What Is Seabourn Doing Differently In Alaska?

Editor’s note: Updated with additional information about Seabourn’s Alaska cruises.

For fans of ultra-luxury line Seabourn, it was a long time coming: The line has returned to sail the pristine waters of Alaska after an absence of 15 years from the region.

This past June, Seabourn began sending the 450-guest Seabourn Sojourn on a series of 11, 12 and 14-day sailings that departed from the iconic Canadian city of Vancouver, British Columbia; or from Seward, the gateway to Anchorage, Alaska. For luxury cruise lovers and Seabourn’s loyal past passenger base, the return has been a welcome one.

So how is Seabourn differentiating its Alaskan offerings? As it turns out, the line began rolling out a whole host of new features, activities and incentives for cruisers to experience Alaska on Seabourn Sojourn.

Seabourn Alaska: Off-The-Beaten-Path Experiences

Make no mistake about it: Seabourn isn’t serving up your average Alaska itineraries. For example, few, if any, ships call on Alert Bay, British Columbia. Nearly half of 1,500 people in this tiny fishing village are First Nations peoples, and their centuries-long traditions are preserved in this working town nestled among British Columbia’s breathtaking natural scenery.

Other out-of-the-way ports of call on Seabourn’s Alaska cruise season include Klemtu, British Columbia; Prince Rupert, British Columbia; Rudyerd Bay, Alaska; and the Behm Narrows, the latter of which is used by the United States Navy to test the soundproofing capabilities of its latest submarines.

Seabourn will build on the success of its 2017 Alaska season with 10 special departures in 2018. Itinerary highlights include:

Ultimate Alaska & Inside Passage are two 12-day round-trip Vancouver sailings that begin and end Seabourn’s Alaska program in June and September of 2018. The voyage will visit Sitka, Ketchikan, Wrangell and Juneau in Alaska and traverse the beautiful Canadian Inside Passage to Prince Rupert, Klemtu and Alert Bay en route back to Vancouver.
Ultimate Alaskan Sojourn is a 12-day voyage northbound from Vancouver, BC to Anchorage (Seward), AK. Four departures from June to August will feature Ketchikan, Sitka, Haines/Skagway and Juneau as well as scenic cruising of Tracy/Endicott Arm and Misty Fjord.
Ultimate Glacier & Fjord Adventure is a 14-day cruise sailing southbound from Anchorage (Seward), AK to Vancouver, BC. Four of these between June and September will begin with scenic cruising of the beautiful Kenai Fjord and Aialik Glacier. They will also visit Alaska’s marquee ports and add Prince Rupert and the First Nations village of Klemtu in British Columbia’s breathtaking Inside Passage.
Ultimate Alaskan Sojourn is an 11-day voyage sailing northbound from Vancouver, BC to Anchorage (Seward), AK. Three departures from July to August will feature Ketchikan, Sitka, Haines/Skagway and Juneau as well as scenic cruising of Tracy/Endicott Arm and Misty Fjord.

Seabourn Sojourn’s Expedition-Style Alaska Cruising

Seabourn has been making significant inroads into the luxury expedition cruise market in the past few years, and the line has made the decision to continue the expedition component on its Alaskan itineraries in.

Seabourn Sojourn is using her fleet of new Zodiac rafts to ferry guests ashore in remote areas and to operate scenic cruising excursions in areas that would normally be off-limits even for a ship of modest size like Seabourn Sojourn.

By doing this, Seabourn has the flexibility to offer wildlife viewing opportunities in Alaska that just simply cannot be offered by many other cruise lines.

Ventures By Seabourn

Another way that Seabourn is shaking things up in Alaska is by rolling out Ventures By Seabourn. Originally introduced aboard Seabourn Quest, Ventures by Seabourn is an innovative optional program of Zodiac and kayak excursions led by Seabourn Sojourn’s onboard expedition team of naturalists, science, wildlife and historical experts. The same expedition team will be on deck, pointing out, interpreting and enhancing the Alaska experience as the cruise progresses.

This is particularly convenient program to offer for spots like the hauntingly beautiful Tracy Arm Fjord, which can be fully explored as part of the Ventures by Seabourn program. Other cruise lines include Tracy Arm on their itineraries as a morning or afternoon of scenic cruising, but precious few will actually reach the real stars of Tracy Arm: the dual North and South Sawyer Glaciers.

To keep guests warm throughout these adventuresome excursions, Seabourn will provide guests with complimentary Seabourn Expedition parkas.

Caviar On The Ice

You may have seen the classic photograph of a Seabourn butler, clad in a tuxedo and waist-deep in water off some tropical island in the Caribbean serving up a caviar and champagne. Caviar In the Surf is a Seabourn hallmark. Now, the line brings that same fun experience to Alaska, with Caviar on the Ice. It’s exactly what it sounds like, and it’s a real winner in Alaska.

The Beginning Of Something New

Seabourn’s 2017 season in Alaska was an extremely successful one. Past guests who say they would recommend a Seabourn Alaska cruise is extremely high; a great sign for those considering one for 2018 or beyond. In fact, Seabourn says Alaska has joined Antarctica as their highest-rated destination.

With that in mind, it’s no stretch of the imagination to say that these precious sailings will likely go fast; early booking is the best policy, particularly for the chance to catch a glimpse of an Alaska and the Pacific Coast that are rarely seen.