Seabourn Sojourn

Launched in 2010, Seabourn Sojourn is the second of Seabourn Cruise Line's ships, together with Seabourn Odyssey and Seabourn Quest. On each of the three vessels is installed the biggest Spa ever created on a luxury cruise ship.

History - construction and ownership

Seabourn Cruises is a top-luxury (all-inclusive) company founded in 1986 and headquartered in Seattle WA. Seabourn operates on global itineraries, ranging from the 7-day Caribbean to 100+day Around the World voyages. Since 1998, Seabourn is fully-owned by Carnival Corporation - world's largest passenger shipping company. Seabourn is a signature travel brand and a major player on the premium-cruising market, competing for head-on with Silversea and Regent Seven Seas.

The 32,346-ton, 450-passenger cruise ship Seabourn Sojourn is line’s second new-class ship that accommodates only 450 guests. At 32,000 GRT Sojourn and her sisters are the smallest built new vessels by any of all major cruise lines and feature the highest ratio space-per-guest in industry. Sojourn offers excellent, comfortable staterooms, the biggest luxe spa at sea, and an in-stern marina full with kayaks and speed vessels. There is also an onboard atmosphere which is cultured yet also quite informal.

While largely the same as Odyssey cruise ship (the first in Seabourn's newly designed trio) and identical to Quest (released in 2011), Seabourn Sojourn is the cruise line's enhancement on an already-outstanding concept. It achieved the feat simply by tweaking bits and pieces. The spa features were the largest beneficiary of the line's experience with the first vessel, that has an additional spa sun deck zone replacing some of the pretentiously expensive private villa spaces. In The Restaurant, the vessel's stylish major dining venue, an experiment with communal tables - intended to foster sociability - hasn't been replicated on either Sojourn or Quest cruise ships. However, the group bar-height seating concept is accessible in its more casual Colonnade.

Cruise itinerary program

Seabourn Sojourn itinerary program is based on luxury cruises in Asia with departures from Singapore and Hong Kong. In Europe, Sojourn operates on Mediterranean itineraries with departures from Athens/Piraeus, Monaco, Rome, with Suez Canal repositioning transits between Europe and Asia.

In 2017, the ship offered a unique Alaskan cruise itinerary program with departures from Vancouver Canada and Seward (Anchorage) Alaska. (read more in the "wiki" section below).

Cabins

Like all Seabourn ships, Sojourn is an all-suite vessel. Seabourn Sojourn accommodations include 225 ocean-view suites in 15 categories, 90% of which with private verandas. The five Owner’s Suites measure up to 1,062 sq. feet (including a veranda); four Grand Suites (two-bedroom) are up to 1,682 sq. feet private living space. Choose to stay in a Penthouse Suite (one of the 22) on uppermost decks, featuring up to 534 sq. feet each.

By company's loyalty program "Seabourn Club", Silver Level and above passengers receive free Internet (limited and unlimited packages), free phone calls (20-30-40 min worldwide), complimentary Spa Massage, Day Pass for Spa Serene Area, free laundry (1 bag for every 7-days on the ship), plus discount pricing on onboard alcohol purchases (premium wines and spirits), future cruise booking discounts, luggage shipping service discounts, access to special offers and exclusive onboard events.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Seabourn Sojourn delights her guests with varied menus in the four onboard restaurants and provides in-suite dining as well. The Restaurant features eclectic menus created specifically for Seabourn Yachts by Chef Charlie Palmer. Each restaurant offers different experiences, from casual meals on deck to avant-garde tasting menus. Enjoy traditional Italian lattes and espressos in Seabourn Square at leisure or try one of the six lounges and bars – enjoy world-class champagne, wine, top-shelf spirits.

The ultra-luxury Seabourn Sojourn yacht offers sumptuous gourmet cuisine at the traditional Restaurant by celebrity chef Charlie Palmer, but you can also enjoy casual meals at the Patio Grill poolside. Enjoy complimentary French champagne, wine, and spirits with lunch and dinner, no matter where you dine. With one staff member for each guest, Seabourn provides unmatched cruising experience and level of service. Attire in most evenings is “jacket required”, but on special nights they host candlelit dining and black tie is optional.

Restaurant 2 is an avant-garde restaurant featuring stellar service and intriguing food and wine. Dishes are individually prepared by the chef and passengers to enjoy the innovative creations. The Colonnade is an indoor/outdoor restaurant, where chefs serve guests’ meals in an open kitchen and they can watch their work while personally preparing orders. A different theme is offered each evening. The finest casual dining is available poolside at Patio Grill. Its superb offerings delight guests’ palette as they enjoy a relaxed ambiance by Sojourn’s pool. In-Suite Service – fresh crudités or late night pizza in your suite, the Sojourn room service menu is available around the clock. Choose to have your dinner served course by course in-suite, complete with personal service and fine linens.

Follows the complete list of Seabourn Sojourn restaurants and food bars.

• The Restaurant (main dining room with open-seating breakfast, lunch, and dinner; the dining amenities are top-luxurious; the Restaurant’s dress code is “elegant casual” with optional “formal” dress on special nights.
• Restaurant 2 (reservation-only; offers an avant-garde dining experience, featuring a rich selection of fine wines and regionally-themed menus)
• Patio Grill (serves the pool area with grilled specialties, salads, and several side dishes; fresh pizza by the slice is offered throughout the afternoon)
• The Colonnade (open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner; its chefs cook in an open kitchen and guests can enjoy watching the food being prepared; the menu for dinner is differently themed each day; the restaurant has an aft Terrace and an outdoor seating area)
• The Grill by Thomas Keller (the menu and ambiance are inspired by the classic American chophouse; a collaboration between designer Adam D. Tihany and 3-star Michelin chef Thomas Keller).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

The Grand Salon is Sojourn’s main showroom which can accommodate all passengers, though it seldom does so because a variety is available. Cooking demonstrations, movies, lectures, and other interesting gatherings are held there in the daytime. In the evening, live music for dancing gives way to comedy, vocal production shows, classical recitals, cabaret performances, and more dancing. The Seabourn Square is an innovative living room which replaces the reception lobby and provides a welcoming lounge with comfortable sofas, cocktail tables, and easy chairs.

The Club is a lively lounge on Seabourn Sojourn offering daily tea service. It’s popular for dancing to live music and pre-dinner drinks. Later the DJ spins dance music. Another terrace boasts two whirlpool spas and a plunge pool. The Spa is the largest spa on any luxury ship, featuring six treatment rooms, thermal area with large hydro-pool, sauna, dry float, and steam rooms, well-equipped gym, motion studio with Thai massage area and Kinesis Wall, and a full-service salon.

Additional amenities include Complimentary 24-hour Room-Service, Internet/WiFi Access, Laundry, Self-Serve Laundromats. Tipping/gratuities - tips are not expected or calculated in the price. Wedding parties on Seabourn ship Sojourn could be held in any of the public spaces (no onboard chapel).

Follows the complete list of Seabourn Sojourn lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults.

• Living room (open-floor area serving as a lounge with a small seating area)
• The Casino (with 1 roulette table, 3 gaming tables for blackjack and poker, 15 slot machines)
• The Club lounge (disco & nightclub)
• The Club Pool area (with one plunge pool flanked by two Whirlpools, served by The Club’s bar)
• Whirlpool (with an open-deck area with loungers)
• Grand Salon (main show lounge for grand productions, featuring a 6-piece band; hosts guest lectures and presentations during the day)
• Card Room (cards playing and bard games room)
• 3 duty-free shops (The Boutique for fashion clothes, perfumes, and luxury cosmetics; The Seabourn Shop for Seabourn-logo merchandise; The Collection for brand watches and jewelry)
• The Coffee Bar (patisserie & specialty coffee bar, serving Seabourn Square lounge area, which has a corner serving as the Library/Computer Centre)
• Patio Pool (swimming pool, two Whirlpools, sunbathing area with loungers, private cabanas; served with drinks by Patio Bar; the pool deck also hosts barbecue parties)
• Sky Bar (serves the Patio Pool’s balcony level)
• The “Spa at Seabourn” (11,400 ft2 wellness area spanning on two decks, with outdoor relaxation deck area, Massage-Treatment Rooms, Steam Room, Saunas, Thermal Suite, glass-roofed Spa pool, Beauty Salon)
• Fitness Center (panoramic-view modern gym)
• Motion Studio (separate Aerobics Room)
• Promenade (on Deck 5)
• Observation Bar (round-shaped observation lounge with grand piano)
• Outdoor relaxation areas (The Retreat, Sun Terrace, Spa Terrace)
• The Retreat (multi-use, open-air relaxation area with a 9-hole Golf putting green and courts for deck games - Giant Chess, Shuffleboard).

Seabourn Cruises Sojourn ship is the line's newest of all three vessels providing all-inclusive "big yacht cruising" luxury vacation experiences. Her sisters are the fleet mates Odyssey and Quest. The three vessels have been produced under the same cruise ship design. When the Seabourn company launched them, it bragged that this vessel design will be the "game-changer for the luxury segment" of the cruising market. Traditionally for all ships in the Seabourn fleet, all passenger cabins (all are suites) have private verandas.

The Sojourn ship's christening ceremony took place on the 4th of June, 2010 in London England. It was widely commented that weather was unusually warm and shiny- far from being common to London. A curious fact is that for the christening of the Odyssey ship, the weather in "sunny" Venice Italy was terribly rainy. The godmother of Sojourn is Twiggy - an undoubted fashion icon of the 1960s.

The maiden voyage began on the 6th of June. It was a Northern European cruise from London with ports in Baltic Sea (Scandinavia) and Iceland. That year was a cause of concern for Iceland cruise travelers as the country posed them with some volcanoes related problems. A volcanologist was invited on board Sojourn to share some of his expert knowledge with the Inaugural Cruise passengers.

Seabourn Sojourn is among the top-luxury World Cruise ships offering each year an Around The World itinerary. It includes numerous exotic ports of call in Asia, Australia, South America, USA, Caribbean, Africa, also Transatlantic crossings, Panama Canal and/or Suez Canal transits.

Seabourn World Cruise 2020

Sojourn's Around-The-World voyage visits 62 ports and features unique shipboard entertainment, including themed deck parties, special musical productions, and enhanced enrichment programming. Developed by Belinda King Creative Productions (Northampton England), the onboard entertainment program (made exclusively for the world voyage) features “An Evening with Tim Rice” (Sir Timothy Miles Bindon Rice - English author/theatrical lyricist), "Ruthie Henshall & Norm Lewis" (Gala Dinner show), Charl du Plessis Trio (piano-bass-drums), CH2 Guitar Duo, Soweto String Quartet (South Africa), Filip Wojciechowski Trio (Polish jazz band), Wouter Kellerman (South African flutist/composer) and His Band, Maria Lea Carmen Imutan Salonga (Filipino singer/actress), Rhonda Suzanne Burchmore (Australian entertainer), Rita Rudner (US comedian).

Shipboard parties with be themed on the visited region/destination and with live performances by local artists. Smaller deck parties include "Farewell USA’" (upon leaving Miami), "Opera Under the Stars" (with Venetian masks) and "Roaring 20s Speakeasy" (with specialty cocktails). Themed dinners (at The Colonnade) are also with resident artists and local entertainers. Seabourn Conversations (enrichment program) features speakers like John Creighton (NASA astronaut), Zelda La Grange (Nelson Mandela's secretary) and Sir Alan Collins (former British diplomat).

Next table shows Sojourn ship's 144-day "World Cruise - Extraordinary Destinations" (full-length itinerary) as ports sequence and port times (arrival/departure). Prices started from ~USD 67,000 per person (double occupancy Seabourn Suite/window cabin).

Alaskan cruise itineraries

On June 1, 2017, with Seabourn Sojourn. the company operated its first cruises in Alaska (since 2002). The ship's Alaska cruise 2017 program included a series of one-way and roundtrips leaving from Vancouver Canada and Seward (Anchorage) Alaska.

The following table shows the "inaugural" 25-night / 26-day roundtrip Vancouver itinerary (themed "Exploration Of The Last Frontier") as ports sequence and port times. Suite prices started from around USD 400 per night.

In 2017, the ultra-luxury Seabourn cruise line offered an exceptional series of 11-, 12- and 14-day long voyages. The unique itineraries combined all the most popular Alaskan ports, most of which are rarely visited by cruise vessels. All deals were inclusive of professionally guided sea kayaking and Zodiac tours led by world-class expedition teams.