Comments on: Seabourn Searches for the Right Bubbly

By: Rob

Rob — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 14:48:54 +0000

After all this discussion, I’m curious to know what bubbly Seabourn ended up using to christen the Odyssey. Did you use a bottle of Champagne or did you opt for the more local but more controversial Prosecco?

By: Steve Solomon

Steve Solomon — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 06:42:16 +0000

I was especially pleased to read the last comment by bgood. It sets an appropriate and gracious tone for what we all expect will be a spectacular sendoff for this magnificent ship. Seabourn’s choice of a particular wine for the ceremony is entirely keeping with the spirit and mood of the occasion. The ship builder will be gratified and so will all of us who will be lucky enough to join the celebration. I look forward to this inaugural cruise with great anticipation!

By: Rob

Rob — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 21:40:47 +0000

I love the idea of christening the ship with a bottle of fine local Prosecco. Champagne may have long held a monopoly on great sparkling wine, but they’re no longer the only game in town. Many regions around the world are producing interesting high-quality sparkling wine these days. Indeed, I would hope on my cruise around Greece that a Greek sparkler or two will be offered on board. It also would be a shame to waste a truly great bottle of Champagne by breaking it against a ship (however luxurious the vessel). I think a crisply elegant Prosecco can indeed rise to the occasion, and I see, for example, that Collalto offers (eminently breakable) Jeroboams of Prosecco di Conegliano e Valdobbiadene.

By: bgood

bgood — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 17:10:54 +0000

Hello Mr. Brooks.

Well, Seabourn has never been known to do things exactly like everyone else, and a lot of people are thankful for that. I was at a naming at Southampton where they used a bottle of British wine, and nobody seemed to mind that. Granted it wasn’t Guiness, but still…

By: John Brooks

John Brooks — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 18:07:44 +0000

I don’t think that many of the worlds finest vessels would have been launched with a bottle of prosecco and I do not recall any ships being launched from the H & W shipyard in Belfast with a bottle of Guiness.

By: bgood

bgood — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 16:33:50 +0000

Wow! Some folks are really opinionated about what sort of wine we should use to anoint Odyssey. The choice of prosecco is about the origin of the hull, and we just need it for the blessing–we aren’t going to ask you to drink it if you don’t want to. More for Captain Dexter!

By: Max von Sydow

Max von Sydow — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 11:43:37 +0000

Whats wrong with Champagne? If Seabourn Odyssey is raising the bar – ie billing itself as the world’s finest vessel -, then a Dom Perignon double magnun (or similar, Roederer Crystal or Krug) should be the order of the day. Prosecco would be a big mistake!

By: bgood

bgood — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 15:26:42 +0000

Actually, Mr. Brooks, it is quite traditional to anoint a vessel with wine that is either produced in the country where it is built or its flag state. (Not aware of any Bahamas bubbly). Captain Mark Dexter sent me an email saying that he actually prefers a good prosecco to Champagne. It’s true that there is a lot of ordinaire prosecco, but then, I’ve had some real plonk Champagne, too!

By: John Brooks

John Brooks — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 18:20:46 +0000

What’s wrong with Champagne?
Prosecco is a cheap poor substitute
Come on Seabourn do it properly

By: Bart Heylbroeck

Bart Heylbroeck — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 12:05:12 +0000

I hope this announcement about the prosecco is not a move of Seabourn to start offering prosecco instead of Champagne on board. Champagne costs at least double than prosecco, and has far more style, class and elegance than a prosecco.