Seabourn Takes Top Spots in Conde Nast Traveler Cruise Ship Rankings

Seabourn Odyssey Named Best Small Cruise Ship Two Years in a Row

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Feb 06, 2012, 12:20 ET

SEATTLE, Feb. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- For the second year in a row, Seabourn's intimate, luxury cruise ships sailed to the top of Conde Nast Traveler's prestigious list of the world's 100 best cruise ships, based on scores achieved in the magazine's annual Readers' Choice poll. Seabourn's fleet dominated the survey, occupying five of the top seven spots. Once again, Seabourn Odyssey was the highest-rated small cruise ship, with Seabourn Pride coming in second. Seabourn Sojourn ranked fourth, and Seabourn Legend and Seabourn Spirit rounded out the top seven. Seabourn Quest, which debuted to rave reviews in June of 2011, was not included in the poll but is a sister ship to the top rated Odyssey.

"These honors truly belong to Seabourn's hardworking crew," said Seabourn's president, Richard Meadows. "We're extremely proud of them, and we know that these rankings are a direct result of the exceptional way they care for our guests."

The list, published in the magazine's February issue, outlines the scores of each ship in a variety of categories, including service, itineraries, food and dining, activities, design and layout, and more. Seabourn Odyssey, Seabourn Sojourn and Seabourn Legend received the highest scores in three categories: 97.1 for cabins, 98.8 for food/dining and 93.5 for design/layout, respectively.

In 2011, Seabourn completed a three-ship expansion, adding new vessels that garnered rave reviews and acclaim as "game-changers" for the luxury cruise segment. The expansion included the launch of Seabourn Odyssey in June 2009, Seabourn Sojourn in June 2010, and the new Seabourn Quest in June 2011. Each ship carries 450 guests, providing the highest ratio of space per guest in the industry and unmatched levels of personalized service from nearly one staff member per guest. Seabourn's fleet includes the line's original trio of 208-guest ships: Seabourn Pride, Seabourn Spirit and Seabourn Legend.

All six ships offer key elements that set Seabourn apart: spacious, thoughtfully appointed suites, many with verandas; superb dining in a choice of venues; open bars throughout the ship; fine wines poured at lunch and dinner; the aforementioned award-winning service and a relaxed, sociable atmosphere that makes guests feel right at home on board.

Seabourn's six-ship fleet circles the globe throughout the year, sailing to the world's most desirable destinations at their peak seasons. Cruises of seven days to World Cruises of more than 100 days visit hundreds of ports, including marquee cities and lesser-known yachting harbors and hideaways.

For more information on Seabourn's award-winning cruise vacations, contact a travel agent, call Seabourn at 1-800-929-9391 or visit www.seabourn.com.

Notes to Editors:

Seabourn is consistently ranked among the world's top travel choices by professional critics and the discerning readers of prestigious travel publications such as Departures, Travel + Leisure and Conde Nast Traveler. Its stylish, distinctive cruising vacations are renowned for:

Six intimate ships with just 104 or 225 suites
Unique itineraries visiting must-see cities and hidden gems where larger ships cannot follow
Intuitive, gracious service provided by a staff passionate about pleasing our guests
Spacious all-suite accommodations with sweeping ocean views – many with verandas
Gourmet dining experiences as fine as the best restaurants anywhere
Open bars throughout the ship and fine wines poured with lunch and dinner

Seabourn is a proud member of World's Leading Cruise Lines. The exclusive alliance also includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Cunard Line and Costa Cruises. Seabourn is a brand of Carnival Corporation and plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL andNYSE: CUK), and supports the Ocean Conservation & Tourism Alliance, dedicated to education and promotion of best practices for protecting the marine environment.

SOURCE Seabourn