It was a historical moment last week when three Seabourn ships met up together at sea. Both Seabourn Pride and Seabourn Sojourn were in Livorno, Italy, while Seabourn Legend was just up the Italian coast in Portovenere. The captains of the three ships decided to arrange a rendezvous, and Seabourn Legend headed south to say hello to her sisters just outside of Livorno. The three sisters looked amazing together, sailing the beautiful waters of the Mediterranean. It was truly a remarkable sight, and we hope you enjoy these spectacular photos of their grand meeting!

Legend, Pride and Sojourn sailing at sunset

The three ships of the fleet outside of Italy

The three sister ships offer spectators a rare sight

The proximity gave guests a stunning view

They say a rising tide lifts all boats, and a tide of enthusiasm from cruise travelers has elevated our entire fleet to the top of Condé Nast Traveler magazine’s prestigious annual survey of its readers.

Seabourn was ranked above all other cruise ships, regardless of size, in the three all-important categories of Service, Food, and Accommodations in the 2011 edition of Condé Nast Traveler’s prestigious Gold List, published in the magazine’s January issue.  In the February issue, individual ship results show the 450-guest Seabourn Odyssey as the highest-rated cruise ship regardless of size. Odyssey’s smaller, 208-guest sisters Seabourn Spirit, Legend and Pride, are ranked number two, three and five respectively in the small-ship category. Odyssey’s twin sister, Seabourn Sojourn, debuted in June of 2010 and was not rated in the poll. Seabourn Legend, meanwhile, achieved the highest scores in several categories, including a perfect 100 for Crew/Service, 99.1 for Food/Dining and 97.4 for Schedule/Itineraries.

You can read more about the scores here: http://www.concierge.com/images/cnt/pdf/2011CruisePoll.pdf

“Scores like these would be an outstanding achievement under any circumstances,” noted Richard D. Meadows, Seabourn’s president. “But the fact that they were earned during a period of very rapid fleet expansion is a testament to the professionalism and passion of Seabourn’s onboard management and their staffs.”

Receiving such distinguished awards would not be possible without our stellar staff, who are 100% committed to providing lifelong travel memories for our guests.  We’re very honored for this recognition … THANK YOU!!!

Seabourn Pride in Hong Kong

Here is a fantastic photo of Seabourn Pride arriving in Hong Kong yesterday afternoon.  Doesn’t it look like it was taken from a helicopter above the harbour?  Instead, our correspondent, Karen Sinclair, found the perfect spot with an excellent vantage point and snapped this shot of Pride sailing in to Tsim Sha Tsui, near the Star Ferry terminal.  Hong Kong has one of the world’s most beautiful skylines, and guests onboard ventured out on the decks to take in the stunning views of skyscrapers and towering buildings along the waterfront.  Guests enjoyed 24 hours in this bustling city before the yacht set sail for the next destinations: Vietnam and Thailand.

The city of Qingdao greeted Seabourn Pride with a warm and festive welcome featuring local bands and Chinese dancing lions.

Seabourn Pride made its maiden call at Qingdao, China, on the morning of Sunday, May 2, 2010, and docked at the Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center, marking the first time a cruise vessel docked at the facility.  There was great fanfare in the city as local residents gathered around the marina to watch the yacht sail into their city.  Pride received a warm and celebratory welcome from city officials, and two local brass and drumming bands assembled on the pier, along with Chinese traditional dancing lions, to greet guests with a lively music performance representing the rich Chinese history and culture.

Seabourn Pride Captain Hamish Elliott and Hotel Manager Laurent Lalouer sent us several terrific pictures from Qingdao.

During the 15 months between January 2011 and April 2012, Seabourn will offer its most extensive and diverse menu of itineraries ever, calling at a record 266 ports in 78 countries during 252 scheduled voyages..  Fares and details are available on Seabourn’s website today and a catalogue will be published in April. (more…)

Majestic Hotel Rooftop View

Taken from the rooftop of the historic Majestic Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, this photo shows the never-ending traffic in Ho Chi Minh City (commonly known as Saigon).  Drivers in cars and scooters fight their way for space on the road to get to their destination.  Among the hustle and bustle is Seabourn Pride, which is docked on the Saigon River near the heart of the city.

Halong Bay in Vietnam is considered one of the world’s natural wonders, with more than 1,900 islands rising out of the waters.  Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1994, this is THE place to visit in Vietnam.  (more…)

What is this country, and who are these people that, from a standing far behind in the race, and greatly helped by our Western consumerism and technology, have fought their way ever closer to the front of the pack, and now are slated to play a dominant role in every conceivable way as this century progresses?  (more…)

Seabourn’s original three sister yachts, Seabourn Pride, Spirit, and Legend, are being treated to a multi-million dollar makeover over the next year.  The look and feel of the public rooms on each vessel will be enhanced with open and airy interiors, modern embellishments, and richly colored contemporary on-deck furnishings. Spirit just came out of drydock with all the changes made, and Pride and Legend will have their turns next year. (more…)