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!

Earlier this week, Seabourn Spirit met up with her big sister, Seabourn Sojourn, in the Ionian Sea.  Guests and crew came out on deck and waved to each other as the ships sailed past each other.  Seabourn Spirit Cruise Director Nick Hale hopped on the rescue boat and took these pictures of the rendezvous.  It will be a while before the sisters meet again, as Seabourn Sojourn will be sailing in Northern Europe and Seabourn Spirit will be in the Mediterranean this summer. So long for now!

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!!!

It’s not everyday you get to walk around and underneath a cruise ship.  Members of the Seabourn Spirit housekeeping staff did just that when the ship was recently in drydock in Singapore.  Here is a great photo of the team with the ship in the background.

Two weeks aboard Seabourn Spirit in the Mediterranean … don’t you wish you were on-board?  But for now, you can live vicariously through Dr. Irene S. Levine, who recently sailed aboard the yacht off the coast of Croatia and Italy.

One of the best parts of her cruise?  The service provided by the dedicated staff.  “Personal service was, indeed, the hallmark of our experience.”

Read about her Seabourn experience here

One of the biggest highlights on a Seabourn cruise is when guests head for the local markets and go shopping with the chef.  During a recent stop in Syracuse, Sicily, a small group of Seabourn Spirit guests accompanied Chef Paskins to the market to learn about local produce and pick out the freshest ingredients for the Chef’s Dinner.  What was on the shopping list?  Fresh branzini, which is also known as Mediterranean sea bass.

Always friendly and welcoming, the owners of the market warmly greeted the group and shared some delicious cheese and wine during the visit.  Guests were able to see and experience the many delicious flavors of Italy, from pesto, olives, local bread and cheeses, and fresh seafood, and fruit.  And the best part of it all was when the guests were able to feast on the items after Chef Paskins prepared them for dinner and barbeque buffet!

Barbara Poelmans

Since Seabourn Odyssey entered service last summer, the team of guest service specialists working at Seabourn Square has consistently received high ratings from guests for outstanding service.  This is due, in no small part, to Barbara Poelmans, Seabourn’s hotel operations coordinator and Seabourn Square manager. (more…)

This winter season, Seabourn Spirit sailed to South America for the first time, circling around this diverse region that is home to some of the world’s most beautiful natural wonders and magnificent landscapes.  One of the most memorable “calls” took place in February, when Spirit sailed to Cape Horn, the southernmost part of South America.  (more…)

Here are some new pictures of the newly-refurbished Seabourn Spirit, which came out of drydock earlier this month.  She looks marvelous, and we have received many positive reviews from our guests about her new look and feel. (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…)