Seabourn: the back story

About Seabourn: the back story

By the ULTIMATE the world’s cruise lines Editorial Team

Editor-in-Chief: Jai Michael

Seabourn sails five modern small ships: three ocean ships for 458 to 600 guests and two purpose-built expedition ships for 264. Every suite faces the sea, the restaurants and the bar are in the fare, and no tipping is expected.

A yacht-like idea

Seabourn likes to compare its ships to private yachts, and the comparison holds: none of them carries more than 600 guests, every suite looks onto the sea, and the crew, more than one for every suite, learn names and preferences early in the voyage. Each suite has a Personal Suite Host and Suite Attendant, who greet you with a glass of champagne and, as Seabourn puts it, may suggest drawing you a bubble bath.

The fleet

The ocean fleet is the trio of Seabourn Quest, launched in 2011, and the slightly larger sisters Seabourn Encore and Seabourn Ovation, each for 600 guests, with suites from 251 to 1,306 sq ft inside. Seabourn Quest came out of the most comprehensive interior update in the line’s history in 2026, with a reworked Club, new suite furnishings and a refreshed spa. The expedition pair, Seabourn Venture (2022) and Seabourn Pursuit (2023), are built to PC6 Polar Class standards and each carry 24 Zodiacs, kayaks and a 19-strong expedition team.

Dine when, where, and with whom you choose, with no tipping expected nor required!

At the table

All dining is complimentary and nearly all of it open-seating. The newest restaurant, Solis, is a Mediterranean concept from Master Chef and Culinary Partner Anton “Tony” Egger and Senior Corporate Chef Franck Salein; Chef Egger is also behind Earth & Ocean and Sushi. Fine wines are poured at lunch and dinner, and caviar and champagne come to the pool whenever you like.

Days to remember

Seabourn’s signature is Caviar in the Surf, the beach barbecue at which uniformed staff wade into the water to serve champagne and caviar from a surfboard bar. It usually falls on Marina Day, when watersports run from the ships’ retractable Marina platform or from a beach. At sea, Seabourn Conversations brings guest experts into the daily social life of the ship, and the evenings end with dancing under the stars.

Ocean or expedition

The ocean ships call at more than 400 ports on every continent; in 2026, Seabourn Quest spends the Mediterranean season on seven-day voyages between Dubrovnik, Fusina (for Venice), Istanbul and Athens. The expedition ships take the same service to the Arctic, the Northwest Passage and the Kimberley, with Swarovski Optik binoculars in every suite.

Our advice: book a Mediterranean or Caribbean week on Seabourn Encore or Seabourn Ovation that includes a Marina Day; then, once you are hooked, take Seabourn Venture or Seabourn Pursuit to the ice.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Seabourn: the back story before you go.