Seabourn Cruise Line

Last updated
Seabourn Cruise Line
Company type Subsidiary
Industry Tourism
Founded1986 (1986)
Headquarters Seattle, Washington, United States
Key people
  • Mark Tamis, President
Services Cruises
Parent Carnival Corporation & plc
Website www.seabourn.com

Seabourn Cruise Line is a luxury cruise line headquartered in Seattle, Washington. [1] It is owned by Carnival Corporation & plc.

Contents

History

Seabourn's first ship Seabourn Pride in 1993 MS Seaborn Pride (4216474215).jpg
Seabourn's first ship Seabourn Pride in 1993

Seabourn Cruise Line was founded in 1986 under the name "Signet Cruise Lines" by the Norwegian private investor Atle Brynestad and Warren S. Titus. [2] The name "Seabourn Cruise Line" was adopted shortly afterward following objections over trademark ownership by Signet Oil. [3]

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, Royal Cruise Line, as Queen Odyssey.

In 1991, Carnival Corporation purchased a 25% stake in Seabourn. Carnival Corporation increased its stake to 50% in 1996, providing the company sufficient capital to purchase the Queen Odyssey, which was then renamed Seabourn Legend.

In 1998, in partnership with a consortium of a Norwegian businessmen, Carnival purchased the remaining 50% stake in Seabourn, as well as acquiring the 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. [4]

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.

Seabourn Odyssey, lines first new build in almost 20 years Seabourn Odyssey (5821748867).jpg
Seabourn Odyssey, lines first new build in almost 20 years

In October 2006, Seabourn ordered three new, 32,000-ton 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. [5] [6]

On March 31, 2011, Seabourn moved operations from Miami, Florida, to the Holland America Line quarters in Seattle, Washington. [7]

The luxury cruise ship Seabourn Ovation in the Mediterranean Sea Seabourn Ovation surrounded by palm trees.jpg
The luxury cruise ship Seabourn Ovation in the Mediterranean Sea

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. [8]

On October 18, 2013, Seabourn announced it had signed a Letter of Intent for the construction of a new 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. [9] 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. Seabourn Venture was delivered on June 29, 2022 and inaugural voyage on July 27, 2022. [10] Seabourn Pursuit is scheduled for delivery in February 2023.

On March 16, 2023 Seabourn announced that Seabourn Odyssey would be sold to Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL). The ship will remain with the brand under a charter agreement through the end of August 2024. [11]

On March 4, 2025 Seabourn announced that Seabourn Sojourn would also be sold to Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd.. The ship will remain with Seabourn through all its current sailings through May 2026. [12] With those sales, the capacity will shrink by 15 percent between 2021 and 2026 despite the newbuilts. [13]

Fleet

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

Current fleet

ShipImageDeliveredBuilderIn
service
for
Seabourn
Gross Tonnage FlagNotes
Seabourn Sojourn Seabourn Sojourn (4).jpg June 2010 T. Mariotti 2010–present32,346  GT Civil Ensign of the Bahamas.svg  Bahamas Godmother: Twiggy

Sold to Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) in March 2025 and leased back to Seabourn until ship's exit in May 2026

Seabourn Quest Seabourn Quest 02.JPG June 2011 T. Mariotti 2011–present32,348  GT Civil Ensign of the Bahamas.svg  Bahamas Godmother: Blythe Danner
Seabourn Encore [14] Seabourn Encore (ship, 2016), Sete cf01.jpg November 2016 Fincantieri 2016–present41,865  GT Civil Ensign of the Bahamas.svg  Bahamas Largest ship to be built for Seabourn

Godmother: Sarah Brightman

Seabourn Ovation [14] 20190801 MV Seabourn Ovation.jpg April 2018 Fincantieri 2018–present41,865  GT Civil Ensign of the Bahamas.svg  Bahamas Sister to Seabourn Encore

Godmother: Elaine Page

Seabourn Venture SEABOURN VENTURE 01.jpg June 2022 [15] T. Mariotti [16] 2022–present~ 23,000 GTCivil Ensign of the Bahamas.svg  Bahamas
Seabourn Pursuit Seabourn Pursuit.jpg July 2023 [18] T. Mariotti2023-present~ 23,000 GTCivil Ensign of the Bahamas.svg  Bahamas Sister ship to Seabourn Venture. [19]

Former fleet

ShipImageBuiltBuilderIn service for Seabourn Cruise LineGross TonnageFlagStatus as of 2020
Seabourn Goddess I 2017-04-06 01 SEA DREAM I - IMO 8203438.jpg 1984 Wärtsilä
Helsinki Shipyard
1999–20014,253 tonsCivil Ensign of the Bahamas.svg  Bahamas Transferred to SeaDream Yacht Club as SeaDream I .
Seabourn Goddess II Kotor Bay SeaDream II 03.jpg 1985 Wärtsilä
Helsinki Shipyard
1999–20014,253 tonsCivil Ensign of the Bahamas.svg  Bahamas Transferred to SeaDream Yacht Club as SeaDream II .
Seabourn Sun Kreuzfahrtschiff ROYAL VIKING SUN (brit.) (Kiel 39.810).jpg 1988 Wärtsilä Marine
Perno Shipyard
1999–200238,848 tonsCivil Ensign of the Bahamas.svg  Bahamas Currently sailing for Phoenix Reisen as MS Amera .
Seabourn Pride Seabourn Pride 01.JPG 1988 Schichau Seebeckwerft 1989–20149,975 tonsCivil Ensign of the Bahamas.svg  Bahamas Transferred to Windstar Cruises as Star Pride . [8]
Seabourn Spirit Seabourn Spirit (ship, 1989) IMO 8807997; in Split, 2011-11-08.jpg 1988 Schichau Seebeckwerft 1989–20159,975 tonsCivil Ensign of the Bahamas.svg  Bahamas Transferred to Windstar Cruises as Star Breeze . [8]
Seabourn Legend Le paquebot de croisiere MS Seabourn Legend (1).jpg 1992 Schichau Seebeckwerft 1995–20159,975 tonsCivil Ensign of the Bahamas.svg  Bahamas Transferred to Windstar Cruises as Star Legend . [8]
Seabourn Odyssey Seabourn Odyssey - 22428596104.jpg 2009 T. Mariotti 2009–202432,346 GT BahamasSold to Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) in March 2023 and leased back to Seabourn until ship's exit in August 2024

See also

References

  1. "Seabourn". Cruise Lines International Association . Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  2. "Our History". Seabourn. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  3. Lewis, Ian (15 May 2013). "A History of Seabourn". Six Star Cruises Luxury Cruise News. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  4. About Seabourn Cruise Line, Cruise Critic, retrieved March 14, 2008.
  5. Seabourn Cruise Line orders two new ultra luxury ships, Seabourn Cruise Line - press release, October 19, 2006
  6. "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.
  7. "Seabourn's Headquarters Relocating to Seattle, Washington". The Sovereign Cruise Club. January 7, 2011. Retrieved 16 August 2011.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Windstar Completes Purchase of Three Seabourn Ships - Cruise Industry News | Cruise News". www.cruiseindustrynews.com. 19 February 2013. Retrieved 2016-06-04.
  9. "Seabourn Confirms New Ship Order from Fincantieri - Cruise Industry News | Cruise News". www.cruiseindustrynews.com. 18 October 2013. Retrieved 2016-06-04.
  10. "Seabourn Venture's inaugural cruise is canceled". seatrade-cruise.com. 2022-06-08. Retrieved 2022-08-03.
  11. "Seabourn Announces Sale of Seabourn Odyssey to MOL Group for delivery in September 2024".
  12. "Mitsui Ocean Cruises buys a second Seabourn ship".
  13. https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2025/03/seabourn-capacity-shrinks-in-five-year-timeframe/
  14. 1 2 "Seabourn Encore" . Retrieved 2016-06-04.
  15. "Seabourn Takes Delivery of Seabourn Venture". www.seabourn.com. Retrieved 2022-08-03.
  16. "Keel Laid for New Seabourn Venture". Cruise Industry News. Dec 4, 2019. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  17. "Seabourn Cancels More Voyages; Delays New Ship To December 2021". 2020-08-31. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
  18. "SEABOURN TAKES DELIVERY OF SEABOURN PURSUIT, THE LINE'S SECOND PURPOSE-BUILT ULTRA-LUXURY EXPEDITION SHIP". 2023-07-31. Retrieved 2023-08-05.
  19. "First steel cut for Seabourn's second new purpose-built expedition ship". 2020-09-17. Retrieved 2021-03-22.