After many months of anticipation, the 90-passenger luxury liner, Le Levant, has finally arrived.  The Worldwide team had the pleasure of hosting consecutive two-night fam trips aboard this yacht-like vessel.  We are pleased to report, the ship has exceeded our expectations.

It takes only moments after you have boarded Le Levant, to feel completely at home and relaxed.  The all French crew is young, charming and ready to serve you and your guests.  You feel as though you have embarked upon your own private yacht.

The cabins

Le Levant has 45 identical outside cabins, of 195 square feet each.  They are finished in blond hard wood with an abundance of closet and drawer space.  The soft goods are what you would expect to find in a deluxe European hotel.  All of the towels, which are thick and plush, bear the company monogram.  All beds are convertible twins.  Each cabin comes with a tv, vcr, hair dryer, terry cloth robes, mini bar, picture window, deluxe Roger & Gallet bathroom amentities,  electronic safe and telephone.  If you are familiar with Windstar, you will immediately recognize the bathrooms - with two major differences.  The counter top is black marble, instead of formica.  And we were delighted to find a circular sliding door on the shower.  You won’t have to fight with a shower curtain on this ship!  Nor will the bathroom floor be wet after your shower.  The bathrooms have fabulous storage space, both above and below the sink.  Clutter will never be an issue here.

The public rooms

Le Levant has a warm and intimate atmosphere, which is complimented by the warm light-colored woods, nautical colors and attractive artwork throughout.

We were amazed that a ship of this size, has two dining rooms that can each accommodate the entire ship’s compliment.  The more formal of the two, The Lafayette, is found on deck 2.  The light wood and rich beige and burgundy tones found throughout the room are both warm and welcoming.  The owners of the company had fine china designed in Limoges, France, to coordinate with the carpet and upholstery.  Even the napkins bear the company insignia.  No expense has been spared anywhere on this ship.  Breakfast and lunch are served buffet-style in the Panoramic Restaurant on deck 4.  The informal nature of this room, lends itself to a resort casual ambiance.  In the aft, all glass doors slide open to create a sidewalk cafe atmosphere.  Guests can choose to dine inside, or outside on the deck.  Although food is found on three individual buffets, the wait staff is happy to provide beverage service and clear the plates as you finish individual courses.

The Grand Salon on deck 3 serves as the main lounge, and accommodates all passengers.  It offers comfortable couch and club chair seating.  There is a singer/pianist who entertains in a variety of languages at various hours during the day and evening.  There is a small dance floor in the center of the room.  Next to the bar is a small smoking section.  It is the only place inside the ship where passengers are permitted to smoke.  Otherwise, the vessel is completely smoke-free.   There are built-in video screens on two sides of the lounge, to be used to show a film or have a group presentation of some sort.  Just outside the salon in the aft of the ship, is a small sitting area with tables and chairs for those who prefer to be outside.

Le Levant has a very inviting library on deck 4.  Here you may borrow a video, book or game.  In addition to a few very comfortable couches, there is a card and game table.  On deck 5, you will find a small beauty salon.  Additionally, there is a fitness center.  You may use the treadmill, stair master, rowing machine, two stationery bicycles and a bench press.  In a separate room inside the fitness center, is a steam room and shower. 

Between the pool deck (5) and the sun deck (6), there is more outdoor space on this ship than I have seen on many vessels much larger in size.  The pool is surrounded by a teak deck with teak deck chairs.  Just forward of the pool is a covered full-service bar, complete with cappuccino machine.  We hosted two at-sea cocktail parties around the pool, and were surprised an how well-sheltered we were from the wind.  There were no flying cocktail napkins, airborne hors d’oeuvres or spilled drinks. 

The cuisine

By far, this is the best cruise food we have enjoyed.  The dinners are  6 courses long - if you include the cheese course.  However, there is a “less is more” attitude as each dish is presented.  You are served just enough to taste and enjoy every item so that you will have room for the subsequent ones.  And leaving room for dessert is an absolute must.  Perhaps only in France can you find pastries this authentic and delicious.  Even our hard core non-sweet eaters could not resist these delicacies.  The buffets for breakfast and lunch are as wonderful.  For breakfast, you can find just about every type of croissant, along with the famous French bread, eggs, potatoes, pancakes, bacon, sausage, ham, smoked salmon, cheese, fresh fruit, cereal, yogurt and accompaniments. For lunch, the menu changes daily, however, we were treated to a cold buffet of salmon, prosciutto, seafood and pasta salad and hearts of palm salad and hot items that included sautéed grouper, roasted pork, curried chicken, steamed rice and French string beans.  Once again, the cheeses and desserts were something that only the French can do this well.  The variety, for such a small vessel, was outstanding.   It is worth noting that wine, cappuccino and espresso are complimentary with meals on Le Levant. 

The service

By far, the service on Le Levant is five star.  The staff learns your individual tastes quickly and they aim to please on every account.  This goes for the dining rooms, bars, cabins, and generally throughout the ship.  The crew is approachable and will do whatever they can to make your cruise comfortable and memorable.  I do not recall having to ask for more water or wine at any meal.  Your glass is refilled before it has a chance to become empty. 

If you are looking for a Sea Goddess-like ship with a much more relaxed ambiance, on a realistic budget, Le Levant may be the right product for your incentive program.  With itineraries in the deep Caribbean, Orinoco River, Amazon, Eastern Canada and the Great Lakes region - we can probably find one to motivate any client to book a charter on this superb vessel.