Seabourn has announced an exciting schedule of European cruises for the 2014 season, featuring nearly 100 departures aboard its intimate, award-winning luxury ships. Seabourn’s ships will explore more than 150 different destinations during cruises from seven to 21 days in length, from the Arctic Ocean and majestic fjords of Norway to the stunning Greek and Dalmatian isles and the Black Sea. Seabourn’s 2014 Europe cruises are now available for booking, and complete itineraries, fares and other details can be viewed on www.seabourn.com.

Luxury Cruise Ship Seabourn Odyssey In Turkey

The 2014 Europe season will comprise Seabourn’s signature selection of intriguing itineraries, featuring a varied and interesting mix of well-known ports and smaller, hidden gems. The schedule includes more than 20 destinations that are either maiden calls or ports the cruise line has not visited in years. Overnight stays are also included in a number of popular cities, such as St. Petersburg, London, Bordeaux, Venice, Seville, Istanbul, Malta, Barcelona, Copenhagen, Rouen (Paris), and Amsterdam, allowing guests ample time to explore these premier destinations. Many of the Mediterranean voyages will also feature a Marina Day, where guests can enjoy a number of complimentary watersport activities such as kayaking, water-skiing, sail-boards, swimming and more from Seabourn’s signature onboard marinas.

“There is something truly magical about Europe that draws travelers to visit this remarkable continent repeatedly,” said John Delaney, Seabourn’s senior vice president of marketing and sales.  “There is really no better way to see Europe. Our ships can take them to the heart of all the great cities and charming hidden treasures that Europe has to offer, in incomparable Seabourn style.”

Three Seabourn ships will sail among the seaside towns, yacht harbors and picturesque islands in the Mediterranean.  Seabourn Sojourn will offer a series of 10-day cruises from Barcelona, Athens and Monte Carlo, visiting ports on the Italian and French Rivieras, and in the Greek Isles. Most cruises can be combined into longer voyages of up to 30 days without repeating ports, providing up to 10 percent additional savings and the ultimate Mediterranean cruise experience.

Seabourn Spirit will sail alternating 10- and 11-day voyages from Venice to the best of the Adriatic and Dalmatian coasts. Guests can explore many fascinating medieval towns like Dubrovnik or Kotor, as well as enjoying an overnight stay on board in Venice at the end of the cruise.

Seabourn Odyssey will traverse the waters in the Eastern Mediterranean, exploring the Greek Isles and Turkey on seven-day cruises alternating between Athens, Istanbul and Venice.  The ship will also sail the Black Sea on three seven-day cruises, featuring a full day and overnight on board in Istanbul. Seabourn Odyssey’s seven-day voyages are easily combinable for more variety and extra savings.

Seabourn Quest and Seabourn Legend will summer in the waters of Northern Europe. Seabourn Quest’s seven-day Baltic cruises between Copenhagen and Stockholm include the line’s signature three-day stay in the heart of magnificent St. Petersburg, Russia.  In late summer, Seabourn Quest will cross the North Atlantic on a 24-day cruise from London to Montreal, stopping at Ireland, the Faroe Islands, multiple new ports in Iceland and Greenland, as well as Newfoundland and Québec.

Seabourn Legend will sail two cruises along the Atlantic coast of Western Europe, between the Mediterranean and its summer voyages in Scandinavia. Seabourn Legend will offer nine- to 12-day cruises in the Baltic and Scandinavia, as well as the Norwegian Fjords, and a 21-day cruise to Spitsbergen and the North Cape that skirts the edge of the polar ice pack in the Arctic Ocean.  In addition, Seabourn Legend will sail on a single 15-day roundtrip cruise from London to the British Isles, Ireland and Belgium. The voyage includes an overnight stay in London at the end of the voyage, as well as scenic cruising on the Thames River.

For reservations or more details on Seabourn’s 2014 Europe season, please contact a professional travel agent, call Seabourn at 1-800-929-9391 or visit www.seabourn.com.

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.

Seabourn Spirit recently underwent periodic maintenance drydocking in Genoa, Italy. Cruise Sales Specialist Sara Ferreira sent along a couple of pictures of the ship receiving her routine updates in the shipyard.

In her prime: Seabourn Spirit in a primer coat for new bottom paint.

Like a fish out of water: Seabourn Spirit high and dry in Genoa.

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.

It gives us great joy to announce that Teresa Haughey has been promoted to hotel director of Seabourn Spirit. She is the first female to be named hotel director aboard the current Seabourn fleet.

Teresa Haughey, Seabourn’s newest hotel director

Teresa has been at sea for more than 15 years and possesses a wealth of knowledge and experience for this position. She joined the company as chief purser in 2008 on Seabourn Spirit, where she served two contracts before she was assigned to the larger ships. It is very fitting that she returns to her first Seabourn ship in her new position as hotel director.

“From the moment I joined Seabourn Spirit, it really was like coming home. It was as though I had been on board for years,” Teresa said. “The friendliness from all the crew members was amazing, and they welcomed me like one of their own. It really was quite touching, and I knew I would be here for many years to come,” she added.

During the past few months in preparation for her new position, Teresa underwent training to learn all the aspects of hotel operations, from food and beverage to provisioning to housekeeping. “The training has been more difficult than expected — working on my feet for many hours each day, getting used to the different shift patterns and working schedules for all the positions on board, and constantly moving between all of the different teams, who I have to say have been incredible,” she said. “The best part was actually working side by side with the most amazing people who could not have been kinder to me during these past months.  “

All the hard work is worth it, and Teresa is looking forward to this next chapter of her career. “I am so honored and proud to be able to lead and be part of such an amazing team.  I am blessed to have this opportunity to at least try to make a difference in some people’s lives.  If I look to the future and the position of hotel director, I know from my heart that my team will give the guests the most amazing Seabourn Moments that will stay with them forever.”

Please join us in congratulating Teresa in her new role! We wish you the best!

Seabourn Director of Hotel Operations Christopher Prelog, Seabourn Spirit Captain David Bathgate and outgoing hotel director Daniel Putzhammer presented Teresa with the new stripes for her uniform to reflect her new role.

We know our guests are among the most seasoned and knowledgeable travelers, and no doubt you’ve had unforgettable experiences at many destinations around the world. Did you test drive a Ferrari on the streets of Italy? Or did you hike to the crater of a still-active volcano in Greece?

Here is your chance to share some of your best tips and memories, and you can win a Seabourn cruise for two! Condé Nast Traveler magazine is asking readers to submit their best tips for how to spend a day at any cruise port. The best tip wins a seven-day Caribbean cruise on either Seabourn Legend or Seabourn Spirit, including roundtrip airfare.

For more information about the contest and grand prize, please click here.

You can enter as many tips as you want, so we encourage you to do so! Good luck!

Here is a “bird’s eye view” of Seabourn Spirit when she was in beautiful Venice last week. Thank you to Captain David Bathgate for sending us this great photo!

On a recent charter cruise, the crew of Seabourn Spirit gathered on deck to express their gratitude to Ned Ginsburg of MBM Corporation for his charter business and generous donation to the crew welfare. Here is a picture of Captain David Bathgate graciously thanking Mr. Ginsburg.

Captain David Bathgate reports that Seabourn Spirit held its Transatlantic Tug of War on December 6^th. It was a gorgeous, sunny day, and eight teams gathered on deck to contend for the title. At the end of the day, the last team standing was the “Hit Squad”, comprised of stewardesses from the Housekeeping Department, who defeated all comers including the burly Deck team. Showing their triumphant form are Hit Squad members Andrea Zamponi; Candis Pretoruis; Nadine Breet; Danijela Ristic; Alana Van Der Merve; Priscilla Ortiz; Tatjana Semko; Claire Maasdorp and Carla Soto.  Nice work, ladies!

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!