Seabourn Quest

The 2011-built Seabourn Quest cruise ship is the third of Seabourn's older boats, with sisterships Seabourn Odyssey and Seabourn Sojourn. On each of the three vessels is installed the biggest Spa ever created on a luxury cruise ship.

The vessel (IMO number 9483126) is currently Bahamas-flagged (MMSI 311038900) and registered in Nassau.

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 - the 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 RSSC-Regent Seven Seas.

The 450-passenger ship Seabourn Quest debuted in June 2011 and completed Seabourn Cruise Line's 750 million dollars investment in 3 new Odyssey-class "yachts," if we might call a 32,000-ton ship a yacht. Highlights of all three cruise liners include a great and expansive swimming pool surrounded by a wooden decking; a central "hub" named Seabourn Square which acts as a combination library, reception, Internet cafe and patisserie; and gorgeous and stylish decor, with extensive use of cream, white and neutrals indistinct textures, from leather to gauze, to create a comforting but chic boutique hotel feel.

Seabourn Quest service is ranked the best – it’s personalized and attentive. The ship features the amazing ratio crew-to-passenger: 1 to 1! Quest's staff is driven by the sincere desire to please guests, with a smile coming from the heart. Tipping is not expected. Here are some of the special features of this unique cruise ship:

• Complimentary welcome champagne; in-suite bar with your preferences;
• Large walk-in closets; spacious baths (separate shower and tub);
• Four dining venues; gourmet open-seating dining; 24-hour complimentary room service;
• Six lounges and bars plus a casino; fine wines at lunch and dinner; open bars throughout the ship;
• Innovative concierge lounge featuring a coffee bar and computer center;
• Marina with complimentary watersports and in-sea pool; fully-equipped fitness center;
• Two-deck spa, which is the largest offered in ultra-luxury cruising;
• Cell phone and wi-fi access throughout.

Decks and Cabins

Seabourn Quest staterooms (225 total) are in 15 cabin categories. The largest are the GRWG-Grand Wintergarden Suites (1180 ft2 / 110 m2 including the 220 ft2 / 20 m2 terrace). These are actually 2 connecting cabins (WG-Wintergarden Suite plus V4-Veranda Suite) with connecting balconies.

All staterooms are in suites categories and have luxury hotel amenities like separate sitting-sleeping areas, a walk-in closet, electronic safe box, smart HDTV (with free on-demand movies), iPod docks, minibar, refrigerator.

Most staterooms are Veranda Suites (sized 300 ft2 / 28 m2 plus 65 ft2 / 6 m2 balconies). Penthouse Suites are spacious (435 ft2 / 40 m2 with 100 ft2 / 9 m2 terrace) and with bedrooms separated from lounge areas (with dining tables and comfortable armchairs) and powder rooms. Grand Suites are two-bedroom and with a glass-walled Solarium (whirlpool bathtub and lounge bed).

The boat has 11 decks, of which 10 are passenger-accessible and 7 with cabins.

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

Extra emphasis on board the Seabourn Quest is placed on dining, with three equally appealing restaurants, The Colonnade (buffet by day, alfresco a la carte by night), the stylish major dining venue and Restaurant 2, a gourmet eatery which offers tasting menus. Seabourn Quest provides a choice of six dining venues (all-inclusive) and four open bar lounges. The dining venues onboard are all complimentary and guests dine when, where, and with whom they wish. From elegant to casual, al fresco, indoors, or in the suite, the range of choices helps passengers be spontaneous.

Follows the complete list of Seabourn Quest 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).

In October 2023, the company announced that in January 2024 on Seabourn Quest debuts the fleet's first Solis Restaurant. The new venue offers daily prepared dishes of contemporary Mediterranean cuisine. The menu is based on the destinations/regions visited by Seabourn, including the Italian and French Rivieras (Central Med) as well as Turkey and the Greek islands (Aegean). Solis Restaurant's menu was developed by Anton Egger (Seabourn's Master Chef) and Franck Salein (Seabourn's Senior Corporate Executive Chef). The new restaurant has limited seating, provides a chic atmosphere and also offers a large selection of premium wine brands and a separate cocktail menu.

In 2024-Q2, Solis will be rolled out on three other Seabourn ships (Encore, Ovation, Sojourn).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Seabourn Quest ambiance is relaxed, with sheer activities variety – there is no way something not to pique your interest. Choose to indulge in the spa or try on deck the complimentary Massage Moment. Work out with a personal trainer or strengthen your core at Pilates class. Enjoy the port lectures and the library, relaxing at the pool or food and wine demonstrations. Most sailings feature Seabourn’s Caviar in Surf Beach Barbeque or Marina Days when you can go kayaking or sail right from the ship.

After dinner, guests may enjoy rhythm and blues, cabaret, or lively Liar’s Club games. Dance all night away at “The Club” or try your chance at roulette in Quest Casino. The signature events offer Evening Under the Stars, featuring dancing out on deck to live music. On another night, Movies Under the Stars is presented with popcorn. Before retiring, have a nightcap at Sky Bar to toast the day and the ones who lie ahead.

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 Quest are held in any of the public spaces (no dedicated chapel).

Follows the complete list of Seabourn Quest 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).

Itineraries

Seabourn Quest itinerary program is based on luxury South American voyages to Antarctica with departures from Argentina and Chile. In Europe, the ship operates on Mediterranean itineraries (leaving out of Civitavecchia-Rome, Barcelona, Venice) and also sails to the Norwegian Fjords from Stockholm and Copenhagen. Transatlantic repositioning crossings are offered seasonally (in spring and fall).

Due to the Coronavirus crisis, the Seabourn ship Quest was paused through May 2022, restarting in the Mediterranean from Venice.

Seabourn Cruises Quest 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 Sojourn. All sisters share one common ship design. The Seabourn company continues to state that this ship design concept was, quote, the "game-changer for the luxury segment" of the luxury industry. Traditionally for all ships in the Seabourn fleet, all passenger cabins (all are suites) have private verandas.

The Quest ship was christened in a sunset ceremony in Barcelona Spain on the 20th of June. Her godmother is the American actress Blythe Danner. She's the winner of Tony and Emmy awards, but probably she's most popular for her role as Greg Focker's mother-in-law from the films "Meet the parents", "Meet the Fockers", and "Meet the Children". After the naming ceremony, Quest set sail on her maiden voyage- a 14-day Mediterranean cruise from Barcelona to Athens Greece.

Even though Seabourn ships are among the smallest compared to the main brands in the luxury cruising business, they increased the line's passenger capacity by 300%.

The name "Seabourn Quest" was chosen after a "best name contest" was held. The name was proposed by 120 people and was accepted by the Seabourn company.

Seabourn Grand Voyage 2023

On February 12, 2021, were opened for sale Seabourn Sojourn's 140-day "World Cruise 2023" ("Extraordinary Discoveries") and Seabourn Quest's 79-day "Grand Voyage 2023" ("Grand Americas, Amazon and Antarctica").

Seabourn Quest's 2023 Grand Voyage itinerary includes seaports in Central America, South America, Antarctica, the UK's South Georgia and the Falklands, back to Amazon and Caribbean. The 79-day cruise departs roundtrip from Miami on January 6, 2023, visits 37 ports/destinations in 15 countries, with 5 overnight port stays and 8 late-evening port departures. Grand Voyage 2023's segments range from 21-day to 58-day.

Prices started from USD 44000 (~EUR 36900) per person with double occupancy.

Bookings (made by May 31, 2022) receive the following perks: Roundtrip flights, up to USD 3000 per person OBC (onboard credit), Unlimited Internet, private car transfers (door-to-door service home-airport), luggage shipping (home-ship), Visa package, Gala Bon Voyage (dinner and overnight hotel in Miami/prior departure), pillow gifts, reduced deposit (50%), Early Bonus Savings (3%), Repeat World Cruise Discount (5%, with full itinerary booking).

Seabourn Quest refurbishments 2018-2016-2013 review

In 2013, the ship was extensively refitted. All staterooms and public places were renovated and new cradles for Zodiacs (inflatable speedboats) were added. The Zodiac boats are used on Antarctic cruises land tours for ship-to-shore transportation.

The list of Seabourn Quest deckplan changes after the ship's 2013 drydock refurbishment includes:

• In the engine room was installed a new ballast water treatment system.
• Added were 2 new cranes (aft on deck 6) and 4 Zodiac cradles.
• The ship’s marina was refitted to accommodate the Zodiacs (inflatable boats used for sightseeing and ship-to-shore operations on Antarctica cruises).

During the drydock refurbishment in 2016, deck 10's aft “Spa Terrace” area was remodeled into 4 new Penthouse Spa Suites (new cabin category PS). Spa Suite passengers now have unlimited access to the Spa Terrace relaxation area. They are also served by a dedicated spa concierge throughout the cruise and enjoy top-luxury spa amenities, among which a large marble bathroom.

During the 6-day refurbishment in 2018 (April 28 -May 4, done in Genoa Italy) the UK-based company Trimline made interior renovations, including new flooring, woodworking, decorations, upholstery, plumbing, and tiling, as well as electrical works to all public areas, passenger and crew cabins, and areas. Elevators were also updated.

South America (Antarctica) cruise excursions 2016-2017

In July 2016, Seabourn added new South Pole cruise excursions to the line's South American itinerary program. The new experience is available on select Patagonia and Antarctica cruise itineraries during season 2016-2017 on the Seabourn Quest ship only. There are two new (optional) shore excursion packages available for booking, that are price-inclusive of Transantarctic flight to South America plus landing in the South Pole and visiting UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

14-night tour itinerary (Polar Quest and Patagonia") visits the "Torres del Paine National Park" (Chile). Departure is on December 4, 2016, and includes the Seabourn Quest ship's cruise on December 19. Package pricing starts at USD 51,000 PP (double occupancy-based rates).

16-night tour itinerary ("Polar Quest, Tierra del Fuego, and Iguazu Falls") starts from Santiago (Chile) to Buenos Aires (Argentina) and visits the Iguazu Falls National Park (touring is by foot, Zodiac boat or helicopter). Departure is on December 26, 2016, before the Seabourn Quest ship's cruise on January 12, 2017. Package pricing started at USD 54,000 pp (with double occupancy).