Four New Suites aboard Seabourn Quest Feature Spa Access, Amenities, Concierge

Seabourn is enhancing its spacious, all-suite accommodations with the introduction of Penthouse Spa Suites on its award-winning new trio of intimate ships. Seabourn Quest will emerge from a scheduled drydock in May, 2013 boasting four new elegant Penthouse Spa Suites located directly above the industry leading Spa at Seabourn facility.  The Spa at Seabourn has twice been awarded the SpaFinder® Wellness Readers’ Choice Award as “Best Spa on a Cruise Ship.” Guests will access the suites by means of a spiral staircase in the lobby of the spa, and enjoy unlimited access to the spa’s Serene Area, as well as spa amenities in the suite itself and the services of a spa concierge during the voyage. The new suites will also be added to Seabourn Odyssey and Seabourn Sojourn during their next scheduled drydocks.

“A growing number of our guests choose Seabourn’s new ships specifically because of our beautiful on-board Spa at Seabourn facilities,” said Seabourn President Richard Meadows. “Some of these guests have expressed a desire to incorporate a more complete spa vacation experience into their cruises, and our Penthouse Spa Suites are designed to fulfill that wish.”

The spacious living room in the new Penthouse Spa Suite.

Seabourn commissioned the Norwegian architecture and design firm of Yran & Storbraaten — who designed Seabourn Odyssey, Seabourn Sojourn and Seabourn Quest — to come up with a plan to utilize the section of Deck 10 directly above the spa for the new accommodations.  The result is four spacious suites with 516 to 538 sq. ft. (48 – 50 sq. m.) of inside space, with expansive private verandas of 172 sq. ft. (16 sq. m.) with views over the ship’s stern and the sea.  The suites’ décor is coordinated with that of the Spa at Seabourn, and all feature a living and a dining area with seating for four, a separate bedroom, walk-in closet, glass door and floor-to-ceiling windows onto the veranda, a bathroom with a tub and special spa shower, and two flat-screen TVs.

The new suites will offer guests a variety of healthy amenities and spa specialties. Along with the guests’ personal beverage preferences, a second in-suite bar will also be fully stocked with flavored water and fruit juices, and a selection of mixed nuts, dried fruits and healthy snacks. Guests can choose a calming fragrance from a selection of four by L’Occitane, to be diffused throughout the suite during the evening turndown. Relaxing, soothing spa music will also be available as a background soundtrack in the suite. The bathrooms will feature a new menu of Molton Brown specialty spa products, such as exfoliating body wash and polish and thermal salts body soak, in addition to the company’s high end line of bath products that are currently available in every suite.  Upon arrival, guests will be invited to select from a menu of luxurious bath sponges, as well as designer soaps by Hermes, L’Occitane, Baudelaire and Salvatore Ferragamo.

The bedroom will feature floor-to-ceiling windows.

A Spa Concierge will assist guests booked in the Penthouse Spa Suites with reservations for their personalized treatment regimes throughout their stay on board. Guests will have daily access to the spa’s Serene Area, which features heated lounges, an aroma steam bath with salt inhalation, and a herbal bath. In the Serene Area aboard Seabourn Odyssey is a large hydro-pool, while Seabourn Quest and Seabourn Sojourn features a Kneipp Walk Pool, which provides holistic, water therapy treatment and healing remedies designed to enhance circulation.

The bathroom will have a tub and special spa shower.

The Spa at Seabourn offers a variety of unique, healthy spa experiences and luxurious pampering services and treatments, including Chinese reflexology, aromatherapy, and Thai massages. The fitness center features a range of high-tech exercise, cardio and strength equipment; a motion studio with the Kinesis System; and a variety of fitness classes, including yoga, Pilates and tai chi. Personal trainers are also available to develop customized workout routines for guests.

Guests sailing on Seabourn’s “Ultimate Antarctica & Patagonia” voyages aboard Seabourn Quest will be in excellent hands under the guidance and care of our very experienced expedition team. Take for example Jarda Versloot-West, one of the two assistant expedition leaders on these cruises. Jarda has traveled all over the world, including 40 visits to the White Continent, and she will ensure that our guests have the best Antarctic cruise experience.

For the past 10 years, Jarda has been working full-time on expedition ships. At 18, she bid farewell to her native Holland to explore Australia, where she discovered her passion for travel and her love for the ocean. After completing her bachelor’s degree in International Tourism Consultancy, Jarda began working on expedition cruise ships, which has taken her to the world’s most remote corners and all seven continents. She is a qualified PADI rescue diver, Zodiac driver and a remote first aid responder.

Jarda will be sailing on all four Antarctica & Patagonia cruises aboard Seabourn Quest. She will be part of a very skilled and knowledgeable expedition team, and they will plan and manage the cruise and coordinate special landings in Antarctica. Guests will visit one of the world’s most remote destinations and some of the best ports in Patagonia, including the Chilean fjords, Cape Horn, the Falkland Islands/Islas Malvinas and more. All the while, they will enjoy Seabourn’s highly rated ultra-luxury cruise experience. The hardworking staff aboard Seabourn Quest will take every care to ensure the complete comfort and well-being of our guests.

Each cruise will include the following exclusive amenities and activities designed to enhance every moment:

• Zodiac landings and expeditions to selected Antarctic locations
• Digital photography workshops
• Seabourn parka and backpack
• Opportunities for frequent wildlife sightings from the ship and on shore
• Inspiring enrichment program and special guest speakers

We hope to see you on board! To learn more about our “Ultimate Antarctica & Patagonia” voyages, please visit our website.

“Caviar in the Surf” and Marina days are two of Seabourn’s most popular complimentary experiences among our guests. But did you know that we also host a beautiful barbecue on the beach in the middle of the jungle? That’s right. On our voyages where we cruise the Amazon River, we host a “Jungle Dinner Party” – compliments of Seabourn!

On March 24, 2013, Seabourn Sojourn staff rolled out the red carpet in the forest and put together a spectacular beach barbecue in the Amazon rainforest in Anavilhanas, Brazil. The “Jungle Dinner Party” featured lively entertainment and local music, and a beautiful set-up and delicious food on a white sandy beach. As the sun set behind the ship anchored in the Amazon River, it was easy to forget that they were actually in the middle of a rainforest a thousand miles away from the ocean.

Thanks to Anna Wade, one of our trainee waitresses, for sending us these photos of that lovely evening.

It’s hard to believe this is in the middle of the Amazon rainforest!

Seabourn Sojourn anchored in the Amazon River.

Restaurant Manager Bogdan Stefanescu poses with local children in festive, traditional clothing.

Seabourn’s new zodiacs that will be used for the line’s upcoming Antarctica & Patagonia cruises successfully completed their sea trials last week. Seabourn Director of Nautical Operations Prash Karnik, along with our Antarctica consultant, Victoria Wheatley, inspected the zodiacs to check on their performance and ensure they were properly equipped to navigate the Antarctic waters. They even beached the zodiacs to test how it performed during a landing. All went well, and they gave the zodiacs two thumbs up! Embossed with the gold Seabourn logos, the zodiacs are almost 100 percent ready to take guests for up-close experiences on the White Continent!

In the open water

Testing Seabourn’s new Antarctica zodiacs.

Do you want to know what it’s like to sail on Seabourn Quest? Then check out this great article by Ruthanne Terrero, editorial director of Luxury Travel Advisor magazine. She wrote about her experience when she was on board last December in the Caribbean. From dining and relaxing on the pool deck to the ship’s unique amenities, her story gives a great sense on what life is like on board when you sail on Seabourn Quest. Happy reading!

Luxury ship Seabourn Quest

An Inviting Array of New Dishes Added to Menus for the Ships’ Main Dining Venue 

Seabourn has expanded the dining menus in The Restaurant, the main, fine-dining venue aboard our ships. The newly-designed menus incorporate an extensive array of new dishes created by our team of highly-skilled chefs. Each menu will include vegetarian options, a daily specialty cheese preparation, a “Seabourn Signature” dish, and “Local Flavors” specialties, reflecting the regional cuisines where the ships are cruising.

“Great culinary experiences are part of an excellent vacation,” said Richard Meadows, Seabourn’s president. “Dining stimulates our senses just as much as the scenery or the cultures we discover when we travel,” he continued.  “On Seabourn’s ships, dining is also an integral part of the social life that our guests enjoy, so it has to be as adventurous, sophisticated and refined as our guests themselves.”

The Restaurant aboard Seabourn Odyssey, Seabourn Sojourn and Seabourn Quest

By adding dozens of new dishes, Seabourn has expanded the variety offered on The Restaurant’s menu cycle. New options have been added in every course from appetizers to dessert. Examples include an appetizer of Truffled Corn and Mascarpone Tortellini; a Farmed Goat Cheese Green Salad;  Golden Mussel Chowder; Seared Cocoa & Spice Rubbed Pork Tenderloin; Cumin & Coriander Crusted Swordfish; and Sour & Spicy “Assam Prawns.”

 Ingredients are also constantly being enhanced. The latest addition is an upgrade to Jidori chicken, a highly-prized hybrid breed first developed in Japan and now being organically raised on a vegetarian diet in California.

A new menu section is “Local Flavors,” allowing the executive chefs to create dishes incorporating local ingredients when possible, prepared in styles representative of the region. European “Local Flavors” specialties will include Croatian Style Pan Roasted Sea Bass; Feta Stuffed Braised Chicken; and Grilled Dover Sole Fillets with caviar cream butter.

One of our new dishes in The Restaurant: Seared Cocoa & Spice Rubbed Pork Tenderloin

For guests who prefer a meatless diet, the new menus now offer a separate section featuring vegetarian starters and entrée options. Several examples of these dishes include Vegetable and Potato Gnocchi Risotto, Spring Vegetable Paella, and Warm Baked Thyme Onion & Gruyere  Tart.

Also new to the menus is a daily specialty cheese dish, such as a Cambozola Mousse with herb filo and mixed berry jam; and a Brandy Flavored Camembert Mousse with spiced flatbread and fig mostarda.

The new “Seabourn Signature” section highlights perennially popular dishes from Seabourn menus that our guests have grown to love.

If you still have room for dessert at the end of the meal, then our new dessert menu will satisfy your sweet tooth. New options include Warm Mocha Chocolate Cake; Chocolate and Peanut Butter Ganache Tart; Warm Beignets of Pistachio Cream; and Toffee Honey Fig Pavlova.

In addition to the new dining options, The Restaurant will continue to feature healthy “Lighter Fare” options and the selection of simpler “Seabourn Classics” such as a perfectly grilled steak, roasted chicken, a broiled salmon fillet or a classic Caesar salad.

A new “Local Flavors” dish: Croatian Style Pan Roasted Sea Bass

The Restaurant is capable of serving breakfast, lunch and dinner to all guests in a single, open seating. Guests can dine when and with whomever they wish. The talented culinary team prepares the wide variety of dishes a la minute, cooked to order.

Seabourn’s delightful gourmet dishes are prepared by a team of highly talented chefs with creative culinary skills and exceptional credentials. The team is led by Culinary Operations Manager Bjoern Wassmuth, a seasoned executive chef with experience in numerous five-star luxury hotels in Germany, Switzerland, Russia and the Caribbean. He served as Executive Chef de Cuisine on five of Seabourn’s ships before moving to his shoreside position in 2011. In addition, every member of Seabourn’s culinary staff successfully completes an intensive culinary academy prior to joining the ships.

What has been your most memorable meal in The Restaurant? Share with us some of your favorite dishes in the comments below.

In several months, we will embark on our first ever voyages to Antarctica, and we’re very excited to take our guests to one of the most remote areas in the world.  The White Continent is a wondrous land, with breathtaking scenery, massive icebergs and glaciers, and abundant, diverse wildlife.  These voyages will also visit some of the best ports in Patagonia, including the Chilean fjords, Cape Horn, Falkland Islands/Islas Malvinas and more. It will certainly be a travel experience unlike any other.

We invite you to visit our “Antarctica and Patagonia” board on Pinterest and see what these voyages can offer you. We’ll continue to update this board with pictures evoking this awe-inspiring region, so please continue to come back for more inspiring images.

Happy pinning!

A crabeater seal on an ice floe in Antarctica.

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!

This week Seabourn’s headquarters received a special visit from Chris Srigley, who will be an assistant expedition leader on our “Ultimate Antarctica & Patagonia” voyages.  A veteran of more than 60 Antarctic voyages, Srigley addressed Seabourn’s U.S. and international sales team in Seattle, where he shared tales of his experiences and illustrated facts and tips about Antarctic cruising.  In addition, he met with various departments – from marine and hotel operations to marketing – to discuss and prepare for the line’s upcoming Antarctic cruises.

With a passion for the natural world that did not go unrecognized by a former employer, Srigley started his career in the expedition cruise industry onboard the famed M/S Explorer as shopkeeper and Zodiac driver. Quickly he found his way directly onto the expedition team as a naturalist as he displayed his knowledge of the natural world.

Seven years now passed, he has spent as many as nine months of each year splitting his time between Antarctica, Central and South America, Northern Europe, Svalbard, Iceland, Greenland and Canada as naturalist/Zodiac driver, assistant expedition leader and polar bear guard. To Antarctica alone, he has participated in over 62 trips for elite expedition operators.

His interest in natural history was cultivated through spending time on his family farm and at their remote cabin on the Eastern shores of Georgian Bay in Ontario, Canada, where he would vanish for days, sometimes weeks at a time, exploring the wilds around him.

Considering himself a “generalist,” Srigley has become well versed in all aspects of the regions in which he travels with many intriguing stories accumulated along the way. Once guests have traveled with him, his only hope is that he has been able to transfer his passion and knowledge of these stunning places they experienced on to them so that they may pass them along to others.

Srigley will be sailing on all four Antarctica & Patagonia cruises aboard Seabourn Quest. To learn more about these voyages and the rest of the expedition team, please visit our website.

Chris Srigley visits the Seabourn office in Seattle.

On March 1, 2013, all of Seabourn Quest’s world cruise guests were treated to a special Magical Balinese Kaleidoscope in Benoa, Bali. The colorful cultural event was held at the luxuriant, beachfront Taman Bhagawan, where guests experienced a lively festival procession, Balinese arts demonstrations, a children’s dance lesson and a fascinating, hypnotic Kecak dance. Cruise Sales Specialist Lindsay Havis shared these photos of the lovely evening.

The gorgeous setting for the event on a perfect evening.

Cruise Sales Specialist Lindsay Havis is greeted by the temple dancers.