Guest Bloggers Adam McCulloch and Emma Sloley are married travel writers based in New York. Originally from Australia, they moved to the U.S. in 2004. They have traveled to over 60 countries and written for a wide range of publications, including Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, New York magazine, Gotham, Gourmet Traveller, Coastal Living, Reader’s Digest and Outside. Adam and Emma are sending us stories and pictures daily from their 14-day voyage aboard Seabourn Odyssey between Rome and Venice. Come by and read their blogs often.

Day 2 – April 29, 2013: Sorrento, Italy

So today we got ruined. No, not through a deleterious lack of sleep due to jet lag (although that certainly helped.) We visited the legendary ruins of Pompeii, and we walked away impressed: less by Pompeii itself than by the lack of it. Sure, we were amazed by how damn clever the Romans were. How could we not be? The seats in the music hall were made from porous volcanic stone to absorb the sound, and the nearby merchants stored food in heated terracotta pots, thereby inventing the world’s first bain-marie-style food warmer. We were impressed by how intact so much of the city was: the frescoes were still bright and the plumbing was in better order than our apartment in New York. And we were slightly appalled by how disgusting the Romans were: washing clothes in human urine? Phallic symbols engraved into the sidewalk? We almost blushed.

All of this was impressive, but nothing was more extraordinary than the fact that Pompeii managed to vanished completely and remain forgotten for 1500 years. Picture this: you grew up in Pompeii and spent your years perfecting the art of creating phallic oil lamps (which were found in abundance during the excavation). You took your craft seriously, envisaging a whole range of phallic objets d’art: lamps, boats, buildings…maybe even the red souvenirs we saw while we were waiting for the bus. You have bigger plans than Pompeii can satisfy, so one day you decide to take your skills to the known world and leave to seek your fortune. You’ve only been gone for a few weeks when you hear a big bang. Half of Mount Vesuvius just exploded.

What do you do? Do you simply assume that your family members are all okay and not check up on them? When orders for your phallic oil lamps drop precipitously do you simply assume that the style has gone out of fashion back in the big smoke? Surely, after a long dusty donkey ride back home, when you reached the smoldering ruin, you thought, “Hang on a minute…Pompeii used to be right here. Maybe this stone and ash dog isn’t a nifty sculpture after all.”

At some point history forgot each and every single person from the ruined city of Pompeii, from the slaves to the senators. Friends and family stopped talking about it. They forgot that they used to go there to drink, eat and view the wonderful pornographic mosaics which, even today, are locked away. They forgot (and perhaps this is entirely understandable) that they ever held a memberships to one of the worlds first gymnasiums – I expect that even now their descendants still receive promotional flyers.

Pompeii, the largest and most important city in the Bay of Naples, was entirely forgotten. That is the most amazing thing of all. A millennium and a half later, all it took was one guy with a shovel and an entire lost city was discovered. Maybe there’s hope for us finding Atlantis on this cruise after all…

Souvenir: The first time we tasted limoncello, we hadn’t even visited Italy. We were young and impressionable at the time and the distinctive flavor of this classic Italian lemon liqueur never left us: sweet and a little bit tart, it tastes like distilled sunshine. When in Rome, or in this case Sorrento, we figured we’d do as the Sorrentines do…pick up a bottle of limoncello to take home. You’ll find this classic all over the Sorrentine Peninsula and beyond, and it’s best served chilled or over ice.

If you didn’t manage to snag a bottle while on shore leave in Sorrento, never fear: we enlisted bartender Sasha at the Sky Bar to mix us up a mean lemondrop martini, made from shaken vodka, lemon juice and limoncello, and look how pretty it is!

Overheard: “See how big is this line? People are crazy to visit the brothel.”
Our guide Daniela at Pompeii, referring to the site of an ancient Roman house of ill repute.

Guest Bloggers Adam McCulloch and Emma Sloley are married travel writers based in New York. Originally from Australia, they moved to the US in 2004. They have traveled to over 60 countries and written for a wide range of publications, including Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, New York magazine, Gotham, Gourmet Traveller, Coastal Living, Reader’s Digest and Outside.  Adam and Emma are sending us stories and pictures daily from their 14-day voyage aboard Seabourn Odyssey between Rome and Venice. Come by and read their blogs often. 

Day 1 – April 28, 2013: Arrivederci, Roma
Ahoy, sailors! (We’ve always wanted to say that.)  We are Adam McCulloch and Emma Sloley, married travel writers based in New York who will be guest blogging on this voyage. We’ve had a lot of experience traveling but not a lot with cruising, so we’re super excited to embark on this cruise around the boot — which is how we like to think of our coming circumnavigation of Italy.

Much like Odysseus, after whom this ship is conveniently named, we’re about to embark on an epic and adventure-filled journey across the seas. (Although we kind of hope it doesn’t take us ten years to return home.) We’re going to be passing through some amazing places before we disembark for the last time in Venice – places crammed with history, skullduggery, romance and obscenely good pizza – and we’ll be sharing our thoughts, impressions and loosely researched fact-finding on each of the ports, as well as our time on board.

Our blog is called “If It’s Tuesday, This Must be Seabourn,” a riff on the famous aphorism about whirlwind travel that also happens to be a campy 1960s movie. (Just in case it comes up on trivia night: the film featured cameo appearances from John Cassavetes, Joan Collins, Anita Ekberg and the lady who happened to be Miss Belgium at the time.) If we overhear anything scintillating or scandalous, we’ll share it. If we pick up any amazing souvenirs, we’ll photograph them. If we discover anyone — alive, dead or otherwise — we feel deserves a shout-out, we’ll shout out. If anything on board strikes us as particularly praiseworthy, we’ll draw your attention to it.

So after boarding Seabourn Odyssey in Rome, the famed seat of the Holy Roman Empire, we got to thinking about Baroque. As you do. How did that whole craziness come about anyway? Well, way back in Medieval times, Catholicism was starting to look dreary: the swill had lost its taste, the Black Death had cast a pall over even the most spirited of orgies, and the pizzazz had all but vanished from the public executions. Then in 1545, the church leaders banded together in the Council of Trent and decided that if Catholicism was to survive it had to get seriously fabulous. Churches would resemble a slice of heaven right here on earth, complete with stucco cherubs and gilded everything. The completely OTT architectural style caught on, and its expressive spirit was embraced by writers, musicians, and artists of all kinds, whose opulent works survive to this day in many of the cities we’ll be visiting. You could even say they were Going for Baroque, which is the headline of every second travel story ever published on Europe (FACT).

“How do you know all this?” we hear you ask. The short answer: we make it up, or at least seriously freestyle. Please feel free to disagree, rant, rave or just share your own impressions of the voyage via the comment section of this blog: we’d love to hear from you. If you feel passionately enough about the Baroque or any other topic we tackle, feel free to corner us somewhere on the ship (as long as you’re buying drinks). As for spelling and grammar, we’ll leave the last word to Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund, who said, “I am the King of Rome, and above grammar.”

Welcome aboard.

Writer Emma Sloley

Please meet Adam McCulloch and Emma Sloley, married travel writers based in New York and who are about to embark on Seabourn Odyssey’s April 28, 2013 voyage. During the 14-day cruise, they will write about their experience as they sail between Rome and Venice on the Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas. They will send us stories and pictures daily from their cruise. Come by and read their stories often.

Originally from Australia, Adam and Emma moved to the U.S. in 2004. They have traveled to more than 60 countries and written about their experiences for a wide range of publications, including Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, New York magazine, Gotham, Gourmet Traveller, Coastal Living, Reader’s Digest and Outside. They have been chased by a grizzly bear and scared the living daylights out of a polar bear, swum with sharks in Tahiti and eaten rotten shark in Iceland, hiked across the world’s driest desert in Chile, and quenched their thirst with numerous umbrella drinks on numerous beaches around the world.

Adam and Emma are also currently at work on several other writing projects, including a novel, a globetrotting fantasy-adventure series and a guide to the world’s most romantic hotels.

You can also follow them on Twitter at: @adam_at_large and @sloleywandering.

Seabourn Odyssey in Venice

Even a small flood can’t stop the Seabourn Odyssey team from rolling out the red carpet for guests. During the ship’s visit to Semarang in Indonesia on March 21, the local tidal conditions flooded the pier, causing a large pool of water to surround the gangway. Determined to avoid having guests wade through the water to board the ship, the team came up with a brilliant solution and created a special “red carpet bridge” over the water. Staff members lined up along the platform to welcome guests back on board and more importantly, to ensure guests felt secure walking across along the open “bridge.” Needless to say, guests were surprised and very thankful to see that the staff went above and beyond their expectations.

According to Luca Di Matteo, Seabourn’s manager of restaurant and bar operations, the “guests loved it and said we should do this more often!”

Well done, Seabourn Odyssey, for providing guests with this wonderful “Seabourn Moment!”

Bravo to the Seabourn Odyssey staff for pulling out the stops for guests.

Another great Seabourn Moment!

On the morning of March 14, as Seabourn Odyssey was arriving in Lembar, Lombok in Indonesia, the team organized a special “bathrobe party” for the in-transit guests who were staying on board until Singapore or longer. The guests donned their bathrobes and slippers, and sipped on mimosas and bloody marys on that beautiful morning. Cruise Sales Specialist Nicole Hammer sent us a few photos of this wonderful “Seabourn Moment.”

Cheers!

All smiles!! (L to R): Hotel Director Marcel Gademan, Guest Mary Commager, Cruise Sales Specialist Nicole Hammer, F&B Manager Antony Bernardi, Restaurant Manager Marchiano Markoem, and Guest Services Manager Andrea Zanchi

Guests line up for mimosas and bloody marys on Deck 5, aft.

Seabourn Odyssey received a lot of love when it visited Cairns, Australia, earlier this month. Captain Bjarne Larsen sent us this report from that day:

“One of our loyal guests, Mrs. Ronwyn Corcoran, who lives in Cairns, posted this banner on her balcony as we sailed by her home. During our stay in Cairns, I asked her to come on board for dinner with her sister and a friend, and they were all taken well care of by our excellent Social Host Michelle Gordon. Mrs. Corcoran mentioned to me that she is considering cruising with me to Antarctica on board the Seabourn Quest. I truly hope to see her again.”

Wow! What a wonderful way to welcome Seabourn Odyssey to Cairns! Thank you for the love, Mrs. Corcoran, and we do hope you’ll join us on one of our Antarctica voyages!

Seabourn Odyssey receives a very warm welcome in Cairns.

Mrs. Corcoran waves hello to the ship!

Seabourn has announced an exciting schedule of European cruises for the 2014 season, featuring nearly 100 departures aboard its intimate, award-winning luxury ships. Seabourn’s ships will explore more than 150 different destinations during cruises from seven to 21 days in length, from the Arctic Ocean and majestic fjords of Norway to the stunning Greek and Dalmatian isles and the Black Sea. Seabourn’s 2014 Europe cruises are now available for booking, and complete itineraries, fares and other details can be viewed on www.seabourn.com.

Luxury Cruise Ship Seabourn Odyssey In Turkey

The 2014 Europe season will comprise Seabourn’s signature selection of intriguing itineraries, featuring a varied and interesting mix of well-known ports and smaller, hidden gems. The schedule includes more than 20 destinations that are either maiden calls or ports the cruise line has not visited in years. Overnight stays are also included in a number of popular cities, such as St. Petersburg, London, Bordeaux, Venice, Seville, Istanbul, Malta, Barcelona, Copenhagen, Rouen (Paris), and Amsterdam, allowing guests ample time to explore these premier destinations. Many of the Mediterranean voyages will also feature a Marina Day, where guests can enjoy a number of complimentary watersport activities such as kayaking, water-skiing, sail-boards, swimming and more from Seabourn’s signature onboard marinas.

“There is something truly magical about Europe that draws travelers to visit this remarkable continent repeatedly,” said John Delaney, Seabourn’s senior vice president of marketing and sales.  “There is really no better way to see Europe. Our ships can take them to the heart of all the great cities and charming hidden treasures that Europe has to offer, in incomparable Seabourn style.”

Three Seabourn ships will sail among the seaside towns, yacht harbors and picturesque islands in the Mediterranean.  Seabourn Sojourn will offer a series of 10-day cruises from Barcelona, Athens and Monte Carlo, visiting ports on the Italian and French Rivieras, and in the Greek Isles. Most cruises can be combined into longer voyages of up to 30 days without repeating ports, providing up to 10 percent additional savings and the ultimate Mediterranean cruise experience.

Seabourn Spirit will sail alternating 10- and 11-day voyages from Venice to the best of the Adriatic and Dalmatian coasts. Guests can explore many fascinating medieval towns like Dubrovnik or Kotor, as well as enjoying an overnight stay on board in Venice at the end of the cruise.

Seabourn Odyssey will traverse the waters in the Eastern Mediterranean, exploring the Greek Isles and Turkey on seven-day cruises alternating between Athens, Istanbul and Venice.  The ship will also sail the Black Sea on three seven-day cruises, featuring a full day and overnight on board in Istanbul. Seabourn Odyssey’s seven-day voyages are easily combinable for more variety and extra savings.

Seabourn Quest and Seabourn Legend will summer in the waters of Northern Europe. Seabourn Quest’s seven-day Baltic cruises between Copenhagen and Stockholm include the line’s signature three-day stay in the heart of magnificent St. Petersburg, Russia.  In late summer, Seabourn Quest will cross the North Atlantic on a 24-day cruise from London to Montreal, stopping at Ireland, the Faroe Islands, multiple new ports in Iceland and Greenland, as well as Newfoundland and Québec.

Seabourn Legend will sail two cruises along the Atlantic coast of Western Europe, between the Mediterranean and its summer voyages in Scandinavia. Seabourn Legend will offer nine- to 12-day cruises in the Baltic and Scandinavia, as well as the Norwegian Fjords, and a 21-day cruise to Spitsbergen and the North Cape that skirts the edge of the polar ice pack in the Arctic Ocean.  In addition, Seabourn Legend will sail on a single 15-day roundtrip cruise from London to the British Isles, Ireland and Belgium. The voyage includes an overnight stay in London at the end of the voyage, as well as scenic cruising on the Thames River.

For reservations or more details on Seabourn’s 2014 Europe season, please contact a professional travel agent, call Seabourn at 1-800-929-9391 or visit www.seabourn.com.

Last year, writer Kathryn Armstrong set sail on her first cruise ever aboard Seabourn Odyssey. She was captivated from the moment she stepped on board.

“The ship had not even moved and we were hooked,” Armstrong said.

During the seven-day voyage, she savored the delicious food, socialized with fellow guests from around the world, and explored small towns and ports in Greece and along the Adriatic Sea. One of her most memorable experiences was shopping with the chef at local markets in Ravenna, Italy.

Ms. Armstrong wrote about her experience in the latest issue of Luxe Magazine. Turn to page 74 to read more about her Seabourn cruise: http://www.luxe-magazine.co.uk/archive/2013/LXissue20/pageflip.html.

It was like something out of “The Hobbit.” Seabourn Odyssey was sailing along mid-day off the coast of New Zealand between Timaru and Akaroa when suddenly the sky opened up and dropped a half-hour hailstorm of epic proportions onto guests and staff enjoying lunch-time on the Colonnade terrace and at the Patio Grill. Was it a spell from the evil Sauron, or simply a natural summertime phenomenon? No matter to the guests, whose cup of tea suddenly became iced tea! Thanks to Hotel Director Guenter Steinbrunner, who sent along the pictures to prove it.

Gimme shelter: Bar Manager Robert McGillivray and Head Bartender Ivaylo Dimitrov duck under cover on the Pool Patio.

Julian Simpson, crew purser of Seabourn Odyssey, organized a crew excursion to Petra last month during Seabourn Odyssey’s full-day stay at Aqaba, Jordan. After a drive up the King’s Highway, the group set off down the Siq, a narrow, twisting canyon between towering stone cliffs. Just when it seems you are going nowhere, you turn one last corner and there is this building, the so-called “Treasury” looming dead ahead. Thank you, Julian, for sending us this beautiful photograph!

Seabourn Odyssey crew pose in front of Petra’s towering Treasury, carved into the stone cliff.