tucked throughout the ship, making it easy to retreat when you wanted quiet or lean into social moments when the mood struck. We met fascinating people from all over the world, but never felt overwhelmed by crowds. A big bonus for this extraverted introvert.
One of my favorite places quickly became the library café and coffee bar. I spent many afternoons there sipping half-caf americanos, catching up on work between excursions, and watching the Caribbean glide by through oversized windows. There was something grounding about being surrounded by books, coffee in hand, the ocean stretching endlessly beyond. Equal parts productive and indulgent.
Excursion Highlights
The excursion I was most looking forward to was Caviar in the Surf, and if there were ever a vacation day I could replay on a loop, this would be it. We arrived by boat to a beach lined with chartreuse umbrellas, where staff greeted us with, what else, champagne. Lots of champagne. As we lounged in the sun, the energy began to shift. A crew waded into the ocean surrounding an oversized surfboard loaded with every caviar accoutrement imaginable. Then came a speedboat, cruising toward shore as a cheerful British voice rang out over a loudspeaker: “Is anyone for caviar?”
What followed felt delightfully theatrical. Crew members leapt into the water, uniforms and all, to cheers from the beach, hoisting giant jars of caviar as they made their way to the surfboard. And just like that, the party was on. Champagne glasses clinked, live music played, and like giddy teenagers we gathered at the shoreline, dancing barefoot in the sand and indulging without restraint. When I say I’m a caviar girl through and through…let’s just say I was the last one standing in that particular food challenge. I briefly forgot this was all followed by a beautiful beachside barbecue lunch, but when in Rome. Or, in this case, when waist-deep in the Caribbean with champagne in hand.
What followed felt delightfully theatrical. Crew members leapt into the water, uniforms and all, to cheers from the beach, hoisting giant jars of caviar as they made their way to the surfboard. And just like that, the party was on. Champagne glasses clinked, live music played, and like giddy teenagers we gathered at the shoreline, dancing barefoot in the sand and indulging without restraint. When I say I’m a caviar girl through and through…let’s just say I was the last one standing in that particular food challenge. I briefly forgot this was all followed by a beautiful beachside barbecue lunch, but when in Rome. Or, in this case, when waist-deep in the Caribbean with champagne in hand.
Lunch was served at Seabourn’s private on-shore restaurant, a gorgeous indoor-outdoor space surrounded by bamboo trees. We claimed a cozy corner table and lingered longer than planned, soaking in the setting and the sense that there was nowhere else we needed to be.
Fine Dining
And still, the day wasn’t over. Back onboard, there were chic dresses waiting to be worn and chic restaurants not to be missed. Our standout dining experience was at Solis. The space itself was stunning, but it was the warmth, knowledge, and attentiveness of the staff that made it a true 10/10. The food was beautifully prepared and thoughtfully served, and by the end of the evening we were deep in conversation with the couples seated on either side of us, one of those nights that feels spontaneous and memorable in the best way.
After dinner, we followed the sound of live music and found ourselves fully leaning into the night. The people watching were fun, the energy contagious, and before long I was happily dancing well past the point I had planned to.
The Spa
The spa was another standout. I booked the ELEMIS Biotec facial (I highly recommend it), but even beyond treatments, the spa amenities were exceptional. The sauna, steam room, heated stone lounge chairs. You could easily make an entire day out of it. I also loved the wellness offerings onboard: small-group yoga and Pilates classes, plus a beautifully designed gym that never felt crowded. It was nice to be able to keep up with my yoga routine while away.
By the time we disembarked in Bardados, I realized what made this trip so special wasn’t just the destinations or the champagne filled moments. It was the feeling of being truly taken care of. The ease, the elegance, the quiet luxury of not having to rush or plan every detail. Seabourn’s Ovation gave us space to reconnect, to slow down, and to savor experiences fully, from coffee in the library to dancing late into the night. It felt restorative in a way that lingered long after we were home, and it reminded me just how powerful it can be to step away and say yes to something that’s purely for you.
Thank you Seabourn for partnering on this gifted trip.
