BLACKBOOK ON THE PULSE BLACKBOOK ON THE PULSE the rest of the palatial accommodations are sublime milieus affirming that an abundance of personal space at sea is no oxymoron. There are, of course, other enhancements that were incorporated during the revamp, including in the Pool deck on Seven Seas Voyager on-trend Voyager Lounge, the place to while away the evenings complete with live music ensembles and a chic designer vibe. The bespoke Chartreuse restaurant, which received acclaim when the new Seven Seas Explorer launched, is an unalloyed delight for gourmands, who are spoilt for choice in no fewer than seven outlets that are as diverse as they are delicious, including the Compass Rose – claimed to be the largest speciality restaurant at sea. Five new bravura musical revues and Cirque-style productions showcased in the Constellation Theater complement the gastronomic diversions, while pure indulgence is realised at the Canyon Ranch SpaClub. If there’s one realm that distinguishes this most inclusive ultra-luxe cruise company, it is shore excursions, which present matchless opportunities included on a complimentary, unlimited basis – the only cruise line to offer such. And now with complimentary flights part of the all-inclusive package, Regent’s proposition is a potent one. On the whole, it is an elixir of seagoing opulence and unbridled indulgence that manages to extract the vital spark from both. Seven Seas Voyager is a Grand Master in the art of cruising. rssc.com One of two Presidential Suites on board SS Joie de Vivre O Sailing off the coast of Croatia, a private-yacht feel pervades SeaDream II, a most comely vessel From top: SeaDream II in Montenegro; refreshments in a Yacht Club stateroom N estled against the dock at Dubrovnik’s bustling Gruz port, SeaDream II looked like a lodestar among the charivari of escaped apartment blocks masquerading as cruise ships. It is difficult in measured terms to convey the perfection of this vessel. Less cruise ship, more private motor yacht, with around a hundred likeminded souls along for the voyage, SeaDream’s delightful craft is ideal for those with romantic sensibilities beckoning for the sublime. SeaDream yachts are private idylls for sybarites. Despite the sunloungers and swimming pool, pleasing cabins and cornucopia of ports, this is an incarnation of cruising unlike any other. With the mercury nudging 30 degrees, meals were deftly served on deck and the menus upheld the premise that if the prose is purple, the food is overrated. The all-inclusive concept ensured the bars were havens of hedonism – none more so than Top of the Yacht, where I indulged late into the night. Good service is embodied in the company’s DNA and the emollient professionalism of the crew is a yardstick of excellence. SeaDream is without doubt the ne plus ultra of boutique cruising. seadream.com Uniworld’s SS Joie de Vivre brings high design and unique excursions to one of Europe’s great overlooked rivers ne of the first things you notice aboard Uniworld’s new, 128- passenger SS Joie de Vivre is the grand staircase that resembles the one in the Hôtel Plaza Athénée, in Paris. Elsewhere in Europe, river ships have been arriving steadily in recent years, but this boat, which launched in March, stands out from the crowd because it ushered in a new level of luxury on the Seine. From restaurants such as Le Bistrot and supper club Claude’s to its French neoclassical Directoirestyle decor, Pierre Frey fabrics and Georges Goursat caricatures, the boat is ultra-authentic to France. “The ship is reflective of my favourite designers of 20th-century Paris, Armand-Albert Rateau and Jean-Michel Frank,” says Toni Tollman, director of design and projects at Red Carnation Hotels, Uniworld’s sister brand. The Joie de Vivre’s true highlight, however, is its Bespoke Experiences PHOTOS CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: © RSSC, © SEADREAM YACHT CLUB (2), © UNIWORLD BOUTIQUE RIVER CRUISES 30 CENTURION-MAGAZINE.COM CONTACT CENTURION SERVICE FOR BOOKINGS
SKIN CAVIAR ABSOLUTE FILLER RECAPTURE DENSITY. REFINE CONTOURS. RESTORE HARMONY. FROM LA PRAIRIE COMES CAVIAR ABSOLUTE, A NEW, VOLUME-ENHANCING FORM OF CAVIAR TO RETURN SKIN TO ITS NATURAL FULLNESS.
