2015 shaped out to be another highly-successful and award-winning year for Seabourn, with the ultra-luxury cruise line garnering many honors and prestigious accolades from well-respected publications and professionals in the travel industry.
Seabourn received top honors in the annual surveys of high-profile consumer publications, Travel + Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler, where their discerning readers voted the line “Best Small-Ship Cruise Line,” a category Seabourn has dominated over the last decade. Travelers in the U.K. shared similar opinions, with readers of Condé Nast Traveler also naming Seabourn as “Best Small Ship Cruise Line.” Consumer cruise magazine Porthole’s annual readers’ poll recognized Seabourn for having the “Best Small Ship – Seabourn Quest” and “Best Luxury Ship – Seabourn Sojourn.”
“We are grateful that these publications give our guests the opportunity to voice their praise and recognize Seabourn as the best travel ultra-luxury experience at sea,” said Seabourn President Richard D Meadows. “These awards are really for our outstanding team of hard-working hospitality professionals, who continuously deliver unforgettable experiences to our guests on every voyage. They deserve all the recognition for these awards.”
The line also received specialized accolades. Award-winning epicurean magazine Saveur recognized the line as serving the best cuisine at sea with a 2015 Good Taste Award for “Finest Cruise Line Dining.” The World Ocean Cruise Liner Society’s Ocean & Cruise News awarded Seabourn with a “Best Cruise Value Award” in the highest “Ultra-Deluxe, 6-Star+” category.
Travel professionals also recognized Seabourn in the last year. Readers of Luxury Travel Advisor magazine voted Seabourn the “Best Cruise Line for Luxury Small Ships” in its annual Awards of Excellence poll. Travel trade publication Travel Weekly named the line for having the “Best Ship – Under 1,000 Berths” in its 13th annual Readers Choice Awards. The publication also honored Seabourn with five Gold Magellan Awards for the line’s Seabourn Conversations program, UNESCO partnership and marketing honors for its promotional Antarctica video, Seabourn Encore’s dedicated microsite and multi-product direct mail efforts, as well as four Silver Magellan Awards for “Luxury Suite Design” for the new Penthouse Spa Suites, “Overall Luxury Ship” for Seabourn Quest, “Overall Loyalty Program” for Seabourn Club and “Expedition Shore Excursions” for the popular Ventures by Seabourn kayaking and Zodiac excursions.
Seabourn’s intimate ships offer key elements that set the line apart: spacious, thoughtfully appointed suites, many with verandas; superb dining in a choice of venues; open bars throughout the ship; fine wines poured at lunch and dinner; award-winning service and a relaxed, sociable atmosphere that makes guests feel right at home onboard. The ships travel the globe throughout the year, sailing to many of the world’s most desirable destinations, including marquee cities, UNESCO World Heritage Sites and lesser-known ports and hideaways.