Seabourn cruises
Seabourn is an ultra-luxury, all-suite cruise line owned by Carnival Corporation and headquartered in Seattle. It operates five ships - three ocean vessels and two purpose-built polar expedition ships - carrying between 264 and 600 guests. Fares include every restaurant on board, open bars, caviar on request, Starlink Wi-Fi and all gratuities. Stars Desk books Seabourn as an independent affiliate of a Virtuoso member agency, which adds a shipboard credit or private shore event, an onboard host and a welcome reception on designated amenity sailings.
What Seabourn is - and what it is not
Seabourn is one of the most frequently confused names in luxury cruising, largely because several of its former ships now sail under other brands. This is what the name refers to today.
- Seabourn Cruise Line
- Founded 1986, first sailing 1988. A wholly owned Carnival Corporation brand since 2001, based in Seattle. Five ships: Quest, Encore, Ovation, Venture and Pursuit.
- Not SeaDream Yacht Club
- A separate company. Its two yachts were formerly Seabourn Goddess I and II, sold to founder Atle Brynestad in the early 2000s.
- Not Windstar Cruises
- Windstar's Star Pride, Star Legend and Star Breeze are the former Seabourn Pride, Legend and Spirit, transferred in 2014 and 2015.
- Not Mitsui Ocean Cruises
- Mitsui Ocean Fuji and Mitsui Ocean Sakura are the former Seabourn Odyssey and Seabourn Sojourn. Sojourn left the Seabourn fleet on 15 May 2026.
- Not Silversea or Regent Seven Seas
- Competing ultra-luxury lines owned by Royal Caribbean Group and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings respectively. Seabourn's ships are smaller than most of both fleets.
The Seabourn fleet in 2026
Seabourn currently operates five ships. Two of the line's earlier vessels, Seabourn Odyssey and Seabourn Sojourn, have been sold to Mitsui Ocean Cruises; Sojourn completed her final Seabourn voyage in May 2026. Sources that still list six or seven ships are out of date.
| Ship | Type | Guests | Entered service | Typical regions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seabourn Quest | Ocean | 458 | 2011 (refitted 2026) | Mediterranean, world voyages, Japan |
| Seabourn Encore | Ocean | 600 | 2016 | Alaska, Japan, Southeast Asia |
| Seabourn Ovation | Ocean | 600 | 2018 | Northern Europe, Caribbean, Canada & New England |
| Seabourn Venture | Expedition, PC6 | 264 | 2022 | Arctic, Greenland, Antarctica, Northwest Passage |
| Seabourn Pursuit | Expedition, PC6 | 264 | 2023 | Kimberley, South Pacific, Antarctica |
Every accommodation across the fleet is an ocean-front suite; there are no inside cabins on any Seabourn ship.
What is included in a Seabourn fare
Seabourn is an all-inclusive line in the strict sense: the headline fare covers dining, drinks and service, and the list of extras is short. This is what is and is not in the fare.
Included
- All dining venues, with no surcharge in any restaurant - dine when, where and with whom you wish
- Open bars throughout the ship, with premium spirits and fine wines poured at lunch and dinner
- Welcome Champagne and an in-suite bar stocked to your stated preferences
- Caviar on request, anywhere on board, at any time
- All gratuities - tipping is neither required nor expected, including in the spa
- Wi-Fi packages with unlimited minutes, powered by SpaceX Starlink
- Signature complimentary events: Marina Day, Caviar in the Surf, Evening at Ephesus, Shopping with the Chef, Caviar on the Ice and Polar Plunge
- Seabourn Conversations enrichment talks and complimentary evening entertainment
- Spa and wellness programming developed with Dr Andrew Weil
Not included
- Shore excursions on ocean voyages, and optional kayaking on expedition voyages
- Spa and salon treatments (an 18% service charge applies to these)
- Laundry, dry cleaning and valet services, outside Seabourn Club status benefits
- Airport and port transfers, unless bundled into a fare or promotion
- Travel insurance, and taxes and port fees where not stated as included
The Seabourn expedition difference
Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit are purpose-built expedition ships rather than converted ocean vessels. They carry 264 guests, hold PC6 ice-strengthened hulls and sail with dual Zodiac loading platforms cut into the hull at waterline level.
- Hand-selected expedition team of scientists, historians, naturalists, ornithologists and marine biologists - 23 experts per ship on the most recent Antarctic season
- 24 Zodiacs per ship, with included Zodiac cruises, guided hikes, nature walks, cultural landings and snorkelling where conditions permit
- Kayaking available as an optional, additional-cost experience
- Roughly 30,000 square feet of open deck space designed for wildlife and landscape viewing
- 4K GSS Cineflex camera broadcasting imagery from up to three miles away to screens throughout the ship
- Open bridge access to the ship's command centre and navigating officers
- Image Masters photography masterclasses on selected polar voyages
- Complimentary Helly Hansen expedition parka and waterproof backpack on polar sailings
- Daily fireside chats, recaps, briefings and lectures from the expedition team
Programme change: Seabourn discontinued its six-guest expedition submarines at the close of the 2025–26 Antarctic season in March 2026, citing low guest uptake, recertification complexity and tightening regional regulation. Any source still advertising submarine dives on Venture or Pursuit is describing a programme that no longer operates.
What a Seabourn cruise costs
Seabourn fares vary widely by region, ship, season and suite category. Because almost everything is bundled into the fare, the useful comparison is per person per night rather than headline voyage price. The examples below are published starting fares, per person on double occupancy.
| Voyage | Ship | Nights | From (pp) | Per night |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montreal to Miami, Atlantic coast | Ovation | 13 | $4,504 | ≈ $347 |
| New York to Montreal, fall foliage | Ovation | 12 | $6,034 | ≈ $503 |
| Montreal to New York, fall foliage | Ovation | 12 | $7,224 | ≈ $602 |
| Round-trip Tokyo, cherry blossoms | Encore | 14 | $10,498 | ≈ $750 |
| Brisbane to Long Beach, South Pacific | Quest | 27 | $13,998 | ≈ $518 |
| Singapore to Tokyo, Asia exploration | Encore | 54 | $32,298 | ≈ $598 |
Working range for planning purposes: roughly $350 to $750 per person per night on double occupancy. Antarctica, the Kimberley and world voyage segments sit at the upper end; repositioning and shoulder-season Atlantic sailings at the lower end. Starting fares apply to entry suite categories and limited departures.
Who sails Seabourn, and how formal is it
Seabourn attracts well-travelled couples and friends rather than families. The average guest age is around 60, generally ranging upward from 45, and it is common to have more than 30 nationalities on board a single sailing - predominantly from the United States and Canada, then the United Kingdom, Australia and continental Europe. Older children appear occasionally in summer, but the line is not built around family travel.
Dress is relaxed by luxury-cruising standards. During the day, resort-casual attire including shorts and jeans is acceptable throughout the ship. After 6pm the standard rises to resort casual - slacks with a shirt or sweater, or a dress, skirt or slacks with a blouse. Jeans are never permitted in The Restaurant. Each voyage includes at least one Formal Optional evening, where formal means a jacket and buttoned shirt; a tie or tuxedo is welcome but not required.
How Seabourn compares to the other ultra-luxury lines
| Point of comparison | Seabourn | Broader ultra-luxury field |
|---|---|---|
| Ship scale | 264–600 guests | Silversea and Regent run several larger vessels; Explora Journeys ships carry roughly 900 |
| Accommodation | ✔ All ocean-front suites, no inside cabins | All-suite is standard across the segment |
| Shore excursions in fare | ✖ Extra on ocean voyages; included on expedition sailings | Regent includes excursions on all voyages |
| Gratuities in fare | ✔ Included, spa treatments excepted | Standard across the segment |
| Wi-Fi in fare | ✔ Unlimited minutes, Starlink | Varies; several lines still tier by suite category |
| Caviar | ✔ On request, anywhere, any time | Typically restricted to specific venues or occasions |
| Polar capability | ✔ Two PC6 purpose-built expedition ships | Silversea and Ponant also operate ice-class fleets |
| Fleet age and pipeline | ✖ No newbuilds currently on order | Explora Journeys and Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection are still expanding |
If you are weighing Seabourn against the alternatives, our brand pages on Silversea, Regent Seven Seas, Crystal Cruises, SeaDream Yacht Club and the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection set out the same detail for each line.
Booking Seabourn through Stars Desk
Seabourn fares are the same wherever you book them. What changes is what arrives on top of the fare, and who handles the voyage once it is booked. Stars Desk is an independent affiliate of OvationNetwork, a Virtuoso member agency, and Seabourn participates in the Virtuoso Voyages hosted programme.
On designated Virtuoso Voyages amenity sailings, guests booked through Stars Desk receive:
- A dedicated Virtuoso host on board for the duration of the voyage
- A private Virtuoso welcome reception on embarkation evening
- A choice of one additional benefit - a shipboard credit, a private Virtuoso shore event, or on selected departures a private car and driver in port
Conditions worth knowing before you book: the Virtuoso benefit must be selected at least 45 days before sailing and cannot be changed afterwards. It is non-transferable and non-refundable. It is not combinable with American Express cardholder offers or Run of House fares, and certain Seabourn shipboard credit promotions cannot be stacked with the Virtuoso credit. We will tell you which combination produces the greater value on your specific sailing before you commit.
Beyond the amenity programme, we handle suite selection against deck plans, waitlists on sold-out departures, air and pre- or post-voyage hotel arrangements, and the paperwork that polar sailings require. Our wider luxury cruise line practice covers every major ultra-luxury operator, so the recommendation is not tied to one brand.
Seabourn cruises FAQ
Who owns Seabourn cruises?
Seabourn is wholly owned by Carnival Corporation & plc. Carnival bought a 25% stake in 1991, raised it to 50% by 1996, and acquired the remainder in 1998; Seabourn became a wholly owned subsidiary in 2001. The line is operated from Seattle, Washington, alongside Holland America Line.
How many ships does Seabourn have?
Five. Three ocean ships - Seabourn Quest, Seabourn Encore and Seabourn Ovation - and two purpose-built polar expedition ships, Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit. Seabourn Odyssey and Seabourn Sojourn were sold to Mitsui Ocean Cruises, with Sojourn completing her final Seabourn voyage on 15 May 2026. No newbuilds are currently on order.
Are Seabourn cruises all inclusive?
Substantially, yes. The fare covers every dining venue with no surcharge, open bars with premium spirits and wines, welcome Champagne, an in-suite bar, caviar on request, all gratuities, unlimited-minute Starlink Wi-Fi and the signature complimentary events. Shore excursions on ocean voyages, spa and salon treatments, laundry and dry cleaning, and transfers are charged separately. On expedition voyages the included experiences are wider, covering Zodiac cruises, guided hikes and landings.
Is Seabourn a high-end cruise line?
Yes. Seabourn sits in the ultra-luxury tier alongside Silversea, Regent Seven Seas and Explora Journeys, above the premium segment occupied by lines such as Oceania and Viking Ocean. The markers are an all-suite, ocean-front fleet with no inside cabins, close to one crew member per guest, an all-inclusive fare structure and ships small enough to enter ports larger vessels cannot reach.
What is the average cost of a Seabourn cruise?
Published starting fares generally work out between roughly $350 and $750 per person per night on double occupancy, before suite upgrades. A 13-night Atlantic coast repositioning voyage starts near $4,500 per person; a 14-night cherry blossom sailing in Japan starts near $10,500. Because dining, drinks, Wi-Fi and gratuities are already inside the fare, the comparable figure against a non-inclusive line is considerably lower than it first appears.
What is the dress code for Seabourn?
Daytime is resort casual and relaxed - shorts and jeans are acceptable throughout the ship. After 6pm the standard is resort casual: slacks with a shirt or sweater for men, a dress, skirt or slacks with a blouse for women. Jeans are never permitted in The Restaurant. Every voyage includes at least one Formal Optional evening, where formal means a jacket and a buttoned shirt. A tie or tuxedo is welcome but not expected.
What is the average age of passengers on Seabourn?
Around 60, generally ranging upward from 45. Guests are typically well-travelled and well-off, and a single sailing commonly carries more than 30 nationalities, predominantly American and Canadian, followed by British, Australian and continental European. Older children appear occasionally during summer, but Seabourn is not a family-oriented line.
Which is better, Silversea or Seabourn?
They compete closely and the honest answer depends on the voyage. Seabourn generally offers smaller ships and a higher crew-to-guest ratio, complimentary caviar on request anywhere on board, and a relaxed, country-club atmosphere. Silversea runs a larger and newer fleet with more suite categories, wider destination coverage and included shore excursions on many fares. Seabourn tends to suit travellers who prioritise intimacy and service continuity; Silversea suits those who want choice and itinerary breadth.
Does Seabourn still offer submarine excursions?
No. Seabourn ended the expedition submarine programme aboard Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit at the close of the 2025–26 Antarctic season in March 2026, citing lower-than-expected guest participation, the specialist expertise needed to maintain and recertify the submersibles, and tightening regulation of submarine operations in sensitive regions. Zodiac cruises, guided landings, hikes, snorkelling and optional kayaking continue as before.
Where do Seabourn cruises depart from?
Seabourn sails on all seven continents. Frequent embarkation ports include Athens, Barcelona, Venice, Dubrovnik, Istanbul, Monte Carlo, Lisbon and Dover in Europe; Vancouver and Juneau for Alaska; Montreal, New York and Miami for Canada and New England; Barbados, St Maarten and San Juan in the Caribbean; Tokyo, Osaka, Singapore and Hong Kong in Asia; and Ushuaia, Buenos Aires, Broome and Darwin for expedition voyages.
Plan your Seabourn voyage
Tell us the region and rough dates. We will come back with the sailings that fit, the suite categories worth paying for on that specific ship, and whether the Virtuoso amenity or the Seabourn promotion produces more value on your departure.
Stars Desk is an independent affiliate of OvationNetwork, a Virtuoso® member agency since 2001. Fares, inclusions and amenity sailings are subject to change and availability at the time of booking.