Guest Bloggers Adam McCulloch and Emma Sloley are married travel writers based in New York. Originally from Australia, they moved to the U.S. in 2004. They have traveled to over 60 countries and written for a wide range of publications, including Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, New York magazine, Gotham, Gourmet Traveller, Coastal Living, Reader’s Digest and Outside.  Adam and Emma are sending us stories and pictures daily from their 14-day voyage aboard Seabourn Odyssey between Rome and Venice. Come by and read their blogs often.  

If you thought dancing the tango was hard, try doing it on board a ship, in four-inch heels. When we first boarded Seabourn Odyssey, we asked Rebecca Maughan, one of the Seabourn dancers, how she maintains her poise even when the ship is rolling. She responded by performing a little dance in which she pretended to stumble down a hallway in a rolling swell, saying that her way of coping was to insert little elegant half steps in her usual walk.

Whenever there have been waves, swells or pitching seas (as on the first couple of days), our method of walking down the corridors occasionally involved staggering and clutching walls. Yet all the staff and crew, not surprisingly, have mastered walking a dead straight line, no matter what the conditions. The key, we discovered, was not to trust our eyes (that vertical wall is not vertical) but rather try to feel the movement of the ship and adjust our balance like a dancer might.

We had an inkling we could have the dancers show us how it was done, but obviously we could never hope to match the effortless grace of Rebecca and her dance partner Andrei so we decided instead to photograph them in the empty restaurant, dancing their hearts out. If only our sea legs looked this good.

It seems like a few of our sisters have been meeting up with each other lately. Earlier this year, Seabourn Legend and Seabourn Spirit had a dinner date in St. Kitts, while Seabourn Odyssey and Seabourn Quest met up last month in Safaga, Egypt. And just a few days ago, sister ships Seabourn Pride and Seabourn Legend rendezvoused in Livorno, Italy.

In true Seabourn style, the hotel directors of both ships put their heads together to organize a special “Welcome Back” experience for their guests returning from the full-day tours. They rolled out the red carpet and the bands from both ships played as one.

“Both teams gave our guests a wonderful ‘Seabourn Moment,’” said Seabourn Legend Hotel Director Nick Burger.

Together again in Livorno!

Seabourn Legend Hotel Director Nick Burger and Seabourn Pride Hotel Director Philip Reutener give their teams four thumbs up!

The talented bands from both ships welcome guests back to the ships.

We are proud to present to you the hardworking crew of Seabourn Quest’s 2013 World Cruise! On board since January 6, 2013, every member of the team pampered our guests each day and made sure they enjoyed their voyage around the world. The 116-day cruise just came to an end on May 3, 2013, and the crew exchanged hugs and goodbyes with guests as they disembarked the ship in Venice. We have no doubt they will return home with many fond memories from their journey.

Next year, Seabourn Sojourn will sail a 116-day world cruise from Los Angeles to Venice. We hope to see you on board! Who is planning to sail on this voyage?

Cheers to the crew of Seabourn Quest’s 2013 World Cruise! Photo by Captain Geir-Arne Thue-Nilsen.

Seabourn Quest Hotel Director Vitor Alves sent along some ravishing pictures of their “Celebration of India” deck party during the World Cruise.

Welcome: Candice Kimmon De Villiers Swart and Kinga Fazekas were transformed into lovely Apsarases, enchanting Hindu temptresses inviting guests to enter a garden of earthly delights.

Currying favor: A sumptuous array of spicy sub-continental treats awaited guests in the Colonnade buffet.

The Far Pavilions: Meanwhile the Pool Patio became a Mughal encampment fit for a Maharajah.

A splendid show of Indian music and dance added a stirring climax to the evening’s festivities.

On April 1, 2013, Seabourn Legend visited St. John’s on the Caribbean island of Antigua. It may have been April Fools’ Day, but Seabourn Legend Safety and Environment Officer Krasimir Yanakiev and Executive Housekeeper Violeta Mackevic weren’t kidding around when they managed the donation of 108 comfy duvets to the Amazing Grace Foundation for Kids at St. John’s. Captain Andrew Pedder, his staff and crew can all sleep better knowing that so many Antiguan children will be cuddling up in a cozy Seabourn comforter at night.

Violeta and Krasimir made the foundation an offer they couldn’t “turn-down.”

Even a small flood can’t stop the Seabourn Odyssey team from rolling out the red carpet for guests. During the ship’s visit to Semarang in Indonesia on March 21, the local tidal conditions flooded the pier, causing a large pool of water to surround the gangway. Determined to avoid having guests wade through the water to board the ship, the team came up with a brilliant solution and created a special “red carpet bridge” over the water. Staff members lined up along the platform to welcome guests back on board and more importantly, to ensure guests felt secure walking across along the open “bridge.” Needless to say, guests were surprised and very thankful to see that the staff went above and beyond their expectations.

According to Luca Di Matteo, Seabourn’s manager of restaurant and bar operations, the “guests loved it and said we should do this more often!”

Well done, Seabourn Odyssey, for providing guests with this wonderful “Seabourn Moment!”

Bravo to the Seabourn Odyssey staff for pulling out the stops for guests.

Another great Seabourn Moment!

Seabourn Pride’s Executive Housekeeper Linda Duvenhage had a special request from two guests to host her team on the foredeck as a thank-you for their excellent service. The guests, Steve Lanza and Jason Smith, provided Champagne for the celebration, which was held inbound to Ho Chi Minh City.

Salute to Seabourn Pride’s housekeeping team. Front row (L-R) Bianca Tonkinson, Gina Wood, Guests Steve Lanza and Jason Smith, Luitha van Loggenberg, Kate Granovska, Svitlana Olinykova and Exec. Housekeeper Linda Duvenhage. Back row (L-R) Asst. Housekeeper Claire Maasdorp, Charne Cain, Belinda Harmse, Sonja Bornkhorst, Mariska Botes, Stoyanka Raycheva and Marina Sanches.

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.

With Hotel Director Teresa Haughey in charge, Seabourn Spirit’s onboard hotel management team has taken on a decidedly female cast. Cruise Sales Specialist Sara Ferreira gathered a dozen dazzling doyennes for a photographic record of the occasion.

All smiles: The Spirit-ed Ladies! (L-R): Cruise Director Rachel Vargo; Spa Manager Candice Morgel; Shop Manager Alina Potcoava; Bar Manager Antoaneta Todorova; Chief Purser Anoushka Kree; Tour Manager Kerstin Tachke; Hotel Director Teresa Haughey; Assistant Cruise Director Marla Sanders; Executive Housekeeper : Florenta Stefanescu; Cruise Sales Specialist Sara Ferreira; Assistant Housekeeper Chrizanne Malherbe; and Casino Manager Georgeta Ruxanda.

Earlier this month, Seabourn’s culinary department hosted a workshop, for which most of the executive chefs from Seabourn ships visited the company headquarters to discuss and review a variety of new – as well as ongoing – culinary initiatives for the fleet. Along with Culinary Operations Manager Bjoern Wassmuth and Master Chef Rudi Sodamin, our talented culinary team accomplished a lot, including creating new menu cycles for all itineraries, reviewing and updating many of our current recipes and also some newly-created dishes. They also worked on a new Seabourn culinary mission statement, which they hope to roll out soon.

There are many exciting things cooking in our culinary department, and we’re looking forward to implementing them on board soon!

Iron Chefs in Seattle: (L to R, back row): Culinary Administrator MHO Jonathan Ben-Ammi; Executive Chefs Andrew Soddy, Thorsten Gillert and Kurt Timmermans. (front row): Sodamin; Wassmuth; Executive Chef Graeme Cockburn and Traveling Executive Chef Rajat Adhikary.