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Seabourn feels less like a cruise and more like a private yacht that happens to carry a few hundred friends. The ships are small, the service is intuitive to the point of anticipation, and the all-inclusive fare means the experience flows without a single transaction.
This is intimate ultra-luxury, with a yacht-like feel that the larger luxury ships cannot match. Like Silversea, Seabourn now runs a purpose-built expedition fleet alongside its classic ships, extending that refined service to the polar regions and remote coastlines.
Founded in 1987 and part of Carnival Corporation, Seabourn sits firmly in the luxury tier, prized for intimacy and service. Our verdict up front: if you want small-ship, yacht-like luxury with all-inclusive ease and impeccable service, Seabourn is one of the very best. If you want a larger ship or a budget fare, this is not the line.
Quick Facts
| Fleet size | 7 ships (classic and expedition) |
| Newest ship | Seabourn Pursuit (2023, expedition) |
| Capacity range | 264 to 600 guests |
| Home ports | Itinerary-led worldwide, including polar gateways |
| Destinations | Mediterranean, Caribbean, Asia, Antarctica, Arctic, Americas, world cruises |
| Starting price | From $4,999 per person, all-inclusive |
| Loyalty program | Seabourn Club |
| Age policy | Adults-focused |
| Dress code | Elegant casual, with some formal-optional evenings |
| Our rating | 4.8 out of 5 |
Want to see what a Seabourn voyage costs in your dates? Check live Seabourn prices and sailings first. The figures below are accurate for 2026, and the fares are all-inclusive, so the headline price covers premium drinks, gratuities, and most dining.
Who Seabourn Is For
Seabourn is for the traveler who prizes intimacy and service above all. The small ships create a yacht-like, club-like atmosphere where the crew learn your preferences within a day, and the all-inclusive fare removes every onboard transaction.
The crowd is affluent, well-traveled, and older, drawn by the personal scale and the impeccable, anticipatory service that smaller ships make possible. Like Silversea, Seabourn also offers genuine expedition travel on purpose-built ships for those who want adventure with their luxury.
Best for:
- Affluent travelers over 50
- those who value intimacy and exceptional service
- expedition-curious luxury cruisers
- anyone who finds the larger luxury ships too big
Not ideal for:
- Families
- budget travelers
- anyone wanting a larger or livelier ship
If you are comparing the intimate luxury leaders, compare Seabourn and Silversea side by side.
The Fleet
Seabourn runs seven small ships split between classic and expedition roles, with intimacy as the defining trait throughout.
The classic fleet, Seabourn Encore, Ovation, Sojourn, Quest, and the smaller ships, carries around 450 to 600 guests, which is small even by luxury standards. The all-suite ships feel like private yachts, with generous public space and a relaxed, sociable atmosphere.
The expedition fleet, Seabourn Venture (2022) and Seabourn Pursuit (2023), carries around 264 guests. The ships have ice-strengthened hulls, a fleet of Zodiacs, and even submarines on some voyages, plus expert teams for Antarctica, the Arctic, and remote coasts.
The expedition ships are notably more capable and adventurous than the classic fleet while retaining Seabourn’s service standard, making them among the most luxurious expedition vessels at sea.
Dining
Seabourn’s dining is exceptional and entirely in keeping with the all-inclusive promise, with a partnership pedigree that shows on the plate. Most dining is included, with no constant surcharges.
The main restaurant serves refined, multi-course dinners, while The Colonnade offers a more relaxed setting and The Patio handles casual poolside dining. The standout is the partnership with chef Thomas Keller, whose The Grill by Thomas Keller brings a genuine fine-dining pedigree to the larger ships, included in the fare.
Premium wines, spirits, and Champagne flow throughout at no charge, and the caviar-in-the-surf moments and in-suite dining reflect the brand’s reputation for indulgent, personal touches. The quality sits comfortably at the top of the luxury tier.
Entertainment & Activities
Seabourn’s entertainment is intimate and refined, as the small-ship luxury format requires. Expect live music, small-scale performance, and elegant, sociable lounges rather than production shows, fitting the yacht-like feel.
A signature is the line’s collaboration with Sir Tim Rice on original musical productions, which punch above the ship’s size, alongside guest speakers through the partnership with enrichment programs. On the expedition ships, the experience is the expedition: Zodiac landings, submarine dives on some voyages, and expert-led exploration.
Onboard days revolve around the spa, the pool, fine dining, and the destination, with signature moments like the Caviar in the Surf beach event. The pace is unhurried and the atmosphere personal throughout.
Cabins & Accommodations
Seabourn is all-suite, with accommodation that feels generous and residential given the intimate scale of the ships.
Entry-level suites are spacious and elegant, most with a private veranda, a separate sitting area, and a walk-in closet. Because fares are all-inclusive, pricing is voyage-led, with premium drinks, gratuities, and most dining all part of the number.
Higher categories scale up through Penthouse, Owner’s, Signature, and Wintergarden Suites, the latter genuinely lavish with multiple rooms and expansive verandas. The suite spectrum is broad, and even the smaller categories feel private and calm.
On the expedition ships the suites are comfortable and well-appointed, with the design sensibly balancing luxury against the ruggedness the polar and remote itineraries demand.
Destinations & Itineraries
Seabourn’s two fleets give it broad reach. The classic ships sail the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Asia, the Americas, and ambitious world cruises, favoring intimate ports their small size can access. The expedition ships reach Antarctica, the Arctic, and remote coastlines.
The small classic ships are a real advantage for boutique ports and yacht-harbor calls the larger luxury ships cannot make, which suits the brand’s intimate, exclusive feel. The expedition voyages extend that intimacy to genuine wilderness.
Seabourn favors characterful, often less-visited destinations. You can build your Seabourn itinerary by region, and for expedition departures from polar gateways especially, see where to stay before or after your cruise to bookend the journey comfortably.
Pricing & Value
A Seabourn voyage starts around $4,999 per person, an all-inclusive luxury fare that should be read against everything it covers rather than against a standard cruise price.
Included in the fare: an all-suite cabin, premium wines, spirits and Champagne, gratuities, most dining including The Grill by Thomas Keller on the larger ships, and in-suite dining. The onboard spending that defines mainstream cruising is absent.
When drinks, tips, specialty dining, and the level of service are accounted for, the all-inclusive fare is more competitive than it first appears, though it remains a true luxury price. Expedition voyages cost more, reflecting the Zodiacs, submarines on some sailings, and expert teams. Watch the current Seabourn deals for included-airfare and reduced-fare offers.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Intimate, yacht-like ships with exceptional personal service
- Genuinely all-inclusive: premium drinks, tips, and most dining
- The Grill by Thomas Keller included on larger ships
- Capable expedition fleet with Zodiacs and submarines on some voyages
- Reaches boutique ports the larger luxury ships cannot
- Signature indulgent touches like Caviar in the Surf
- Calm, exclusive, sociable atmosphere
Cons
- True luxury fares that price out most travelers
- Nothing for families or children
- Small ships offer limited onboard variety
- Restrained entertainment and no nightlife
- Expedition voyages carry a notable premium
The Verdict
Seabourn delivers the most intimate experience among the major luxury lines, and for many travelers that intimacy is exactly the point. The yacht-like ships, the anticipatory service, and the all-inclusive ease combine into something that feels genuinely personal. The addition of a capable expedition fleet, complete with submarines on some voyages, extends that refinement into true wilderness.
Book Seabourn if you want small-ship, yacht-like luxury with impeccable service and all-inclusive ease, with the option of refined expedition travel. Skip it if you are traveling with children, want a larger or livelier ship, or are price-sensitive. In those cases a premium line is the better fit.
Rating: 4.8 out of 5. The most intimate luxury experience at sea, with service that sets the standard.
Ready to look at real voyages? See this week’s Seabourn deals or compare Seabourn against another line before you book.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Seabourn all-inclusive?
Yes. The fare covers an all-suite cabin, premium wines, spirits and Champagne, gratuities, and most dining, including The Grill by Thomas Keller on the larger ships, plus in-suite dining. Only a few premium experiences and optional excursions cost extra, so onboard spending is minimal.
How big are Seabourn ships?
Small, which is the point. The classic ships carry around 450 to 600 guests, intimate even by luxury standards, creating a yacht-like feel. The expedition ships are smaller still, around 264 guests, purpose-built for Antarctica, the Arctic, and remote coastlines.
Does Seabourn offer expedition cruises?
Yes. Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit are purpose-built expedition ships with ice-strengthened hulls, Zodiac fleets, and even submarines on some voyages, plus expert expedition teams. They bring Seabourn’s luxury service standard to genuine wilderness travel in the polar regions and beyond.
What is The Grill by Thomas Keller?
It is a fine-dining restaurant aboard Seabourn’s larger ships, created in partnership with acclaimed chef Thomas Keller. It serves classic American grill cuisine with a genuine fine-dining pedigree and is included in the all-inclusive fare, no surcharge required.
Is Seabourn better than Silversea?
Both are excellent and closely matched. Seabourn’s ships are generally smaller and more intimate, prized for their yacht-like feel and anticipatory service. Silversea offers a wider fleet and, some feel, more dining variety on its larger ships. Both run capable expedition fleets. The choice comes down to intimacy versus variety.
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