Seabourn's Dream Comes to Fruition; Takes Delivery of Quest

A dream has become a reality for Seabourn. Years ago, Seabourn decided to build a trio of new ships...450-passenger, all-suite mega-yachts that would sail the globe offering the same exceptional service as was available on the line's smaller ships (Legend, Pride, and Spirit).

Odyssey launched in June 2009, Sojourn premiered the following summer, and Seabourn just took delivery of Quest at the T. Mariotti shipyard in Genoa, Italy.

Seabourn is known for throwing amazing christening celebrations. Barcelona is the location of Quest's upcoming sunset ceremony on June 20th and actress Blythe Danner will serve as godmother. After the ceremony, the ship will depart on a 14-night maiden voyage to Athens, stopping at idyllic seaside villages in France, Italy, Greece, and Turkey.

According to Richard Meadows, Seabourn's President, "We are very pleased and excited to take delivery of Seabourn Quest. She is a beautiful vessel, and I have no doubt she will earn as much praise from the experts, and as much affection from our guests as her two sister-ships.  Her officers, staff and crew are ready to welcome travelers on board to experience Seabourn-style cruising on our newest ship."

Congratulations to everyone at Seabourn and T. Mariotti who worked so hard to bring this dream to fruition! Seabourn Odyssey is one of our favorite ships and we hope to sail aboard Quest soon!

To learn more about Quest, talk with your travel agent or contact Seabourn at 1-(800) 929-9391.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Porthole Cruise Magazine Annouces 12th Annual Readers' Choice Winners

Porthole Cruise Magazine has been running its annual Readers' Choice Awards for the past 12 years and the 2010 results are now in.

The survey includes dozens of categories, but the awards are mainly geared to the mass market cruise lines. Still, luxury favorites like Yachts of Seabourn, Silversea, and Paul Gauguin Cruises get nods, as do premium cruise lines Oceania Cruises, Azamara Club Cruises, and Windstar Cruises.

And the winners are...

Best Small Ship (fewer than 500 passengers)
Seabourn Odyssey—Yachts of Seabourn

Best Medium-Sized Ship (between 500 and 2,000 passengers)
Azamara Journey—Azamara Club Cruises

Best River Cruise
Viking River Cruises

Best Luxury Line
Yachts of Seabourn

Best Expedition Cruise Line
Lindblad Expeditions

Best Eco-Friendly Cruise Line
Holland America Line

Best Shore Excursions
Holland America Line

Best Private Island
Half Moon Cay—Holland America Line

Best Megaship (at least 2,000 passengers)
Oasis of the Seas—Royal Caribbean

Best Tall Ship
Royal Clipper—Star Clippers

Best Value-for-the-Money Line
Carnival Cruise Lines

Most Family-Oriented Line
Disney Cruise Line

Most Romantic Cruise Line
Windstar Cruises

Best Short-Duration Cruise
Norwegian Cruise Line

Best One-Day Cruise
Discovery Cruise Line

Best Adventure Cruise Line
Royal Caribbean

Best Onboard Activities
Royal Caribbean

Best Main Dining Room Cuisine
Celebrity Cruises

Best Casinos
Carnival Cruise Lines

Best Spa Facilities
Royal Caribbean

Best Medical Facilities
Holland America Line

Best Service
Silversea Cruises

Best Onboard International Experience
MSC Cruises

Best Adults-Only Onboard Options
Celebrity Cruises

Best Accommodations
Yachts of Seabourn

Best Onboard Educational Programs
Cunard Line

Best Alternative Restaurants
Norwegian Cruise Line

Best Computer Facilities
Norwegian Cruise Line

Best Onboard Shopping
Princess Cruises

Best Children's Programs
Disney Cruise Line

Best Entertainment
Carnival Cruise Lines

Best Theme Cruises
Carnival Cruise Lines

Best Web Site
Carnival Cruise Lines
Best Facilities for Physically Challenged Passengers
Holland America Line

Best Caribbean Itineraries
Royal Caribbean

Best Mexican Riviera Itineraries
Carnival Cruise Lines

Best Central America Itineraries
Holland America line

Best South America Itineraries
Oceania Cruises

Best South Pacific Itineraries
Paul Gauguin Cruises

Best Trans-Atlantic Itineraries
Cunard Line

Best Africa/Middle East Itineraries
Costa Cruises

Best Bermuda Itineraries
Norwegian Cruise Line

Best Canada/New England Itineraries
Holland America Line

Best Alaska Itineraries
Holland America Line

Best Hawaii Itineraries
Norwegian Cruise Line
Best Mediterranean Itineraries
Costa Cruises

Best Northern Europe Itineraries
Holland America Line

Best Asia/Pacific Itineraries
Silversea Cruises

Best World Cruise Itineraries
Cunard Line

Best Australia/New Zealand Itineraries
Princess Cruises

To subscribe to the magazine, visit Porthole Cruise Magazine's website.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Logo courtesy of Porthole Cruise Magazine

Seabourn Pride and Legend to Spend More Time in Southeast Asia in 2012

The latest news from Seabourn is that it has tinkered with the first quarter 2012 schedules of two of its yachts—Pride and Legend—in order to offer more Southeast Asian itineraries. The yachts will spend more time in Cambodia and Indonesia.

Having just returned from Indonesia myself, I can tell you that this region is perfect for cruising. Seabourn's intimate yachts visit places most mega cruise ships just can't access. Pamela Conover, Seabourn President and CEO concurs, saying, “Southeast Asia has been a perennial favorite of our guests for many years, because our yachts can take them places that are difficult to visit otherwise.”

These itineraries will afford you the opportunity to explore exotic ports of call without having to worry about flying in on a puddle jumper or arriving by local ferry. If you haven't yet visited this part of Southeast Asia, these new Seabourn itineraries are tough to beat.

The 208-guest Seabourn Pride, which had been scheduled to sail 12-day cruises of Vietnam and Thailand between Hong Kong and Bangkok, will instead sail between Hong Kong and Singapore on five 14-day voyages that will each include a call at the up-and-coming beach resort community of Sihanoukville in Cambodia.

Departure dates are scheduled between January 4 and March 14, 2012. The revised schedule also includes one 14-day voyage departing February 15, 2012, and sailing round trip from Singapore to Penang, Phuket, Langkawi, Port Blair in the Andaman Islands, the Malaysian metropolis of Kuala Lumpur, and more.



Seabourn Legend will start 2012 sailing among the islands of the Indonesian Archipelago, on 10- and 12-day itineraries between Singapore and Bali that include hard-to-reach places such as Komodo, Sumba, Flores, Gili Sudak, and Kura Kura. Five departures are scheduled between January 3 and February 16, 2012.

For more information, talk with your travel agent or contact the Yachts of Seabourn directly at 1-(800) 929-9391.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photo © Leonard Hospidor

The Best of 2011: A Luxury Cruise for Each Month of Next Year

With 2011 just a month away, many of us are reviewing our upcoming cruise plans for next year. If I could wrangle an unlimited amount of vacation time—or could figure out how to bring our two Bearded Collies with us on these adventures!—the 12 cruises I'd take are listed below.

They range from island strongholds like the Maldives, Hawaii, Galapagos, and French Polynesia to Southeast Asia, the Mediterranean, Norway, South Africa, and Alaska.

Which are your must-cruise itineraries for 2011?

12 Fantastic Luxury Cruises for 2011

JANUARY 29, 2011
Paul Gauguin Cruises (m/s Paul Gauguin)
11-Night Cook Islands & Society Islands
Day 1 Papeete, Tahiti
Day 2 Huahine
Day 3 at sea
Day 4 Aitutaki, Cook Islands
Day 5 Rarotonga, Cook Islands
Day 6 at sea
Day 7 Bora Bora
Day 8 Bora Bora
Day 9 Taha'a (Motu Mahana)
Day 10 Moorea
Day 11 Moorea / Papeete, Tahiti
Day 12 Papeete, Tahiti

Why this cruise? We sailed with Paul Gauguin Cruises last May and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. French Polynesia is one of the most beautiful places on earth and Paul Gauguin Cruises has the expertise to show you the hidden gems. We sailed a seven-night itinerary last time around and it wasn't long enough. Next time, I'll go for the eleven-night Cook and Society Islands combo cruise.


FEBRUARY 7, 2011
Four Seasons (Four Seasons Explorer)
7-Night Maldivian Circuit Cruise
This cruise begins on North Male Atoll, Maldives at the Four Seasons Kuda Huraa and sails to Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru on Baa Atoll.

Why this cruise? The Maldives, gorgeous coral atolls in the Indian Ocean, are on my bucket list. The Four Seasons has two exquisite properties in the archipelago as well as a luxury yacht, the Four Seasons Explorer.


MARCH 2, 2011
Silversea (Silver Wind)
10-Night Cape Town, South Africa Round-Trip
Day 1 Cape Town, South Africa
Day 2 at sea
Day 3 East London, South Africa
Day 4 at sea
Day 5 Maputo, Mozambique
Day 6 Richards Bay, South Africa
Day 7 Richards Bay, South Africa
Day 8 Durban, South Africa
Day 9 Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Day 10 Mossel Bay, South Africa
Day 11 Cape Town, South Africa

Why this cruise? We love the crew aboard Silversea ships. The butlers, stewards, bartenders, and waitstaff always strike the right balance of attentive yet friendly service. Likewise, the passenger mix makes it easy to find like-minded dinner companions. Finally, this is a fantastic itinerary for anyone who loves South Africa. These are fantastic ports with no shortage of excellent shore excursions on offer.


APRIL 30, 2011
Cunard (Queen Elizabeth)
5-Night Getaway Voyage
Day 1 Southampton, UK
Day 2 Amsterdam, Netherlands
Day 3 Amsterdam, Netherlands
Day 4 Zeebrugge, Belgium
Day 5 Le Havre, France
Day 6 Southampton, UK

Why this cruise? This is Cunard's newest ocean liner and, to be honest, we've never sailed with this line. It may turn out to be too formal for our liking, but I think every cruise fanatic should sail with Cunard at least once. This five-night itinerary hits some fun ports like Amsterdam, Netherlands and Zeebrugge, Belgium.


MAY 9, 2011
Crystal Cruises (Crystal Symphony)
12-Night Northern Lights
Day 1 San Francisco
Day 2 at sea
Day 3 Victoria, British Columbia
Day 4 Victoria, British Columbia
Day 5 at sea
Day 6 Sitka, Alaska
Day 7 Juneau, Alaska
Day 8 Skagway, Alaska
Day 9 at sea
Day 10 Ketchikan, Alaska
Day 11 at sea
Day 12 at sea
Day 13 San Francisco

Why this cruise? Alaska is one of our favorite cruise destinations and it's nice to see these ports without sacrificing luxury. Crystal Cruises offers up some of the best dining at sea and that's another thing that makes this itinerary so appealing.


JUNE 18, 2011
Azamara Club Cruises (Azamara Journey)
7-Night Spain and Portugal Cruise
Day 1 Barcelona, Spain
Day 2 Ibiza, Spain
Day 3 Ibiza, Spain
Day 4 Granada (Motril), Spain
Day 5 Gibraltar, UK
Day 6 Seville (Cadiz), Spain
Day 7 Lisbon, Portugal
Day 8 Lisbon, Portugal

Why this cruise? Plain and simple: it's the chance to sail the Strait of Gibraltar.


JULY 29, 2011
Oceania Cruises (Marina)
12-Night Treasures of the Continent
Day 1 London (Dover), UK
Day 2 Amsterdam, Netherlands
Day 3 Bruges (Zeebrugge), Belgium
Day 4 Paris (Honfleur), France
Day 5 St. Peter Ports (Guernsey), UK
Day 6 Saint-Malo, France
Day 7 Pont-Aven (Concarneau), France
Day 8 Bordeaux (Le Verdon), France
Day 9 Bordeaux (Le Verdon), France
Day 10 Biarritz (Saint-Jean-de-Luz), France
Day 11 Santander, Spain
Day 12 at sea
Day 13 London (Dover), UK

Why this cruise? Oceania Marina makes its debut in January 2011 and the ship will still have that new ship feel for this summertime cruise. The itinerary is spectacular with stops in Saint-Mao and Bordeaux, France.


AUGUST 14, 2011
Yachts of Seabourn (Seabourn Sojourn)
9-Night Norwegian Fjords
Day 1 Copenhagen, Denmark
Day 2 at sea
Day 3 Flaam, Norway
Day 4 Aalesund, Norway
Day 5 Olden, Norway
Day 6 Bergen, Norway
Day 7 Stavanger, Norway
Day 8 Oslo, Norway
Day 9 at sea
Day 10 Copenhagen, Denmark

Why this cruise? You've got a trifecta with this one: a terrific Norwegian itinerary, the beautiful Seabourn Sojourn mega-yacht, and an end-of-the-summer embarkation date.


SEPTEMBER 24, 2011
SeaDream Yacht Club (SeaDream II)
7-Night Venice, Italy to Dubrovnik, Croatia
Day 1 Venice, Italy
Day 2 Rab, Croatia
Day 3 Split and Hvar, Croatia
Day 4 Hvar, Croatia
Day 5 Korcula, Croatia
Day 6 Kotor, Montenegro
Day 7 Dubrovnik, Croatia
Day 8 Dubrovnik, Croatia

Why this cruise? SeaDream is one of our favorite cruise lines (best gourmet cuisine at sea and super-friendly crew) and we've been wanting to get back to Croatia since we visited Hvar last summer.


OCTOBER 10, 2011
Orion Expeditions (Orion II)
7-Night Gulf of Siam Explorer
Day 1 Singapore
Day 2 Tioman Island, Malaysia
Day 3 Kuala Terrangganu, Malaysia
Day 4 At sea
Day 5 Ko Samui, Thailand
Day 6 Ang Thong Marine Park, Thailand
Day 7 Ko Kut, Thailand
Day 8 Bangkok

Why this cruise? Orion II is new to the line's fleet and recently underwent a major refurbishment. This expedition line combines attentive service with offbeat ports of call. We love Southeast Asia and I can't imagine more compelling destinations than those in Malaysia and Thailand that are visited during Orion's "Gulf of Siam Explorer" cruise.


NOVEMBER 14, 2011
American Safari Cruises (Safari Explorer)
7-Night Hawaiian Seascapes
Day 1 Lahaina, Maui
Day 2 Molokai
Day 3 Molokai
Day 4 Lanai
Day 5 Molokini
Day 6 Ka Lae, Big Island
Day 7 Kailua-Kona, Big Island
Day 8 Kona, Big Island

Why this cruise? American Safari Cruises is an American company with an all-American crew. This small business has always impressed us and I'd sail anywhere with this outfit.


DECEMBER 2, 2011
Lindblad Expeditions (National Geographic Endeavour)
10-Night Galapagos Islands
Day 1 Guayaquil, Ecuador
Day 2 Guayaquil / Galapagos / Baltra
Day 3 Floreana
Day 4 Isabela / Fernandina
Day 5 Santa Cruz
Day 6 Santa Cruz
Day 7 Bartolome / Santiago
Day 8 Espanola
Day 9 Baltra / Guayaquil
Day 10 Guayaquil

Why this cruise? Are you on Lindblad's mailing list? If not, get on it. The cruise catalogs are packed with photos of up-close and personal animal encounters in the Galapagos. I listened in on a recent Lindblad webinar and I hope we can make time for a trip to the Galapagos Islands soon.

Comment on this post and let us know where you're cruising in 2011.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photos © Leonard Hospidor

My Wish List: Top 10 Rock Concerts on Luxury Cruise Ships

I admit that I've got a few obsessions in life... two of which are rock concerts and cruise vacations. In my younger days I worked for Musician magazine and spent more time at concerts than in the office. These days I'm more selective about the shows I see, but still love being in the middle of the crush as a band plays to fans who know every word of every song on the set list.

On the cruise front, I love trying new ships and have a checklist that keeps track of which ships and ports of call I still need to visit. It's little wonder then that I was daydreaming earlier today and came up with a wish list of rock concert that would be amazing if they were staged aboard luxury cruise ships.

My Wish List: Top 10 Rock Concerts on Luxury Cruise Ships

1. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers aboard Paul Gauguin Cruises' m/s Paul Gauguin in French Polynesia
   
   
2. U2 aboard the Yachts of Seabourn's Seabourn Sojourn in the Norwegian Fjords
   
   
3. Jackson Browne aboard Silversea's Silver Spirit in the Mediterranean
   
   
4. Martin Sexton aboard American Safari Cruises' Safari Explorer in Hawaii
   
   
5. Daniel Lanois aboard Windstar Cruises' Wind Star in Costa Rica
   
   
6. Brian Setzer Orchestra aboard Cunard's Queen Elizabeth for a transatlantic crossing
   
   
7. John Mayer aboard Oceania Cruises' Marina in the Caribbean
   
   
8. Jimmy Buffett aboard SeaDream Yacht Club's SeaDream II in the Caribbean
   
   
9. James Taylor aboard Regent Seven Seas' Voyager in New Zealand and Australia
   
   
10. Nora Jones aboard Crystal Cruises' Crystal Symphony in New England and Canada

Note: THIS IS JUST A DREAM LIST; these concerts (sadly) will never happen. It's just something fun to think about. Which bands would be on your cruise wish list?

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Media Coverage of Yachts of Seabourn's New Seabourn Sojourn

While I was in Venice last week boarding Silversea's Silver Spirit, the Yachts of Seabourn was busy launching its newest vessel, Seabourn Sojourn, on the River Thames in London. All accounts of the inauguration agree that the cruise line put together an amazing celebration.

The event, which took place on a fantastic summer day, included an appearance by Sojourn's godmother, supermodel Twiggy and was capped off with an extravagant fireworks display.

The ship is the second of a trio of 450-passenger mega-yachts. Like its predecessor Odyssey, Sojourn is sure to draw both existing Seabourn fans as well as new cruisers.

Here are a few "don't miss" accounts of the naming ceremony and details about the ship in general:

Avid Cruiser's Excellent YouTube Video Tour of Seabourn Sojourn




USA Today's Seabourn Sojourn Photo Essay

A Travel Agent's Take on Seabourn Sojourn—This Is My Yacht Blog

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photos of the New Seabourn Sojourn

The gorgeous new Seabourn Sojourn from the Yachts of Seabourn has arrived in London for her inaugural festivities! Here are some photos by Steve Dunlop, courtesy of the Yachts of Seabourn.

Several reporters will be on board today, so watch the web and Twitter for additional details and photos. (The following travel writers are on the ship now: Ralph Grizzle of Avid Cruiser, John DiScala of JohnnyJet.com, and Gene Sloan of USA Today's CruiseLog.)

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photos by Steve Dunlop, courtesy of Yachts of Seabourn

Congratulations, Yachts of Seabourn! Seabourn Sojourn is Delivered

Congratulations to everyone at the Yachts of Seabourn! The cruise line has officially taken delivery of its newest yacht, the 450-passenger Seabourn Sojourn. (See new photos of the ship at Seabourn's blog.) This is the second ship in a trio that also includes Odyssey (launched last summer and one of my favorite luxury cruise ships of all time) and Quest (launching next summer).

Sojourn was built at the Mariotti shipyard in Genoa and is now on her way to London where media events, her naming ceremony, and inauguration will take place. British supermodel Twiggy is the ship's godmother and will be at the festivities. On June 5, the ship will host a benefit for nonprofit Breast Cancer Haven before welcoming guests for her maiden voyage on June 6.

I'm a fan of Seabourn Odyssey and expect to cotton to Sojourn as well. Here are some of the things I especially like about the larger Seabourn ships:

• Ship Exterior—Seabourn Odyssey is a gorgeous ship and the spa atrium certainly gives the vessel a unique and sleek line.

• Pool on Deck 8—I could spend an entire cruise lazying by the pool on Odyssey. There is plenty of shade, two whirlpools kept at the perfect temperature, and a large (by cruise ship standards) pool. Service by the pool is also excellent; the watermelon smoothies and ice cream sandwiches are especially refreshing. (There is also a pool and two whirlpools on Deck 5 aft. This is a lovely, quiet spot but a bit too sunny for my liking.)

• Retractable Marina—I am not a strong swimmer so Odyssey's retractable Marina is a dream come true for me. Within the safety of what I like to call the "swimming basket," I can enjoy swimming in the sea without the panic! My husband prefers to spend his time at the Marina by taking out a kayak or going windsurfing.

• The Crew—I always enjoy speaking with Seabourn's affable crew members and the level of service they routinely provide always impresses me.

While plenty of Seabourn loyalist still prefer the smaller triplets—Seabourn Legend, Pride, and Spirit—Odyssey, Sojourn, and Quest will appeal to cruisers who enjoy a midsize ship and a slightly larger crowd.

A few travel agents and travel writers will be reporting live from the new Seabourn Sojourn at the end of this week. I look forward to hearing these "first look" reports as I cruise the Adriatic with Silversea's new Silver Spirit. I'll be departing Venice this Saturday!

Cheers once again to Seabourn! Sojourn looks to be a gorgeous new mega-yacht and I look forward to sailing with her soon!

For more information, talk with your travel agent or contact Seabourn at 1-(800) 929-9391.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photo © Andrea M. Rotondo

Seabourn's One-Week Fare Sale is Almost Over

If you've been following cruise pricing over the last year, you know Seabourn often runs one-week "specials". We're in the middle of one of those promotions. Here are the details in case you didn't hear about it from your travel agent:

• Sale Dates:  Monday, April 5–Monday, April 12, 2010
• Promotion:  two-for-one cruise fares, including roundtrip air or cruise-only fares up to 65% off the rack rate
• Itineraries:  27 voyages between June and August 2010 are included in this sale

Seven-day Mediterranean cruises aboard Seabourn Spirit, Seabourn Legend, and Seabourn Odyssey begin from $2,499 per person for cruise-only, or $3,550 with inclusive air. Nine- to 12-day voyages on the brand new Seabourn Sojourn in Northern Europe start from $4,999 cruise-only or $6,400 with inclusive air. Cruises of 10 to 14 days in Asia aboard Seabourn Pride start from $3,499 cruise-only and $5,400 with air. Inclusive air is available from 40 North American gateways. All fares are per person, based on double occupancy.

For more information, talk with your travel agent or contact Seabourn 1-(800) 929-9391.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

New Luxury Cruise Vacations for 2011–2012 from Yachts of Seabourn

It's no secret that I'm a fan of Yachts of Seabourn. Today the luxury line released its itineraries for 2011 and 2012. There are some fantastic routes so it's time to start planning! And, if any 2011 European or Asian cruise piques you're interest, you'll be pleased to learn more about Seabourn's special promotion that includes two-for-one pricing on some itineraries starting at $3,250 per person. Value air add-ons are also on special from $699 per person in economy and from $2,299 in business class.

So, where will Seabourn take you in 2011 and 2012? Just about anywhere says cruise line president and CEO Pamela Conover:

"With the launch of Seabourn Quest in June 2011, our six intimate yachts will enable us to provide the unique, Seabourn yachting lifestyle to travelers anywhere they wish to explore, from the beaches of St. Tropez to the jungles of Borneo. From Iceland to Queensland and Beijing to Barcelona, you can travel the world, and travel it well, on a Seabourn yacht."

New Itineraries

• Canada and New England aboard Seabourn Sojourn
  
  
• "Patagonian Passage"—Chilean fjords, Cape Horn, and Falkland Islands aboard Seabourn Sojourn
  
  
• Singapore to Bali with stops in Borneo, Sulawesi, and Java aboard Seabourn Pride
  
  
• "Indian Oceans Delight" series of cruises aboard Seabourn Legend
  
  
• 60-Day "Stars of the Southern Cross" from Los Angeles to French Polynesia, New Zealand, Australia, and Hawaii aboard Seabourn Odyssey
  
  
• 7-Night St. Petersburg & the Baltics aboard Seabourn Sojourn
  
  
• and more!

There are a lot of new itineraries mixed in with old favorites. It's worth your while to study the new PDF Cruise Calendar. I've had some time to study the options and here's one cruise that I know will be fantastic!

Andrea's Dream Cruise for 2011
Spice Islands Discoveries
12-Night Embarking June 29, 2011 Aboard Seabourn Pride
Benoa, Bali; Waikelo, Sumba; Palopo, Sulawesi; Makassar, Sulawesi;
Sandakan, Boreno; Kota Kinabalu, Borneo; Muara; Singapore

For more information about the Yachts of Seabourn, talk with your travel agent or call the cruise line at 1-(800) 929-9391.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photo courtesy of the Yachts of Seabourn

Cruise Ship Dress Code Uproar & the Yachts of Seabourn

Every luxury cruise line and cruise ship is grappling with the "great dress code debate" these days. What exactly is the debate all about? Many longtime cruisers love dressing up for formal night and look forward to one or more upscale events per cruise. Other guests, however, are asking cruise lines to loosen up on the rules of formality.

The Yachts of Seabourn just announced a significant change to its formal night policy. (The new rules will make their debut across the Seabourn fleet soon.)

• No black tie optional nights on cruises that are eight nights are shorter
• 1 black tie optional evening on cruises that are 9–13 nights
• 2 black tie optional nights on cruises that are 14–20 nights
• 3 black tie optional events on cruises that are 21 nights or longer

On those special "black tie optional" evenings, men are asked to wear tuxedos or dark-colored suits and women generally wear gowns or stylish cocktail dresses. The Restaurant hosts this gala while guests who wish to dress down (to the Elegant Casual category) are invited to dine at Restaurant 2, The Colonnade, or the Patio Grill).

My husband and I were thrilled to hear about this change. However, I completely understand that many cruisers love dressing up. I think they should continue dressing in whatever manner makes them most comfortable. I know couples who dress up every night for dinner while cruising. Others prefer Elegant Casual most of the time. Each traveler should do what works for them.

I do not think that the new dress code "dumbs down" the Seabourn experience. On the contrary, I think the cruise line will find that it attracts a new demographic of travelers who were afraid Seabourn would be too stodgy for them. I believe these new-to-cruising individuals will be a refreshing addition to Seabourn's passenger complement. After all, anyone who can afford Seabourn's price point knows how to dress smartly for dinner—formal night or not.

What do you think about Seabourn's new black tie optional plans?

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Have You Booked a Luxury Cruise for 2010?

We're in the middle of Wave Season, that time of year when cruise lines offer enticing packages in the hopes of garnering a bump in bookings. Last year at this time, the deals were incredible. This year, while there are some solid values, nothing amazing has jumped out at me.

Yet, cruise lines are downright giddy about their recent bookings. Deals or no deals, we travelers are making cruise reservations for 2010. According to Crystal Cruises, bookings during January 2010 are 205% over the line's sales during January 2009.

Yachts of Seabourn also announced a record number of bookings during January 2010. According to the press release, "numbers of bookings showed a 106 percent increase compared to 2009, and were up 215 percent compared to 2008. The number of first-time guests booking a Seabourn cruise in January surged 79 percent over the same period in 2009 and 155 percent over January in 2008, which was Seabourn’s best year to date."

Crystal shared a similar interesting statistic, saying 89% of its guests booked for 2010 are new to the line. I have to wonder why that is. Crystal had some terrific marketing materials last year to coincide with their 20th anniversary and it's possible the campaign reached cruisers who've always thought about trying Crystal but never sealed the deal with a reservation. Likewise, Seabourn enjoyed wonderful publicity with the launch of Seabourn Odyssey last summer.

So, why are so many cruisers "jumping ship" from former favorite cruise lines to Crystal, Seabourn, and other new-to-them lines? It could be because of changes in smoking policies, pricing, or shifts in overall service.

Have you booked a 2010 cruise on Crystal, Seabourn, or another new-to-you line? We actually started the year sailing with a new-to-us line: SeaDream Yacht Club. We also hope to book with the new Paul Gauguin Cruises soon.

I'd love to hear about your cruise plans for 2010. Where are you cruising and with whom?

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photo courtesy of Crystal Cruises

10 Days Left to Book Asia Aboard Seabourn Pride with Comp Biz Airfare

Lots of news over at Yachts of Seabourn these days. The Odyssey made her debut this past June, Sojourn sets sail this summer, and Seabourn Quest is being built in the here and now. Additionally, the Spirit and Pride recently came out of a multimillion dollar refurb. (Legend will be similarly updated in Fall 2010.)

Fans of the Pride will want to make plans to visit her sometime in 2010 as she adopts a year-round cruise schedule in Asia. Pride will call upon ports in Vietnam, Thailand, China, South Korea, and Japan. If you book by February 15, you'll receive complimentary roundtrip business class airfare from 27 North American gateways to eight 12-day voyages in Asia from June 3 through August 22, 2010.

All-inclusive fares for the 12-day voyages start from $7,980 per person based on double occupancy, and include round trip business class air, airport transfers, and deluxe hotel accommodation where flight schedules require it. The complimentary business-class air offer is subject to space availability. Certain restrictions apply.

The August 10, 2010 itinerary is especially enticing:

Kobe, Japan
Kagoshima, Japan
Nagasaki, Japan
Busan, South Korea
Jeju, South Korea
Mokpo, South Korea
Qingdao, China
Jiangyin (Wuxi), China
Shanghai, China

For more information, talk with your travel agent or contact the Yachts of Seabourn at 1-(800) 929-9391.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photo courtesy of the Yachts of Seabourn

Food & Wine Themed Med Cruise Aboard Seabourn Odyssey

Many travel agents, like Eric Goldring of Goldring Travel, are fans of the Yachts of Seabourn. Mr. Goldring has been hosting an annual food and wine cruise aboard Seabourn vessels for several years.

Seabourn Odyssey is the host vessel in 2010 and there are still three staterooms available for this group Mediterranean cruise that embarks Piraeus (Athens), Greece on Saturday, November 13.

Guests enjoy three complimentary experiences:

• Goldring Travel's Exclusive Complimentary Food & Wine Event
• Shopping with the Seabourn Chef
  
• Unannounced experiences and benefits
  

Here's the full itinerary:

November 13: Piraeus (Athens), Greece
November 14: Patmos, Greece
November 15: Heraklion, Crete, Greece
November 16: Pylos, Greece
November 17: Cruising the Ionian Sea
November 18: Catania, Sicily, Italy
November 19: Valletta, Malta
November 20: Trapani, Sicily, Italy
November 21: Naples, Italy
November 22: disembark in Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy

Goldring Travel is offering this cruise for less than $3,750 per person, including all fees and taxes. There are just three staterooms available.

For more information, contact Eric Goldring of Goldring Travel at (877) 2GO-LUXURY.

Seabourn Picks Name for Its Newest "Baby"

It's Thursday, January 7, 2010 and The Yachts of Seabourn announced the name of its newest mega-yacht: Seabourn Quest. As you'll recall, Seabourn ran a contest in which travelers could guess the name of the ship in the hopes of winning a 7-night Seabourn cruise aboard Quest during its maiden season.

2,100 people played the Guess-the-Name contest and 120 individuals guessed "Quest". Kevin Staub ended up winning the cruise from the pool of 120 correct answers. Congratulations, Kevin!

Seabourn Quest will set sail in 2011 and will join her sisters, Odyssey (sailing now) and Sojourn (debuting in London on June 6, 2010).

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Seabourn Kicks Off One-Month Free Air Special

This new promotion from the Yachts of Seabourn may interest you if you're planning on booking a Mediterranean cruise for May or June 2010. Starting November 2, Seabourn is offering free airfare from 28 North American gateways on 20 Med sailings on any of its ships. (Offer ends November 30, 2009.)

Book category A–B3 on the triplets (A–V6 on Odyssey) and you'll receive complimentary economy air. Higher categories receive business class flights.

The voyages that are part of this offer sail from Istanbul, Rome, Barcelona, Monte Carlo, Venice, and Athens. Fares start at $3,799 per person.

For more information, contact your travel agent or Seabourn at 1-(800) 929-9391.

Seabourn Nixes 2010–2011 Indian Ocean Sailings; Fear of Pirate Attacks

There's bound to be some disappointed travelers today due to Seabourn's announcement that Seabourn Legend will not sail its five-month, 15-cruise stint in the Indian Ocean in the latter part of 2010 and early 2011. Caribbean cruises will replace the original schedule.

Seabourn president Pamela Conover said the decision was made with regrets. However, the company feels the risk of pirate attacks is too great. (You'll recall that Seabourn Spirit was attacked in the Indian Ocean in 2005.)

Ms. Conover said in a statement, "It makes me sad to have to cancel these cruises. I personally loved touring Kenya's game parks, and the islands of the Seychelles, Madagascar, and Zanzibar are lovely and exotic destinations where we sincerely had hoped to be able to take our guests. We look forward to a time when the sea routes are controlled enough for us to cruise there for a season."

Seabourn will contact any passengers (via their travel agents) regarding this change and will offer further discounts and onboard credits if they rebook an alternative sailing. If it were me, I'd rebook on one of these itineraries:

Gems of the Java Sea
Seabourn Spirit
January 12, 2011 (10 days)
Singapore to Benoa, Bali (Indonesia) via Kuching, Borneo, Malaysia and the following ports of call in Indonesia: Karimunjawa, Semarang/Java, Lembar/Lombok, and Padang Bay/Bali.

or

Spice Islands Discoveries
Seabourn Spirit
January 22, 2011 (12 days)
Benoa, Bali (Indonesia) to Singapore via Indonesian ports of call Komodo Island, Palopo/Sulawesi, Ujung Pandang; Malaysia stops in Sandakan/Borneo and Koto Kinabalu; and Maura in Brunei.

For more information about the Yachts of Seabourn, talk with your travel agent or contact Seabourn at 1-(800) 929-9391.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photo courtesy of Seabourn

Take a Wild Guess: Name Seabourn's New Luxury Yacht & Win a Cruise

Seabourn is at it again: simply guess the name of the cruise line's yacht debuting in June 2011 and you'll be entered to win a free cruise for two during the ship's maiden year.

This new ship joins the currently sailing Seabourn Odyssey and Seabourn Sojourn, which sets sail in June 2010.

You may enter as many times as you wish. E-mail your guesses to names@seabourn.com and include your name and contact information.

Entries must be received by December 4, 2009. If more than one correct guess is received, Seabourn will draw a random winner from all correct entries.

The Fine Print from Seabourn
The award is a complimentary 7-day cruise in a minimum category suite anywhere the new ship sails between her second scheduled cruise in 2011 and June of 2012, and is subject to space availability. Prize cruise does not include airfare, ground transfers or onboard purchases. All expenses not specifically stated are the sole responsibility of the winner. The award is not transferable and non-refundable. All terms and conditions of Seabourn Cruise Line’s standard Ticket Contract of Passage, as well as those stated in the General Information section of Seabourn’s brochure, shall be applicable to the cruise.

In case the winner is unable to utilize available space during the maiden year, a 7-day cruise on another Seabourn yacht may be substituted.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Luxury Cruise Bargains Hit the Sweet Spot

There was once a time when travelers who wished to book a cruise at the lowest possible price waited until January for the start of Wave Season. That's traditionally when cruise lines lure passengers with inexpensive fares, complimentary airfare, or hundreds of dollars of onboard credit to blow on shore excursions, vintage wines, spa treatments, and the like.

But that was BTR (before the recession). These days cruise lines—even the ultra-luxe that offer true all-inclusive experiences—are offering Wave Season-like bargains right now and, frankly, at fares that are unlikely to be repeated once the economy bounces skyward.

In fact, this may be the best time to book a cruise aboard one of the luxury lines. However, executives from Carnival, Regent Seven Seas, Oceania Cruises, Seabourn, and other cruise lines have publicly cautioned recently that the window to snag the cruise deal of the decade may close soon. In fact, both Regent Seven Seas and Silversea are planning to raise prices in October and Oceania will raise prices in January 2010.

2009 and 2010 Sweet Spot Deals

If the month of December is your getaway horizon, look to Seabourn's 208-passenger yacht, Spirit. Five-nights in the Caribbean will set you back just $1,349 per person (regularly $3,760 pp).

Another solid high-end cruise option isn't a cruise ship at all: it's SeaDream Yacht Club's 110-person yacht, SeaDream II. Book a five-night St. Thomas to San Juan sailing for $1,799 per person (that's 67% off the brochure rate).

For those that prefer sailing under wind power, check out Windstar Cruises' three motor-sail-yachts: Wind Spirit, Wind Star, and Wind Surf. The December 12th seven-night roundtrip excursion aboard Wind Star, out of Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica, is running at $899 per person.

Crystal Cruises, a line that's not usually known for steep discounts, is offering better than two-for-one deals for the rest of the year. No plans for Thanksgiving? Book a seven-night Caribbean roundtrip out of Miami for $2,480 per person (a 55% discount) and receive $500 in onboard credit.

Looking ahead to summer 2010, Regent Seven Seas Cruises is making it easy for you to take the kids or grandkids on their first luxury voyage with a special per child rate of $399 on 11 Alaskan itineraries aboard Navigator. (Similar deals are available for Caribbean, European, and Baltics sailings.)

Not to be outdone, Silversea has announced across the board savings in 2010 with 60% off published fares and free air on more than 150 itineraries. One good deal is Silver Wind's April 19, 2010, 10-night roundtrip out of Venice, which is available for approximately $3,800 per person (brochure rate is $9,795). Book by December 31.

If French Polynesia is on your radar for 2010, this early booking deal—valid until September 30—from Paul Gauguin Cruises is compelling: 50% cruise fare savings plus free roundtrip air from Los Angeles to Tahiti on select cruises of 10 nights or longer aboard m/s Paul Gauguin.

Is the Mediterranean or Scandinavia is on your "must visit" list? Oceania Cruises comes to the table with a $2,000 price reduction off two-for-one fares with free air. Rates are available on select cruises from April through December 2010. For $3,742 per person, you can book a 10-night Mediterranean cruise out of Monte Carlo.

Booking a Luxury Cruise

Your best bet is to book your passage with a travel agent that specializes in high-end cruises. Many lines often offer preferred pricing to the customers of these agents. Consider Brown & Keene Travel, Elite Travel International, and Cruise Holidays of Mission Viejo. Alternatively, book with a reputable online agency such as VacationstoGo.com. True bargain hunters will enjoy comparing prices from several agencies at CruiseCompete.com.

Silver Wind Hotel Director Ralph de Klijn Moves to Seabourn

Today Silversea's loss is Seabourn's gain. Ralph de Klijn, hotel director aboard Silversea's Silver Wind, announced his resignation this week. His letter to cruisers is below. What his letter doesn't explain is that he will be joining the Yachts of Seabourn.

Ralph, we wish you all the best!

Good morning, afternoon or evening to you,

After thorough deliberation and consultation I have decided to leave Silversea. Although it has been a tough decision to make, I am confident that my new endeavor will help me move closer towards the goals I have for my future career. This confidence is built on an extremely fulfilling experience with Silversea, where each day has taught me something new.

However, I would like to state that I am very grateful for the opportunities, which I have been given, and all the dedicated colleagues I have had the pleasure work with during the course of my employment within Silversea. Despite my resignation I hope to return one day to the Silversea family. Not only working for such a great company as Silversea I have to say that besides missing my colleagues aboard I will defenitly miss you as guests in the same way who have not only supported me but became friends over the past years we have sailed onboard the Silverseas. I sincerely hope that we will keep in touch and that we will meet again one day somewhere at sea or on land.

As I do not want to vanish without saying arividerchi!

I hope you all can understand my decision and for any future cruises I wish you a fantastic time onboard.

Please feel free to share this message with anyone I sailed with as I do not have all email addresses but I hope with your help my message will be shared.

Until we meet again!

Warm regards,
Ralph de Klijn

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com