Seabourn reveals entertainment for 2026 World Cruise

Seabourn has announced a world-class entertainment lineup for its 2026 World Cruise – Ring of Fire: Hidden Gems on board Seabourn Sojourn. Departing January 6, 2026, the 129-day journey will feature Grammy-winning and internationally acclaimed talent, including ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro, Brazilian jazz guitarist Diego Figueiredo, Hamilton star Christine Allado, and singer-songwriter Ashley Campbell, daughter of country legend Glen Campbell.

Guests will also enjoy performances from renowned Steinway pianists, the theatrical debut of Being Mr. Wickham starring Adrian Lukis, and the new Broadway-style production V for Variety in partnership with Belinda King Creative Productions.

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First look at new Seabourn expedition vessels [video]

Is this new Damen design for Seabourn? (Damen) 

Seabourn has released new details on what guests can expect from its two new luxury expedition ships. The cruise line signed a letter of intent with shipbuilders T. Mariotti and Damen in July, marking the brand’s first entry into the expedition cruise market.

The ships will represent a brand-new design, with the first slated for delivery in June 2021 and the second in May 2022. The first ship is currently planned to sail in the Arctic in late summer 2021, with a full summer season in Antarctica to follow.

Each will be designed with a high level of autonomy and a global deployment capability, which Seabourn says will allow them to go farther north and south than any ship in parent company Carnival Corporation’s history, visiting both warm and cool weather destinations. As previously reported, each will be built to PC6 Polar Class standards, allowing them to operate in both summer and autumn in medium first-year ice in Antarctica and the Arctic. The ships will be propelled by Azipods complemented by three bow thrusters, allowing for greater manoeuvrability.




Other newly released design details include shell doors at the ship’s waterline, which will allow guests to move easily on and off the ship via its onboard complement of Zodiacs. Additionally, dynamic positioning systems will provide the ship increased operational flexibility when it comes to maintaining its position.

For guests, the new ships will have approximately 29,600 square feet of open deck space, complemented by high-quality optics mounted in various areas on the decks when conditions permit, to maximize opportunities to view wildlife and dramatic scenery. Also notable: the ships will carry two onboard submarines for underwater exploration, as well as a complement of kayaks and 24 Zodiacs. Shore experiences will build on the brand’s existing Antarctica and Ventures by Seabourn programs, the cruise line said.

In terms of accommodations, each ship will have 132 oceanfront veranda suites, allowing for a capacity of up to 264 guests.

The onboard crew will include a 26-person expedition team, who will regularly interact with guests. These experts are also part of the Seabourn Conversations program, providing insights into the history, ecology and culture of the places the ships will visit. The expedition team will be available to guests in both formal presentations and casual conversations.

Seabourn said it will continue to announce design and itinerary details for the new ships over the next few months. Expect more on planned itineraries and booking availability this spring.

Seabourn - the last word on luxury at sea

Words: Ian MacTavish

Not many of us live right beside the sea. My wife and I certainly don’t. But you’d have to be a long way from any coastline to be unaware of the growing numbers of lovely large white vessels moving in and out of ports around the world.

With their decks buzzing with excited passengers looking forward to a short or long cruise they represent the fastest growing sector of the travel industry.

Cruising has never been more popular and the corners of the world served by sea-lanes have opened up for so many in the last twenty years.

The lure of the oceans.

Any cruise has a number of immediate attractions over land-based travel.

You don’t have to pack and unpack. No need to book in and out of hotels, or find transport every other day. You have a very short walk to all you want. Food. Drink. Pool. Deckchair. Spa. Dancing. Casino. Theatre.

After sunset, after a sleep, you see a new part of the world, a fresh discovery, appearing over your balcony rail every morning.

To top it off there is the romance of the sea ... something so reassuring in the humming and the gentle movement of the hull beneath you.

Which size cruise fits you?

Talk to your friends. We did because we seemed to be the last to take to the seas.

We listened to stories of the latest megaliners, fabulous craft the size of villages, with thousands of people and unbelievable facilities.

Some of our mates love large hotels. Huge spaces, bars everywhere, the buzz of crowds. But we’ve always liked intimate, boutique gems and that steered us towards the company known for it’s smaller ships.

OK you may miss out on water slides or surfing pools, but on a ship with less than 300 suites you can go into smaller ports, and mingle with a compact selection of like-minded travellers.

Thinking smaller for bigger rewards

Seabourn is right at the top of the luxury cruise lines.

No point in hiding. We found it among the most expensive.

But wow, what an experience!

Not only did we not want for anything, but the levels of personal service and the added touches were also above and beyond anything we had experienced before. The ratio of crew to guests is one of the highest.

Even in the space of ten days, we got to know by name most of the crew serving us day by day. They come from all over the world and cheerfully give you an interesting insight into their backgrounds. They remembered many of our preferences such as seating for meals and favourite snacks. 

Seabourn Encore: Pool deck.

How Seabourn defines luxury.

We met the Cruise Director on the second day out and had a couple of conversations with him. He had been with the company for 27 years, starting as an onboard entertainer. We asked how his systems work so well; his most telling statement was: “We make things personable. We encourage guests to chat with us and each other. Temporary friends maybe, but it generates an atmosphere you won’t find on a larger ship or hotel”

That’s how it is. Intimate, informal and individual.

Crewmembers are always ahead of you, anticipating what might make your day even better.

In your chosen bar, the barman remembers your favourite drink, and it appears. No need to run up a tab or settle up on the last day. It’s all included.

Need another bottle of champagne in you suite’s fridge? It’s all included.

Choice of some of the world’s fine wine at dinner. It’s all included.

An evening concert and dinner ashore. All included

Feels so gooooood!

Comfort you take for granted. Our suite’s ensuite had twin basins, a separate shower and bath (a tub on a softly swaying ship is a great experience), piles of fluffy towelling and shelves filled with products from Molton Brown of London.

A huge bed. Balcony, fridge, lounges and a table for dining in, which we did one night, each course brought as it was prepared.

The restaurant meals are amazingly good, especially at Restaurant2, which we made sure we booked as soon as we boarded.

My wife is tapping me on the shoulder to mention The Spa. It’s mainly a girl thing, and they deserve every hour of it. Emerging radiant, she says nowhere has treated her so well. The sheer choice of luxurious pampering is amazing. Just look at the brochure.

How to sum up the Seabourn Experience.

We haven’t been on all the ships at sea. But it is difficult to imagine anything that could top our Seabourn adventure.

For us it was sunshine, sipping and sightseeing in a Mediterranean summer. You might choose quite another part of the world. The oceans await you. Your horizons may be very different. But I bet onboard you’ll fall in love with what we did.

All in all, we did many things we had done before but with a level of perfection thanks to the sparkle of the Seabourn team. With their proven tradition of ultra-luxury, we would step onboard any of their ships, anywhere in the world in a heartbeat.

First images of new #Seabourn Encore

The world’s finest ultra-luxury cruise line Seabourn has unveiled the first images of its newest all-suite vessel, Seabourn Encore, which launched in Marghera, Italy, earlier this month.

Designed by hospitality design icon Adam D. Tihany, the 40,350-GRT vessel features modern design elements and innovations in keeping with Seabourn’s reputation for understated elegance.

The ship’s 600 guests, who reside in 300 elegantly appointed suites each with a private verandah, are treated to the line’s extraordinary levels of personalised service, with a high staff to guest ratio.

Seabourn Encore will be officially christened at a ceremony in Singapore on January 7, 2017, before sailing to Australia where she will spend almost two months cruising local waters.

When Seabourn Encore arrives down under on January 22, it will be the youngest ultra-luxury ship to visit Australia.

Seabourn Encore will return to Europe in April 2017 to spend the northern summer cruising the Mediterranean.

A sister ship, Seabourn Ovation, will join the fleet in 2018.

For more on Seabourn Encore visit http://encore.seabourn.com/

Seabourn Sojourn gastronomic tour of France and 10-night cruise

EXCLUSIVE gourmet wining and dining on a gastronomic tour of France precedes a 10-night cruise aboard the stunning six-star Seabourn Sojourn as part of a luxurious cruise/tour only available from ecruising.travel

 

This is a first time opportunity to join the 26-night holiday departing 21 May 2014, taking in several one-star Michelin and unique upmarket French restaurants as it travels from Paris through France's most beautiful wine regions -  Bordeaux, Dijon, Beaune, Burgundy, Chantilly and Reims.

 

Activities include cycling through the vineyards, wine tasting at Chateau Pommard, dinner in the Eiffel Tower, a private introduction to the Champaign Fraternity, a visit to Chateau Moet et Chandon and a two-hour boat ride around the Bay of Arcachon.

 

The cruise sector starts with a helicopter transfer from Nice to Monaco to join the luxuriously intimate Seabourn Sojourn. The cruise takes in fascinating, less-frequented ports in Corsica, San Remo, La Lavandrou, Sete, Ciutadella and Valencia.

 

It also make stops at Ibiza, Marseilles and has two nights in Barcelona as part of a superb overview of the Mediterranean region.

 

The pampering continues with a two night stopover at the renowned Raffles Hotel in Dubai as you make your way back to Australia.

 

Now priced from $20,119 (was $29,589) per person twin share, this unique experience includes return economy airfares from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth,  deluxe hotel accommodation, many meals and all transport in France, all meals on board Seabourn Sojourn, airport transfers and a two night stopover in Dubai.

 

For more details contact ecruising.travel on 1300-369-848 or check out www.ecruising.travel

 

Seabourn Offers Hundreds of Way to See the World in Style in New 2014-15 Collection

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Ultra-luxury cruise line Seabourn has released its 2014-15 Cruise Collection, offering guests the chance to see the world in style, with hundreds of voyages spanning the seven continents and ranging from seven to 116 days.

From the Amazon to Antarctica, the new cruises take Seabourn's six award-winning small ships to some of the world's most exciting locations, including new ports along the African coastline and in the Philippines' archipelago.

To mark the launch of the collection, Seabourn has released special Seabourn Value Fares, with savings of up to 50 per cent on a wide range of itineraries, including one of its most popular cruises among Australians - a 10-day voyage through the Mediterranean from Monte Carlo to Barcelona priced from $5699* per person.

The Cruise Collection sees the debut of Seabourn's Extended Explorations, featuring new, linked itineraries that allow guests to explore more extensive regions of the globe in depth, on voyages lasting from 28 to 116 days.

Extended Explorations feature frequent overnight stays in ports, regionally-themed menus and wines on board, local entertainment, regionally-focussed experts for Seabourn Conversations onboard enrichment and optional, escorted mid-cruise Seabourn Journeys to nearby cultural or historical highlights.

Offerings include a 116-day exploration of Africa and South East Asia on Seabourn Sojourn, taking guests on a new itinerary along the African coastline as the ship travels to regions from Morocco, the Canary Islands and Namibia, to Madagascar, Mauritius, the Maldives and Myanmar.  Departing Barcelona on November 19, 2014 the voyage is priced from $56,299* per person.

Meanwhile Seabourn will offer its second season of Antarctica voyages in 2014-15, with guests able to choose from six different options. Fares start from $16,999* for 21 days cruising from Buenos Aires to Santiago, visiting Antarctica as well as the Falkland Islands and some of Chile's most exciting fjords and sounds.

Closer to home, Seabourn Odyssey and Seabourn Sojourn will offer beautiful cruises through South East Asia with itineraries including a new 14-day voyage to stunning ports throughout the Philippines, Brunei and Malaysia, with fares from $8299* per person.

Seabourn Odyssey will also return to Australian waters to offer a series of cruises between Sydney and Auckland from December 2014 to February 2015, with the cruises visiting picturesque destinations such as Milford Sound and Akaroa, as well as smaller ports like Oban, Tamaru and Kaikoura.

Seabourn's ships carry between 208 and 458 guests exclusively in ocean-view suites, visiting an array of must-see ports as well as hidden gems where larger ships cannot call.

Complimentary open bars throughout the voyage and open-seating dining add to a relaxed, club-like ambience that encourages an easy sociability among guests. Award-winning cuisine is graciously served in a variety of venues, and the onboard entertainment options are varied as well. Along with beautiful, understated elegance in design and thoughtful, quality furnishings and materials, the Seabourn ships provide one of the world's finest holiday options and represent exceptional value to travellers.

For more information and a copy of the new Cruise Collections brochure, see a licensed travel agent, call 13 24 02 or visit www.seabourn.com

*All fares are in Australian dollars, cruise-only, for new bookings only, per guest double occupancy, and subject to availability. Conditions apply.