If you’re looking for a cruise that can take your upscale clients on a journey to spectacular Italian coastlines and ancient Greek historical sites, the 208-passenger Seabourn Spirit has just the itinerary. This ultra-luxury ship has plenty of amenities, large cabins, great dining options and superb service. The seven-day “Italy & Classical Greece” itinerary departs from Civitavecchia (the port of Rome) and visits Amalfi and Taormina in Italy; Olympia, Delphi and Navplion in Greece; before ending in Piraeus, the port of Athens. Keep in mind that this is not a Greek islands cruise, but instead one that focuses, in part, on visits to ancient Greek historical sites.

ITINERARY: The ship takes in some of Italy’s most spectacular coastline when it anchors off Amalfi on the first full day of the cruise. From there, passengers can visit cliff-side villages along the Amalfi coast, from Positano on the coast to Ravello high on the cliff overlooking the Mediterranean. Several different ferries provide access to villages up and down the coast, with motorcoach tours offered to the towns high above it.

On the second day, the ship anchors in a harbor just below Taormina, the picturesque Sicilian village high on the mountain with views of Mt. Etna. In the morning there are tours of Taormina and other Sicilian sites; in the afternoon, the ship lowers its marina in the stern for swimming and water sports (water skiing, banana boating, pedal boating) before departing around 5:30 p.m.

Day three is a sea day as the ship cruises across the Ionian Sea to Katakolon, Greece.

On day four, when the ship docks in Katakolon, most passengers take the motorcoach tour to the historic Greek site of Olympia, where the Olympic flame is still lit today.

On day five, the ship docks in Itea, where again most passengers take the morning motorcoach tour to Delphi, an ancient Greek site high on the mountain where the famed Delphic Oracle gave her predictions  to Greek leaders of the time. After lunch, the ship departs for a late afternoon sail through the Corinth Canal, a narrow channel with high cliff walls that was first built by the Romans. Seabourn Spirit is one of the largest ships that can make the transit of the canal, which separates the Peloponnesian peninsula from the Greek mainland.

On day six, the ship docks in Navplion, a Greek port town with two spectacular castles overlooking the harbor. Many passengers take the motorcoach shore excursion to the ruins of Mycenae, the ancient town where the Greek king Agamemnon once ruled. The same tour also visits the Palamidi Castle, the 16th-century Venetian structure that overlooks Navplion. The ship remains in port through the evening until 10 p.m., allowing passengers some time to explore Navplion or visit the nearby beach. Overnight the ship sails to Piraeus, the port of Athens, and the terminus for the cruise.

ACCOMMODATIONS: Seabourn Spirit has 104 cabins in six main categories. There are two Owner’s Suites (575 square feet), each with a living room, dining area, private veranda overlooking the bow and bedroom with queen-size bed. A Classic Suite (400 square feet) features a living area with forward-facing window, bedroom with queen-size bed, and private veranda with French doors. A Double Suite (445 square feet) features two Seabourn Suites (see below) that have been combined, including a living room with two picture windows, bedroom with one queen-size or two twin beds, and dining room, which can be converted to a second bedroom. Seabourn Balcony Suites (277 square feet) provide sliding doors that open up the cabin to the sea on a mini-balcony, a living area with couch and two chairs, and a queen-size bed. Seabourn Suites (277 square feet) feature a picture window, living area with couch and two chairs, and a queen-size bed. All cabins, regardless of category, feature walk-in closets (multiple ones in higher categories), flat-screen TVs with DVD players, Bose CD stereo systems, fully stocked bars, and large marble bathrooms with full tub/shower and large vanities.

PUBLIC SPACES: The ship, though small at just 10,000 gross registered tons, has ample lounges and lots of room on its top decks for taking in the sun or just relaxing. A small atrium with two staircases runs from Deck 3 to Deck 7. Far forward on Deck 8 is the Horizon Lounge, with windows overlooking the bow. Tea is served daily here in the late afternoon, and cabaret entertainment and games are offered by the entertainment staff at other times. You can also get different types of scotch and cigars (though they can’t be smoked in the lounge). Just to the stern of the Horizon Lounge is an outdoor SkyBar.

The spa and a small but well-equipped fitness center are located on Deck 7 far forward (the same deck as the bridge). Moving toward the stern there is a large sun deck and two hot tubs. Just behind that there is a small pool that’s roughly four feet deep.

Deck 6 features The Club, a cabaret lounge with dance floor and small casino, in the stern of the ship. Moving forward there’s a small library with books, newspapers and DVDs. Also on Deck 6 is the ship’s boutique, which carries clothing, Seabourn logo wear, jewelry, watches, perfumes and various other sundries.

Deck 7 features the Amundsen Lounge in the stern, the ship’s main show lounge for performances and also a staging area for shore excursions. Next to that there’s a small Internet café/business center (with five terminals) and a card room, followed by the main reception area and ship’s concierge and tour desk in the atrium.

In the bow on Deck 5, passengers also have access to another sun deck and hot tub. Deck 3 features the main restaurant, galley and medical facility.

DINING: The ship’s main restaurant, with a capacity of 224, can more than hold the entire passenger complement, so there are no separate seatings and guests can dine on gourmet cuisine when they want during the hours posted. There are up to two formal nights (tuxedos optional), but most nights are elegant casual. The restaurant, located on Deck 3 in the middle of the ship, serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. It offers a wide variety of elegant dining experiences, with a new menu every night, plus a set menu of more standard fare. The restaurant also features a tastings menu on one night of the cruise. Service is efficient and responsive (when it was just a little too quick, the wait staff did slow it down on one evening).

The ship’s much smaller, alternative restaurant in the evenings, dubbed Restaurant 2, offers a special limited themed menu every night except the final one of the cruise. Located in the space occupied by the Veranda Café on Deck 7, it offers both indoor and outdoor dining. Dining options include steakhouse, Italian, French bistro, a tastings menu, and even Indian (though not on this particular cruise). Reservations for Restaurant 2 are required, but it usually isn’t too difficult to get a table.

On several nights of the cruise, the ship features an outdoor barbecue on the pool deck. The final night, in the Greek port of Navplion, passengers are encouraged to sample the barbecue, which is much larger than the previous nights. It features an extensive choice of meats, salads and desserts. The barbecue precedes a night of outdoor dancing to classic rock ‘n’ roll and soul music.

For breakfast and lunch, the Veranda Café offers a combination of buffet and à la carte meals. For example, at breakfast you can order waffles, pancakes or eggs, or you can get fruit, pastries, cheese, yogurt and other options at the buffet, or do both. At lunch another buffet is available, or you can order the specialties of the day.

ENTERTAINMENT: As this is a luxury cruise vessel, the nightly entertainment on board is geared more to cabaret performances. The ship’s cruise director, Tony Markey, and his two assistants also double as singers for nightly shows. One of the assistant cruise directors, Kami Rodgers, sings everything from Broadway show tunes to opera to rock. On this cruise there was also a cabaret duo, Dana and Tony, who performed on deck or in one of the lounges. The cruise director and his staff also serve as MCs for a variety of games including karaoke, Trivial Pursuit and Liar’s Club. In general, though, since this is a luxury ship, the entertainment is fairly low-key until the final night, when the ship offers a popular outdoor rock ‘n’ roll and soul dance party on deck. Beyond entertainment, there’s a lecture series featuring an archaeologist speaking about the ancient Greek sites to be visited.

KEY SELLING POINTS: The main selling point on this cruise (or any Seabourn cruise, for that matter) is the service delivered by the ship’s 164 crew members. From the ice-cold towels that guests receive as they are individually escorted on board for an easy check-in process to the fact that the wait staff quickly learns your name, this is a true luxury experience. On this particular cruise, the rocky coastline of the beautiful Amalfi coast in Italy and the ancient Greek sites also are major draws. As befits a luxury ship, everything is included in the price, such as drinks, all meals (no surcharges) and all tipping.

FARES: Fares for this particular voyage, based on the originally published Early Booking Savings (EBS) of 35 percent, ranged from $3,998 to $11,698 per person double. When this sailing was booked, however, the EBS had been reduced to 25 percent and fares at the point were $4,698 to $13,498 per person double.