Seabourn Cruise Line

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Seabourn Cruise Line
TypeSubsidiary
IndustryTransportation
Founded1986
HeadquartersSeattle, Washington, United States
Area served
Cruise Lines
Key people
Stein Kruse, CEO Josh Leibowitz, President
ProductsCruises
ParentCarnival Corporation & plc
WebsiteSeabourn.com

Seabourn Cruise Line is an American ultra-luxury cruise line headquartered in Seattle, Washington.[1] The line operates all around the world, from short seven-day Caribbean cruises to exotic 100+ day around the world cruises. It is owned by Carnival Corporation, part of the "World's Leading Cruise Lines" marketing group, which also includes Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Cunard Line, Costa Cruises, P&O Cruises, and AIDA Cruises.

History[]

MV Seabourn Quest in Sète, France.

Seabourn was founded in 1987 by a consortium of Norwegian investors headed by industrialist Atle Brynestad under the name Signet Cruise Lines, but adopted the name Seabourn Cruise Line shortly afterward after objections from over trademark ownership. Its first ship, Seabourn Pride, entered service in 1988, followed by an identical sister, Seabourn Spirit, in 1989. A third vessel, originally planned for 1990, was delayed due to investors' financial constraints and was ultimately purchased by Royal Viking Line in 1992 as Royal Viking Queen. In 1995, Royal Viking Queen was transferred to a Kloster subsidiary, , as Queen Odyssey. In 1991, Carnival Corporation purchased a 25% stake in Seabourn. Carnival Corporation upped its stake to 50% in 1996, providing the company sufficient capital to purchase the Queen Odyssey, which was then renamed Seabourn Legend. During that time Seabourn was known to be a trendsetter in ultra-luxury cruising, offering a service that was second to none and having won multiple "World's Best" awards i.e. Condé Nast Traveler's prestigious "World's Best Cruise Line" award.[2]

In 1998, in partnership with a consortium of a Norwegian businessmen, Carnival purchased the remaining 50% stake in Seabourn, as well as acquiring the venerable Cunard Line from Kvaerner ASA, and merged the two brands into an entity called Cunard Line. In 1999, three Cunard ships, Sea Goddess I, Sea Goddess II, and Royal Viking Sun were transferred into the Seabourn fleet as Seabourn Goddess I, Seabourn Goddess II, and Seabourn Sun.[2]

In 2001, Carnival bought out the Norwegian shareholders, and Seabourn's parent company became a wholly owned subsidiary of Carnival. That summer, Seabourn Goddess I and Seabourn Goddess II were sold to Seabourn's original founder, Atle Brynestad, in order to establish his own cruise line SeaDream Yacht Club. In 2002, Seabourn Sun was transferred to the Carnival-owned Holland America Line, reducing the Seabourn fleet to its three original sister ships, and the company was demerged from Cunard Line and reorganized as a stand-alone operating brand of Carnival Corporation & plc.

On March 31, 2011, Seabourn moved operations from Miami, Florida, to the Holland America Line quarters in Seattle, Washington.[3]

In 2014, Seabourn Pride departed the fleet and was transferred to Windstar Cruises as Star Pride.

In 2015, Seabourn Spirit and Seabourn Legend departed the fleet and was transferred to Windstar Cruises as Star Breeze and Star Legend.

In August 2018, Seabourn announced it would take its first ever cruise to Cuba in late 2019.

Fleet[]

The company's fleet currently consists of five vessels, with two sets of sister ships.

In October 2006, Seabourn ordered three new, 32,000-ton luxury cruise ships from Genoa's T. Mariotti shipyard. The first, named Seabourn Odyssey entered service in 2009, followed by the Seabourn Sojourn in 2010 and the Seabourn Quest in June 2011. The three ships share most features. The Odyssey, Sojourn, and Quest have a maximum passenger capacity of 450 guests, quartered in 225 suite cabins, 90% of which have a balcony. The 650-foot (200 m) vessels cost approximately US$250 million each. The ships have 11 decks, an 11,500-square-foot (1,070 m2) indoor/outdoor spa, and four alternative dining venues.[4][5]

It was announced on February 19, 2013, that Seabourn reached an agreement with Windstar Cruises for the sale of the three smaller Seabourn ships. Seabourn Pride departed the fleet in April 2014, sisters Seabourn Legend & Seabourn Spirit departed in April and May 2015, respectively. No cruises were cancelled as the ships sailed with Seabourn until their initial dry dock periods.[6]

On October 18, 2013, Seabourn announced it had signed a Letter of Intent for the construction of a new ultra-luxury cruise ship with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri. The new ship was modeled after the line's three newest vessels, Seabourn Odyssey, Seabourn Sojourn and Seabourn Quest. Delivery was completed in 2016.[7] The vessel replaced the capacity that left the Seabourn brand with the sale of Seabourn Pride, Seabourn Spirit and Seabourn Legend.

In July 2018, the cruise line announced it would add two expedition ships to its fleet, which are expected to enter service in June 2021 and May 2022.[8]

Current fleet[]

Ship Built Builder Entered
service
for
Seabourn		 Gross Tonnage Flag Notes Image
Seabourn Odyssey 2009 2009–Present 32,346 tons  Bahamas Seabourn Odyssey (ship, 2009) IMO 9417086 in Split, 2011-11-16 (2).jpg
Seabourn Sojourn 2010 2010–Present 32,346 GT  Bahamas Seabourn Sojourn (4).jpg
Seabourn Quest 2011 2011–Present 32,348 GT  Bahamas Seabourn Quest 02.JPG
Seabourn Encore[9] 2016 Fincantieri December 2016 41,865 GT  Bahamas Largest ship to be built for Seabourn. Seabourn Encore (ship, 2016), Sète cf01.jpg
Seabourn Ovation[9] 2018 Fincantieri May 2018 41,865 GT  Bahamas Sister to the largest ship. 20190801 MV Seabourn Ovation.jpg

Future fleet[]

Ship To Enter Service Builder Gross Tonnage Flag Notes
December 2021 [10] 23,000 GT  Bahamas Keel laid on 4 December 2019.[11]
First Expedition cruise ship for Seabourn.
originally planned for May 2021, but delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic[12]
TBA October 2022 T. Mariotti 23,000 GT  Bahamas Under construction.[13]
Sister ship to Seabourn Venture.

Former fleet[]

Ship Built Builder In service for Seabourn Cruise Line Gross Tonnage Flag Status as of 2020 Image
Seabourn Goddess I 1984 Wärtsilä
Helsinki Shipyard		 1999–2001 4,253 tons  Bahamas Transferred to SeaDream Yacht Club as SeaDream I. SeaDream I Port Side Tallinn 5 June 2014.JPG
Seabourn Goddess II 1985 Wärtsilä
Helsinki Shipyard		 1999–2001 4,253 tons  Bahamas Transferred to SeaDream Yacht Club as SeaDream II. Seadream52.JPG
Seabourn Sun 1988 Wärtsilä Marine
Perno Shipyard		 1999–2002 38,848 tons  Norway Transferred to Phoenix Reisen as MS Amera. Prinsendam Port Side Tallinn 24 August 2013.JPG
Seabourn Pride 1988 Schichau Seebeckwerft 1989–2014 9,975 tons  Bahamas Transferred to Windstar Cruises as Star Pride.[6] Seabourn Pride 01.JPG
Seabourn Spirit 1988 Schichau Seebeckwerft 1989–2015 9,975 tons  Bahamas Transferred to Windstar Cruises as Star Breeze.[6] Seabourn Spirit (ship, 1989) IMO 8807997; in Split, 2011-11-08.jpg
Seabourn Legend 1992 Schichau Seebeckwerft 1995–2015 9,975 tons  Bahamas Transferred to Windstar Cruises as Star Legend.[6] Le paquebot de croisière MS Seabourn Legend (1).jpg

Accolades[]

The Sojourn was awarded "Best Newcomer of the Year – Silver" from the European Cruiser Association in 2010[14] while the Quest won the gold award in the same category in 2011.[15] Seabourn was voted "Best Small-Ship Cruise Line in the Conde Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Poll in 2008 and 2010. The line was also voted the "World's Best Small-Ship Cruise Line" in the Travel + Leisure magazine readers' poll in 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. In addition it has been named to Conde Nast Traveler's prestigious "Gold List" of top hospitality venues for 17 consecutive years.

References[]

  1. ^ "Contact Us." Seabourn Cruise Line. Retrieved on January 10, 2013. "Corporate Headquarters Seabourn Cruise Line Limited 300 Elliott Ave West Seattle, WA 98119 "
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b About Seabourn Cruise Line, Cruise Critic, retrieved March 14, 2008.
  3. ^ "Seabourn's Headquarters Relocating to Seattle, Washington". The Sovereign Cruise Club. January 7, 2011. Retrieved 16 August 2011.
  4. ^ Seabourn Cruise Line orders two new ultra luxury ships, Seabourn Cruise Line - press release, October 19, 2006
  5. ^ "Zigging When They Zag: Seabourn Builds Its Future on Small Ships". Reuters. April 14, 2008. Archived from the original on April 10, 2012. Retrieved 16 August 2011.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Windstar Completes Purchase of Three Seabourn Ships - Cruise Industry News | Cruise News". www.cruiseindustrynews.com. Retrieved 2016-06-04.
  7. ^ "Seabourn Confirms New Ship Order from Fincantieri - Cruise Industry News | Cruise News". www.cruiseindustrynews.com. Retrieved 2016-06-04.
  8. ^ "Seabourn to Add Expedition Cruise Ships to Fleet - Cruise Critic". www.cruisecritic.com. Retrieved 2018-07-02.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b "Seabourn Encore". Retrieved 2016-06-04.
  10. ^ C. I. N. Staff (Dec 4, 2019). "Keel Laid for New Seabourn Venture". www.cruiseindustrynews.com. Retrieved Dec 7, 2020.
  11. ^ "Keel laying ceremony for Seabourn Venture at the Mariotti shipyard in San Giorgio di Nogaro". 2019-12-04. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
  12. ^ "Seabourn Cancels More Voyages; Delays New Ship To December 2021". 2020-08-31. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
  13. ^ "First steel cut for Seabourn's second new ultra-luxury purpose-built expedition ship". 2020-09-17. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
  14. ^ "April 9, 2010 Press Release". European Cruiser Association. Retrieved 16 August 2011.
  15. ^ "June 17, 2011 Press Release". European Cruiser Association. Retrieved 16 August 2011.

External links[]

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