Category — Yachts of Seabourn

Courtesy of Seabourn

The over 6,000 luxury travel advisors who make up the prestigious Virtuoso Travel Network selected The Yachts of Seabourn as the Best Small-Ship Cruise Line for the second consecutive year. The 2009 repeat award was presented on August 20 at an awards dinner during the consortium’s annual Travel Mart in Las Vegas.

“This honor from the Virtuoso advisors really does have a special significance for us,” said Pamela C. Conover, Seabourn’s president and CEO, “because it represents the unique relationship we share with our professional partners. In a way, nobody knows our company better than do professionals like the Virtuoso advisors, who recommend us to their clients and put their own reputations on the line along with ours,” she continued. “When they tell us we’re the best, it truly means a lot.”

“We always appreciate and highly respect our advisors’ picks for Virtuoso’s annual Peer-to-Peer awards,” said Virtuoso CEO Matthew Upchurch, CTC. “The Yachts of Seabourn was awarded this top honor for a reason: They deliver innovation and top quality products as evidenced by the new Seabourn Odyssey. The Network shares this high level of excitement as shown by sailings with each more than 100 guests during the inaugural year and maiden world cruise. On behalf of Virtuoso, I congratulate the entire Seabourn team for their achievement.”

Since Seabourn won last year’s Virtuoso award, the company’s fleet of intimate, all-suite vessels have gone on to garner the top spot in the small-ship category in the 2008 Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Poll and to be voted the World’s Best Small Ship Cruise Line in Travel + Leisure’s annual World’s Best Awards. During that same interval, Seabourn launched the 225-suite Seabourn Odyssey, the first new ultra luxury vessel to debut in over six years, which has been hailed as “a game-changer” for the luxury cruising segment. A second new vessel, Seabourn Sojourn, will debut in 2010 and another yet-to-be-named sister in 2011.

Courtesy of The Yachts of Seabourn

The Yachts of Seabourn has been honored as the “2009 World’s Best Small-Ship Cruise Line” by readers of Travel + Leisure, in the magazine’s 14th annual readers’ survey. The ultra-luxury cruise line – which launched its fourth yacht, Seabourn Odyssey, in June – has been frequently hailed as tops on the seas from refined and discerning travelers around the world.

The annual World’s Best Awards, whose 14th iteration appears in the August 2009 edition of Travel + Leisure, is held in high regard throughout the travel industry. Cruise lines are ranked based on ratings in the following categories: cabins, food, service, itineraries/destinations, activities, and value.

“We couldn’t be more pleased to have been named the World’s Best Small-Ship Cruise Line by readers of Travel + Leisure, whose discernment is reflected in their choice of reading material – as well as in their eye for excellence in the luxury cruise industry,” said Pamela Conover, President and CEO of The Yachts of Seabourn. “With this award and the recent launch of Seabourn Odyssey, 2009 is shaping up as quite a year. Being named ‘World’s Best’ is an honor for all of us, particularly the hard-working crew who consistently assure that Seabourn delivers the finest cruise experience in the world.”

The 2009 World’s Best Awards recognition is merely the latest from readers of Travel + Leisure, who also bestowed the title of “Best Small-Ship Cruise Line” on Seabourn in 2005 and 2006. Late last year, Seabourn was named “Best Small Ship Cruise Line” at the Virtuoso Performance Awards, chosen by the industry’s leading luxury travel specialists. Seabourn was also honored as one of the “2007 World’s Best Values” by the readers of Travel + Leisure.

Courtesy of Yachts of Seabourn

The Yachts of Seabourn Destination Services Department has created over a hundred exceptional local activities and excursions, specifically designed to accommodate couples or small groups who opt for bundled “Sail & Stay” packages or stays at luxury hotels in cities where the intimate vessels begin or end their cruises.

From a bicycle tour of Copenhagen’s vibrant art and design scene to a day spent cruising the islands of the Venice Lagoon on a private speedboat, Seabourn’s menu of private arrangements will provide participants with laughter, learning and thrilling memories to last a lifetime. Among the exceptional arrangements available are: [Read more →]