Cruising in Style

The Yachts of Seabourn

On course to double its fleet size from three to six ships, Seabourn debuted the first of its three brand new babies—the Seabourn Odyssey—last June. The second, Seabourn Sojourn, sets sail this summer, with the Seabourn Quest to launch next spring. Seabourn’s three identical new ships, built at T. Mariotti in Genoa, Italy, can accommodate a maximum of 450 guests in 225 suites.

While double the size of Seabourn’s original three ships, the new builds remain the smallest vessels constructed by a major cruise line and thus retain their intimate scale with yacht-like atmospheres and the ability to access small, unique destinations.

Each suite (90 percent with balconies) ranges in size from about 300 square feet to 1,182 square feet indoors, plus another 60 feet to 500 feet of outdoor space. This includes five Owner’s Suites measuring up to 1,062 square feet (including the veranda) and four 2-bedroom Grand Suites with up to 1,682 square feet of private living space. These suites—as well as the other larger ones on board—include complimentary in-room WiFi access. Standard Seabourn features include 24-hour room service, an in-suite bar stocked to guests’ preferences, flat-screen interactive TV/movies/music, and Molton Brown bath products.

Additional reasons to sail Seabourn include menus by celebrity Chef Charlie Palmer and access to the 11,400-square-foot Spa at Seabourn (the largest on any ultra-luxury vessel at sea). Palmer’s cuisine is served in four dining venues—ranging from fine dining to casual—and the open-bar policy means no annoying checks to sign throughout the cruise (gratuities are neither required nor expected).

The stunning two-deck spa features nine treatment rooms, including two Spa Villas spacious enough for treatments a deux. These villas also feature a double daybed for relaxing, a full living/dining room, a private balcony for sunbathing, and an oversized bathtub. The fitness room offers a variety of cardio and strength equipment, a studio for classes, a Kinesis Wall, and even a separate area for Thai massages. More than 10 Eastern cultures are represented on the spa treatment menu, with options such as Chinese reflexology and Tai Chi. Complimentary yoga and Pilates classes are offered.

Following its June 6 maiden voyage and through mid-September, the Sojourn offers incredible itineraries throughout Northern Europe, featuring stops in Russia, Norway, Finland, Scotland, England, and Denmark. The Odyssey spends the summer and fall in the eastern Mediterranean, with itineraries highlighted by visits to Turkey, the Greek Isles, Venice, and Croatia before relocating to South America for the winter.