Seabourn Pride is currently sailing in Southeast Asia, where the landscapes are stunning and the cultures are rich and colorful.  Here is a report from Cruise Sales Specialist Beate Zaderer from Vietnam:

In Ho Chi Minh City, guests experienced a “Cultural Evening in Saigon” at the beautiful and legendary Majestic Hotel, where they enjoyed pre-dinner drinks on the rooftop terrace while watching a Vietnamese cultural show. The performance reflected traditional music and dances from the Northern and Southern parts of Vietnam.

We had about 36 guests join us on the Kayak Adventure tour in the beautiful Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The day started out with an hour-long cruise on a junk, where we sailed by many spectacular limestone formations. Guests then hopped onto kayaks and soaked in the scenery surrounding them. We kayaked amongst the islands, islets and floating villages for about two hours. It was quite a misty day but we were able to capture some of the beauty in these pictures!

We’re happy to share several recent photos of several of our ships at sea. To see more pictures, visit our “Postcards from Sea” photo album on our Facebook page. Enjoy!

Beautiful blue skies greeted Seabourn Pride when the ship visited Mahon on the Balearic island of Menorca earlier this week. Here is magnificent photo sent by Captain Sean Whalley.

Seabourn Sojourn is seen against the Boston skyline earlier this month.

Last week, Seabourn Spirit and Holland America Line’s Ryndam were in Kotor, Montenegro, on the same day. Brandi Johnson, Ryndam’s human resources manager, was kind enough to share this picture of both ships with us!

Here is a beautiful photo of Seabourn Sojourn in Quebec, Canada. Thanks to Marco van Belleghem, hotel manager of Holland America Line’s Eurodam, for sharing this with us!

We’re happy to share our latest Facebook photo album with you. “Postcards from Sea,” contains snapshots from our ships at sea and in ports all over the globe.  Our fans will see pictures of cruising Seabourn-style, the exotic destinations we visit, and the many unique experiences we offer both on board and ashore.  We’ll also share photos of our crew, many of whom have become good friends with our fans during a previous Seabourn cruise.

“Postcards from Sea” already contains some amazing shots from the ships, including a beautiful sunset shot in the South Pacific, photos of Seabourn Quest meeting up with Seabourn Legend for the first time this year, and pictures of UNESCO World Heritage site of Borobudur near Semarang, Indonesia.  Here are just a few photos in “Postcards at Sea.”  To see more pictures, please visit our Facebook page here.

We hope “Postcards from Sea” will bring back good memories to guests who have sailed with us in the past. At the same time, we hope our fans will be enticed to join us on a future cruise!  We also welcome fans to share their photos of their Seabourn cruises on our Facebook page, or email them to us directly to community@seabourn.com and we’ll include them in the album.

Staff Captain Sigurd Darbakk and Captain Mark Dexter watch the sunset over the island of Moorea after Seabourn Odyssey leaves Papeete.

Seabourn Legend and Seabourn Quest meet at sea.

Guests approach the UNESCO World Heritage site of Borobudur (near Semarang, Indonesia).

A lovely photo of Seabourn Odyssey in Kotor, Montenegro.

On Tuesday, September 6, as Seabourn Pride enjoyed another beautiful day in St. Petersburg, Russia, the city had a special visitor. Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark came sailing into the city aboard the Danish Royal Yacht Dannebrog and docked at the English Embankment. As is customary in such instances, Seabourn Pride saluted Her Majesty by “dipping the flag.” And the honor was given to Pride’s Second Officer Vladimir Glushkov.

Dipping the flag to honor Her Majesty’s arrival

Passing to starboard

Preparing to dock

Seabourn Pride had a special guest onboard when the ship recently cruised through Trollfjord in Norway– the legendary Troll King!  It was actually Cruise Sales Specialist Charl Smith dressed as this mythical character as the ship sailed through one of the narrowest and most impressive fjords in Norway.  It was a very fun and memorable afternoon as many guests had their photo taken with the Troll King with the beautiful fjord serving as the backdrop.  Pictured here are Staff Captain Kai Odegaard, Cruise Director Jan Stearman, the Troll King (Cruise Sales Specialist Charl Smith), Guest Lorraine Thompson and Captain Erik Saabye.

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!

It seems like these two sisters can’t get enough of each other! Seabourn Sojourn and Seabourn Pride, both of which are sailing in Northern Europe this summer, met up again – this time, it was in the fjords in Flåm, Norway.  Here are a few shots of the sisters in this beautiful port.

photo credit: Tomas Østberg-Jacobsen

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.

Mr. Eric and Mrs. Jean Cass pose with their trophy in the Constellation lounge.

Celebration in the Constellation: L-R -- Chief Engineer David O’Hara, Captain Ian McNaught, Mr. Cass, Mrs. Cass, Staff Captain Einar Westad and Hotel Manager Laurent Lalouer

What a gorgeous day! Blue skies and beautiful weather greeted guests when Seabourn Pride recently visited Lisbon, one of Europe’s most beautiful and striking capitals. Situated on the Atlantic coast over seven hills, this gem of a city is filled with historic buildings, cathedrals and impressive monuments.  Seabourn Pride Captain Sean Whalley sent us this fantastic shot of the ship – looks like a picture perfect postcard, doesn’t it?