Last week, Seabourn welcomed professional photographers Pat and Rosemarie Keough to its Seattle office. The Keoughs are part of our Antarctica expedition team and will serve as digital photography coaches on two Antarctica voyages aboard Seabourn Quest, departing January 4 and 25, 2014.

They are recipients of numerous awards for photographic excellence, including World’s Best Nature Photographers, World’s Best Photography Book and Outstanding Bookarts Craftsmanship, and the 2012 Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, a commemorative medal that serves to honor significant contributions and achievements by Canadians. Fellows of The Explorers Club, they have lectured worldwide and are medalists of the Royal Geographical Society. Featured in award-winning television specials and in periodicals such as Smithsonian and Forbes, their images have inspired eight books of their photography, including the renowned handcrafted tome Antarctica.

In keeping with the spirit of our Seabourn Conversations, the Keoughs are not only experts in photography, they are people of many fascinating facets. Be sure to ask Pat about the house he built on Norfolk Island out of 40,000 beer bottles. And Rosemarie can tell you a lot about worldwide folk dancing, too.

The Keoughs are part of a highly-skilled and knowledgeable Antarctica expedition team. To meet the rest of our Antarctica expedition staff, please visit our website: http://bit.ly/14QO59l

Pat and Rosemarie Keough with Seabourn President Richard Meadows.

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

Award-Winning Line Further Enhances Its Onboard Enrichment, Entertainment

Seabourn has launched “Seabourn Conversations,” a new concept for onboard enrichment and special guest entertainment aboard its award-winning fleet of six all-suite ships. The program will include a stellar lineup of celebrities and guest experts, augmenting Seabourn’s already diverse entertainment.

“Conversation has always been central to the Seabourn experience,” noted Richard Meadows, Seabourn’s president. “Our guests are interesting people with interesting life stories, and they really enjoy chatting in the relaxed camaraderie made possible by our small ships,” he continued. “We recruit explorers, heralded chefs, authors and scholars, celebrated performers and renowned experts from every arena of the arts, sciences, politics and the humanities with particular talents or expertise. On board they will lecture or perform, and take part in Q&A interviews, but on Seabourn they also enliven the social scene – and join the conversation.”

On Seabourn’s intimate ships, these luminaries share the journey. They each provide skilled presentations of their expertise for guests to enjoy. But just as importantly, they may share meals, adventures ashore and casual chats with the other guests throughout the voyage.

Seabourn Conversations topics can be broken down into categories. “Culinary Conversations,” for instance, will include chefs such as Michelle Bernstein and Robert Irvine, winemakers or master sommeliers like Catherine Fallis, restaurant critics or experts in gastronomy. “Arts Conversations” will include topics such as theater, dance, film, literature, music or the plastic arts, and personalities such as stage and screen actress Penelope Ann Miller, singer/composer Patti Austin or satirical author Christopher Buckley. Explorers such as Dr. Lawrence Blair or mountaineer Paul Deegan, as well as historians, anthropologists and geographers will participate in “Culture & Destination Conversations,” while diplomacy, international relations, politics and economic affairs will be categorized as “Current Affairs & History Conversations,” and feature guests such as Ambassador Robert Smolik or Captain Peter Martin of the Royal Australian Marines.

A list of currently scheduled Seabourn Conversations guests can be viewed here.

For more details about the award-winning Seabourn fleet, or to explore the worldwide selection of Seabourn cruising options, contact a professional travel agent, call Seabourn at 1-800-929-9391 or visit www.seabourn.com.