Update Archive

SEATTLE, April 14, 2020 – Seabourn, the world’s finest ultra-luxury travel experience, announced today that it will extend the voluntarily pause of global operations for its five cruise ships to voyages scheduled to depart through June 30, 2020.

The brand had previously announced a pause in its global ship operations from March 14 - May 14, 2020, effectively cancelling all voyages scheduled to operate during that timeframe. The decision is a proactive response to the unpredictable circumstances evolving from the global response to the COVID-19 situation.
  
Seabourn will be communicating changes for voyages scheduled to depart in the extension window with all booked guests and their travel advisors.

Seabourn guests on impacted voyages will receive a 125% refund on monies received in the form of a future cruise credit, which must be booked by Dec. 30, 2020 but can be applied toward any future cruise through December 31, 2021. For guests who do not opt to choose the 125% future cruise credit, a 100% refund of the monies paid to Seabourn will be reimbursed to the original form of payment.

Guests and their travel advisors will be sent details on how to manage cancellations and desired compensation online. Seabourn asks guests and travel advisors to use the online resources available first rather than calling the Reservation Call Center for information about the cancellations due to the possibility of high call volumes and the potential of long on-hold wait times.   

SEATTLE, March 30, 2020 – Seabourn, the world’s finest ultra-luxury travel experience, announced today that it will extend the voluntarily pause of global operations for its five cruise ships for an additional 30 days. The 30-day extension includes sailings scheduled to depart through May 14, 2020.

The brand had announced an initial 30-day pause in global operations, which took effect on March 14, 2020. The decision is a proactive response to the unpredictable circumstances evolving from the global spread of COVID-19. 

Seabourn will be communicating changes to voyages scheduled to depart in the extension window with all booked guests and their travel advisors. 

Seabourn guests on impacted voyages will receive a 125% refund of the fare paid in the form of a future cruise credit, which can be applied toward any future cruise through December 31, 2021. For guests who do not opt to choose the 125% future cruise credit, a 100% refund of the monies paid to Seabourn will be reimbursed to the original form of payment.

Guests and their travel advisors will be sent communications on how to manage cancellations and desired compensation online. Seabourn asks guests not to call the Reservation Call Center for information about the cancellations due to the possibility of high call volumes and the potential of long on-hold wait times.   

SEATTLE, March 13, 2020 – Seabourn, the world’s finest ultra-luxury travel experience, announced that it will voluntarily pause global operations of its five cruise ships for 30 days, starting March 14. The decision is a voluntary response to the unpredictable circumstances evolving from the global spread of COVID-19 and in an abundance of caution.

“In this unprecedented situation, we feel a pause is necessary,” said Rick Meadows, president of Seabourn. “Through this action, it is our absolute intention to convey to our guests and the travel advisor community that we have the health and safety of all who travel with us as a top priority. Our pause should also reassure the hundreds of destinations we visit each year that we want to be responsible in our operations as we bring travelers into their communities each time we visit.” 

Current voyages that are underway will end by March 22. Seabourn will be communicating these changes with all booked guests and their travel advisors.

Seabourn guests on impacted voyages will receive a 125% refund of the fare paid in the form of a future cruise credit, which can be applied toward any future cruise through December 31, 2021. For guests who do not opt to choose the 125% future cruise credit, a 100% refund of the fare paid will be reimbursed to the original form of payment.

Seabourn asks guests not to call the Reservation Call Center due to the possibility of high call volumes and the potential of long on-hold wait times. Guests and their travel advisors will be sent communications on how to manage cancellations and desired compensation. Information and instructions for requesting a refund will be available online at Seabourn.com.

Seabourn Cruise Line has cancelled these upcoming voyages:

• Seabourn Ovation, which was scheduled to depart Dubai on April 5, 2020 for a 20-day voyage ending in Piraeus (Athens), Greece on April 25, 2020.
• Seabourn Encore, which was scheduled to depart Dubai on May 5, 2020 for an 18-day voyage ending in Piraeus (Athens), Greece on May 23, 2020.
  
  

The decision comes out of an abundance of caution considering the highly dynamic and unpredictable changes we have seen recently in travel restrictions and port operations that could affect the cruise. While we expect things will stabilize, we never want to put our guests in the position of having an experience that doesn’t live up to their expectations.

Guests who were booked on this voyage will receive a refund of the fare paid for their voyage, as well as any prepaid purchases made through Seabourn including flights, pre- and post-cruise hotel packages, and shore excursions. Because the cruise was cancelled close to the departure date, guests will also receive a future cruise credit. Guests and travel advisors are being notified.

We continue to assess the situation and will provide a further update on future voyages as we have more information.

For more information, visit the Seabourn website. Guests who have questions should contact their travel advisor or the appropriate Seabourn Office in their market.

Seabourn Cruise Line has cancelled these upcoming voyages:

• Seabourn Ovation, which was scheduled to depart Colombo, Sri Lanka on March 14, 2020 for a 23-day cruise ending in Dubai on April 5, 2020.
• Seabourn Encore, which was scheduled to depart Colombo, Sri Lanka on April 17, 2020 for a 19-day cruise ending in Dubai on May 5, 2020

The decision comes out of an abundance of caution considering the highly dynamic and unpredictable changes we have seen recently in travel restrictions and port operations that could affect the cruise. While we expect things will stabilize, we never want to put our guests in the position of a having an experience that doesn’t live up to their expectations.    

Guests who were booked on this voyage will receive a refund of the fare paid for their voyage, as well as any prepaid purchases made through Seabourn including flights, pre- and post-cruise hotel packages, and shore excursions. Because the cruise was cancelled close to the departure date, guests will also receive a future cruise credit. Guests and travel advisors are being notified.
  
We continue to assess the situation and will provide a further update on future voyages as we have more information.

Guests who have questions should contact their travel advisor or the appropriate Seabourn Office in their market.

Due to the unpredictable changes we have seen the past few weeks in travel restrictions and port operations throughout Asia, Seabourn Cruise Line has replaced the Southeast Asia port calls for Seabourn Encore through April 2020.

Specific changes to the turnaround ports on the affected Seabourn Encore voyages include:

Port calls from March 23 – May 2 are also affected, with some destinations changed and others rescheduled to alternate dates.

Guests who are booked on affected voyages will receive a future cruise credit. Both booked guests and travel advisors are being notified along with specific details related to their itinerary.
  
Guests who have questions should contact their travel advisor or the appropriate Seabourn Office in their market.

Due to the unpredictable changes we have seen the past few weeks in travel restrictions and port operations throughout Asia, Seabourn Cruise Line has replaced all Southeast Asia port calls for Seabourn Ovation sailings through April 2020.

The ship’s next scheduled embarkation, originally planned for March 14, 2020 in Singapore, will now take place in Colombo, Sri Lanka on the same date.

Port calls from March 15 – April 3 are also affected, with some destinations changed and others rescheduled to alternate dates.

Guests who are booked on affected voyages will receive a future cruise credit. Both booked guests and travel advisors are being notified along with specific details related to their itinerary.

Guests who have questions should contact their travel advisor or the appropriate Seabourn Office in their market.

Due to the unpredictable changes we have seen the past few weeks in travel restrictions and port operations throughout Asia, Seabourn Cruise Line has replaced the Asia port calls on its World Cruise 2020 aboard Seabourn Sojourn with calls in Australia and New Zealand.

Specific changes to the turnaround ports on the affected Seabourn Sojourn voyages include:

Port calls from March 11 – April 30 are also affected, with some destinations changed and others rescheduled to alternate dates.

Details of the revised itineraries are being communicated to guests and travel advisors. Guests who are booked on affected voyages will receive a future cruise credit. Both booked guests and travel advisors are being notified along with specific details related to their itinerary.
  
Guests who have questions should contact their travel advisor or the appropriate Seabourn Office in their market.

For guests booked on Seabourn Ovation in Asia, in light of new restrictions throughout the region on travelers coming from Hong Kong, disembarkation on Saturday, February 29 (departed on February 15) will now take place in Singapore rather than Hong Kong. Guests who have purchased their air through Seabourn’s Flight Ease will have their return flights rebooked to depart from Singapore rather than Hong Kong at our expense. Guests with independent travel arrangements should rebook their air to depart from Singapore’s Changi Airport no earlier than 12:30 PM on Saturday, February 29. Guests arriving for the February 29, 2020 voyage aboard Seabourn Ovation should also rebook their travel to depart from Singapore rather than Hong Kong. Please be sure your inbound flights do not route though any city in mainland China, Macau or Hong Kong.

All sailings aboard Ovation in Asia from the February 15 departure through March 14 will not visit China, including Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau. Itinerary revisions and related policies for these cruises, where necessary, will be communicated to guests and their travel advisors. Similar policies as noted above will apply for guests with Flight Ease, independent air and Seabourn pre- and post-cruise hotel arrangements. 

Most airlines and hotels are allowing guests to change travel plans involving China with no penalty, but should you incur expenses related to adjusting your travel plans we recommend you retain your receipts to support a claim with your travel insurance.

For guests who sail and are required to modify their flights as a result of a change to embark/debark port we will cover up to $250 per person in airline change fees for carriers who are charging fees. This excludes fare differences. Proof should be sent to the following address and compensation will be issued in the form of an onboard credit.

Seabourn
Attn:  Guest Relations
450 Third Avenue West
Seattle, WA 98119
Fax:  (206) 501 2901
Email:  guestrelations@seabourn.com

If there are any additional itinerary changes required to Ovation itineraries in Asia they will be communicated to booked guests and their travel advisors as soon as they are finalized.

We know our guests have questions and concerns around Coronavirus and travel. To ensure you have the latest information, this page will be updated as need with new details.

Most airlines and hotels are allowing guests to change travel plans involving China with no penalty, but should you incur expenses related to adjusting your travel plans we recommend you retain your receipts to support a claim with your travel insurance.

The following is an outline of updates and advisories issued for past voyages.
Health Travel Advisory – Past Voyages