Overview: Seabourn is one of the world's leading ultra-luxury cruise lines, founded in 1986 and now a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation. The line operates a six-ship fleet split between four classic ocean luxury vessels and two purpose-built expedition ships — Seabourn Encore (2016) and Seabourn Ovation (2018) in the modern Encore-class; Seabourn Sojourn (2008) and Seabourn Quest (2011) in the classic Odyssey-class; and Seabourn Venture (2022) and Seabourn Pursuit (2023) in the purpose-built Expedition-class with PC6 ice-class hulls for Antarctica, Arctic, and remote-region cruising. Seabourn delivers all-suite accommodation across every ship, an industry-leading 1:1 crew-to-guest ratio, complimentary premium beverages throughout, the Solis Restaurant (the line's contemporary Mediterranean dining venue developed by chefs Anton Egger and Franck Salein), and the Ventures by Seabourn curated expedition excursion programme. Travelwings UAE arranges Seabourn bookings as fly-to packages from Dubai (DXB) to embarkation ports worldwide including Athens, Civitavecchia (Rome), Barcelona, Seattle, Ushuaia (for Antarctica), and Tokyo. Seabourn 2026 voyages span Mediterranean, Caribbean, Alaska, Northern Europe, Asia, Antarctica, the Arctic, the South Pacific, and Australia's Kimberley coast.
For UAE travellers seeking the highest tier of small-ship ocean cruising — combined with the option of genuine polar expedition capability — Seabourn occupies a singularly important position in the cruise market. Few cruise lines offer ultra-luxury small-ship ocean cruising on classic itineraries (Mediterranean, Caribbean, Alaska) and purpose-built ultra-luxury expedition cruising in Antarctica and the Arctic. This page covers the full Seabourn proposition for UAE travellers — the six-ship fleet, current global itineraries, real package pricing, and the distinctions between classic ocean cruising and expedition cruising that matter to your booking decision.
Seabourn Cruise Line was founded in 1986 by Norwegian cruise industry veteran Atle Brynestad, with the maiden voyage of Seabourn Pride in December 1988 — establishing the line's all-suite, ultra-luxury small-ship cruising format from launch. Carnival Corporation acquired Seabourn through a series of investments between 1991 and 1998, and the brand now sits within Carnival's premium and luxury portfolio alongside Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Cunard, and the wider Carnival family.
Seabourn is currently headquartered in Seattle, Washington, sharing operational infrastructure with Holland America Line. The line operates as Carnival Corporation's flagship ultra-luxury cruise brand, with sister-line Cunard occupying the heritage-luxury position on the larger Queen-class ocean liners.
Across nearly four decades, Seabourn has built a reputation as one of the most consistently awarded cruise lines in the ultra-luxury segment — repeatedly winning Conde Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, and Cruise Critic awards for its ultra-luxury ocean and expedition products. The line's recent expansion into expedition cruising through the launch of Seabourn Venture (2022) and Seabourn Pursuit (2023) has positioned Seabourn as the only major ultra-luxury cruise line currently operating purpose-built PC6 ice-class expedition ships designed specifically for ultra-luxury polar travel.
Seabourn operates six ships across three classes, with distinct positioning for each:
Encore Class (modern ocean ultra-luxury, 2016–2018):
Seabourn Encore (2016) — 600 guests, ~40,000 GT, 11 decks. Designed by Adam D. Tihany. The line's first new-build in 10 years at launch. The Encore-class introduced contemporary luxury yacht-inspired interiors with expanded dining venues. Seabourn Encore's 2026 deployment includes the line's first-ever Alaska season — 17 seven-day sailings plus one eight-day itinerary from May through September, with Seabourn offering more Glacier Bay sailings than any other luxury cruise line in 2026.
Seabourn Ovation (2018) — Sister ship to Encore. Same Adam D. Tihany design language with subtle interior refinements. The Encore-class is ""the newest classic ocean version of Seabourn with a polished luxury feel and strong fit for Europe"" according to industry analysis. 2026 deployment focuses on Mediterranean from Athens, Barcelona, and Civitavecchia.
Odyssey Class (classic ocean luxury, 2008–2011):
Seabourn Sojourn (2008) — 458 guests, ~32,000 GT. The smaller classic Seabourn scale, known for ""warm atmosphere and loyal guest following."" Recent Solis Restaurant addition (Q2 2024) brought contemporary Mediterranean dining onboard. Note: Seabourn Sojourn transitions from the Seabourn fleet on May 15, 2026 — voyages remaining before that date offer the classic smaller-ship Seabourn experience.
Seabourn Quest (2011) — 458 guests, ~32,000 GT. Sister to Sojourn. The first Seabourn ship to receive the Solis Restaurant (debuting January 2024) with contemporary Mediterranean cuisine inspired by the Italian and French Rivieras, Turkey, and the Greek Islands. Solis was introduced on Encore, Ovation, and Sojourn through Q2 2024.
Expedition Class (purpose-built ultra-luxury expedition, 2022–2023):
Seabourn Venture (2022) — 264 guests, ~23,000 GT. The line's first purpose-built expedition ship, built by T. Mariotti to PC6 Polar Class ice-strengthened standards (Polar Code Category A — navigation in polar waters with medium first-year ice). Carries its own kayaks, Zodiacs, and two custom-designed submarines for ultra-luxury underwater exploration. Each suite comes with a custom Helly Hansen all-weather jacket included. Recent expedition reached 70 degrees south and explored George VI Sound for the first time in Seabourn history. 2026 Antarctica season from Ushuaia.
Seabourn Pursuit (2023) — Sister to Venture, same PC6 ice-class specifications. Specialises in Australia's Kimberley coast, Antarctica, Arctic, and South Pacific routes. Currently chartered seasonally to Australian Pacific Touring (APT Travel Group) under a multi-year agreement signed February 2023 for Northern Europe (UK, Faroe Islands, Iceland, Greenland), Australia/Kimberley, and Antarctica deployment.
The combined Seabourn fleet covers virtually every region of premium ocean cruising — classic itineraries on the Odyssey and Encore class ships, and the world's most remote regions on the Expedition class.
Seabourn 2026 deployment spans every major cruising region globally, with the expedition fleet adding capability that classic cruise lines cannot match:
Mediterranean (April–November):
- Athens, Civitavecchia (Rome), Barcelona, Venice, Lisbon embarkations on Seabourn Encore and Seabourn Ovation
- 7- to 14-night Eastern and Western Mediterranean voyages
- Greek Islands, Italian Riviera, Croatia, Turkey, Spain, Portugal
Northern Europe and British Isles (May–September):
- Southampton, Copenhagen, Reykjavík embarkations
- 7- to 14-night Norwegian Fjords, Iceland, British Isles, Baltic Sea itineraries
Alaska (May–September, new for 2026):
- Vancouver, Seattle, Whittier embarkations on Seabourn Encore
- 18 immersive voyages — 17 seven-day sailings plus one eight-day itinerary
- Combinable into 14- and 15-day sequences for deeper exploration
- More Glacier Bay sailings than any other luxury cruise line in 2026
- Ventures by Seabourn included with kayak, Zodiac, whale watching, and naturalist-led activity
Caribbean (November–April):
- Bridgetown (Barbados), Fort Lauderdale embarkations
- 7- to 14-night Eastern, Western, and Southern Caribbean voyages
Asia (October–March):
- Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Yokohama embarkations
- Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, Southeast Asia itineraries
Antarctica (November–March):
- Ushuaia (Argentina) embarkation on Seabourn Venture (and selectively Pursuit)
- 12- to 21-night Antarctic Peninsula and South Georgia voyages
- Drake Passage crossings, Weddell Sea exploration, Falkland Islands
The Arctic and Greenland (May–September):
- Reykjavík, Longyearbyen (Svalbard) embarkations on Seabourn Venture
- Svalbard, Greenland, Northwest Passage segments
Australia and the Kimberley Coast (May–October):
- Broome (Australia) embarkation on Seabourn Pursuit (under APT charter)
- The Kimberley region — one of the world's most remote and visually spectacular expedition destinations
South Pacific:
- Tahiti, the Cook Islands, Fiji, the Marquesas
- Long-format Pacific exploration on Venture and Pursuit
Australia coastline and New Zealand:
- Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland embarkations
2026/27 Expedition Schedule: The expedition fleet (Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit) will operate 49 voyages between March 2027 and April 2028, ranging from 8 to 94 days, covering Antarctica, the Arctic, the South Pacific, and Australia's Kimberley coast.
For UAE travellers, Singapore (~7-hour flight from Dubai) is the most accessible Seabourn embarkation for Asia voyages; Athens, Civitavecchia, Barcelona (7–8 hour flights) for Mediterranean; Ushuaia is a longer multi-leg journey via Buenos Aires for Antarctica. The Travelwings cruise team can advise on optimal flight routing for any embarkation port.
The Seabourn onboard experience is built around ultra-luxury all-inclusive cruising at small-ship scale:
Dining venues (multiple per ship, all complimentary):
Service standards:
Entertainment and enrichment:
Wellness and active spaces:
Suite categories (all-suite design):
Expedition-class features (Venture and Pursuit only):
For UAE travellers, the small-ship intimate scale (264–600 guests) means every guest is recognised by name within the first day, dining without queues at any venue, and shore landings that aren't constrained by mega-ship logistics. Few cruise lines globally match Seabourn's combination of all-suite accommodation, 1:1 service, and genuine expedition capability.
A Seabourn Cruise package booked through Travelwings UAE is fully all-inclusive and covers:
Seabourn's all-inclusive structure means very few line items sit outside the fare — premium spa treatments beyond included access, select casino spend, premium specialty wines (above the included tier), and pre-purchased shore excursions beyond included Ventures are the main optional spend categories.
For UAE travellers comparing Seabourn against the ultra-luxury peer, the Crystal Cruises page covers the closest direct competitor — both lines operate small-ship all-inclusive ultra-luxury ocean cruising at very similar service depth, with Crystal's signature being the only Nobu Matsuhisa restaurant at sea and the Abercrombie & Kent shore excursion partnership, while Seabourn's distinctive advantage is the expedition fleet capability that Crystal currently doesn't offer.
Seabourn pricing on Travelwings UAE reflects the ultra-luxury all-inclusive positioning:
Given the all-inclusive structure, Seabourn's headline pricing typically delivers stronger comparable value than mainstream lines when add-ons are factored (drinks packages, gratuities, speciality dining, and shore excursions on mainstream lines collectively add 20–40% to non-inclusive fare bases).
Seabourn operates year-round with strong seasonal variation:
For UAE travellers, the strongest seasonal alignments are: December-February Mediterranean (off-peak repositioning sailings, mild weather), January-February Antarctica (peak season for the Antarctic Peninsula), September Mediterranean and Norwegian Fjords (the strongest weather-value combination), and April-October Alaska (Encore's inaugural season offers premium booking value).
UAE travellers comparing Seabourn against the small handful of true ultra-luxury cruise lines typically weigh three differentiators:
1. Expedition fleet capability: Seabourn is the only major ultra-luxury cruise line currently operating purpose-built PC6 ice-class expedition ships designed specifically for polar ultra-luxury travel. The combination of Venture and Pursuit with onboard submarines, helicopters (selected itineraries), Zodiacs, and Helly Hansen-equipped guests creates a unique product. Crystal Cruises does not currently match this capability.
2. Solis Restaurant: The line's contemporary Mediterranean restaurant developed by chefs Anton Egger and Franck Salein is Seabourn's signature culinary partnership, available on Quest, Encore, Ovation, and Sojourn (until May 2026). Inspired by the Italian and French Rivieras, Turkey, and the Greek Islands — premium wines and cocktails complement.
3. Alaska expansion: Seabourn Encore's inaugural Alaska season in 2026 brings ultra-luxury cruising to a destination historically dominated by mainstream (Royal Caribbean, NCL) and premium (Holland America) operators. With Ventures by Seabourn delivering kayak, Zodiac, whale-watching, and naturalist-led activities, the line's Alaska programme positions it uniquely against the broader Alaska season delivered by Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), which operates with much larger ships at significantly lower price points but without the small-ship intimacy.
The full Travelwings UAE cruise portfolio covers every cruise line across mainstream, premium, and ultra-luxury tiers — useful for travellers weighing Seabourn against entirely different cruise products like mainstream MSC Cruises Yacht Club tier or the family-mainstream alternatives.
Booking a Seabourn Cruise through Travelwings UAE follows a curated process similar to other ultra-luxury booking workflows. Browse the available Seabourn voyages on this page, contact the Travelwings cruise desk with your preferred dates, voyage type (classic ocean vs expedition), ship preference, suite category, and any specific itinerary requirements. The team works directly with Seabourn's reservations to confirm live suite availability, place a courtesy hold while final details are confirmed, and send an all-in AED quote covering return flights from Dubai to the embarkation port, the pre-cruise hotel, transfers, the cruise fare with full all-inclusive package, and any optional pre- or post-cruise extensions.
Expedition voyages (Venture and Pursuit Antarctic, Arctic, and Kimberley) typically open bookings 12 to 24 months ahead and require deposits early given the limited suite inventory (264-guest capacity vs 458–600 on classic ocean ships). Classic ocean voyages (Encore, Ovation, Sojourn, Quest) typically open 12 to 18 months ahead with the strongest cabin choice for Penthouse and Grand Suite categories closing earliest.
All prices, inclusions, availability, and offers shown are indicative and subject to change without notice based on seasonal demand, supplier terms, and travel dates. Final pricing is confirmed at the time of booking with Travelwings.
1. How much does a Seabourn Cruise from the UAE cost?
Seabourn Cruise packages on Travelwings UAE start from approximately AED 24,000 per person twin-share for 7-night Mediterranean sailings on Seabourn Encore or Ovation, including return flights from Dubai to Athens or Civitavecchia, the cruise with full all-inclusive package (butler-style service, all dining, premium beverages, Wi-Fi, gratuities), and transfers. Alaska sailings on Seabourn Encore start from around AED 28,000 per person. Antarctica expedition voyages on Seabourn Venture start from around AED 60,000 per person — premium expedition pricing reflects the polar capability. Suite category packages on any sailing start from around AED 50,000+ per person.
2. What ships does Seabourn operate?
Seabourn operates six ships across three classes: Encore Class (Seabourn Encore, 2016 and Seabourn Ovation, 2018) — modern ocean ultra-luxury with Adam D. Tihany design, 600 guests each. Odyssey Class (Seabourn Sojourn, 2008 and Seabourn Quest, 2011) — classic ocean Seabourn at smaller 458-guest scale; Sojourn transitions from the fleet May 15, 2026. Expedition Class (Seabourn Venture, 2022 and Seabourn Pursuit, 2023) — purpose-built PC6 ice-class expedition ships with custom submarines, kayaks, Zodiacs, and Helly Hansen jackets included.
3. What is the Ventures by Seabourn programme?
Ventures by Seabourn is the line's curated collection of optional, expert-led shore excursions and onboard activities. The programme is led by an onboard expedition team of naturalists, scientists, and historians — including kayaking, Zodiac tours, whale-watching, glacier observation, photography workshops, and immersive port experiences. Selected Ventures are included in every Seabourn voyage fare; additional Ventures are available as add-ons. The programme is particularly comprehensive on Alaska and Expedition-class voyages.
4. Does Seabourn sail to Antarctica?
Yes — Seabourn operates Antarctic Peninsula and South Georgia voyages on Seabourn Venture and selectively Seabourn Pursuit, both purpose-built PC6 ice-class expedition ships. Antarctic itineraries typically depart from Ushuaia, Argentina and run 12 to 21 nights, including Drake Passage crossings, Weddell Sea exploration, and Falkland Islands calls. Recent Seabourn Venture voyages reached 70 degrees south and explored George VI Sound for the first time in company history.
5. What's included in a Seabourn fare?
Seabourn operates a comprehensively all-inclusive fare model: suite accommodation, all dining across every onboard venue, premium beverages throughout (premium wines, premium spirits, champagnes, beers, soft drinks, premium teas and coffees), butler-style service, tipping and gratuities included, onboard entertainment and enrichment, pools, fitness, Spa at Seabourn thermal area access, Wi-Fi throughout the cruise, 24-hour in-suite dining, and selected Ventures by Seabourn shore excursions. On Expedition-class voyages, a Helly Hansen all-weather jacket is included for every guest, with Swarovski Optik binoculars in Premium Suites.
6. What's the difference between Seabourn and Crystal Cruises?
Seabourn and Crystal Cruises are the two most-directly-comparable ultra-luxury small-ship ocean cruise lines. Both operate all-inclusive fare structures with industry-leading service depth. Seabourn's distinctive advantage is the expedition fleet (Venture and Pursuit) for Antarctica, Arctic, and Kimberley coast cruising — capability Crystal doesn't currently offer. Crystal's signature is the only Nobu Matsuhisa restaurant at sea and the Abercrombie & Kent shore excursion partnership. Crystal's ocean ships (606 and 740 guests) are slightly larger than Seabourn's classic ocean ships (458–600 guests). Both deliver butler service, premium beverages, gratuities included, and Wi-Fi as standard.
7. Does Seabourn operate in Alaska?
Yes — Seabourn Encore makes its inaugural Alaska season in 2026 with 17 seven-day sailings and one eight-day itinerary from May through September. Sailings can be combined into 14- or 15-day sequences for deeper exploration. Seabourn offers more Glacier Bay sailings than any other luxury cruise line in 2026, with Ventures by Seabourn delivering kayak, Zodiac, whale-watching, and naturalist-led activity throughout. Each guest receives a complimentary custom Helly Hansen all-weather jacket; Premium Suite guests get Swarovski Optik binoculars.
8. What's onboard a Seabourn Expedition ship?
Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit are purpose-built expedition ships with: PC6 Polar Class ice-strengthened hulls for Antarctic and Arctic capability, two custom-designed submarines (Seabourn is one of very few cruise lines offering submarine experiences), onboard kayaks and Zodiac fleets for shore landings and exploration, Helly Hansen jackets included for every guest, Swarovski Optik binoculars in Premium Suites, Mud Room for expedition equipment, Discovery Center for expedition learning, and helicopter platforms on selected itineraries. Each ship has 132 suites (264-guest maximum capacity) with the same all-suite ultra-luxury accommodation as the Seabourn classic ocean ships.
9. Is Seabourn family-friendly?
Seabourn welcomes families with older children and teens but is not primarily a family-focused cruise line. The line's typical demographic is age 50+ couples and adult-only groups; the refined dining culture, all-suite accommodation, and unhurried pacing are not built around active kids' clubs or busy family-cruise environments. Families wanting the strongest cruise-family experience are typically better served by mass-market large-ship lines with extensive children's programming, FlowRider surf simulators, and family cabin configurations, or by Disney Cruise Line's character-led product.
10. When is the best time to take a Seabourn cruise?
Seabourn operates year-round across multiple regions. For Mediterranean, May, June, September, and October deliver the strongest weather-value combination. For Northern Europe, May through August. For Alaska 2026 (Seabourn Encore's inaugural season), book May–September. For Antarctica, November through March (Southern Hemisphere summer) — January and February offer peak Antarctic wildlife. For Caribbean, November through April. For Kimberley coast (Pursuit/APT), May through October. Long voyages (Grand Voyages, World Cruises) typically depart January through April.
11. Can I book a Seabourn cruise on Tabby instalments?
Yes — Travelwings UAE offers Tabby ""book now, pay later"" on eligible Seabourn cruise packages, splitting the total across instalment payments. Given Seabourn's higher fare points, the instalment option can be particularly helpful for managing the cash flow on bucket-list bookings. Final balance is typically due 90 to 120 days before departure on luxury cruise bookings. Confirm specific instalment terms with the Travelwings cruise team at the time of booking.