2014 Another Award-Winning Year for Seabourn
Readers' Polls, Critics and Travel Industry Professionals On Board with Top Rankings
Seattle, January 26, 2015 - 2014 continued to be another award-winning and highly-successful year for Seabourn as the ultra-luxury, small ship cruise line was honored again with many prestigious awards and prominent accolades in the travel industry.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>
The well-respected travel trade publication Travel Weekly named Seabourn the "Best Luxury Line" for the fourth year in a row in its 12th annual Readers Choice Awards. Consumer cruise magazine Porthole named Seabourn as "Best Luxury Line" for the sixth consecutive year in its annual readers' poll, while also ranking the cruise line's spacious, ocean-view suites as the "Best Accommodations" at sea, and The Spa at Seabourn as the "Best Spa Facilities." In addition, Seabourn Quest received three Cruisers' Choice Awards from the popular online cruise community Cruise Critic in the small ship category for "Best Overall Ship," "Best Public Rooms" and "Best Value." In the U.K., readers of The Telegraph chose Seabourn as "Best Small Cruise Line," with editors noting that Seabourn has become "synonymous with understated elegance at sea."
"We truly appreciate these publications providing a venue for their readers to endorse travel excellence, and thank those readers for choosing Seabourn as the best cruise experience at sea," said Seabourn President Richard D. Meadows. "These awards honor all the hard-working hospitality professionals that serve our guests on every Seabourn cruise. While the awards are well-deserved feathers in their caps, there is no greater honor for all of us than to see past guests returning to sail with us again. Nothing makes our staff more proud."
The ultra-luxury line also garnered its share of specialized accolades on the qualities of its on board experience. The diverse "Expert Panel" of industry specialists and prominent culinary and travel editors at Saveur recognized Seabourn as the "Best Culinary Cruise Line" for the second year in a row. Readers of the high-profile consumer publication Condé Nast Traveler named the luxurious Spa at Seabourn aboard the intimate, all-suite Seabourn Odyssey as the "Best Spa on a Cruise Ship," while placing the spa facilities on three other Seabourn vessels among the top ten cruise ship spas. Travel Weekly honored Seabourn with Gold Magellan Awards for "Luxury Suite Design" for the new Penthouse Spa Suites, "Luxury Spa Design" for The Spa at Seabourn, "Overall Luxury Ship" for Seabourn Quest, as well as a Silver Magellan Award for "Overall Blog" for Seabourn Blog.
The World Ocean Cruise Liner Society's Ocean & Cruise News pegged Seabourn with a "Best Cruise Value Award" in the very exclusive "Ultra-Deluxe, 6-Star+" category, while AFAR Media, publisher of AFAR travel magazine, named Seabourn as the only cruise line recipient of its inaugural "Experiential Travel Awards," citing the ultra-luxury line for offering the "Best 10-Day Cruise" aboard Seabourn Sojourn from Athens to Monte Carlo.
Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) honored Seabourn with a "Silver Adrian Award" in the category of "Public Relations: Partnership with Major Brand" for the "Seabourn Partners with UNESCO" media campaign.
Each of Seabourn's five intimate ships offer key elements that set the cruise line apart: spacious, thoughtfully appointed suites, many with verandas; superb dining in a choice of venues; complimentary open bars throughout the ship; complimentary fine wines poured at lunch and dinner; award-winning service and a relaxed, sociable atmosphere that makes guests feel right at home on board. The ships travel the globe throughout the year, sailing to many of the world's most desirable destinations, including marquee cities, UNESCO World Heritage Sites and lesser-known ports and hideaways.
For more details about the award-winning Seabourn fleet, or to explore the worldwide selection of Seabourn cruising options, contact a professional travel advisor, call Seabourn at 1-800-929-9391 or visit www.seabourn.com.
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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 Condé Nast Traveler. Its stylish, distinctive cruising vacations are renowned for:
- Five intimate ships with just 104 or 229 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
