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The 3 types of Seabourn cruise ships, explained

Among cruise lines that focus on high-priced luxury trips, Seabourn has one of the simplest fleets.

All the line's ships fall into one of three groups: The Encore-class ocean ships, the Odyssey-class ocean ships and the expedition ships (which Seabourn has not given a class name).

Each of these groups is made up of ships constructed around the same time to the same basic design. If you know one member of the group, you know them all.

Seabourn operates seven vessels — two Encore-class ships, three Odyssey-class ships and two expedition ships. That number is set to drop by one in 2024 when one of the Odyssey-class vessels leaves the Seabourn fleet .

Here, we explain the distinctive features of Seabourn's three ship classes, so you can plan the luxury cruise that's right for you.

An introduction to Seabourn ships

Seabourn is one of about half a dozen major cruise lines that compete in the market for "ultra-luxury" cruises — voyages that promise a high level of elegance and pampering and have a high price tag to match. The company, which debuted in 1988, claims to have pioneered the niche.

Like all such brands, Seabourn operates ships that are far smaller and more intimate than the giant floating megaresorts operated by Royal Caribbean , Norwegian Cruise Line and Carnival Cruise Line . Instead of thousands of passengers, each Seabourn vessel is designed to hold a few hundred people.

Still, while the ships are smaller than what you'll find at a mass-market line, they're not cramped. Indeed, they're among the most spacious ships at sea when measured by their space-per-passenger ratio, which is about 50% higher than what you'll find on many mass-market ships. They also operate at a nearly one-to-one ratio of staff to passengers — one of the highest levels in the cruise business.

Both space-per-passenger ratios and staff-to-passenger ratios are measurements used as shorthand for the luxury level of a vessel.

Seabourn ships also offer such luxury touches as marinas for water-based play when the vessels are anchored in calm and sunny locales.

Related: The 8 best luxury cruise lines for elegance and exclusivity

Every cabin is a suite, and the number of restaurants, bars and lounges is impressive for vessels of this size.

Two of the line's three types of ships — the Encore class and Odyssey class — are similar in design. The main difference between the two is that the Encore-class ships are bigger. They essentially are Odyssey-class ships with an additional deck for extra suites and public areas.

As a result, the Encore-class ships can hold 600 passengers, based on double occupancy, while the Odyssey-class ships are designed to carry up to 458 passengers.

The third and newest class of Seabourn ships, the expedition ships (Seabourn doesn't use a formal class name for these vessels) are much smaller ships specifically built for expedition cruising — a type of adventure-focused cruising that involves visiting hard-to-reach and off-the-beaten-path places such as Antarctica and the Arctic.

Expedition ships are designed to hold 264 passengers, based on double occupancy.

Seabourn ships aren't as big or opulent as the luxury vessels operated by some of its competitors, most notably Regent Seven Seas Cruises (which mostly markets vessels carrying 700 to 750 passengers). The line offers a more subdued, intimate sort of luxury. If it's soaring spaces loaded with pricey marble and crystal chandeliers you're after, Seabourn may not be for you. However, if you prize intimacy and elegance without a lot of showiness, Seabourn ships could be a good choice.

Encore Class

Ships in class: Seabourn Ovation (2018); Seabourn Encore (2016).

Seabourn's two Encore-class ships, Seabourn Ovation and Seabourn Encore, are the biggest vessels in the line's fleet. If you're in the "bigger is better" camp regarding cruise ships, these are the Seabourn vessels you'll want to pick.

That said, the ships aren't all that different than the line's smaller Odyssey-class vessels (more on those below). Built on the same platform as the Odyssey-class ships, just with one more deck, they feature all the same main public spaces that exist on the earlier vessels, often in the same locations, with a handful of additions, the most notable being a sushi restaurant.

As is the case with the Odyssey-class vessels, the hub of each Encore-class vessel is its centrally located public gathering place known as Seabourn Square.

A revolutionary concept when it first debuted on Seabourn Odyssey, Seabourn Square might best be described as the ship's living room. Filled with comfortable seating, workstations with computers, a puzzle table and cases lined with books, it's a multipurpose space that is part lounge, part cafe and part library.

On one end of Seabourn Square is its most alluring feature — a European-style coffee bar serving carefully crafted cappuccinos and other espresso drinks, plus freshly baked pastries, homemade gelato and other nibbles. The spacious room is also home to a circular concierge area at its center where staff can help you book activities, and a guest services desk and a desk where you can book future cruises.

Other major public areas on each Encore-class ship include the Grand Salon, a theater-like space with tiered seating that is home to entertainment at night and serves as a lecture hall during the day. The Club is a cozy lounge with a bar and a tiny casino on the side. At the top of the ship, overlooking the bow is the Observation Bar, which offers stellar 270-degree views (even better views than what is available from the bridge, one deck below).

Dining options include The Restaurant, the ship's main dining room, which offers elegant sit-down meals; The Patio, a poolside venue serving lighter fare; and The Colonnade, a casual eatery with both buffet and table-service dining during the day.

The Patio converts into the table-service-only Earth & Ocean for dinner. In the latter configuration, it offers bistro-style cuisine that rotates throughout each voyage.

In addition, the ship is home to The Grill by Thomas Keller, an eatery created by the famed chef. It offers his take on the classic American restaurant of the 1950s and 1960s, with his versions of such iconic American dishes as New York strip steak and lobster thermidor. Keller also designed dishes for family-style dinners with set menus served in The Colonnade on select nights.

Related: The 5 best places you can visit on a Seabourn ship

Unique to this class of ships is Sushi, a dedicated sushi restaurant with just 30 seats. Tucked away in a corner off a central stairway, it's a hidden gem offering lovely and innovative sushi and sashimi plates at night. During the day, it serves disassembled "bento boxes" with cooked entrees such as miso salmon and teriyaki chicken — the latter arriving with miso soup and small dishes of salad, rice and oshinko.

As is often the case with luxury vessels, none of the eateries have an extra charge.

The Encore-class ships also have a small but sumptuous spa and wellness center with five treatment rooms, a thermal area, a salon and a fitness area.

Decor-wise, the Encore-class ships have a more yacht-like look than the older Odyssey-class vessels, with interiors created from top-to-bottom by well-known hospitality designer Adam Tihany. Tihany didn't work on the earlier vessels, which have a more Nordic-style sleekness.

I find the Encore-class ships more enticing in their design than the Odyssey-class ships, thanks to Tihany's rethinking of the decor. That said, I have mixed feelings about their larger size, which results in a slightly more crowded feel. This is most noticeable when at the main pool areas of the vessels, which aren't much bigger than the main pool areas on the Odyssey-class ships, despite the ships carrying about a third more passengers.

On the plus side, the Encore-class ships have several additional hideaways for outdoor lounging tucked into little nooks at their fronts and backs.

Odyssey Class

Ships in class: Seabourn Quest (2011); Seabourn Sojourn (2010); Seabourn Odyssey (2009).

As noted above, Seabourn's three Odyssey-class ships are similar to its two Encore-class ships in design, with the main difference being that they are a bit smaller. At 32,326 gross tons, the three vessels measure about 23% smaller than the Encore-class vessels. They hold about 24% fewer passengers.

The result is that the Odyssey-class ships provide a more intimate feel. The basic layout of the ships in the two classes is roughly the same, albeit with a few notable differences. On the Odyssey-class vessels, you're traveling with fewer people, which results in everything from fewer crowds around the main pool to fewer people in the casual The Colonnade eatery at lunchtime.

As with the Encore-class ships, the public areas of the Odyssey-class ships revolve around a centrally located public gathering space called Seabourn Square, featuring elements of a lounge, cafe and library.

The Odyssey-class ships also have Grand Salons with tiered seating for entertainment and lectures, a cozy The Club bar and lounge, and a ship-top Observation Bar that offers sweeping views.

The biggest difference with the Odyssey-class ships is that they have one less deck and, therefore, 24% fewer suites. In public areas, the only notable difference is that there is no sushi restaurant and a smaller The Grill by Thomas Keller. (Initially, these ships didn't have Thomas Keller restaurants, but they were carved out of space previously dedicated to the casual eatery, The Colonnade.)

The deck where the sushi restaurant and large Thomas Keller restaurant are located on the Encore-class ships is the deck that is missing on the Odyssey-class ships.

The expedition ships

Ships in class: Seabourn Pursuit (2023); Seabourn Venture (2022).

Seabourn Pursuit and Seabourn Venture are the Seabourn ships you book to get off the beaten path.

Much smaller than the other vessels in the Seabourn fleet and designed to carry just 264 passengers each, they're both expedition ships — small vessels built extra tough to travel to the most remote and hard-to-reach parts of the world, including Antarctica and the Arctic.

As is typical for ships of this type, they both have extra-thick hulls and other features that allow them to bump through ice in polar regions. They carry Zodiac boats for landings in remote areas that have no infrastructure. They also sail with expedition guides to lead you on the landings and explain the wildlife and scenery.

Related: Luxury adventure cruise ships you have to see to believe

Still, unlike many expedition ships, Seabourn Pursuit and Seabourn Venture are luxurious vessels, with many of the upscale venues and amenities found on Seabourn's bigger, more traditional luxury ships. If you know the bigger ships, you'll feel right at home on the expedition ships.

Seabourn Pursuit and Seabourn Venture both have Seabourn's signature Seabourn Square area that offers snacks, coffee and a guest services desk. Each offers a version of the main restaurant called The Restaurant and the more casual The Colonnade eatery.

Rounding out the public spaces are a smaller version of Seabourn's spa and wellness center and a bar and lounge called The Club.

Suites on these vessels are especially swanky, with bright bathrooms all featuring bathtubs. Walk-in closets provide ample storage, even for long sailings, and every room has a small drying closet for outdoor adventure clothing. The latter is a welcome touch after rainy days and wet landings (when you put on waterproof boots provided by the ship and step off the Zodiac into the water when you reach the shore).

In addition, small in-room touches, like Swarovski binoculars and a pillow menu, further enhance the ship's already thoughtful design.

The expedition ships also offer features that are unique to their class, from a "mud room" with cubbies where passengers can prep for landings in remote places such as Antarctica to a pair of submarines that are available for extra-fee underwater excursions.

In short, the ships are like smaller, more adventurous versions of the bigger Seabourn vessels.

Bottom line

The three types of Seabourn ships vary significantly in size , but they all are similar in their onboard venues and amenities. If you've been on any Seabourn ship and loved it, you'll surely love its other vessels, too.

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Seabourn Club Loyalty Program Explained

The Seabourn Club loyalty program is designed to reward repeat guests with a range of benefits and privileges, which increase in value as the guest progresses through the tiers of the program. This blog post explains the loyalty program, including its benefits and how guests can enroll.

Overview of Seabourn Club Loyalty Program:

The Seabourn Club is a way for the company to show appreciation to its most loyal guests. As guests sail with Seabourn, they earn points that count towards their membership tier in the loyalty program.

Tiers in Seabourn Club

There are four tiers in the program; Club, Select, Elite, and Diamond. Each tier has its own set of benefits, and the more points guests earn, the higher their tier and the more benefits they receive.

Seabourn Club Member – 1-19 Club Points

• Special events & receptions on board
• Seabourn Club Host on every voyage
• 5% on board booking savings on future cruises
• Refer a friend shipboard credit program
• Advanced communication on new itineraries
• 5% savings on select sailings

Seabourn Club Silver Member – 20-69 Club Points

• All benefits of Seabourn Club Member tier

Choose ONE of the following:

• 10% savings on shore excursions
• 10% savings on premium wines and spirits
• 20 telephone minutes
• Seabourn Club Signature Massage
• Day in the Spa Serene area
• One complimentary bag of laundry

Seabourn Club Gold Member – 7 0 -139 Club Points

• 10% savings on luggage shipping services
• Subscription to Conde Nast Traveler or Travel + Leisure magazine

Choose TWO of the following:

• 15% savings on premium wines and spirits
• 30 telephone minutes

Seabourn Club Platinum Member – 140-249 Club Points

• 15% savings on luggage shipping services
• Dedicated Seabourn Club Concierge

Choose THREE  of the following:

• 15% savings on shore excursions
• 20% savings on premium wines and spirits
• 40 telephone minutes

Seabourn Club Diamond Member – 250+ Club Points

• 20% savings on luggage shipping services

Plus, ALL  of the following:

• 25% savings on premium wines and spirits
• Complimentary Stream WiFi Package
• Complimentary laundry and pressing
• Priority embarkation

Seabourn Club Diamond Elite Member – 650+ Club Points

• All benefits of Seabourn Diamond Club Member tier
• Welcome Diamond Elite gift
• $100 spa credit
• Complimentary dry cleaning
• Embarkation/Disembarkation transfer to and from the ship – 50 miles or less
• Up to 175% single supplement
• Upgraded welcome aboard Champagne in your suite

Benefits of Seabourn Club Loyalty Program:

Seabourn Club loyalty program offers its members various benefits, including:

Club Rewards : Members can earn points for each night they spend onboard a Seabourn ship. These points can be used to redeem rewards such as onboard credits, discounts on future cruises, and more.

Club Points : Seabourn Club members can earn points for every dollar they spend onboard Seabourn ships. These points can be used to move up the tiers in the loyalty program and receive additional benefits.

Exclusive Access : Get exclusive access to events and activities on board, such as private receptions and tours.

Onboard Perks : As guests progress through the tiers, they receive additional onboard perks, such as complimentary Internet and laundry services.

Priority Services : Seabourn Club members also receive priority services, such as priority check-in and disembarkation, and priority waitlists for shore excursions.

Enrollment in Seabourn Club Loyalty Program:

To enroll in the loyalty program, guests must complete an enrollment form, which can be obtained on Seabourn’s website or onboard one of their ships. Once enrolled, guests can start earning points immediately. The points earned during a voyage will be added to the guest’s Seabourn Club account at the end of the voyage. Guests can then use these points to redeem rewards or move up to the next tier of the program.

If you’re a frequent cruiser or planning to take a Seabourn cruise soon, we highly recommend enrolling in the program to start reaping the benefits.

Explore our Seabourn cruises here or call us on 0800 810 8481

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The Seabourn Club loyalty program explained

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The Seabourn Club is the Seabourn loyalty program. It rewards guests with free cruises and gifts, as well as onboard amenities.

In this article

• Milestone Awards
• About Seabourn Club Points

The Seabourn loyalty program is known as the Seabourn Club. It rewards guests with free cruises and gifts, as well as onboard amenities.

• Free cruises.
• Cruise discounts.
• Free laundry allowance.
• Complex system of benefits.

The Seabourn Club has two types of awards; Milestone Awards and Seabourn Club Points . One is based on the number of days you sail, while the other is based on the number of points you earn on Seabourn products and services.

It is somewhat complicated, but it’s worth remembering that Milestone Awards count toward free cruises , while Seabourn Club Points determine your membership tier and associated benefits.

Milestone Awards include Tiffany & Co. branded gifts in addition to free cruises. To achieve each of the Milestone Awards you must accumulate a certain number of Sailed Days on Seabourn. Indeed, each day you sail earns you one Sailed Day. Milestone Awards kick-in once you have reached 100 Sailed Days.

Milestones for Tiffany & Co. branded gifts

• 100 Sailed Days.
• 200 Sailed Days.
• 500 Sailed Days.
• Then every 500 more Sailed Days thereafter.

Milestones for free cruises

• 140 Sailed Days – FREE 7-day cruise.
• 250 Sailed Days – FREE 14-day cruise.

It’s worth noting that free award cruises do not include fuel supplements, taxes, fees or port expenses. So you will need to pay for these out of your own pocket.

Seabourn Club Points determine your tier level. In fact, the more points you earn, the higher your membership tier and associated benefits.

Tier levels

There are six membership tiers in the Seabourn Club. You will be welcomed into each tier automatically upon earning the required number of points.

Earning Seabourn Club Points 

Points can be earned in a variety of ways. Indeed, there are points for days sailed, bonus points and points for escorted land-based side-trips. You can also earn Points for your onboard spend.

• Each Sailed Day earns you one point.
• Every Sailed Day in a penthouse or premium suite also earns one bonus point.
• In addition, each night on an escorted Seabourn Journey earns one point.
• Plus, every US$500 of eligible onboard and pre-cruise online purchases also earns one point.

Seabourn Club benefits

All Seabourn Club members are entitled to an extra 5% saving on top of any other publicly offered discounts on select Seabourn voyages.

However, each membership tier offers more benefits than the one before. Indeed, these benefits include free laundry, complimentary internet and even Signature Massages. Top-tier members also enjoy exclusive benefits like priority embarkation and ship transfers.

Club Membership benefits

• Special events and receptions on board.
• Seabourn Club Host or Hostess on every voyage.
• 5% On board Booking Savings on future cruises.
• NEW: Special Referral Shipboard Credit program. Both the referring Club member and the first-time guest recieve a shipboard credit of US$250 per suite.
• Advanced communications with new itineraries as well as special offers.
• 5% Club savings on select sailings.
• Seabourn Club Member luggage tags.
• Subscription to the Seabourn Club Herald.
• Customizable online profile and preferences.

Silver Membership benefits

Same benefits as Club Member, as well as your choice of ONE of the following:

• 10% savings on Shore Excursions**.
• 10% savings on premium wines & spirits.
• Complimentary internet – 2-hour Silver Package.
• Free telephone – 20 minutes.
• Signature Massage.
• Day in the Spa Serene Area.
• One complimentary bag of laundry•.

Same benefits as Club Member, plus:

• Seabourn Club Silver Member luggage tags.
• Seabourn Advisory Board membership.

Gold Membership benefits

Your choice of TWO of the following, in addition to the Club Member benefitts:

• 15% savings on premium wines & spirits.
• Complimentary internet – 3-hour Gold Package.
• Free telephone – 30 minutes.
• One complimentary bag of laundry•*.
• Seabourn Club Gold Member luggage tags.
• 10% savings on luggage shipping services.
• Subscription to  Travel + Leisure  and  Condé Nast Traveler **.

Platinum Membership benefits

Same benefits as Seabourn Club Member, plus your choice of THREE of the following:

• 15% savings on Shore Excursions**.
• 20% savings on premium wines & spirits.
• Complimentary internet – 4-hour Platinum Package.
• Free telephone – 40 minutes.
• Seabourn Club Platinum Member luggage tags.
• Dedicated Seabourn Club Concierge.
• 15% savings on luggage shipping services.

Diamond Membership benefits

Same benefits as Seabourn Club Member, plus ALL of the following benefits:

• 25% savings on premium wines & spirits.
• Unlimited Complimentary internet.
• Complimentary telephone – 40 minutes.
• Seabourn Club Signature Massage.
• Complimentary laundry and pressing•.
• Daily delivery of preferred newspaper.
• Priority Embarkation.
• Seabourn Club Diamond Member luggage tags.
• 20% savings on luggage shipping services.

Diamond Elite Membership benefits

ALL of the following benefits, in addition to the Diamond Member benifits:

• $100 Spa credit.
• Complimentary dry-cleaning*.
• Disembarkation/ embarkation transfer to/from Ship – 50 miles or less.
• Single Supplement A – PH category: 150%***. Single Supplement PS – GR category: 175%***.
• Upgraded welcome aboard Champagne in your suite.
• Seabourn Club Diamond Elite Member luggage tags.
• Welcome Diamond Elite gift.

The Seabourn Club loyalty program has some great features, including free cruises and generous cruise discounts for low-tier members. I also like the Tiffany & Co. branded Milestone gifts.

Complimentary internet is a welcome addition, although it has to be said this comes as standard on certain other ultra-luxury cruise lines. It’s also worth noting that the free laundry allowance is limited to one bag for all but top-tier members.

However, in my view the downside of the Seabourn Club loyalty program is its complexity. The six membership tiers can make assessing your benefits somewhat difficult.

Visit the Seabourn loyalty program website for more information.

*One bag for every 7 days on board. **Some restrictions may apply. ***On select voyages. • Dry cleaning and “same day service” is not complimentary and will be charged at regular rates.

About the Author: Jason Kerr

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How can I contact someone in the Seabourn Club? I am a member & need to discuss an issue. Thank you Dr. & Mrs. Ather & Vivian Mirza

Dear Vivian

Thank you for your question. Here are the contact details for the Seabourn Club:

Phone: 866‐934‐2332 within North America 206‐626‐9199 outside North America

Email: [email protected]

Kind regards Jason Kerr Managing editor

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