Sukhothai indulgence

MODERN-DAY pirates may have guests ducking for cover on cruise ships off Somalia, but when a baker’s-dozen Aussies decided on a brief “commandeering” of the world’s Number One motor-yacht in the Caribbean late last year, fellow guests didn’t go running for cover — they went running for their cameras.

SeaDream 1 had just sailed 4952 kilometres across the Atlantic from Tenerife in the Canary Islands, and had dropped anchor off sunny St Barts in the French West Indies when the Aussies sprang their Caribbean Coup.

Gathering at the ship’s stern they swiftly lowered the official Norwegian flag and, in a flash, had a two-metre Australian one fluttering in its place — providing unique photo-opportunities aboard SeaDream 1 and on surrounding pleasure boats as well. It’s not every day that luxury cruisers are seen in those parts with the Aussie flag flapping.

After a champagne toast, down our flag came and that of Norway (SeaDream Yacht Club is Norwegian-owned,) run-up again by SeaDream’s security officer — one of only two deck officers who knew of the “surprise” event. The other was the Captain, who’d quietly given his approval.

The 13 Australians were the third biggest group on board — after Americans and Britons — among the just 91 guests on board, and also the most Aussies ever to make the annual 11-night relocation from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean, where SeaDream escapes the Northern Winter.

And despite dire predictions from doomsayer mates, passengers on the boutique 4300-tonne SeaDream 1 — and that included this writer — were not tossed around on a wild and stormy Atlantic. SeaDream’s mega-motor-cruisers travel well south, missing the stormier conditions of the North Atlantic.

Apart from rain showers on the first day that prevented dining on deck, breakfasts and lunches were taken outdoors under shade-covers for the remaining 10-days, and the open-air Top of the Yacht Bar became a late-morning focal point for flutes of champagne, rainbow cocktails in voluminous glasses, beers from Europe, America and Mexico, and wines from around the world (they are all included in the holiday price).

A three-metre swell eased after the first few days and from then on it was much like lake sailing … in fact, so smooth was it towards the end, that Captain Bjarne Smorawski had to reduce speed to avoid arriving ahead of schedule into our first Caribbean port, St Maartens.

And again despite the doomsayers, there was plenty to keep us occupied on our eight non-stop days across the Atlantic: a handwriting analyst and people profiler, and an astronomer each gave several talks to interested guests. Poolside was the place to chin-wag, read a book, or take a nap in the sun — and raise a languid hand to have your favourite drink miraculously appear — and have the stewards clean your sunglasses and mist you with cool water if they deduced signs of fatigue in these gruelling conditions.

And then there was the food, oh glorious food. Chef d’Cuisine Tomasz and Pastry Chef Garfield (dubbed “The Pound A Day Men”) offered sensation after sensation, from traditional breakfast favourites through to internationally inspired luncheons, evening cocktails and dinner — always a particularly grand five-star affair with starters (Gratinated Escargots with Aubergine Compote and Champignon de Paris amongst the choices one night) middle courses (Cream of Mushroom Soup infused with Truffle Oil) chef’s main dishes (decisions decisions: Grilled Lobster Tail, Roast Baby Lamb Loin or Duck L’Orange one evening) and Garfield’s sinful desserts that might include Chocolate Soufflé with Baileys Sauce …

For the Pound A Day Guilty there were brisk morning walks around the top deck (that also raised funds for Miami’s Children’s’ Bereavement Centre), tai chi and stretch sessions, yoga, golf on the 50-course simulator, a state-of-the-art fitness centre, an optional-cost spa, and less physically demanding quizzes, trivia sessions, blackjack lessons and Sundowners at the Top of the Yacht Bar to prepare one for the evening’s pre-dinner Cocktail Party …

NOTE: The 55-couples/95-crew SeaDream 1 sails 11 nights from San Juan to Lisbon on May 3, with prices from US$3527 per person twin-share, inclusive of all five-star dining, drinks from the open bars and wines with meals, nightly cocktail parties, use of a 50-course golf simulator, gratuities, port charges and taxes. See travel agents or visit www.seadream.com for more information, including 2009’s Mediterranean itineraries.

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