Seabourn Legend continues to receive warm and friendly greetings at various ports throughout Indonesia. In both Surabaya, Java, and Larantuka, Flores Island, local officials greeted the ship with much enthusiasm and were very excited to welcome the ship and its guests to their towns.

On January 30, 2012, the ship accomplished another milestone when it arrived at Larantuka, Flores Island, representing the first Seabourn ship to visit the port.

A traditional plaque exchange ceremony was held pierside between Captain Pedder and local officials in Larantuka. This was Seabourn’s first visit to the port.

Prior to that visit, on January 20, 2012, Seabourn Legend received its biggest welcome at Surabaya, Indonesia’s second largest city. There were 100 people on the quay, as well as excellent musicians and singers in the terminal, to welcome guests. Not only did the receive a warm welcome, locals also gave the ship a great send-off on departure.

The Major of Surabaya greets Captain Pedder, who presented the mayor with a Seabourn Legend maiden call plaque. Behind the mayor (in orange) is Miss Surabaya.

Seabourn Legend guests were met with much fanfare and excitement in Surabaya.

A large crowd surrounds Seabourn Legend officers and local officials on the quay.

Excellent company, delicious cuisine, and a special performance by award-winning music composer Marvin Hamlisch — these are just a few special moments that world cruise guests experienced during the Gala Bon Voyage Dinner in Ft. Lauderdale before they embarked on their 109-day journey aboard Seabourn Quest the next day. On Jan. 4, 2012, Seabourn President Richard Meadows, along with other company executives and shipboard staff, welcomed guests to The Ritz-Carlton, Ft. Lauderdale for a spectacular event before bidding them bon voyage! One of the evening’s highlights included a piano performance by Mr. Hamlisch, who delighted the crowd with a special song he had written specifically just for the World Cruise. Below are a few pictures from the gala; you can view more photos on our Facebook page.

Seabourn President Rick Meadows, Brand Ambassador Pamela Conover, Seabourn Senior Vice President, Marketing & Sales, John Delaney, and Seabourn Quest Hotel Manager Vitor Alves are ready to welcome guests to the gala.

Marvin Hamlisch performs during the evening.

The lyrics – along with Mr. Hamlisch’s handwritten notes – composed specifically for the Seabourn Quest World Cruise.

On January 22, 2012, Seabourn Legend visited Celukan Bawang, Bali, Indonesia, making it the first cruise ship to visit this port. To mark this momentous occasion, a local music and dance group warmly greeted guests with a traditional Indonesian dance ceremony. The ship also hosted a plaque exchange ceremony, where local officials presented Captain Andrew Pedder with a ceremonial plaque and beautiful Indonesian gift.

Want to keep track of Seabourn Quest as she sails around the globe? Well, we have a couple of websites where you can see what’s going on board and where the ship is visiting!

Our very own Geir-Arne Thue-Nilsen, master of Seabourn Quest, has a photo gallery online and is posting pictures of the cruise nearly every day. He takes some amazing photos, and you can check them out here: http://www.captain-ga.com/thumbnails.php?album=129. It’s a great way to see the voyage from the captain’s perspective!

In addition, we have a couple of guests blogging about the cruise, and they were kind enough to share their blog with us. It will be a real treat to read about their Seabourn experience as they sail around the world! http://helen-haynes-quest.blogspot.com/

We will also be posting photos on our blog and Facebook page. Stay tuned for updates from the Seabourn Quest World Cruise!

Seabourn Odyssey stopped by Cabo San Lucas on Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula on January 2, en route to Los Angeles. One of Cabo’s famous features is the secluded Lover’s Beach, which sprawls between two rocky promontories and is reachable only by swimming or in a boat. Cruise Director Nick Hale caught a great shot of Seabourn Odyssey seemingly peeping at the beach from its anchorage offshore. Seabourn Odyssey guests also enjoyed a whale-watching excursion to view the humpback whales that gather here in season. They saw six males who put on quite a show for them. Thanks for the pix, Nick!

Seabourn Odyssey peeks through the gap at Lover’s Beach.

A humpback whale cavorts in the warm waters of the Sea of Cortez.

More than just a fluke.

A BIG congratulations goes out to Jan Stearman, cruise director aboard Seabourn Legend! Seabourn recently honored her with the 2011 President’s Leadership Award, which celebrates and showcases exemplary colleagues who go above and beyond to deliver the outstanding Seabourn cruise experience. She received a plaque commemorating the award and $5,000, and will also receive a diamond lapel pin.

Seabourn Legend Captain Andrew Pedder recognized Jan on two separate occasions – once during the captain’s gala reception in front of guests and also during a separate presentation in front her fellow staff members.

“Many guests have commented to me how nice it was to see Jan’s professionalism and hard work acknowledged. And the entire crew agree that Jan is a worthy winner,” said Captain Pedder.

In addition to Jan’s outstanding skills as a cruise director, her nomination form noted her dedication to safety: “She expects us to take drills seriously and to go a step further and instruct our peers to do the same. I have never had such thorough safety training with anyone as I have had with her. She leaves nothing to chance and as a result we feel better prepared for an emergency.”

For nearly 17 years, Jan has been entertaining Seabourn guests and ensuring they have a special and unforgettable experience during their cruises.  “Keeping the guests interested, entertained, feeling special and at home is the job I find most challenging and most rewarding,” says Jan.

Front row: Jan Stearman receives the President’s Leadership Award from Seabourn Legend Captain Pedder during the captain’s gala reception. Back row (L to R): Hotel Manager Guillaume Colas, Staff Captain Krasimir Ivanov, Executive Chef Martin Kitzing, Chief Engineer Roger Kjolso, and Dr. Michael Woch.

During a team presentation with fellow staff members, Captain Pedder recognizes Jan for her outstanding hard work and dedication.

From our families to yours, we wish you and your loved ones a very happy holiday season and a wonderful and healthy 2012!

Seabourn Odyssey, in the home stretch of its westbound transatlantic cruise, mounted an epic tug of war on a sunny afternoon. A baker’s dozen teams turned out, from the “Girl’s Blouses” (Bridge Officers) and “Ongatongi” (Housekeeping Utilities); “Men in Black” (Restaurant Brigade); “Pacific Warriors” (Pursers) and “Muscle Tension” (Spa) to “Dragon Fly” (Restaurant); “Devil’s Advocates” (Bar Team) and “Granny and the Gangsters” (Stewardesses). Cruise Director Nick Hale raised the bar on the silliness scale in a day-glo magenta fright wig. After a series of heartbreaking eliminations (Stewardesses defeated the Bridge Officers soundly), the Devil’s Advocates (Bar Team) poured it on in the final to ice the victory. Thanks to Cruise Sales Consultant Sara Ferreira for the photos and the news! Happy Holidays to all our blog friends and watch for Holiday decorations pictures soon!

Cruise Director Nick Hale sets the tone for the festivities

The Field of Honor

Ongatongi ( Housekeeping) vs. Chefs

Devil's Advocates ( Bar Team) celebrate victory!

Seabourn Legend recently completed its transit of the Red Sea bound from the Mediterranean to Asia. One of the most popular ports is Aqaba in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. From Aqaba, guests can join the modern caravan of traffic up the King’s Highway and arrive at the mouth of the narrow, winding Siq (canyon) that leads to the long-lost city of Petra, completely carved from the reddish sandstone of the canyon walls. After viewing some of the many tombs, the Roman Theater, and the many unexplained rooms of the city, guests began the journey back down to Aqaba. A short side trip took them to a sort of modern-day caravanserai, where Seabourn Legend staff had created a surprise Champagne & Caviar station in the midst of the desert. It may have been miles from the nearest beach, but the hospitality, and the spirit, was the same.

The dramatic "treasury" welcomes Seabourn guests to ancient Petra.

Champagne, caviar and fixings in the Jordanian desert

The Petra brigade (L-R) Justin Botes; Daniel Parker; Executive Chef Martin Kitzing; Hotel Manager Guillaume Colas; Maitre d"Hotel Michael Simon; Bromley Smith; Jose Pena Lara

Captain David Bathgate reports that Seabourn Spirit held its Transatlantic Tug of War on December 6^th. It was a gorgeous, sunny day, and eight teams gathered on deck to contend for the title. At the end of the day, the last team standing was the “Hit Squad”, comprised of stewardesses from the Housekeeping Department, who defeated all comers including the burly Deck team. Showing their triumphant form are Hit Squad members Andrea Zamponi; Candis Pretoruis; Nadine Breet; Danijela Ristic; Alana Van Der Merve; Priscilla Ortiz; Tatjana Semko; Claire Maasdorp and Carla Soto.  Nice work, ladies!