#Seabourn/Windstar – Seabourn Cruises ulta-luxury Seabourn Legend that called to Dun Laoghaire Harbour yesterday, is making her final cruise to Irish and UK ports before her transfer to Windstar Cruises next year, writes Jehan Ashmore.
Her sale along with a pair of sisters to Windstar Cruises, will see the intimate 212 guest superyacht-like vessel renamed Star Legend enter service in April 2015.
By coincidence, the fourth and final caller to Dun Laoghaire this season will be Windstar Cruises sail-assisted five-mast cruiseship, Wind Surf which is due to visit this week. She has become the harbour's most frequent caller since the Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company re-launched in promoting the cruise business in 2011.
Returning to Seabourn Legend and under the command of Captain Dvergastein, the 9,975 tonnes vessel took a pilot before entering the embracing harbour arms of Dun Laoghaire (see previous report). She is on a 15 day 'Route of Britannia' cruise which had departed from the Pool of London, from where the 134m vessel transited through Tower Bridge.
She had visited St. Mary's, Scilly, and as previously reported on Afloat.ie, Waterford City Quays, marking an historic record-breaking total of three callers visiting on the one day. Today, she is in Belfast, where she is reunited with Hamburg which too had formed the trio meeting in the south-eastern city along with Silver Cloud.
The Seabourn Legend has an almost full occupancy booked for this cruise and this evening she is bound for ports along the western isles of Scotland and also a call to Greenock.
Following her Clydeside call, she is to return through the Irish Sea with further calls to the Isle of Man, France and Belgium before terminating her cruise back in London.
As to be expected with an upmarket cruise operator, Seabourn Cruises offers a very high standard in cuisine. They are a member of the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, one of the world's most prestigious gastronomic societies devoted to fine dining, in which The Restaurent on Deck 3 is the place to be.
Among the other facilities there is the Veranda Café Lounge and nearby outdoor pool plus a pair of whirlpools. Also on that deck is the beauty salon, spa and gym. There is The Club bar and piano lounge, Casino, Show Lounge, Library / Video, Boutique and Card room.
As for accommodation, there are six categories of suites, in which there are a pair of owner's suites (54sq m) located on Deck 6. Features include living room with semi-circular couch, ocean view, dining area, forward-facing private veranda, bedroom with one queen size bed only, a walk-in closet and alcove closet. There is a bathroom with tub, shower and vanity plus a guest bath.
In addition the Owner Suites come equipped with two flat-screen TVs with DVD players, Bose Wave CD stereo system and there is complimentary Wi-Fi / internet service.
