Seabourn Quest has embarked on her 116-day world cruise, and we will post photos and stories on our blog as the ship visits many exciting destinations on this voyage!

At the helm of the ship is Captain Geir-Arne Thue-Nilsen, who has a passion for photography and will snap many pictures throughout the voyage.  We will share some of them here but you can also view the pictures on his online photo gallery.

In addition, there are two guests who will blog about the cruise until the ship reaches Hong Kong. Read about their Seabourn experience here as they sail around the world.

And of course, we will also post many photos on our Facebook page!

There are many exciting events and activities planned on the world cruise, so stay tuned for photos and updates!

Seabourn Quest’s Guest Services Operator Nicoli Nery reports that Destination Services Manager Chad Briggs and Crew Purser Lisa Lewis organized a series of tours for crew members in several ports recently. One that made a great impression on the crew was a visit to Jerusalem. Nicoli reports that “it was a truly incredible experience for all the crewmembers that attended. None of them will ever forget it.” She further commented, “You can definitely see the happy faces. Thank you, Chad and Lisa, for this amazing chance.”  And thanks, Nicoli, for sharing it.

Seabourn Quest crewmembers celebrate their beautiful day in a beautiful city.

Michelle Bernstein

Guests aboard Seabourn Quest’s 2013 world cruise will mingle with a stellar line-up of highly acclaimed culinary talents coming on board during their 116-day voyage.  They include James Beard award-winning chef, television personality and author Michelle Bernstein; Food Network star chef Robert Irvine; Enrico Wahl, executive chef at the Oberoi Hotel in Bali, and Catherine Fallis, one of only a handful of female master sommeliers in the world.

These luminaries will socialize with the guests and participate in culinary events, such as cooking demonstrations and wine tasting parties on board, as well as in ports of call along the way. They are among a full complement of prominent guest entertainers and speakers who will be joining the guests during their world cruise.

“We are very excited to welcome these very talented personalities aboard Seabourn Quest’s world cruise,” said John Delaney, Seabourn’s senior vice president, marketing and sales. “Their superior skills and fascinating career experiences will certainly add flavor and color to our guests’ conversations during their worldly experience.”

Seabourn Quest’s 2013 lineup of guest culinary experts include:

•    Michelle Bernstein – James Beard award-winning chef, restaurateur and author. Jan. 12 – 16, 2013.

•    Robert Irvine – World-renowned chef and host of the Food Network’s “Restaurant: Impossible.” Jan. 30 – Feb. 8, 2013.

•    Catherine Fallis – Master Sommelier. Feb. 16 – 23, 2013.

•    Enrico Wahl – Executive Chef of the Oberoi Hotel Bali. March 1 – 9, 2013.

Catherine Fallis

The guest chefs and master sommelier will have the privilege of working with Seabourn Quest’s highly-skilled onboard culinary team. During the 116-day cruise, the team will prepare an extensive menu of creative and delicious dishes from all over the world, share their culinary wisdom in several cooking demonstrations and organize “Shopping with the Chef” excursions for guests to experience.

These culinary luminaries are only one portion of the stellar lineup of onboard enrichment and entertainment planned for guests sailing on the voyage, including Grammy-winning singer/composer Patti Austin, acclaimed comedienne Rita Rudner and political satirist and author Christopher Buckley.

Robert Irvine

For more information on Seabourn’s 2013 world cruise, please visit www.seabourn.com.

On October 30, Seabourn Quest met up with two of her “cousins” from two other Carnival Corporation & plc’s brands in Dubrovnik, Croatia. John Delaney, Seabourn’s senior vice president of marketing and sales, took this photo of the three ships in port together. From left to right are Carnival Breeze, Pacific Princess and Seabourn Quest.

Seabourn celebrated the announcement of the luxury Swiss watchmaker Hublot as its official timekeeper with a special visit aboard Seabourn Quest on Sunday, September 2, 2012. Seabourn Quest Captain Geir-Arne Thue Nilsen welcomed Carnival Corporation and plc Chairman and CEO Micky Arison and Hublot’s Chairman of the Board Jean-Claude Biver aboard the line’s newest ship during a port call at Cannes, France.  Captain Thue Nilsen led a personal tour of the Seabourn Quest, proudly showing off several of the elegant Hublot wall clocks now displayed at various locations on the ship.

Pictured here from left to right in front of the new Hublot wall clock outside the ship’s Grand Salon are: Jean-Claude Biver, Hublot’s Chairman of the Board; Seabourn Quest Captain Geir-Arne Thue Nilsen; and Micky Arison, Carnival Corporation & plc Chairman and CEO. To view more images of the celebration, please visit our Facebook page.

Seabourn named Hublot as its official timekeeper. Seabourn guests on board the line’s six intimate ships will now be kept abreast of the current ship’s time by means of handsome Hublot wall clocks, designed and finished with the same flair and elegance that have made Hublot’s wristwatches multi-faceted icons of a constantly evolving Swiss watchmaking tradition, which pay tribute to it by connecting it with the future.  The clocks are a perfect complement to the stunning beauty of the ships themselves, adding a luxurious accent and an eye-catching cachet to various locations throughout each vessel.

Seabourn Quest and Seabourn Legend met up in romantic Sorrento in early August.  Captain Geir-Arne Thue-Nilsen caught some pictures throughout the day and kindly shared them with us. To see more photos, please visit our Facebook page. Enjoy the pictures!

Seabourn Quest and Seabourn Legend: Side by side in Sorrento.

Lovely Seabourn Legend sails by Capri as the day ends.

Captain Geir-Arne Thue-Nilsen hosted the Mayor and Director of Ports and Airports of Soller, on the Spanish island of Mallorca during Seabourn Quest’s maiden call. Captain Thue-Nilsen remarks that Soller provided “…a very nice and informative time—very Seabourn friendly—and a beautiful town with lots of history.”

Cheers! Captain Thue-Nilsein with Soller Mayor Carlos Simarro Vicens and Ports Director Antonio Duedero Mayans.

Here are two beautiful photos of the midnight sun shining on Seabourn Pride when the ship was near Arbogen and Evenskjer, Norway, last month. You probably thought this was in the middle of the day but actually, these photos were taken at approximately 11:20 p.m.!  A friend of Seabourn Quest Captain Geir-Arne Thue-Nilsen snapped these pictures and kindly sent them to us.

Cruise Critic recently ranked the best cruises for fitness, and Seabourn Odyssey, Seabourn Sojourn and Seabourn Quest were tops in the category of “Best Luxury Workout.”

“Seabourn Odyssey was the first new luxury ship designed since staying fit became a mantra for successful living,” wrote the author of the review. “As such, its designers have incorporated a more contemporary sensibility into the creation of a two-deck-high spa and fitness center, now also included on sister ships Seabourn Sojourn and Seabourn Quest.”

Seabourn also garnered an honorable mention in the “Best Water Sports” category for its retractable marina and water sports activities.

Seabourn’s goal is to be serving 100 percent sustainable seafood by the end of the year. To help achieve this, last month Manager of Culinary Operations Bjoern Wassmuth and Corporate Traveling Chef Pascal de Portemont attended a special Lobster and Salmon Academy. The three-day seminar at the new Huntsman Marine Science Centre on the Bay of Fundy in New Brunswick, Canada is dedicated to increasing the value of North American lobster and salmon. Bjoern and Pascal attended the academy to learn more about lobster and salmon and ensure we provide top quality of seafood to our guests.

Industry experts provided valuable insights about the aquaculture industry. Then Bjoern and Pascal visited a salmon hatchery, lobster plant and aquariums. According to Bjoern, the most interesting experience was seeing the entire lobster process from the moment the lobsters are taken out of the water until they are cooked and plated. They boarded a boat and observed the lobstermen catching the lobsters, checking them for suitable size and whether they were bearing eggs. Then, at the plant, he saw how each crustacean was carefully processed strictly by hand – no machines were used.

Lobster is one of Seabourn’s most popular dishes, with approximately 400 pounds served weekly (aboard Seabourn Odyssey, Seabourn Sojourn and Seabourn Quest). We strive to serve top quality seafood, and Bjoern and Pascal attending the Lobster and Salmon Academy is another example of how our staff endeavors to provide only the best to our guests.

Pascal and Bjoern check lobsters for size. Undersized lobsters were released back to the water.