On a beautiful Christmas morning, Seabourn Sojourn was cruising the Amalia Glacier in Chile when the officers on the bridge spotted someone stranded on one of the icebergs. The person was waving frantically and so, the ship sent down a rescue boat to inspect further. Lo and behold, it was jolly old St. Nicholas himself! After a busy night of delivering gifts to children all around the world, Santa Claus was on his way to make a special visit and spread more holiday cheer to all the guests and crew aboard Seabourn Sojourn!

Ho ho ho! Seabourn Sojourn welcomes a special guest on board on Christmas morning!

…and all through the galley, Seabourn Sojourn’s kitchen elves were fulfilling their tally
making gingerbread houses, and cookies and cakes
and just anything, really, that simmers or bakes.
But they took just a moment, to smile at the lens
and send Holiday greetings to all of their friends.

Happy Holidays from the Sojourn Galley Team!

 The spirit of giving is in full swing at Seabourn’s headquarters in Seattle. This holiday season, Seabourn teamed up with New Beginnings, a local organization that provides services to those whose lives have been affected by domestic violence, to provide gifts and necessary items to many families in need through the organization’s “Adopt-a-Family” program.

Seabourn’s Sales & Marketing team happily agreed to get involved and adopted a family of three – a mother and two daughters. After receiving the family’s wish list, the team went on a shopping spree to fulfill every item on the list, from dolls and toys to home and kitchen items.

The holidays are all about giving, and the team’s kindness and generosity will undoubtedly bring many smiles to this family!

Happy holidays everyone!

There is still time to enter the “Seabourn Difference Suitestakes” on our Facebook page! Discover the Seabourn Difference and enter for a chance to win a suite for two on a seven-day Seabourn cruise.

The Suitestakes invites Seabourn’s Facebook followers to discover the “Seabourn Difference” – nine unique features that exemplify the line’s award-winning cruise experience. Visitors are then asked to choose the three features that make the most difference to them. They can also share their choices with their friends on their Facebook wall.

If you haven’t already done so, simply “Like” Seabourn on Facebook and click on the “Suitestakes” tab on our Facebook timeline page. The entry form is located at the bottom of the Suitestakes page. Be sure to complete the form and click “Enter” for a chance to win the cruise!

For official rules or more information, please click here: https://www.facebook.com/Seabourn/app_429553067082543

Hurry! The Seabourn Difference Suitestakes ends December 31, 2012. Enter now!

Seabourn Quest’s Guest Services Operator Nicoli Nery reports that Destination Services Manager Chad Briggs and Crew Purser Lisa Lewis organized a series of tours for crew members in several ports recently. One that made a great impression on the crew was a visit to Jerusalem. Nicoli reports that “it was a truly incredible experience for all the crewmembers that attended. None of them will ever forget it.” She further commented, “You can definitely see the happy faces. Thank you, Chad and Lisa, for this amazing chance.”  And thanks, Nicoli, for sharing it.

Seabourn Quest crewmembers celebrate their beautiful day in a beautiful city.

Julian Simpson, crew purser of Seabourn Odyssey, organized a crew excursion to Petra last month during Seabourn Odyssey’s full-day stay at Aqaba, Jordan. After a drive up the King’s Highway, the group set off down the Siq, a narrow, twisting canyon between towering stone cliffs. Just when it seems you are going nowhere, you turn one last corner and there is this building, the so-called “Treasury” looming dead ahead. Thank you, Julian, for sending us this beautiful photograph!

Seabourn Odyssey crew pose in front of Petra’s towering Treasury, carved into the stone cliff.

Seabourn Spirit recently underwent periodic maintenance drydocking in Genoa, Italy. Cruise Sales Specialist Sara Ferreira sent along a couple of pictures of the ship receiving her routine updates in the shipyard.

In her prime: Seabourn Spirit in a primer coat for new bottom paint.

Like a fish out of water: Seabourn Spirit high and dry in Genoa.

Seabourn Sojourn Cruise Sales Specialist Pierre van Breda escorted a group of guests on a five-day Seabourn Journey from Guayaquil, Ecuador to Cuzco, Peru and Machu Picchu. They flew high into the Andes, to the ancient Inca capital of Cuzco at 12,500 feet of altitude, where they began to acclimate to the thin atmosphere and visit ancient Inca sites and Spanish colonial splendors. The group then took the luxurious Hiram Bingham Express train to and from the ruins of Machu Picchu at 8,000 feet above the Urubamba Valley. After their adventures, they returned to the coast at Callao, Peru and rejoined the ship.

Intrepid Travelers: Pierre (left) gathers his Journey guests at Cuzco.

A perfect day: The group enjoyed spectacular weather throughout their Journey.

A llama welcomes guests to the highlands.