Seabourn Returns to Alaska After 15 Year Absence

Ultra-luxury cruise line Seabourn returns to Alaska on June 1 after a 15 year absence from the popular cruise market.

Seabourn will offer a series of 11-, 12-, and 14-night sailings between June and September this year.  The voyages will offer guests the unique opportunity to experience Alaska up-close with a handpicked expedition team.

Guests on the 11-night inaugural sailing will travel from Vancouver to Anchorage via the Inside Passage.  Port calls will be made in Ketchikan, Wrangell, Sitka, Haines, and Juneau.  The line will also offer special excursions from their Ventures by Seabourn program during scheduled scenic cruising calls.

What Makes Alaska on Seabourn Different?

Robin West, a veteran of more than 40 Antarctic expeditions, will lead Seabourn’s expedition team.  He now heads expedition operations for the cruise line after leading Seabourn’s successful first season in Antarctica in 2013.  His team will be onboard for the full season as Seabourn returns to Alaska.  This is planned to continue in future Alaska seasons.  They will provide a variety of services from leading special shore excursions to coaching on nature photography.  The expedition team will also give enrichment lectures on topics to include local wildlife, tribal culture, forestry, and geology.  Seabourn has also partnered with Swarovski Optik to equip the expedition team with high-quality binoculars.  These will be used to search for wildlife and view stunning landscapes from onboard the ship and ashore.

Many of the shore excursions offered will be unique to Seabourn.  The line’s new Ventures by Seabourn program includes small group outings such as guided kayak and Zodiac tours.  Other excursions available for-charge will also feature glacier hiking and wilderness exploration with the expedition team.  Where possible, Seabourn also leverages their partnership with UNESCO to provide enrichment activities that sustain local cultural heritage.

Seabourn offers guests an all-suites experience.  Even the base-level suites are spacious and luxuriously appointed.  They feature separate sleeping and living areas, walk-in closets, and generous bathrooms with dual sinks, showers and bathtubs.  Seabourn offers open bars throughout the ship and fine wines poured at lunch and dinner.  The dining program features menus from a partnership with renowned chef Thomas Keller.

The line is known for unique “Seabourn Moments” which may differ by market or port.  In Alaska, they will feature a “Caviar on the Ice” on-deck event with caviar and champagne.  (Check out this fun sunrise champagne sail-in to the beautiful port of Jakarta!)  All guests on Alaska sailings will be provided with complimentary Seabourn all-weather jackets.  These pre-ordered gifts will await guests in their suites upon arrival on the ship.

Can You Still Book a Seabourn Alaska Cruise?

Suites still remain on some sailings for the 2017 Alaska season with all-inclusive suite prices starting at $4,499 USD per person (taxes, fees, and port expenses not included).  Seabourn returns to Alaska again in 2018 with 10 itineraries from June through September.  Read more about Seabourn’s Alaska cruises.

Through June 13, Seabourn is offering their Extraordinary Opportunity Event.  Guests who book select cruises (which includes some Alaska sailings) can receive a complimentary three veranda suite category upgrade and enjoy a $400 USD per suite shipboard credit.  Guests booking a penthouse or premium suite can receive a $1,000 USD per suite shipboard credit.  Seabourn is also offering $500 USD per person airfare credit for round-trip airfare booked through their air program.

I highly recommend working with an experienced cruise travel agent.  They can secure these cruise line offers and often secure many additional benefits.  I’m asked regularly for a referral to who we work with.    I book almost all of my sailings with Cruises Etc in Fort Worth, Texas.  They are a Virtuoso network agency that specializes exclusively in cruises.  Michelle Harvell has been my agent since I started cruising.  Michelle can be reached at (817) 732-6991 – or at michelle (at) cruisesetctravel (dot) com – just tell her that we sent you!

Because of the partnership between Seabourn and Virtuoso, many of these sailings have an onboard host.  They’ll host a special private cocktail party to meet other Virtuoso guests, help me should I need travel assistance, and coordinate a complimentary shore excursion only for Virtuoso guests.  (See my review of the Virtuoso shore event we attended in Celukan Bawang, Bali.)

Itinerary for Inaugural Seabourn Sojourn Alaska Sailing

• Thurs, June 01 – Depart Vancouver and transit the Seymour Narrows
• Fri, June 02 – Scenic cruising – Queen Charlotte Sound
• Sat, June 03 – Ketchikan, Alaska
• Sun, June 04 – Scenic cruising – Rudyerd Bay (Misty Fjords), Behm Narrows
• Mon, June 05 – Wrangell, Alaska; Scenic cruising –  Sumner Strait and transit the Decision Passage
• Tues, June 06 – Sitka, Alaska
• Wed, June 07 – Scenic cruising – Tracy Arm or Endicott Arm
• Thurs, June 08 – Scenic cruising – Seduction Point and Haines, Alaska
• Fri, June 09 – Juneau, Alaska
• Sat, June 10 -Scenic cruising – Glacier Bay
• Sun, June 11 – Sea Day
• Mon, June 12 – Seward (Anchorage), Alaska

I will be onboard for the full inaugural cruise as Seabourn returns to Alaska.  Follow all of our posts on our Seabourn Ultimate Alaskan Sojourn 2017 page.