“My regular life is merely a hiatus from my vacations aboard your yachts.” – Len Marino

Earlier this year, writer Len Marino and his wife sailed across the Atlantic Ocean aboard Seabourn Legend, followed by a cruise along the Spanish and French Rivieras.  They delighted in the gourmet dining experience and were impressed by the staff’s gracious personalized service.

“The experience aboard the Legend was superb,” he said.

Now that’s music to our ears! You can experience his Seabourn cruise through his eyes here.

Seabourn Pride in Hong Kong

Here is a fantastic photo of Seabourn Pride arriving in Hong Kong yesterday afternoon.  Doesn’t it look like it was taken from a helicopter above the harbour?  Instead, our correspondent, Karen Sinclair, found the perfect spot with an excellent vantage point and snapped this shot of Pride sailing in to Tsim Sha Tsui, near the Star Ferry terminal.  Hong Kong has one of the world’s most beautiful skylines, and guests onboard ventured out on the decks to take in the stunning views of skyscrapers and towering buildings along the waterfront.  Guests enjoyed 24 hours in this bustling city before the yacht set sail for the next destinations: Vietnam and Thailand.

Seabourn Quest has made her journey around the boot of Italy and arrived at the Mariotti shipyard in Genoa.  She is now alongside the fitting out dock where workers, ship designers and engineers will be busy over next nine months outfitting the newest addition to our family.  Here are some great aerial shots of Quest, including a great one of the bow.  Although the whirlpool isn’t in place yet, we can already imagine soaking in the tub or relaxing on a lounge chair and reading a book at sea.

While docked in the historic port in Mahon, Menorca, guests aboard Seabourn Legend enjoyed an Evening Under the Stars, one of the most popular Seabourn’s Signature Delights.  Under the beautiful evening sky, guests reveled in a sumptuous barbecue dinner, featuring a lavish selection of steaks, seafood and many other delicious dishes.  Once everyone was done, Chef Thorsten Sengutta and Maitre D’Hotel Ross Seward presented the food and beverage team, all of whom worked so hard to put together this festive feast.  Following dinner, the band rocked the yacht with live music and guests kicked up their heels and danced well into the night!

Seabourn Legend BBQ

(L to R): Bar waitresses Desislava Kostova and Melinda Hegyi, Bar Manager Maciej Oss, Assistant Sommelier William Kelly, and Bar waiter Sam McCarthy take a moment to pose for a photo after dinner.  The galley and restaurant teams are seen in the background.

When Seabourn Odyssey stopped at Triluke Bay in Croatia last Thursday, the staff opened up the marina for all to enjoy, and guests weren’t the only ones who took to the water.  The Odyssey chefs put down their utensils and took a break from the kitchen to spend the beautiful afternoon at the marina.  They enjoyed the watersports, including the banana boats, and Executive Chef Rob van Leeuwen even donned his full chef uniform and hat for the ride.

Check out the big smiles in these photos below.  As the saying goes, “Happy chefs make happy food,” and that will make everyone happy!

We have some fantastic news to share!  Seabourn Quest departed the CiMar facility in Porto Nogaro today, under tow to Genoa where she is expected to arrive August 20.  This finishes the standing order for Seabourn vessels at CiMar.

CiMar was first created for this project and has grown along with our fleet.  The company designated an area of about 50,000 square meters – formerly a potato field – and built a special overhead crane for the construction of the Seabourn vessels.  Odyssey’s hull was built there first and then the superstructure was added at Genoa. Sojourn was mostly built at CiMar including the superstructure, and Quest’s all steel work was done there.We’re very excited about Quest — stay tuned for more updates and photos!

Linda Garrison, cruise editor for About.com, sailed on a seven-day cruise aboard Seabourn Odyssey last year, visiting some of the most beautiful destinations in the region.

“Life doesn’t come much better than cruising a beautiful area of the world like the Adriatic Sea between Greece and Italy. One of the few things that does make it better is to be on a luxury ship like the Seabourn Odyssey.”

Check out her article here, where she gives a daily account of her journey as she explores many charming and quaint ports in Italy, Croatia, and Greece.  And you’ll get a good taste of what it is like to sail seven days in the Mediterranean aboard Seabourn Odyssey.

Loston Harris

If you’re sailing on Seabourn Sojourn’s August 8 cruise, be sure to go up to the Observation Bar during the cruise!  We are delighted to present renowned jazz artist Loston Harris, who will bring the sophisticated musical ambiance of Manhattan’s iconic Carlyle Hotel to Sojourn during the 12-day voyage.  Enjoy his amazing talent as you sail through the spectacular Norwegian Fjords and Scotland.  His piano playing has been described as “percussive” and “incredibly fluid,” and Sojourn guests are sure to love and appreciate his beautiful melodies and “suave” vocals.

Just how hip is he? Well, he played George Clooney’s birthday bash and Sarah Jessica Parker’s VIP after-party for the debut of “Sex & the City.”

For the last seven years, Mr. Harris has headlined and found a home in a place that shares his passion for timeless music, the legendary Bemelmans Bar at the prestigious Carlyle Hotel in Manhattan, New York. The Carlyle has a legacy of cabaret and great jazz talents like Mr. Harris.

He blends traditional jazz riffs, gospel and blues with his own unique stylings. He is doing his part to continue a legacy and is doing it his way. Mr. Harris has previously recorded three CDs to rave reviews — Stepping Stones, Comes Love, Timeless. As of January 1st, his fourth release, Why Try To Change Me Now is available on CD Baby and iTunes.

We look forward to welcoming Mr. Harris aboard Seabourn Sojourn!

Seabourn Odyssey visits some of the most magnificent destinations around the world, and on Friday morning, it sailed through the Bosphorus strait in Turkey.  One of the narrowest straits in the world, connecting the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara, the Bosphorus divides the European and Asian sides of Istanbul.  Odyssey approached the opening and cruised in between, sailing by some of the city’s most famous sights.  Guests gathered on deck or on their balconies to soak in the amazing scenery, capturing photos of the Blue Mosque and the Bosphorus Bridge.

On Wednesday, July 21, the Executive Chef de Cuisine Rob van Leeuwen and the staff on Seabourn Odyssey organized a special private celebratory dinner to honor the Belgian National Day. Among the 29 Belgian guests who attended the dinner were legendary Belgian chef Pierre Wynants and his wife Marie, who are vacationing on board.  Chef Wynants is one of the world’s most honored chefs, having earned three Michelin stars for his Brussels restaurant Comme Chez Soi (“Like at Home”).  Chef Wynants professed himself amazed by the food and service on Seabourn Odyssey.

Shown below, left to right: Chef van Leeuwen, Maitre d’Hotel Antony Bernardi, Chef Wynants, Mrs. Wynants, Captain Mark Dexter and Guest Services Manager Jo Poelmans.