Long synonymous with luxury at sea, Seabourn continues to impress travelers with stunning ship designs, diverse culinary and excursion options and an overall top-notch guest experience.
As the luxury segment of cruise travel grows to welcome new brands and hoteliers, we wondered what Seabourn may have in the works. To hear where the legacy line goes from here, we checked in with Steve Smotrys, vice president of sales and trade relations for Seabourn.
Where do you see Seabourn fitting into the luxury segment as new players such as Explora Journeys, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection and soon Four Seasons Yachts enter the market?
It’s great to see this segment of luxury cruising continue to grow in popularity. Seabourn has been a pioneer in the ultra-luxury, small-ship cruising sector since our conception in 1987 — and we have been dedicated to providing extraordinary voyages ever since. We remain a leader in this category by staying true to our roots and continuing to deliver lasting “Seabourn Moments” and memories.
At Seabourn, we’re constantly listening to our guests to refine and sharpen the Seabourn experience to ensure we deliver a truly ultra-luxury experience. One example of how we do this is through our “Delight in the Details” program, which is designed to develop new ways to constantly enchant our guests throughout their time onboard.
At Seabourn, we’re constantly listening to our guests to refine and sharpen the Seabourn experience to ensure we deliver a truly ultra-luxury experience.
This includes small details that we’ve rolled out over the past year, such as [an] enhanced in-suite dining menu and new dinner recipes at The Restaurant, greater connectivity with the implementation of SpaceX’s Starlink across our fleet and the return of complimentary designer soaps from Molton Brown, among other small — yet meaningful — touches.
Why was it decided to not renew the culinary partnership with Thomas Keller and instead open Solis? How is the new dining venue being received?
Inspired by consumer research and listening to our valued guests, Seabourn surveyed all past guests to learn more about their evolving culinary preferences. The new concept covers the three top choices of cuisine — Italian, Mediterranean and French — with a majority of survey respondents also expressing a desire for cuisine that is fresh. We’re ecstatic that our new fine dining concept includes it all.
In October, we announced the next chapter in our award-winning culinary experience with the debut of Solis, an exquisite addition to our onboard culinary options [that] offers an array of light, modern Mediterranean cuisine bursting with color and character, handcrafted and prepared fresh daily. The new fine-dining experience has been meticulously curated to bring Seabourn’s signature elegance and sophistication to our fleet of ultra-luxury ships, ensuring that each meal becomes a truly memorable occasion.
How would you say Seabourn’s value proposition and inclusions compare to the competition currently?
Through our all-inclusive model, we offer luxury travelers an unforgettable experience with unmatched value. From complimentary access to caviar and Champagne to gourmet dining that rivals the finest restaurants anywhere and premium spirits, along with no tipping required, we’re able to ensure that our guests will feel pampered.
Additionally, our exceptional onboard team is the foundation of the “Seabourn Difference.” They are what makes Seabourn so special. From hot cocoa delivered to guests’ suites at midnight to exhilarating signature Seabourn events like our “Caviar in the Surf” beach barbecue, our distinguished team provides extraordinary experiences that exceed our guests’ expectations.
How is the new expedition product further differentiating Seabourn now and into the future?
We’re thrilled to have recently launched two new ultra-luxury expedition ships: Seabourn Pursuit (August 2023) and Seabourn Venture (summer 2022). Both vessels are purpose-built for adventure outfitted with 24 Zodiacs; two custom-built submarines designed to open guests’ eyes to natural wonders under the sea; kayaks; and a world-class, 24-person expedition ream. As the popularity in luxury expedition voyages continues to grow, our unique itineraries continue to bring once-in-a-lifetime experiences to our guests.
This year, Seabourn Pursuit will traverse the Kimberley region in Australia for the very first time, starting in June 2024. Before and after her inaugural season in the Kimberley, Seabourn Pursuit will explore the South Pacific, sailing between islands from Chile to Melanesia before making its way to Papua New Guinea and West Papua, Indonesia. These voyages will feature expedition offerings that include Zodiac cruising, nature walks and hikes, guided visits to local villages, scuba diving and snorkeling. There will also be included cultural immersion.
What other trends are you seeing in the luxury market that travel advisors should be aware of?
At Seabourn, we’re seeing that the ultra-luxury traveler is becoming more adventurous. As a cruise line known for its ultra-luxurious standards, we’re able to deliver on this category of travel, which is classified by the convergence of learning, exploring and ultra-luxury pampering.
At Seabourn, we’re seeing that the ultra-luxury traveler is becoming more adventurous.
We’re seeing a sharp rise in curiosity for adventure, and this is particularly evident through the remote destinations our expedition ships allow travelers to explore, but also in regard to our ocean voyages that satisfy guests’ desire to be fully immersed in the culture of a region.
How is the 2024 wave season going, and what earning opportunities and incentives are currently available for agents?
We are pleased to share we are seeing a strong beginning to wave season with our travel partners on both ocean and expedition sailings. We have partnered with our commercial team to offer a very robust consumer promotion, the Sail of the Year event, which has incredible value for our guests and travel partners alike.
In addition to our strong consumer promotion, we also offer a multitude of travel advisor opportunities, including monthly sales webinars, a competitive commission policy for top-performing agencies and advisors, a OneSource travel advisor-facing website with customized sales tools, the Seabourn Elite Agency Program for top-performing agencies, incremental customized incentives based on our individual partnerships with top agency partners and Seabourn Academy, with travel advisor rewards based on earned credits.
