Seabourn Cruises markets itself under the name Yachts of Seabourn, claiming that its small, intimate ships deliver the personal service, attention to detail and relaxed atmosphere normally found on a private yacht. Indeed, the line’s three ships, Seabourn Legend, Seabourn Pride and Seabourn Spirit which carry just over 200 passengers each, are said to have the ambience of a private club. This six-star line promotes itself as ultimate in luxury cruising under the tagline “Intimate luxury”, reflecting the quality of the all-suite accommodation with their marble bathrooms and walk-in wardrobes and the impeccable service from the staff. Many also have their own private balconies. The line is also known for its novel touches such as its Caviar in the Surf where passengers are served by waiters in the shallows off the beach, free on-deck “massage moments”, movies and dancing under the stars and the services of a personal shopper in some ports of call.

Seabourn is a member of the Chaine de Rotisseurs gastronomic society and it shows in its restaurants, grills and cafes. American celebrity chef Charlie Palmer has created menus for the ship’s fine-dining restaurants which offer flexible seating. Passengers can also opt to eat al fresco on deck or within their own suite on their Seabourn holidays. Seabourn enjoys strong repeat business from loyal customers who tend to be well travelled and used to upmarket individual hotels – and you can see why. Entertainment on a Seabourn cruise is laidback and informal and without the headline shows and concerts found on other ships. The line offers a programme of shore experiences exclusive to Seabourn guests, such as a private flamenco show at a Majorcan manor house, creating your own perfume in Provence or lunching with Bedouins in the desert.

The small size of Seabourn’s ships means they can sail into waters where larger ships cannot venture, opening up a host of smaller ports and unique itineraries that are exclusive to Seabourn Cruises. The ships sail across the world to popular cruising hotspots such as Europe, Asia, South Pacific and Mediterranean and they regularly visit some of the world’s most popular capital cities. Seabourn’s fleet is set to expand with the arrival of Seabourn Odyssey in 2009 which will be the line’s largest ship, accommodating 450 guests. It will be followed by two more ships which will be launched in 2010 and 2011.