A new Seabourn tradition has started among our guests who sail on a World Cruise. They wake up early in the morning, don their bathrobes and slippers, and enjoy a glass of champagne as they watch the sun rise from the bow of the ship. It first began on Seabourn Odyssey’s world cruise last year and it continued on Seabourn Sojourn this year. Here is a photo of the annual “All-Arounders Bathrobe Party” meeting on deck as Seabourn Sojourn entered Hong Kong Harbour last month. Cheers!

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 Sojourn glided into Sydney Harbour Saturday, Feb. 5, making her first ever visit to the city as part of her maiden world cruise.  It was a beautiful morning as the ship sailed past the famed Sydney Opera House, and guests were lined up on deck to soak in the view.  Seabourn President and CEO Pamela Conover was on hand to greet the ship and welcome guests to Sydney. Here are some amazing photos of the ship’s arrival.

Seabourn Sojourn is in the midst of a 111-day World Cruise, which will also include stops around Western Australia, Indonesia and Southeast Asia, India, Arabia and the Mediterranean.

Seabourn offers an array of active, heart-pumping excursions allowing guests to experience local cities “in motion” – from trekking and biking to paddling and speed. During his Seabourn Sojourn cruise, Avid Cruiser’s Ralph Grizzle takes an “in motion” excursion to explore the village of Flåm, Norway.  Check out his video as he bikes his way through the beautiful countryside with spectacular views of waterfalls, mountains, and the valley.

If you haven’t had a chance to sail on the new Seabourn Sojourn yet, you can take a tour of the ship in this great video by Avid Cruiser’s Ralph Grizzle. Follow him as he takes you inside Sojourn, from the popular Seabourn Square to the relaxing Spa at Seabourn. Welcome aboard!

Stay tuned for Ralph’s next video, which will explore Sojourn’s gourmet dining experiences and range of onboard dining choices.

Without a doubt, one of the best parts of sailing on a world cruise is the opportunity to sample different cuisines from all over the world.  When Seabourn Sojourn embarks on her 111-day voyage across the globe, the ship will visit more than 20 countries, each with its own unique flavor.  To make the culinary experience even more special, the ship will host several local guest chefs and food connoisseurs who will share their expertise, skills and dishes with guests.

The chefs will create a menu featuring a five-course meal of some of their signature dishes, provide cooking demos, and even host special “shopping with the chef” tours to local markets.

Chefs who are currently scheduled to be on Seabourn Sojourn’s world cruise include:

• Paulette Mitchell (Los Angeles to Papeete, January 5-15, 2011) – Paulette Mitchell, author of 13 cookbooks, is known globally for her quick-to-prepare recipes with gourmet flair. She is recognized as the author of the award-winning 15-Minute Gourmet cookbook series and also is a video producer of Telly Award-winning travel and culinary videos.  She is a media spokesperson, freelance writer, culinary speaker, cooking instructor, and television personality. As an avid world traveler, Paulette is most inspired by flavors from diverse cultures both near and far.  Her most recently published cookbook is The Complete 15-Minute Gourmet: Creative Cuisine Made Fast and Fresh.
• Vincent Pouessel (Bora Bora to Auckland, January 17-25, 2011) – When it comes to cooking at Aureole, one of Las Vegas’ most celebrated restaurants, Vincent Pouessel gets down to the basics. Straightforward, seasonal ingredients define his sense of style in the kitchen. This fundamental approach to cooking, along with his upbringing and experiences in France, makes him a perfect match for American chef Charlie Palmer’s upscale, Las Vegas showplace.
• Martin Bosley (Auckland to Port Chalmers, January 25-30, 2011) – Chef Martin Bosley of Upstairs at the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club in Wellington, New Zealand, is the winner of numerous chef and restaurant awards, and considered one of New Zealand’s premier chefs
• Hirosashi Nobuaki (Singapore to Cochin, March 12-19, 2011) – Chef Hirosashi Nobuaki trained in the Kaiseki tradition with the famous Kitcho group of restaurants in Japan. Kaiseki is a traditional Japanese meal featuring exquisite courses revolving around a ritual balance and progression of flavors. He is executive chef of the famed Kumo restaurant in Singapore.
• Mohammad Bader-Alden Antabli (Dubai to Sharm el Sheikh, March 26-April 7, 2011) – Mohammad Bader-Alden Antabli is the proprietor and chef of London’s award-winning Middle Eastern restaurant, Al Waha.  The establishment has received many prestigious awards, including Middle Eastern Restaurant of the Year, Moet & Chandon \ Carlton TV London Restaurant Awards.

We look forward to welcoming these fantastic guest chefs onboard and have no doubt our guests will enjoy their dishes!

Note: Guest chefs and dates aboard Sojourn’s world cruise are subject to change without notice.

If you haven’t had the opportunity to sail on Seabourn Sojourn, here is a slideshow that will give you a great idea of what it’s like to cruise on our new ship.  Journalist Matt Hannafin spent a couple of days onboard and captured the essence of the ship in this fantastic photo tour.

Come aboard Seabourn Sojourn and view our photo gallery!

Anchored in the shallow azure waters of Isle Catalina in the Dominican Republic, Seabourn Sojourn held its first Caviar in the Surf last month.  Here is a great shot of the ship and several staff members on the zodiac boat boisterously announcing to guests that the champagne and caviar will be served.  We can dream to be there, can’t we?

The Seabourn Sojourn anchored in Island Catalina in the Dominican Republic

USA Today is featuring Seabourn’s new ships in its cruise ship photo gallery.  If you haven’t been on Seabourn Odyssey or Seabourn Sojourn, this will give you a great feel to what the ships are like.  Take a look at the tour by clicking on the link here.

USA Today’s Gene Sloan, (the man who dubbed Seabourn Odyssey a “game changer), is running a poll about which cruise ship the UK’s newly-engaged Prince William and Kate Middleton should book for a honeymoon.  Seabourn Sojourn is in the running, and naturally, we think she would be the perfect choice for the royal couple.  Don’t you agree?  If so, please be sure to cast your vote for Seabourn Sojourn!

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