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We are a little weary today after a bit of a late night….Barry Hopkins, Odyssey’s effervescent cruise director, performed a fabulous one-man show paying tribute to the late great Frank Sinatra. In a packed Club we enjoyed after dinner cocktails while listening to some of ‘Ole Blue Eyes’ classics, then danced into the wee hours. As a result, my job as official pool and whirlpool reviewer was a little more challenging this morning – it’s a hard job, but someone has to do it!

Front Whirlpool In Bali (photo: Ben Hall)

For a boutique ship, Odyssey has no less than two pools and five outdoor whirlpools, aka jacuzzis. The main pool on deck seven is a decent size, although not quite large enough for swimming laps (which unfortunately doesn’t deter some insistent guests), and it is flanked by two whirlpools. Covered by awnings, both whirlpools are run at a comfortably hot temperature, and great spots for unwinding and sipping champagne. The other pool, great for plunging and cooling off, is at the rear of deck 5 behind the Club. It also has two whirlpools and is a lovely quiet spot for gazing at the ship’s wake. Our favourite whirlpool, we have decided, is the one nestled into the ship’s bows on deck six….a Seabourn signature feature, it is quite a unique experience especially at sea to sit in it and see where you are going.

Seabourn Odyssey Main Pool Overview (photo: Ben Hall)

Other great facilities of particular note include the gym. As we have discovered on cruises before, it is absolutely necessary to go there as often as permits so you don’t roll off the gangway at the end of the trip several kilos heavier. Trust me, I have been there and done that. On my first ever cruise twenty years ago, I though it was perfectly okay to eat dessert twice a day, indulge in afternoon tea, and eat pretty much everything put in front of me….that’s only polite, right? Unfortunately, after 10 days, my shorts had become decidedly snug, and I recall it took a few weeks to get back into shape!

The Gym (photo: Ben Hall)

Back to the gym on board Odyssey..…it has a great range of cardio equipment including treadmills, a single stairclimber (evidently they are still out of fashion), bikes, elliptical walkers and a machine I have seen before in US gyms which is like a bike which you pedal with your arms – not quite sure of the point of that, to be honest. The treadmills are my favourite, however, as if staring out of the window at the passing ocean gets a tad repetitive, you can watch satellite TV or play computer games. Personally I am addicted to Technogym Cards, aka solitaire, which really helps to ease the pain of working off last night’s dinner.

Other design innovations which Odyssey boasts includes Seabourn Square, a lovely space which is part cafe, part internet station, and also the place to find guest relations. There’s no traditional reception area, complete with queues of people querying something, but four desks with some lovely staff who are only too happy to help you with whatever you need. There are some great guys behind the cafe counter too who can make top notch coffee, and there are cakes, sandwiches and ice cream on the go.

Now I know a few people will be asking, what about the food? This is going to be a separate blog after our last two ports of call – Brunei and Malaysian Borneo – also after we set up a special photo shoot with Odyssey’s head chef. Let me just say, however, that the food on board is so amazing that we have been pounding those treadmills in the gym!

By Joanna Hall