Seabourn has announced an exciting schedule of European cruises for the 2014 season, featuring nearly 100 departures aboard its intimate, award-winning luxury ships. Seabourn’s ships will explore more than 150 different destinations during cruises from seven to 21 days in length, from the Arctic Ocean and majestic fjords of Norway to the stunning Greek and Dalmatian isles and the Black Sea. Seabourn’s 2014 Europe cruises are now available for booking, and complete itineraries, fares and other details can be viewed on www.seabourn.com.

Luxury Cruise Ship Seabourn Odyssey In Turkey

The 2014 Europe season will comprise Seabourn’s signature selection of intriguing itineraries, featuring a varied and interesting mix of well-known ports and smaller, hidden gems. The schedule includes more than 20 destinations that are either maiden calls or ports the cruise line has not visited in years. Overnight stays are also included in a number of popular cities, such as St. Petersburg, London, Bordeaux, Venice, Seville, Istanbul, Malta, Barcelona, Copenhagen, Rouen (Paris), and Amsterdam, allowing guests ample time to explore these premier destinations. Many of the Mediterranean voyages will also feature a Marina Day, where guests can enjoy a number of complimentary watersport activities such as kayaking, water-skiing, sail-boards, swimming and more from Seabourn’s signature onboard marinas.

“There is something truly magical about Europe that draws travelers to visit this remarkable continent repeatedly,” said John Delaney, Seabourn’s senior vice president of marketing and sales.  “There is really no better way to see Europe. Our ships can take them to the heart of all the great cities and charming hidden treasures that Europe has to offer, in incomparable Seabourn style.”

Three Seabourn ships will sail among the seaside towns, yacht harbors and picturesque islands in the Mediterranean.  Seabourn Sojourn will offer a series of 10-day cruises from Barcelona, Athens and Monte Carlo, visiting ports on the Italian and French Rivieras, and in the Greek Isles. Most cruises can be combined into longer voyages of up to 30 days without repeating ports, providing up to 10 percent additional savings and the ultimate Mediterranean cruise experience.

Seabourn Spirit will sail alternating 10- and 11-day voyages from Venice to the best of the Adriatic and Dalmatian coasts. Guests can explore many fascinating medieval towns like Dubrovnik or Kotor, as well as enjoying an overnight stay on board in Venice at the end of the cruise.

Seabourn Odyssey will traverse the waters in the Eastern Mediterranean, exploring the Greek Isles and Turkey on seven-day cruises alternating between Athens, Istanbul and Venice.  The ship will also sail the Black Sea on three seven-day cruises, featuring a full day and overnight on board in Istanbul. Seabourn Odyssey’s seven-day voyages are easily combinable for more variety and extra savings.

Seabourn Quest and Seabourn Legend will summer in the waters of Northern Europe. Seabourn Quest’s seven-day Baltic cruises between Copenhagen and Stockholm include the line’s signature three-day stay in the heart of magnificent St. Petersburg, Russia.  In late summer, Seabourn Quest will cross the North Atlantic on a 24-day cruise from London to Montreal, stopping at Ireland, the Faroe Islands, multiple new ports in Iceland and Greenland, as well as Newfoundland and Québec.

Seabourn Legend will sail two cruises along the Atlantic coast of Western Europe, between the Mediterranean and its summer voyages in Scandinavia. Seabourn Legend will offer nine- to 12-day cruises in the Baltic and Scandinavia, as well as the Norwegian Fjords, and a 21-day cruise to Spitsbergen and the North Cape that skirts the edge of the polar ice pack in the Arctic Ocean.  In addition, Seabourn Legend will sail on a single 15-day roundtrip cruise from London to the British Isles, Ireland and Belgium. The voyage includes an overnight stay in London at the end of the voyage, as well as scenic cruising on the Thames River.

For reservations or more details on Seabourn’s 2014 Europe season, please contact a professional travel agent, call Seabourn at 1-800-929-9391 or visit www.seabourn.com.

A couple of weeks ago, Seabourn Spirit and Seabourn Legend met up at the island of St. Kitts on a DATE. Seabourn Spirit Cruise Director Rachel Vago and Seabourn Legend Cruise Director Simon Gillespie came up with the idea to host a special shoreside epicurean affair for the guests of both ships. The culinary team pulled out all the stops and made an elaborate setup in the terminal reception area that included ice carvings, bread displays, a bar with frozen shots and an opulent buffet. The entertainment team performed a number of songs and made sure guests were having a great time.

“I was truly proud to be part of the Seabourn family, and it was easily the highlight of my Seabourn career so far. I think ‘Seabourn Moments’ were created for a lot of people,” Vago said.

After a changeable day of weather, the sun blessed the event and the bright yellow terminal was aglow with golden light, great food and good cheer. Well done all!

Two lovely ladies side by side at the pier as the day begins.

Restaurant Managers Paul Charsley and Altin Alija show off the ice carving that welcomed guests to the epicurean event.

A perfectly elegant casual evening in St. Kitts.

(L-R) Seabourn Legend Captain Andrew Pedder; Seabourn Spirit Executive Chef Imre Vago; Seabourn Legend Executive Chef Franck Sollazzo; Seabourn Legend Restaurant Manager Paul Charsley; Seabourn Legend Hotel Director Rico Taubert; Manager of Restaurant & Bar Operations Luca di Matteo; Traveling Executive Chef Rajat Adhikary; Seabourn Spirit Hotel Director Daniel Putzhammer; Seabourn Spirit Restaurant Manager Altin Alija; Seabourn Spirit Bar Manager Roland Nema; and Seabourn Spirit Captain David Bathgate.

Cruise Directors Simon Gillespie and Rachel Vago are elated that the event was a success!

The bands and entertainers from both ships perform “YMCA” together.

Would anyone like some caviar and champagne?

Sea duty (L-R): Waiter Florin Dumitrescu; Bar Mgr, Roland Nema; Waiter Trine Johansen; Restaurant Mgr. Altin Alija; Exec. Chef Imre Vago; Waiters Karoline Dannemueller and Joshua Burt; Bartender Roberto Castillo; Sen. Asst. MD Warren Kree.

On the morning of Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013, Seabourn Quest made its maiden call to Sydney, Australia. Guests were out on deck to take in the beautiful view as the ship sailed into Sydney Harbour and past the famed Sydney Opera House. The ship overnighted in Sydney, providing guests ample time to enjoy the city. Here is a short time lapse video taken by Captain Geir-Arne Thue-Nilsen from the ship’s bridge.

Hello Sydney!

Seabourn Quest is hosting a diverse line-up of guest speakers and experts during its world cruise. The distinguished speakers are sailing as part of the line’s new “Seabourn Conversations” enrichment series. Below are a couple of photos of several guest speakers who were recently on Seabourn Quest.

(L to R): Justin Leonard, Guest Chef Robert Irvine, Executive Chef Gillert Thorsten, Hotel Director Guenter Steinbrunner, and Sous Chef Lee Lucier.

(L to R): David Smith, photographer; Captain Mike Irwing, maritime historian; and Dr. Norman Caisse, astronomer

Staff Includes Expert Naturalists, Lecturers, Award-Winning Photographers

To ensure that our guests have the best and most memorable Antarctic cruise adventure, we have contracted some of the world’s most experienced expedition staff to guide our “Ultimate Antarctica and Patagonia” cruises aboard Seabourn Quest during our inaugural Antarctic season of 2013 and 2014.

The skilled team consists of naturalists, scientists, political and historical experts and other lecturers with decades of Antarctic experience, who will be sharing their knowledge, guidance and passion for Antarctica during the cruise and accompanying guests on excursions ashore to add valuable insights to the adventure.  Award-winning photographers will also be on board to offer digital photography coaching, helping guests capture exciting wildlife images and the visual splendor of the White Continent. The expedition team will sail on the four 21- to 24-day voyages aboard Seabourn Quest starting in November of 2013.

Expedition Leader Robin West is a veteran of over 40 Antarctic voyages. He and his staff will plan and coordinate the five days spent on the Antarctic Continent, plotting opportunities for wildlife sightings from the ship and choosing from numerous available sites for Zodiac landings, based on real-time weather and wildlife reports.

“Antarctica is a place like no other,” said West.  “Taking guests to see two-mile-long tabular icebergs, thousands of penguins, leopard seals and blue whales — the largest animals to have ever lived on the planet — it is a place that makes you realize just how insignificant we are and at the same time makes you feel bigger than life itself. Saying all of that,” he continued, “Antarctica cannot be put into words — it has to be experienced to be understood.”

To meet the members of Seabourn Quest’s Antarctic expedition team, click here.

Beginning Nov. 20, 2013, Seabourn Quest will sail on a series of four 21- to 24-day voyages between Valparaíso, (Santiago) Chile and Buenos Aires, Argentina. They include days exploring the Chilean coast and fjords, Beagle Channel, Glacier Alley, the breathtaking Torres del Paine National Park, Cape Horn, the Falkland/Malvinas Islands, Montevideo and five days of cruising and landings on the Antarctic Continent in uncompromised Seabourn luxury. A 24-day Holiday version, departing Dec. 11, 2013, will include two days exploring the sub-Antarctic wildlife Eden of South Georgia Island, renowned for its beauty and its vast, teeming rookeries of king penguins and other seabirds, as well as breeding elephant and fur seals.

For more information or reservations about Seabourn’s new Ultimate Antarctica & Patagonia voyages, contact a travel professional, call Seabourn at 1-800-929-9391 or visit www.seabourn.com.

Dear Traveler,

I am writing to invite you on an epic adventure to the most remote place on earth. I hope you’ll join me as I sail the beautiful Seabourn Quest on our Ultimate Antarctica & Patagonia voyages during the austral summer of 2013 and 2014. I have had the good fortune to sail these waters before, and I can attest that the places we will explore on these voyages guarantee a cruising experience beyond anything you’ve witnessed.

The Patagonian portion alone is an awe-inspiring voyage along some of the most magnificent coastlines in the world. We will cruise by great sea-run glaciers, thread channels between tall, forested islands, and visit rustic, fascinating ports and breathtaking landscapes. Add far-flung outposts such as Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands and Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego, and it’s a traveler’s dream.

But, of course, the heart of our journey will be spent in the pristine, unspoiled Antarctic. We have equipped Seabourn Quest to show you Antarctica in style. You will be joined by a skilled expedition staff specializing in a number of disciplines, who will inform you on board and accompany you ashore to interpret the wonders you encounter. Landings at historic sites, teeming wildlife colonies, and Zodiac cruising among fantastically shaped icebergs and abundant sea life will fill each day.

And you will see it all from the gracious, luxurious base of Seabourn Quest, furnished with every comfort and amenity you could desire, and a staff dedicated to filling your time on board with Seabourn moments that match the wonders outside.

I have experienced Antarctica before, and I can promise you that, if you sail with me on Seabourn Quest, you will discover the White Continent in a way that no one has before.

I hope that I may welcome you on board to share one of these voyages.

Captain Bjarne Larsen

Master, Seabourn Quest

Last year, writer Kathryn Armstrong set sail on her first cruise ever aboard Seabourn Odyssey. She was captivated from the moment she stepped on board.

“The ship had not even moved and we were hooked,” Armstrong said.

During the seven-day voyage, she savored the delicious food, socialized with fellow guests from around the world, and explored small towns and ports in Greece and along the Adriatic Sea. One of her most memorable experiences was shopping with the chef at local markets in Ravenna, Italy.

Ms. Armstrong wrote about her experience in the latest issue of Luxe Magazine. Turn to page 74 to read more about her Seabourn cruise: http://www.luxe-magazine.co.uk/archive/2013/LXissue20/pageflip.html.

Seabourn has introduced clever new itineraries for the upcoming Europe season that provide appealing opportunities for travelers to combine two or more cruises and see more, sail more and save 10 percent or more on fares for longer luxury cruise vacations. In addition, during Seabourn’s Signature Savings Event now underway, a complimentary veranda upgrade is available on many of its European Combination Cruises.

Some outstanding examples of Seabourn’s European Combination Cruises include:

• Seabourn Quest and Seabourn Legend offer 20-day European Combination Cruises that explore many iconic and historic cities and hidden gems along the Mediterranean.
• Seabourn Spirit offers 21-day voyages roundtrip from Venice, visiting the medieval towns and picturesque villages along the Adriatic and Dalmatian coasts.

Complete listings and fares of all Seabourn Combination Cruises are available at www.seabourn.com. For details or more information, contact a professional travel agent, call Seabourn at 1-800-929-9391 or visit www.seabourn.com.