Seabourn
Seabourn is an ultra-luxury cruise line specialising in intimate, yacht-style ocean voyages and small-ship expedition travel. Its current fleet comprises five all-suite ships: three ocean vessels and two purpose-built expedition ships. The company sails to every continent and more than 400 ports, combining major destinations with smaller harbours and remote regions that are inaccessible to many larger cruise ships.
The brand is owned by Carnival Corporation & plc and is headquartered in Seattle, Washington. Seabourn operates alongside sister brands including Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Cunard and Costa Cruises.
Seabourn fleet
Seabourn officially lists five active ships. Seabourn Quest, Seabourn Encore and Seabourn Ovation operate the line's principal ocean programme, while Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit were purpose-built for expedition travel.
| Ship | Type | Entered service | Guest capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seabourn Quest | Ocean | 2011 | 458 |
| Seabourn Encore | Ocean | 2016 | 600 |
| Seabourn Ovation | Ocean | 2018 | 600 |
| Seabourn Venture | Expedition | 2022 | 264 |
| Seabourn Pursuit | Expedition | 2023 | 264 |
Capacities are based on Seabourn's published standard occupancy figures and can vary by operating configuration.
Ocean ships
Seabourn Quest is the remaining member of the line's Odyssey-class generation. It carries fewer than 500 guests and offers ocean-front suites, most with private verandas. The larger Seabourn Encore and Seabourn Ovation each carry around 600 guests in 300 all-veranda suites. Their facilities include Seabourn Square, multiple restaurants and lounges, a spa, pool deck, observation bar and The Retreat, an additional-charge private cabana area.
Expedition ships
Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit are 264-guest sister ships constructed to PC6 Polar Class standards. Each has 132 ocean-front veranda suites and carries a fleet of 24 Zodiacs, kayaks and specialist expedition equipment. A multidisciplinary Expedition Team supports landings, wildlife observation, cultural encounters and onboard interpretation.
The expedition ships were also designed to carry two custom-built submersibles. Submarine dives, kayaking and certain specialist activities are subject to destination, weather, availability and separate charges where stated, while core expedition experiences such as scheduled Zodiac cruises, landings and guided walks are included on applicable itineraries.
What is included?
Seabourn's standard onboard proposition includes ocean-front suite accommodation, dining in its complimentary restaurants, premium wines and spirits, Champagne, an in-suite bar, daily caviar service, crew gratuities and a Surf Wi-Fi package with unlimited minutes. Exact inclusions and internet performance can vary by voyage, location and fare conditions.
All dining venues are promoted as complimentary. Ship-dependent options include The Restaurant, The Colonnade, Earth & Ocean, Sushi and Solis, a Mediterranean-inspired fine-dining restaurant developed by Master Chef and Culinary Partner Anton Egger with Senior Corporate Chef Franck Salein. Seabourn Square combines a lounge, café, library and guest-services hub.
Signature experiences can include Caviar in the Surf, which combines beach service with watersports in selected destinations; Marina Day, using the ship's retractable watersports marina where local and operating conditions allow; Shopping with the Chef; and Evening at Ephesus on selected Mediterranean voyages.
Destinations
Seabourn's ocean ships operate in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Alaska, Canada and New England, the Caribbean, the Panama Canal, South America, Asia, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific. The company also offers extended Grand Voyages and world cruises.
Mediterranean itineraries regularly use gateways including Barcelona and Civitavecchia, while expedition programmes extend to Antarctica, South Georgia, the Falkland Islands, the Arctic, Greenland, the Northwest Passage, the Kimberley and remote South Pacific destinations. Broome is an important gateway for Kimberley expedition voyages.
The two expedition vessels are not confined exclusively to polar operations. Seabourn also deploys them on selected ocean-style voyages, allowing the smaller ships to visit yacht harbours and ports while offering a more traditional luxury-cruise programme.
History
Seabourn was established in 1986 by a group of luxury hospitality and cruise executives seeking to reproduce the relaxed atmosphere of a private yacht. The company first sailed as The Yachts of Seabourn in 1988, when the 208-guest Seabourn Pride entered service. Sister ships Seabourn Spirit and Seabourn Legend followed in 1989 and 1991.
The early ships helped establish several features that became closely associated with the brand, including all-suite accommodation, intimate public spaces and a fold-out watersports marina at the stern. Seabourn later became wholly owned by Carnival Corporation.
A new generation began with Seabourn Odyssey in 2009, followed by Seabourn Sojourn in 2010 and Seabourn Quest in 2011. The larger Seabourn Encore and Seabourn Ovation arrived in 2016 and 2018. Seabourn then expanded into purpose-built expedition cruising with Seabourn Venture in 2022 and Seabourn Pursuit in 2023.
Several Seabourn ships have been constructed by Italian yards including T. Mariotti and Fincantieri. Deck7 has a wider feature on Fincantieri's history, shipyards and cruise-ship orderbook.
Recent fleet changes
Seabourn Odyssey left the fleet in 2024 after being sold to Mitsui O.S.K. Lines and subsequently entered service with Mitsui Ocean Cruises. Seabourn Sojourn was also sold to Mitsui Ocean Cruises and completed its published Seabourn programme in May 2026. These departures reduced the active Seabourn fleet to the five ships currently listed by the company.
Ownership and leadership
Seabourn is part of Carnival Corporation & plc and operates from headquarters in Seattle. Mark Tamis has served as President of Seabourn since 2024 and is responsible for the brand's global business and operations. He reports to Beth Bodensteiner, President of Holland America Line, who also holds executive responsibility for Seabourn.
Tamis previously led Aimbridge Hospitality and held senior hotel and guest-operations positions with Royal Caribbean International and Carnival Cruise Line, following a long career with luxury and boutique hotel businesses.
Seabourn Club
Seabourn Club is the line's loyalty programme. Its six published levels are Club Member, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond and Diamond Elite. Status is based on Club Points, while Club Days are used to determine eligibility for complimentary Club Award Cruises.
Members can select benefits from a menu associated with their level. Depending on status, these can include onboard savings, laundry, internet upgrades, spa treatments and other amenities. Under the enhanced award structure announced in 2025, members earn a seven-day Club Award Cruise at 350 Club Days and an additional 14-day award after a further 110 Club Days, subject to the programme's terms.