is seabourn cruise line being sold

One of the world's best-known luxury cruise brands to shrink in size with ship sale

Another major cruise line is downsizing in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Luxury line Seabourn on Thursday announced it had sold one of its six vessels — the 458-passenger Seabourn Odyssey — to a Japanese company that offers cruises aimed at the Japanese market.

The buyer of the ship, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd., will charter it back to Seabourn for the next 17 months so that Seabourn can continue offering all the departures that are currently on Seabourn Odyssey's schedule. No sailings will be canceled.

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Seabourn Odyssey's last voyage for Seabourn is now Aug. 22, 2024.

First unveiled in 2009, Seabourn Odyssey is the oldest of Seabourn's six vessels. It has sailed for the line for all its 14 years in service.

"We are proud that Seabourn Odyssey carried our guests across the world for the last 14 years and are happy to see her join a great company, MOL," Seabourn president Natalya Leahy said in a statement accompanying the announcement.

The departure of Seabourn Odyssey will represent a significant downsizing for the Seabourn brand, which is considered one of the leaders in luxury cruising. The ship currently accounts for about 16% of Seabourn's passenger capacity.

Related: The 8 best luxury cruise lines for elegance and exclusivity

Seabourn Odyssey's departure from the Seabourn fleet comes as the line's parent company, Carnival Corporation, struggles to put its financial house back in order following a massive, multiyear downturn in revenues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The downturn forced the company to take on an enormous amount of debt to stay solvent — debt that must now be paid down. As of December, the company's total debt stood at $34.55 billion, up from less than $12 billion at the start of 2020.

For context, Carnival Corporation — the parent company of Seabourn, Carnival Cruise Line , Princess Cruises and six other cruise brands — made about $2.9 billion in profits in its last good year (2019).

Carnival Corporation's recent financial maneuvers included shedding its least profitable ships, cutting service on remaining ships and increasing fees for shipboard services in an effort to cut costs and boost revenue.

Carnival Corporation has also paused new ship orders for its nine brands for now.

Seabourn didn't say how much money the sale of Seabourn Odyssey would raise for Carnival Corporation's coffers.

Related: Carnival Corporation doesn't rule out brand sale to raise cash

In all, Carnival Corporation has shed 26 vessels across its nine brands since the start of the pandemic. It went into the pandemic with 105 vessels. The downsizing has included the removal of four ships from the company's Holland America brand and six ships from its Carnival Cruise Line brand .

Even as it sheds one of its six existing vessels, Seabourn is preparing to welcome a new ship to its fleet. Due in August, the 264-passenger Seabourn Pursuit will be a small expedition ship of the same design as its 7-month-old Seabourn Venture .

Given its small size, Seabourn Pursuit will only partially make up for the lost passenger capacity caused by the removal of Seabourn Odyssey.

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Carnival Corporation Reportedly Negotiating Sale of Additional Ships

Richard Simms

• May 24, 2022

Sources familiar with the situation are reporting to CNBC that Carnival Corporation may soon be selling one of the brands operating under their umbrella.

Report: Seabourn Ships Being Sold

According to the report , Carnival is in negotiations to divest itself of Seabourn, the company’s high-end luxury line. If the deal goes through, the division would be purchased by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund, which is also known as the Public Investment fund.

Seabourn’s fleet currently consists of five operating ships: Odyssey, Sojourn, Quest, Encore, and Ovation.

A sixth — Seabourn Venture — was to begin sailing last year, but saw its arrival delayed by the shutdown. No word on whether a sale would impact the inaugural sailings, tentatively scheduled for July. A seventh ship, Seabourn Pursuit , is currently under construction.

Carnival Stocks Hit 52-Week Low

This news comes as the company continues battling back from financial losses suffered during the shutdown. On May 22, Carnival Corporation’s stock fell to a 52-week low of $11.56 per share. It’s worth noting that the 52-week high of $31.52 (which it hit on June 8, 2021) is significantly below the $71.94 high it hit back in January of 2018.

Back in 2020, the Saudi sovereign wealth fund purchased a 5.1% interest in Carnival Corporation. No word on what Seabourn’s asking price might be. CNBC reported that Carnival refused to comment on speculation, while the Sovereign fund did not reply when asked to comment.

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Seabourn's luxury 140-day world cruise that costs at least $67,000 is selling fast — see what the 2023 trip will be like

• Seabourn opened bookings for its "2023 World Cruise: Extraordinary Discoveries" trip on February 12.
• The 140-day cruise will bring passengers to 61 destinations across 32 countries.
• Some suites have already sold out, and demand is up compared to Seabourn's 2020 to 2022 world cruises.
• Visit the Business section of Insider for more stories .

Customers are scrambling to book Seabourn's 2023 world cruise after the luxury cruise line debuted the 140-day trip earlier this month.

Seabourn Cruise Line — owned by Carnival — first began accepting bookings for its "2023 World Cruise: Extraordinary Discoveries" on February 12. Since then, the cruise's penthouse spa and premium suites have sold out, a Seabourn spokesperson told Insider in an email statement.

And now, the cruise line is seeing more demand for the 2023 world cruise than it saw for its 2020, 2021, and 2022 world cruises from the same selling cycle.

This high demand for Seabourn's future cruise signals a potential wider trend in travel. World cruises could become more popular after the COVID-19 pandemic is over because of pent up demand for travel . Similarly, when Oceania Cruises debuted its 2023 world cruise starting at $41,600 per person  on January 27, the 180-day trip sold out within a day.

"Despite the challenges the world faces today , travelers are clearly bullish on the future and are embracing these new opportunities to travel the world," Bob Binder, president and CEO of Oceania Cruises, said in a statement after its 2023 global cruise sold out.

Keep scrolling to see Seabourn's 2023 sailing and some of its global destinations.

Seabourn's global cruise aboard the Seabourn Sojourn will be setting sail from Miami, Florida on January 6, 2023.

The cruise will then bring passengers across the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic Ocean to its final stop in Barcelona, Spain on May 27, 2023.

In total, the 140-day cruise will hit 61 destinations across 32 countries and six continents.

These destinations focus on places that "guests are likely not familiar with, but will love being able to explore," Tim Littley, Seabourn's senior director of global itinerary planning and product development, said in the press release.

In total, the cruise will dock overnight in 10 cities and will have extended stays at 16 ports.

Along the way, cruisers will get to see classic hotspots like Sydney, Australia, Cape Town, South Africa, and Lima, Peru.

The ship will also stop at "small hidden gems" like the Easter Island, Seychelles, and Papua New Guinea.

Does 140 days out at sea seem too long for you? Potential cruisers who can't hang around for the full trip can instead book one of Seabourn's segmented stays for between 21 to 81 days.

However, guests who book the full cruise will receive a list of perks, including unlimited laundry and internet.

Source: Seabourn

Rooms aboard the 229-suite ship start at $67,000 for an ocean view suite. This price then skyrockets to $190,000 for a stay in the owner's suite.

The ship has several amenities to keep passengers entertained while out at sea, including a card room, a salon, a gym, a club, and bars.

And no luxury cruise is complete without a few pools, including whirlpools.

Hungry at sea? The Sojourn has several dining options, including an eatery by famed chef Thomas Keller.

Seabourn also debuted another 2023 sailing — the 49-day "Grand Voyage: Grand Americas, Amazon, and Antarctica" — the same day as its world cruise.

These sailings may seem far into the future, but planning for 2023 was a strategic move.

Many Seabourn customers have been asking for cruising options "further into the future," Josh Leibowitz, president of Seabourn, said in the press release.

"With the 2023 World Cruise and Grand Voyage, we open options well into 2023 for future planning," Leibowitz said in the press release.

• Main content

Carnival Sells The Seabourn Odyssey to Mitsui O.S.K. Lines

Contributors are not employed, compensated or governed by TD, opinions and statements are from the contributor directly

In an unexpected move, Carnival Corporation’s Seabourn Cruise Line announced the sale of its 14-year-old cruise ship, the Seabourn Odyssey, to Japan’s Mitsui O.S. K. Lines. While Carnival has stated its intention to sell older, less lucrative ships from its fleet, Seabourn, which specialises in luxury cruises and expedition trips, has yet to be included in the sales attempts thus far. Mitsui O.S.K. Lines previously said it intended to upgrade and grow its Japanese cruise operations.

The Seabourn Odyssey, built-in 2009 by Italy’s T. Mariotti, was the first of a new series of ships intended to upgrade and extend Seabourn, a brand founded in 1988 by Norwegian billionaire Atle Brynstad and experienced cruise line executive Warren Titus.

Being one of the earliest contemporary adaptations of luxury yacht-style sailing, Seabourn began with cruise ships holding just 200 people, all in suites. Carnival Corporation first invested in Seabourn in 1991 and again in 1996, when it owned 50% of the firm, and they bought the whole of Seabourn in 2001.

The Seabourn Odyssey, at 32,477 gross tonnes, offered new amenities to the company, expanding guest capacity to 458, more than twice that of the first cruise ships.

Because of its increased size, the cruise line was able to provide additional amenities, including suites with private balconies, catching up with a rising field of competitors in the ultra-luxury market.

The initial cruise ships were sold to Windstar, who replaced them with the Odyssey, two sister ships, and then two bigger, 600-passenger cruise ships built by Fincantieri.

Mitsui O.SK. Lines has agreed to charter the Seabourn Odyssey to Seabourn, allowing the cruise liner to continue operating all scheduled excursions until August 2024. At the end of the charter, the cruise ship will be handed to Mitsui and renovated for the Japanese cruise market.

Carnival Corporation announced plans to sell three cruise ships in 2023, two from Costa Cruises and the third from AIDA, which announced in January 2023 that it would retire the 20-year-old AIDAaura (42,289 gross tonnes), which would be offered for sale alongside her already retired sistership AIDAvita.

Carnival Corporation has sold or retired 24 cruise ships since the 2020 suspension of cruising, in addition to delivering two previously sold ships. The corporation’s fleet has been downsized from 104 ships to about 90.

Being part of the Carnival family of brands, Seabourn has been growing. The cruise line states that it is increasing its emphasis on expedition cruising. “Seabourn’s fleet expansion into the ultra-luxury expedition market allows for a more diverse offering of deployment opportunities, which will lead to new and exciting journeys across all seven continents with a higher guest capacity compared to 2019, even after Seabourn Odyssey’s departure,” the cruise line writes in announcing the sale of the Odyssey.

The Seabourn Venture, the first of two new expedition cruise ships, started service in 2022 and will be followed by a sistership, the Seabourn Pursuit, in 2023. The adventure cruise ships are smaller boats with 264 suites designed to PC6 Polar Class specifications. With the sale of the Odyssey, Seabourn will cut its overall fleet capacity by 15%.

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• Celebrity Xperience In The Galapagos- Part VII (Reflections & Updates on the Ships – Including the new Celebrity Flora – and What to Consider.)              

– How Close to Luxury Can Celebrity’s Smallest Ship Get? – Part I – How Close to Luxury Can Celebrity’s Smallest Ship Get? Part II – How Close to Luxury Can Celebrity’s Smallest Ship Get? Part III – How Close to Luxury Can Celebrity’s Smallest Ship Get? Part IV – How Close to Luxury Can Celebrity’s Smallest Ship Get? – Some Final Observations and Thoughts

– The Prologue to the Travelogue – The Adventure Begins…With a Bump or Two – Settling In Made Easy – Luxury Touches Here, There and OK, Not, Everywhere…But There Are Lots of Them! – Asian Flair Onboard and On Shore – Private Tours, Israel and Conflicts in Perceptions and Perspective Celebrity Equinox 2009 – Egypt…Impressive and Depressing – Dining With the Captain and the Reidel Wine Seminar – The Last Dinner (Tuscan Grille) and Disembarkation – What Happens When A Class Act Meets Highly Discounted Cruise Fare

– How Upscale to Luxury is a Celebrity Cruise Experience? – Part I – How Upscale to Luxury is a Celebrity Cruise Experience? – Part II – How Upscale to Luxury is a Celebrity Cruise Experience? The Review – Part III

– Celebrity Solstice 2008 Inaugural Cruise – Part I – Celebrity Solstice 2008 Inaugural Cruise – Part II

Celebrity Summit “Solticized” – A Ship Inspection (2012)

– Lisbon to Monaco: Crystal As a “Move Up” & “Move Over” Luxury Option – Part I – Lisbon to Monaco: Crystal As a “Move Up” & “Move Over” Luxury Option – Part II – Lisbon to Monaco: Crystal As a “Move Up” & “Move Over” Luxury Option – Part III – Lisbon to Monaco: Crystal As a “Move Up” & “Move Over” Luxury Option – Part IV (Food & Wine!)

– Part I – Part II – Part III – Part IV – Part V – Part VI – Part VII – Part VIII – Part IX – Goldring Travel’s Pacific Exploration of Crystal Cruise’s Luxury Experience – “Reflections”

– Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 – A Winter Transatlantic Crossing on Her 10th Anniversary

– Immersing In fathom’s Social Impact Programs

– Cruising the Peruvian Amazon With G Adventures – Part I – Cruising the Peruvian Amazon With G Adventures – Part II – Cruising the Peruvian Amazon With G Adventures – Part III – Cruising the Peruvian Amazon With G Adventures – Part IV (What Group Travel Should Really Be About!)

– Norwegian Gem – Budget Cruises Pitching Luxury: You Don’t Get What You Pay For, You Only Think You Do.

– Paul Gauguin (2007)

– Princess Cruises Doesn’t Treat You Like Royalty; Celebrity Cruises Does! Which is a Better Value for the Upscale Cruise Guest? Part I – Celebrity Silhouette vs. -Royal Princess – Which Is A Better Value For The Upscale Cruise Guest? Part II: The Standard Veranda Staterooms – Celebrity Silhouette vs. Royal Princess – Which Is A Better Value For The Upscale Cruise Guest? Part III: Treating You Right From The Start – Celebrity Silhouette vs. Royal Princess – Which Is A Better Value For The Upscale Cruise Guest? Part IV: The Wine Lists Speak Volumes (As Do The Beverage Packages)

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• Goldring Travel Revisits Regent Seven Seas Cruises (Seven Seas Voyager: Rome to Barcelona – August 1, 2017)
• Goldring Travel Revisits Regent Seven Seas Cruises (Seven Seas Voyager: Rome to Barcelona – August 1, 2017) – Getting There and First Impressions
• Goldring Travel Revisits Regent Seven Seas Cruises (Seven Seas Voyager: Rome to Barcelona – August 1, 2017) – Part III (Florence and Ajaccio: Starting to Drill Down on the Regent Experience)
• Goldring Travel Revisits Regent Seven Seas Cruises (Seven Seas Voyager: Rome to Barcelona – August 1, 2017) – Part IV (La Spezia and Monaco: Consistent Inconsistencies and Misses)
• Goldring Travel Revisits Regent Seven Seas Cruises (Seven Seas Voyager: Rome to Barcelona – August 1, 2017) – Part V (Antibes and Marseilles: The Ensemble Experience, Cultural Wine “Tasting” and Sette Mari – Luxury Experiences for Sure)
• Goldring Travel Revisits Regent Seven Seas Cruises (Seven Seas Voyager: Rome to Barcelona – August 1, 2017) – Part VI (Palamos, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca & Valencia: Culinary Bliss..and Consistent Inconsistencies)
• Goldring Travel Revisits Regent Seven Seas Cruises (Seven Seas Voyager: August 1, 2017) – Caveat Emptor! Consistently Inconsistent: Not a “Six Star Luxury” Cruise Experience

– Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas Travelogue – Prologue – Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas – My First 24 Hours – Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas – A Hurricane Runs Through It…Almost – Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas Travelogue – The Last Days …

– Italy and Corisca 2014 – Part I – Italy and Corisca 2014 – Part II (Getting There, The Stateroom and First Impressions) – Italy and Corisca 2014 – Part III (“You Can’t Teach Five Star Service” and Bonafacio, Corsica) – Italy and Corisca 2014 – Part IV (Calvi, Monaco, Portofino, Porto Azzurro…and Stale Bread) – Italy and Corisca 2014 – Part V (My Last Day…and How The Chef’s Team Makes It Happen)

• Silversea Expedition Cruises – Silver Discoverer Indonesia/Myanmar Expedition: Part I
• Silversea Expedition Cruises –Silver Discoverer Indonesia/Myanmar Expedition: Part II (Singapore & Raffles Hotel)
• Silversea Expedition Cruises – Silver Discoverer Indonesia/Myanmar Expedition: Part III (Ship Happens: Singapore Day 2)
• Silversea Expedition Cruises –  Silver Discoverer Indonesia/Myanmar Expedition: Part IV (The Ship Arrives)
• Silversea Expedition Cruises –  Silver Discoverer Indonesia/Myanmar Expedition: Part V (The Expedition Begins – Orangutans & Jimmy Buffett)
• Silversea Expedition Cruises – Silver Discoverer Indonesia/Myanmar Expedition: Part VI (What is an Expedition Cruise? Why am I Here?)
• Silversea Expedition Cruises – Silver Discoverer Indonesia/Myanmar Expedition: Part VII (Myanmar – No Complaints!)
• Silversea Expedition Cruises – Silver Discoverer Indonesia/Myanmar Expedition: Part VIII (Myanmar – Developing Tourism & Finding Nemo Again)

• Silversea Silver Shadow Alaska Cruise Review – Part I
• Silversea Silver Shadow Alaska Cruise Review – Part II
• Silversea Silver Shadow Alaska Cruise Review – Part III
• Silversea Silver Shadow Alaska Cruise Review – Part IV
• Silversea Silver Shadow Alaska Cruise Review – Part V
• Silversea Silver Shadow Alaska Cruise Review – Part VI
• Silversea Silver Shadow Alaska Cruise Review – Part VII

– A Few Days in Taipei, Taiwan – Who Knew? – Part I – A Few Days in Taipei, Taiwan – Who Knew? – Part II – A Few Days in Taipei, Taiwan – Who Knew? – Part III (Spa, Beauty and Fashion) – A Few Days in Taipei, Taiwan – Who Knew? – Part IV (Cuisine: Street, Sublime & Surreal)

– Windstar Cruises’ Star Breeze Inaugural Cruise – Part I – Windstar Cruises’ Star Breeze Inaugural Cruise – Part II – The Transformation of A Cruise Line – Windstar Cruises’ Star Breeze Inaugural Cruise – Part III – The Windstar Experience 2.0

– Windstar Cruises – Star Pride Black Sea Cruise – Part I – Windstar Cruises – Star Pride Black Sea Cruise – Part II – Windstar Cruises – Star Pride Black Sea Cruise – Part III

Windstar’s Wind Surf – Caribbean – January 2014

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• October 27, 2022

Goldring Travel

Seabourn cruise line has been sold*.

According to the Saudi Tourism Authority, Seabourn Cruise Line has been sold to the Saudis . The people I spoke with were definite and quite excited. They, in fact, emphasized the point by placing their fingers on a map of Saudi and stating, “ Do you think we are building these two new cruise ports for no reason? ! “

How did I come to this information?  Over this past weekend, I attended a travel conference in Miami Beach, Florida.  It was partially sponsored by the Saudi Tourism Authority, which was in attendance. And, well, you know me: I was going to as “ The Question “. 

But first, let me give you some background and perspective from two different approaches as to why I am confident in reporting this now.

As an American, a Jew, and a liberal from a political point of view, I was initially shocked and angered the Saudis were at this conference. With the issues surrounding that horrible murder, women’s rights, a definite anti-Semitic lean (though Israel does have a decent backdoor relationship with the Saudis), etc., creating a very strong, “ I am not giving my American time or money to the Saudis ” sentiment,  I thought even just a discussion about whether I should have a discussion would set me off.

But then I took a breath and decided I should try to do the same thing I try to do with others I strongly disagree with: Disagree without being disagreeable . Because, in the end, taking absolute positions can’t wind up with anything productive happening. 

Maybe it was, in part, because I had just days before hosted the Goldring Travel 2022 Culinary & Cultural Cruise on Windstar’s Star Legend , which concluded with a Geopolitical Tour of the Golan Heights in Israel , followed by a fantastic lunch with an absolutely awe-inspiring Druze woman who spoke, among other things, of her stubborn, but effective, incremental fight to gain the right for Druze woman to drive cars and more. So, facing and communicating with those one disagrees with, rather than just shutting things down, might be the way to go. And, heck, what did I have to lose?

When I sat down in front of the two representatives, I pretty much laid things out as noted above. They were polite and willing to show respect for my positions and concerns. And with that, we actually had a very good conversation about the amazing historical and religious aspects of Saudi, how incrementally Jewish historical sites are being opened (under the “right” circumstances), and how the opening up of Saudi is a process that has begun but takes time…though how much was left open. And all the time, creeping into the back of my brain was, “ If the Israeli government can find reasons to formulate some sort of relationship, might my doing so be – substantively, if not perceptively – reasonable? “

And with that discussion had, I let them know about my former position in relation to being one of Seabourn’s top-selling agents worldwide.  I said that I knew there were reports of Saudi interest in Seabourn and that guests had seen Saudi representatives overtly wearing Saudi identifiers on the Seabourn Quest this summer, but that things seemed to go quiet. 

They both jumped on my question and were absolutely unequivocal that Seabourn had been purchased.  I asked when the announcement would be made and they said that was the decision of Cruise Saudi, but then speculated it could be as early as Cruise 360 (another travel conference), but they had no real idea. 

*NOTE:  I requested that they have Cruise Saudi contact me, and I await their communication.  I would prefer two major sources to confirm the sale and, if so, the timing!  But I doubt a representative of the Saudis misspoke! (Also, another person I know heard the same thing from a different source, so it clearly is not a “state secret”!)

But there are the other telltale signals –  not from my conversation – that the sale of Seabourn is a done deal.  That starts with the apparent disinterest of its president, Josh Leibowitz, in truly promoting or developing the brand, no less being the face of Seabourn.

At the same conference, Leibowitz attended only one day (not that same would be unusual) but in that day gave a lackluster five-minute presentation with a notable inability to describe the Seabourn product, lots of “ums” and repetition as he spoke, and misinformation (such as Seabourn has the newest and largest submarines on the Seabourn Venture…which might have been true when they were ordered three years ago, but now isn’t- with the same company – U-Boat Worx – supplying Scenic Eclipse I and II with the next generation larger ones.  I know this from a direct conversation with U-Boat Worx about six months ago.  Lots of News Came Out of the 2022 Seatrade Cruise Global Conference )

Leibowitz also played the same video that has been out for months, not showing the Seabourn Venture on an expedition, but being moved out of the shipyard with tugs…and with virtually no actual Seabourn Venture activities – a minimal investment. And Leibowitz did attend one lunch with a friend of mine and was told he sat there silently and seemingly disinterested.

Further, one of my clients noted that Leibowitz was not – as one would expect…and I think at least implied –  present at the Gala in Seattle for the Grand Voyage to Australia. (Also, it has been said that some of the Seabourn Seattle staff would be there, and they weren’t.)

Further, Leibowitz, in the litigation with me, filed a Declaration stating that he lives and works in Miami and has no intention of ever moving the Seattle, where Seabourn is based.

Add to that: 

• There has been absolutely no discussion of expanding the classic fleet stable, as Silversea, Explora Journeys, Regent, Oceania, Ponant, etc., are all doing.
• There hasn’t been any known discussion of expanding or improving the onboard product, changing things up, or anything!  Just keepin’ it as it has been for years. 
• The number of Seabourn employees from staff, to onboard crew, to officers, to executives, have left and continue to leave Seabourn for other opportunities.
• From direct reports to me, due to a combination of factors, morale onboard is generally low and there is frustration that the Seabourn product they want to deliver just can’t be. (I need not go into detail here, but I do have details.)

I could go on, but you get the idea:  Seabourn isn’t exactly working to build the brand or maintain brand loyalty.

Add to that, Carnival Corp. isn’t in great financial shape, with former CEO Arnold Donald affirmatively stating that it would consider all offers regarding the sale of a brand.  Plus, just a week or so ago, it announced it was offering $1.5 Billion in bonds to be secured by 12 of its ships (it is scary enough that the goodwill of the corporation wasn’t enough) and that the funds – unlike Royal Caribbean – aren’t to be used solely to retire higher interest debts, but to actually run the company.

Now, is it possible that the Saudis gave me misinformation? Of course it is…but what really is that possibility?  I think very low.

Does this mean you shouldn’t book a Seabourn cruise? I don’t think so. More information is needed, so I would proceed with caution and look at all of your options. 

Remember, Royal Caribbean sold off Azamara and it seems to be going along just fine. Similarly, Ponant purchased Paul Gauguin and I haven’t heard any rumblings. So until that information is received…

Heck, it might actually be good news for me…and open a new Seabourn market or expand the one that exists, which I can profit from. 

Interested in a Luxury Journey by Cruise, Expedition, or Land?

Contact goldring travel for truly expert advice, email:  [email protected] , us: (877) 2go-luxury or (530) 562-9232, uk: 020 8133 3450, aus: (07) 3102 4685, whatsapp: +1 732-693-8797, facebook:  goldring travel.

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Seabourn Odyssey sold to Japanese cruise line as Seabourn looks to slim down fleet

Seabourn has become the latest major cruise line to announce further downsizing of its fleet in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The luxury cruise line has sold Seabourn Odyssey to a Japanese company, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd, that offers cruises aimed at the Japanese market.

Mitsui will charter the ship back to Seabourn for the next 17 months so that the cruise line can operate all the cruise itineraries currently scheduled for Seabourn Odyssey.

Seabourn Odyssey

According to Seabourn, the ship will be withdrawn from service in mid-2024, with Seabourn Odyssey sailing her final voyage on August 22nd of that year.

Seabourn Odyssey is the oldest ship in the Seabourn fleet, having been launched back in 2009. Her sale will represent a 16% reduction in capacity for Seabourn, which will see its fleet shrink to five ships until August when Seabourn Pursuit is due for delivery.

“We are proud that Seabourn Odyssey carried our guests across the world for the last 14 years and are happy to see her join a great company, MOL,” said Natalya Leahy, President, Seabourn.

The sale of Seabourn Odyssey brings the total number of ships sold or scrapped by Carnival Corporation to 23. The parent company of Seabourn announced during the pandemic that it would undertake a major fleet consolidation across all nine cruise brands as it seeks to cut operating costs.

Carnival Corporation has now sold 23 ships from across fleet

Carnival Corporation will use the increased operating profit from its larger, newer ships remaining in the fleet to pay for the debt it was forced to take on during the global shut down of the cruise industry in 2020.

As of December, the company’s total debt stood at US $34.55 billion, up from less than US $12 billion at the start of 2020, more than ten times its total net profit annually in a good year. In 2022, the group made a profit of just US $850 million, compared to more than US $3 billion prior to the pandemic.

By removing its least profitable ships from the fleet, Carnival Corporation is hoping to trim operating costs, while also benefiting from enhanced revenue as the newer ships in the fleet generate more onboard passenger spending.

Six ships have been sold out of the flagship Carnival Cruise Line fleet, while four ships were sold out of the Holland America Line fleet, with three sold by Costa Cruises, and ships also offloaded from P&O Australia and Princess Cruises.

Carnival Corporation has also announced a pause on new ship orders , while ships already under construction have seen their delivery dates pushed back.

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Categories: News , Cruise Industry

Tagged as: Carnival Corporation , Seabourn , Seabourn Odyssey

Published by Shaun Ebelthite

Founder and editor of Cruise Arabia & Africa. I try to create the best news and information specifically for cruise passengers taking cruises to and from Dubai (where I live) and South Africa (where I was born). You can contact me at shaun(at)cruisearabiaonline.com. View all posts by Shaun Ebelthite

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Seabourn Announces Wunambal Gaambera Traditional Owners as Godparents of Pursuit

• April 20, 2024

Seabourn announced the Wunambal Gaambera Traditional Owners as godparents of the Seabourn Pursuit, the line’s newest ship.

The naming of Wunambal Gaambera Traditional Owners as godparents of Seabourn Pursuit serves as a symbolic gesture of stewardship and responsibility toward the environment and the communities that Seabourn visits, the company said in a statement. 

The naming ceremony will take place on Seabourn Pursuit’s June 22 to July 2, 2024 sailing in the Kimberley region of Australia.

“We believe no one can give a better blessing to our ship than the communities we visit. We truly believe in the transformative power of travel, and when we visit local communities, we are able to both celebrate their culture and drive positive sustainable change in the places they call home,” said Natalya Leahy, president of Seabourn. “When we set out to name the godparent for Seabourn Pursuit, we knew we wanted to do something that celebrates this special moment for the ship and also allows us to drive long-term sustainable positive change in line with the values Seabourn and our guests stand for.”

Additionally, Seabourn will make a donation to assist Wunambal Gaambera in developing a self-sustaining industry, producing authentic works of art and craft by Wunambal Gaambera artists to sell. The cruise line will also supply the Wunambal Gaambera Aboriginal Corporation with pearl shells and art supplies and materials to foster sustainable arts and craft initiatives year-round for Wunambal Gaambera artists and craft producers.

Together, Seabourn and Wunambal Gaambera Traditional Owners will share their unique Uunguu Experience – the sharing of their Wanjina Wunggurr culture through welcome and smoking ceremonies; rock art tours; junba song and dance; and art and stories from the Uunguu Rangers.

“We, the Wunambal Gaambera people, have a communal need and responsibility to look after and prosper from our country. Seabourn’s contributions will assist us to be on country, look after and keep our land and sea country healthy, strengthen our Wanjina Wunggurr culture, and create economic opportunities for our people,” said Catherine Goonack, chairperson of the Wunambal Gaambera Aboriginal Corporation. “It is important we are looking after our country in the way of our Wanjina Wunggurr law. We are happy when we and our future generations are living and working on our healthy Wunambal Gaambera Country. We appreciate Seabourn’s support to us in these efforts and look forward to sharing our unique Uunguu Experience with Seabourn and their guests as the garrangarru or Godparents of the Seabourn Pursuit.”

Seabourn’s donation, along with funding already received from the State Tourism Authority, Tourism Western Australia, will contribute to Wunambal Gaambera’s development of tourism facilities and products for Traditional Owners to live on their country during the dry season when tourism operators can access the coastline of the Kimberley region. 

“This is a wonderful collaboration of Wunambal Gaambera and Seabourn that is augmented by Tourism Western Australia, demonstrating our shared values and the promise of greater opportunities for Traditional Owners in the Kimberley region. We are proud to support Wunambal Gaambera’s Ngula Jar Island development as we strive to position Western Australia as the leading Australian destination for authentic Aboriginal experiences,” said Carolyn Turnbull, managing director of tourism Western Australia. “We know visitors to Western Australia — the Dream State — are seeking immersive Indigenous experiences and the work we are supporting on Ngula Jar Island will enable this to happen. The ongoing visitation fueled by premium cruise tourism operators, like Seabourn, provides the necessary market to make this initiative successful and sustainable.”

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Seabourn Unveils 2025-26 Cruise Line-Up

S eabourn has unveiled its lineup of 2025-26 cruises, which includes several new itineraries in Japan, the Caribbean, Southeast Asia and the Islands of Hawaii .

From September 2025 through March 2026, Seabourn ’s four ships—Seabourn Ovation, Seabourn Encore, Seabourn Quest and Seabourn Sojourn—will visit 105 destinations in more than 40 countries during 72 itineraries. Trips range from seven to 22 days in length and can be combined to create even more immersive journeys. Travelers can also add on pre- and post-cruise trips.

New for fall of 2025, Seabourn will offer autumn foliage cruises in Japan aboard Seabourn Quest. The ship will circumnavigate the Japanese archipelago, making maiden calls on all four main islands.

The cruise line is also sending Seabourn Ovation and Seabourn Sojourn to the Caribbean , where the ships will sail new itineraries from San Juan, St. Maarten, Miami and Barbados.

Seabourn Encore, meanwhile, will return to Southeast Asia to offer 14-day cruises that include overnight stays in Ho Chi Minh City. Seabourn Sojourn will offer holiday sailings around the Hawaiian Islands.

“This collection of extraordinary voyages invites guests to become immersed in an ocean of ultra-luxury, personalized service and discovery, exploring hidden gems and staying longer in iconic ports with overnight stays," says Natalya Leahy, president of Seabourn. “Our carefully curated itineraries will provide our guests with unforgettable ‘Seabourn Moments’ as they sail the high seas in Seabourn’s ultra-luxury style." 

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SEABOURN EXTENDS EXCLUSIVE SHIPBOARD CREDIT OFFER DURING “SAIL OF THE YEAR” EVENT

SEATTLE, FEBRUARY [S(1] [S(2]  1, 2024 – Seabourn , the leader in ultra-luxury voyages and expedition travel, has extended its exclusive shipboard credit offer during its annual “ Sail of the Year ” event. Guests who book by February 29, 2024, will enrich their experience even more with up to $1,000USD per suite shipboard credit that can be used for the following:

·       Booking curated shore excursions on ocean and expedition voyages, including Seabourn Journeys and Ventures by Seabourn® programs

·       Unwinding during a lavish spa treatment at Seabourn’s Spa & Wellness with Dr. Andrew Weil

·       Indulging in Seabourn’s exclusive Reserve wine list and optional wine pairings and culinary experiences

"We're delighted to extend the exclusive shipboard credit offer during our Sail of the Year event, granting our guests even more opportunities to indulge in the unparalleled, ultra-luxury offerings on board that make the Seabourn experience unlike any other," shared Natalya Leahy, president of Seabourn. "While exploring breathtaking destinations from the South Pacific to the Mediterranean, the shipboard credit invites guests to create unforgettable Seabourn Moments by booking the curated shore excursion they’ve always dreamed about, indulging in a luxurious spa treatment, or unwinding over a bottle from Seabourn’s exclusive Reserve wine list on the private veranda of their ocean-front suite.”

Available now until February 29, 2024, Seabourn’s exclusive “Sail of the Year” event features exceptional savings and benefits on select worldwide ocean and expedition voyages on the line’s fleet of ultra-luxury ships including:

·       Savings of up to 25 percent on select Seabourn ultra-luxury ocean and expedition voyages [S(3] [S(4] [S(5] [S(6]

·       A reduced 15 percent deposit on those same select Seabourn voyages

·       Extended: Up to $1,000USD per suite shipboard credit

The promotion applies to more than 600 worldwide. Guests can explore the globe from pole to pole, visiting the Arctic, Antarctic, or South Pacific aboard the new purpose-built expedition ships where luxury meets adventure. Guests may also choose to sail on the line’s intimate, ultra-luxury ocean ships to hidden harbors and off-the-beaten-path ports in the Mediterranean, Alaska, Canada & New England, and more. Sample ocean voyages and expedition sailings that are included in Seabourn’s exclusive “Sail of the Year” promotion include:

Expedition: [S(7]

·       May 15, 2024 - 15-day Isles of Papua New Guinea

·       August 5, 2024 - 11-day Fjords of East Greenland

·       November 15, 2024 - 11-day The Great White Continent

Alaska and Canada:

·       August 2, 2024 - 7-day Alaska Fjords & Canadian Inside Passage

·       August 31, 2024 - 12-day Canada & New England Fall Foliage

·       June 8, 2024 - 14-day Celtic Sea & Silver Coast

·       June 30, 2024 - 7-day Balkan Jewels

·       August 11 - 7-day Ephesus & Greek Island Gems

·       September 29, 2024 - 11-day Riviera & Mediterranean Jewels

·       October 25, 2024 - 7-day The Calanques & Riviera Gems

A complete list of applicable sailings for the “Sail of the Year” can be found HERE .

About Seabourn:

Seabourn represents the pinnacle of ultra-luxury ocean and expedition travel and operates a suite of seven modern ships. The all-inclusive, boutique ships offer all-suite accommodations with oceanfront views; award-winning dining; complimentary premium spirits and fine wines available at all times; renowned service provided by an industry-leading crew; a relaxed, sociable atmosphere that makes guests feel at home; a pedigree in expedition travel through the Ventures by Seabourn program and two new ultra-luxury purpose-built expedition ships, including Seabourn Venture that launched in 2022 and Seabourn Pursuit in 2023. Seabourn takes travelers to every continent on the globe, visiting more than 400 ports including marquee cities and lesser-known ports and hideaways. Guests of Seabourn experience extraordinary offerings and programs, including partnerships with leading entertainers, dining, personal health and wellbeing, and engaging speakers.

For more details about Seabourn, or to explore the worldwide selection of Seabourn cruising options, contact a professional travel advisor, call Seabourn at 1-800-929-9391 or visit www.seabourn.com .

Seabourn is a brand of Carnival Corporation and plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL and NYSE: CUK).