The intimate, all-suite ships of Seabourn deliver accommodations, service, cuisine and attention to detail that place it among the elite in the global hospitality industry, according to the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences. For 2012, the prestigious organization has invited the small-ship cruise specialist into the rarified ranks of its Six Star Diamond honorees, comprising a roster of the world’s finest hotels, resorts, spas, luxury transportation providers and others who cater to the most discerning clientele around the world.

“Seabourn’s dedication to excellence in service, cuisine and its unique ability to provide travelers with authentic experiences in ports of call made it a standout among our original Five Star Diamond honorees,” said AAHS president Joseph Cinque. ”Then the company introduced three new luxury vessels that quite simply reset the bar for what luxury cruise guests can expect, and that made them a natural choice to be among our first Six Star award-winners.”

Richard Meadows, Seabourn’s president, said “We are proud to be in such distinguished company. Our onboard service team has a well-deserved reputation and commitment to being the best, and for that reason they wear the Six Star Diamond insignia with pride.”

 

Seabourn Odyssey Cruise Director Nick Hale shared this story and photo with us:

A couple of weeks ago, Seabourn Odyssey crossed the International Dateline, meaning that we had Sunday, February 19^th for 48 hours! It was a true Groundhog moment. One of our guests, Mr. Huber, pointed out to me that it was also possibly the only time in our guests’ lives that they would witness a February with 30 days.

Here is a fun photo from that day. It took a little organizing by radio between myself on deck 10 and the captain. Assistant Cruise Director Ray Michaels was on deck 6, making sure that the guests had the correct letters in place. This was a special event for our guests who sailed to the South Pacific from Los Angeles.

 

 

The staff on Seabourn Quest recently organized a special surprise for one of our most loyal guests, Mrs. Alene Witzke.  It turns out that Mrs. Witzke hit a milestone when she was sailing on Seabourn Quest earlier this month – she reached 2,500 nights on Seabourn, which is nearly seven years!!

To celebrate this momentous occasion, the staff told her they arranged a special visit to the bridge. As they took her through deck 6 forward, she pointed out to the crew that they were not going the correct way to the bridge. Having sailed on Seabourn so many times, it’s no surprise she knows her way around the ship very well.  They simply told her that they were taking a shortcut just for her and when they stepped out to the bow of a ship, she was greeted with a roar of applause and cheers from most of the entire ship staff!

Captain Geir-Arne Thue-Nilsen shared several photos from the celebration. Congratulations, Mrs. Witzke! We thank you for sailing with us throughout the years and look forward to welcoming you aboard again soon!

Guest Frank Daems approached Seabourn Quest Hotel Manager Vitor Alves in a conspiratorial manner, swearing him to secrecy before he would unveil his plans for making his cruise unforgettable. Once Vitor and Guest Services Manager Belinda Smitheram got involved, everything proceeded as planned and in absolute confidentiality. Until, that is, Frank and his girlfriend An Goosens arrived for dinner at the Patio Grill and the immense banner hanging over the railing was unfurled. Judging from her reaction, we’d guess that An wasn’t expecting him to pop the question – at least not that night. We are delighted to report that she answered in the affirmative. And they have promised to return for their honeymoon next year. We wish them – as the saying goes – many happy returns!

We’re happy to share a few photos of our annual President’s Cruise, which is currently taking place aboard Seabourn Sojourn.  Seabourn President Richard Meadows is on board and mingling with guests, as well as enjoying the sights and sounds of Northern Europe.  For more pictures, check out our Facebook page, and follow us on Twitter for updates from the cruise!

If you’re making travel plans for the end of this year or early next year and still deciding where to go, here is a suggestion: South America.  Between October 2011 and January 2012, Seabourn Sojourn will sail around this continent on a series of cruises, including two 17-day Treasures of the Inca Coast voyages between Ft. Lauderdale and Valparaiso, Chile, and six 14-day Patagonian Passage voyages to the picturesque Chilean Fjords, Cape Horn and the Falkland Islands between Valparaiso and Buenos Aires, Argentina.  This continent is filled with stunning natural beauty, classic colonial cities, majestic ancient monuments, and exciting adventures that will undoubtedly leave visitors with unforgettable memories and experiences they’ll cherish forever.

One of the highlights is the famed Torres del Paine National Park, located in Chilean Patagonia.  A designated UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, the park centers around an alpine massif of three imposing granite towers, reaching more than 10,000 feet, together with several lesser horns formed of black shale, and a variety of glaciers, lakes, and wild rivers. Here is a snapshot of the park taken earlier this year.

There is so much more to see and experience on this beautiful continent, and we hope you’ll be able to join us on one of our voyages this year!  Stay tuned for more posts about South America!

It’s time to start planning a Seabourn cruise for 2012 and 2013!  We have released “The Cruise Collection,” a new 148-page catalogue detailing 212 luxury voyages during 2012 and the first quarter of 2013. Using a refreshing new look and feel, the catalogue provides full details on voyages of seven to over 100 days, visiting more than 379 ports – 50 of which are maiden calls – in 103 countries across six continents.

One of the newest components of the catalogue is a separate pull-out pricing guide, which serves as a convenient reference of fares for all Seabourn cruises published in the brochure.  Removing the pricing grids from the catalogue’s itinerary pages also leaves space for more and larger lifestyle and destination photographs, as well as a “highlights” box that provides extra details about each cruise. Inserted in a pocket on the back cover, the guide lists the fares by ship, itinerary and suite category, and offers helpful information to assist guests in planning for their voyages.

“The Cruise Collection” introduces a number of new itineraries offered during 2012 and 2013, including new Seabourn Spirit 10-day itineraries sailing round trip from Venice to the best of the Adriatic and Dalmatian coasts. Seabourn Spirit’s sister ship, Seabourn Legend, will offer two different, 10-day itineraries between Rome (Civitavecchia) and Monte Carlo, exploring many fascinating ports along the French and Italian Rivieras.  Also new is a series of cruises exploring the diverse and stunning lands of Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia aboard Seabourn Odyssey.

Seabourn’s ships will call at a bevy of new ports in the Mediterranean including Rosas, Spain; Porto Torres and Alghero on Sardinia; Mgarr on the Maltese island of Gozo; San Antonio on Ibiza; Sóller on Mallorca and Ciutadella on Menorca. In the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean, Lemnos and Chania are added ports in the Greek Isles, while Cesme, Sinop and Iskenderun are new ports in Turkey. The line will also add Larnaca on Cyprus.

In the Caribbean, Seabourn Spirit will operate two new seven-day voyages between St. Maarten and Barbados, combinable for a luxurious 14-day Southern Caribbean experience. Meanwhile, Seabourn Legend will offer Caribbean cruises round trip from Ft. Lauderdale, and round trip from St. Thomas.  In South America, Seabourn Sojourn will start 2012 with a series of Patagonian cruises and operate a pair of early 2013 cruises that will explore the natural beauty of the Amazon.

The newest ship in the fleet, Seabourn Quest, will depart January 6, 2013 on a 116-day World Cruise from Ft. Lauderdale to Venice via the South Pacific, Australia, Indonesia and Southeast Asia, India, Arabia and the Mediterranean.

To order a copy of “The Cruise Collection,” please visit our website: http://www.seabourn.com/contactUs/RequestBrochure.action.

Even though it’s only July, we’re sure many of you are already thinking about plans for the holidays. If you want to get away from it all and celebrate the holidays Seabourn-style, then join us on one of our six ships around the globe.  There is a festive atmosphere onboard and our staff spreads holiday cheer on the ships.

Here is a taste of what it’s like to celebrate the holidays on a Seabourn cruise:

Tastefully decorated trees, as well as Hanukkah menorahs are set up in various lobbies and public rooms, and evergreen swags are draped on railings and balusters.  The galley team prepares a dazzling gingerbread village display, which is set up on about December 23 and maintained through about the 29^th.

Between December 24^th and 26^th, additional displays are set up on all buffet service areas and at the Restaurant entry, which contain a gingerbread house, Christmas chocolates, a chocolate Santa Claus, fresh Christmas cookies, candy canes, dried fruits and fresh clementines.  On the evening of the 24^th, a special Christmas basket or plate containing the same selection of goodies is delivered to each suite at turndown.

Of course, the holidays aren’t complete without several great, traditional meals.  On Christmas Eve, a traditional holiday meal is served during dinner. Christmas Day starts with a brunch buffet crowned with a Yuletide Log cake and cookies.  There is an eggnog, Glogg or Gluhwein party scheduled.  Christmas Day dinner is also traditional, with roast turkey, English pudding, mince pies with lots of decorations, crowns.  Plus, each guest receives a “Christmas cracker.”

Can you think of a better to ring in the New Year than on a Seabourn cruise?  If you’re sailing with us on the 31^st, be sure to pack a party dress or suit because New Year’s Eve dinner is a gala, formal-optional affair. Tables are decorated with good luck charms (marzipan clovers and horseshoes).  Afterwards, there is a gala ball in the main show lounge, and at midnight, hot goulash soup is served in all the bars.

Want to know where the ships will be during the holidays? Seabourn Sojourn will explore the majestic lands of South America, while Seabourn Spirit will visit Costa Rica, Panama and Belize.  The new Seabourn Quest will sail the warm waters of the Caribbean, while sister ship Seabourn Odyssey will offer a Panama Canal holiday cruise.  Both Seabourn Legend and Seabourn Pride will traverse the waters on the other side of the globe, with Pride visiting Vietnam and Thailand, and Legend cruising the Indian Ocean.

Have you ever celebrated the holidays on a Seabourn cruise? Do you have pictures? If so, please send us some to community@seabourn.com!

Seabourn shipboard staff members are very likely to recognize the couple in the pictures below. That’s because Mr. Eric Cass and his wife Mrs. Jean Cass have accumulated 2500 days sailing on board Seabourn ships. In case you haven’t done the maths, that’s nearly seven years of Seabourn days and nights. Much of that time has been enjoyed on board Seabourn Pride, and they chose Pride again to celebrate their attaining that milestone on June 25, 2011 with their seagoing family. Captain Ian McNaught and Hotel Manager Laurent Lalouer presented the Casses with an engraved Tiffany silver tray in Pride’s Constellation Lounge, along with the sincere thanks and affection of all of Seabourn’s staff.

 

Seabourn has launched a “Europe Suite Sale” on select 2011 summer and fall departures aboard its award-winning fleet of intimate ships.  Travelers can explore the full range of Europe’s majestic treasures and historic cities from Turkey to the Greek Isles and along the Dalmatian Coast.  To qualify, cruises must be booked by June 30, 2011. Fares start from $2,499 per person for seven days, representing savings of 50 percent or more.
The “Europe Suite Sale” includes savings on the line’s newest ship, the 450-guest Seabourn Quest, which will enter service June 20, 2011. Along with its sister ship, Seabourn Odyssey, both ships will sail the waters of the Eastern Mediterranean, operating alternating cruises to popular destinations and beautiful towns in the Greek Isles, Turkey and along the stunning Dalmatian and Adriatic coasts.

Examples of savings on Seabourn Quest and Seabourn Odyssey, as well as rest of the Seabourn fleet, this summer and fall are:

• Seabourn Quest – seven-day Greek Isles, Turkey and Adriatic sailings from $2,599.  Fares for two consecutive seven-day cruises for a 14-day voyage start from $4,499.
• Seabourn Odyssey – seven-day Greek Isles, Turkey and Adriatic cruises from $2,499.  Combo fares for a 14-day cruise start from $4,499.
• Seabourn Spirit – seven-day Dalmatian islands and Adriatic voyages from $2,499.
• Seabourn Legend – seven-day French and Italian Rivieras cruises from $2,499.
• Seabourn Sojourn – seven- to nine-day Baltic and Norway voyages from $3,299.
• Seabourn Pride – 12- to 15-day Baltic, Russia and Norway voyages from $3,999.

Rates are based on double occupancy, are subject to space available and may increase. Certain other restrictions apply.

So, don’t wait any longer – book your Seabourn cruise soon! Contact your travel agent, call Seabourn at 1-800-929-9391 or visit www.seabourn.com.