World Traveler
Seabourn offers an epic journey to the world’s finest destinations—with all the comforts of home
Seeing the world by yacht is a fantasy for many travelers, but for a fortunate few it has turned into the all-too-real voyage of a lifetime. Seabourn, which began its high-end cruises more than 20 years ago, has transformed the world cruise into an unforgettable 111 days at sea on the new Seabourn Sojourn.
“We’ve designed our world-cruise events and activities to enrich our guests’ experiences as they circle the globe on our newest luxury yacht,” says Pamela C. Conover, president and CEO. “This is an epic journey, and we want to make absolutely sure they return with some unforgettable memories.”
The journey begins in Los Angeles in January and ends in London in late April. The 245-guest vessel will stop at 46 ports in some of the world’s most glamorous cities, as well as hidden treasures called “Seabourn Secrets.” The itinerary includes Tahiti, Bora-Bora, New Zealand, Australia, Bali, Borneo, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, India, Dubai, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and the U.K.
Those who are part of the inner circle of world travelers called All Arounders also get to enjoy an extra perk—five specially created experiences that are exclusive to their group. They start with a South Seas Spectacular in Papeete, Tahiti, where guests will enjoy a traditional feast of masterfully prepared seafood and delicate tropical fruits, while local dancers perform to Polynesian music underneath a star-studded sky. It’s a scene straight out of a James Michener novel, a performance that captures the true essence of the South Pacific.
At the other end of the cultural journey is a gourmet dinner at Château Kirwan in Bordeaux, one of France’s most historic wineries. The evening includes a guided tour of the chateau’s extensive cellars and an aperitif tasting of wines from the estate.
Between Tahiti and France, World Travelers will also enjoy an exclusive dinner in Werribee Park in Melbourne, Australia, an Italianate mansion and gardens that embody the opulence of 19th-century Australia’s landed gentry. A few weeks later, the guests will be invited to an exclusive boarding on the world’s largest observation wheel in Singapore, which provides a 360-degree view of the dynamic cityscape. The Arabian Nights Adventure brings guests to a torch-lit bedouin encampment hidden in the dunes beyond Dubai’s towers, where a souk of exotic spices, dried fruits, nuts, and local earthenware awaits, as well as belly dancing and traditional shisha Arabic water pipes.
“People often ask me which tour I liked best,” says Dr. Rhodes Haverty, who, along with his wife, Elice, has spent more than 600 days on a Seabourn yacht. “My stock answer is: the last one. That’s because they are always great tours.”
The Havertys have done some 50 cruises, including a 69-day world-cruise segment last year. Next year, they are spending 79 days on Sojourn’s World Tour. “We leave when it’s winter at home and are seeing some of the world’s most beautiful ports,” says Elice. “The real beauty is that you are still onboard the boat when most other people have to get off again. It was hard to leave after being on for more than two months. It’s easy to get used to the good life at sea.”
That is particularly easy on the latest class of yachts like Sojourn, launched this summer, or her twin sister Odyssey, where the Havertys did their last world cruise. The yachts were designed to have the highest staff-to-guest ratio in the industry, along with the most elegant suites at sea. Nearly all of the 225 ocean-view suites, ranging from 295 to 1,682 square feet, have private verandas, along with a walk-in closet, fully stocked bar (with each guest’s favorite beverages), writing desk, flat-screen television, direct-dial telephone, and a spacious granite bathroom with a separate tub and shower. In other words, all the comforts of home, with a different view each morning. The ultimate picture window transforms daily, from gorgeous turquoise reefs in French Polynesia’s Marquesas Island to the stunning skyline of Singapore to quaint ports on the Italian and French rivieras.
“I’ve been to many spectacular places on my Seabourn cruises,” says a female guest from the Isle of Man. “Hawaii, New York, Stockholm. But sailing into Sydney Harbour was my favorite. It has one of the most beautiful harbors in the world, with the Opera House, skyline, and marinas. I have to say, everyday is a good day on a Seabourn voyage.”
This guest, who has traveled 1,295 days aboard Seabourn yachts since 1993, has sailed with other cruise lines. “In some ways, the bigger ships have more activities,” she says. “But you might meet someone one day and never see her again. Or you might not have the same waiters day after day. Seabourn has nice- size yachts with a good mix of guests. Beyond that, it has something unique that’s hard to define. It has something to do with the atmosphere onboard.”
That “atmosphere” is a conscious creation by Seabourn, a combination of a “human-scale” restaurants and social areas to evoke feelings of comfort and intimacy among guests, rather than intimidation by the grand scale, as well as excellent food and activities. But above all, Seabourn works hard to find the right staff.
The company looks for individuals who naturally exhibit traits of friendliness, professionalism, and enthusiasm to ensure guests feel very much at home. Each staff member goes through an intense training period before he or she sets foot on one of the Seabourn yachts. “The staff go out of their way to please,” says the guest. “I had to leave one cruise in the middle to attend to business in England. When I came back, they had decorated my room with flowers and put up a ‘Welcome Home’ sign. I was very touched by that. But they also make a big point to celebrate people’s birthdays. It’s very friendly onboard.”
The Havertys also believe the Seabourn difference has much to do with the way the staff interact with guests. “They learn your name within a day and are always trying to do small things to make you more comfortable,” says Elice. “I have food allergies, and they try like heck to accommodate me at every turn. The food is excellent. Most people are extremely happy with the menus.”
The menus, designed by celebrity chef Charlie Palmer who owns award-winning restaurants in Las Vegas and New York, place an emphasis on fresh, flavorful ingredients. Each of the four restaurants on the yacht maintains its own unique ambience, ranging from the elegance of The Restaurant, with its alabaster walls and crystal chandeliers, to the more relaxed, open-kitchen flavor of The Colonnade, an indoor/outdoor eatery that has a different theme every night, to the casual, on-deck charm of the poolside Patio Grill. Beyond Palmer’s delicious recipes, each executive chef also creates his own gourmet dishes, often locally sourced and sometimes at the suggestion of guests.
But life on Seabourn is not all about food. Seabourn Square, which features a computer center, three duty-free shops, library, open terrace, and a very popular coffee bar, becomes the social center during the day. “They’ve got a lot of space where you can talk with the other guests,” says Elice. “They have computers for guest use. In the morning, they put out puzzles, with orange juice and fresh pastry. The coffee bar is open all day. I like to socialize. My husband likes to stay on the veranda in the room and read. But we’re both happy.”
A number of her friends, says Elice, love the lifestyle so much that they forego owning a second home in favor of doing a world cruise each year. “They decided some years ago they would not have a house in Spain, but would instead go on a Seabourn cruise,” she says. It makes sense because the guests can enjoy all the amenities of a home in the sun—friends, great cuisine, wonderful weather, and entertainment—while also seeing the world through its finest ports, sights, restaurants, and golf courses.
Guests also can choose from a full-size health center, putting green, swimming pools, library, and other social centers. Seabourn wanted to maintain a sense of intimacy for guests on the larger Sojourn. “Even though they’re three times larger than our original trio of vessels, our new yachts carry only twice as many guests,” says Conover. “They provide the highest ratio of space per guest in the industry. The extra size let us add a lot of features that our guests appreciate.”
That includes the largest spa on any luxury vessel, with two floors of Finnish saunas, aromatic steam rooms, a well-equipped gym, and many certified therapists who custom design spa and fitness packages for guests. The offerings range from tai chi and pilates to a high-tech Kinesis Wall and Thai massage, with dozens of other health modalities.
The Grand Salon, the largest of the lounges, has seating for all guests as well as a dance floor for balls and other special occasions. The Grand Salon is where the yacht’s four professional vocalists and professional dance couple perform. There is also an occasional performer brought onboard from wherever the ship is docked. Sojourn also features world-renowned personalities as guest lecturers. “The entertainment program is not designed to draw all the guests to the salon every night,” says Conover. “We’ve had success with offering a variety of different styles in all lounges, so people can match their own tastes.”
“Nobody has an excuse to say he was bored,” says the guest from the Isle of Man. “I never got tired of my last 108-day cruise on Odyssey. It continued to thrill the whole way, with the guest lecturers and ports we visited. I tend to enjoy being on the ship as much as visiting the ports. Many people come for that part of the vacation where they can just relax, for the time onboard.”
But Seabourn also creates a series of exclusive events that deliver the experience of the cultures guests are visiting. During the next world cruise, they range from attending a religious festival in Bali, enjoying a Vietnamese cultural evening in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, taking afternoon tea at a bedouin camp in the Sinai desert, or relishing an afternoon of French-colonial wine and cuisine in a former French plantation in New Zealand. Seabourn event planners spend months creating tours that combine exotic local culture or sights with a sense of comfort for guests.
How did this guest enjoy the larger Seabourn Odyssey after sailing for so many years on the trio of smaller ships? “I was afraid it would feel too big, but it doesn’t,” she says. “I still saw my friends everyday, and made new ones. I travel alone, and Seabourn has always taken extra-special care of single travelers. I even keep in touch with many of the staff. You get to know them well and are happy to see them move up in the company. It’s almost like a family.”
The Havertys, who have also made lifelong friends on their multiple cruises, have even visited friends in Australia and England. “You tend to meet very nice people on these trips,” says Dr. Haverty. “The group size is just about right so you get to know people well without feeling lost in a huge crowd.”
The Havertys and the guest from Isle of Man are so enamored with the lifestyle on the trip that they have both signed up for the Sojourn world cruise that begins in January. “I can’t imagine sailing on any other line,” says the Isle of Man guest. “I’m already booked for the next two years.”
That’s not unusual, says CEO Conover. “More than 50 percent of our guests are repeat clients, and about a third of those book their next trips while still aboard a Seabourn cruise,” she says.
For more information, contact a travel agent, call Seabourn at 1-800-929-9391 or visit www.seabourn.com .