For 2012, the prestigious Hospitality Academy has invited Seabourn Cruise Line into the rarified ranks of its Six Star Diamond honorees, comprising a roster of the world’s finest hotels, resorts, spas, luxury transportation providers and others who cater to the most discerning clientele around the world.
“Seabourn’s dedication to excellence in service, cuisine and its unique ability to provide travelers with authentic experiences in ports of call made it a standout among our original Five Star Diamond honorees,” said AAHS president Joseph Cinque. ”Then the company introduced three new luxury vessels that quite simply reset the bar for what luxury cruise guests can expect, and that made them a natural choice to be among our first Six Star award-winners.”
The Star Diamond award is the latest in a continuing series of accolades Seabourn has recently garnered. For the second year in a row, Seabourn’s fleet dominated Condé Nast Traveler’s prestigious 2012 list of the world’s 100 best cruise ships, occupying five of the top seven spots. The readers of Travel + Leisure voted Seabourn the World’s Best Small-Ship Cruise Line for the third consecutive year in the magazine’s 2011 survey published in its August issue. It is the fifth time the line has won the award in six years. This year, Seabourn achieved the highest score awarded to any cruise line, regardless of ship-size category. In addition, the Berlitz Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships rated Seabourn’s entire six-ship fleet among its ten highest-rated ships in the world. The editors of Cruise Critic’s authoritative website singled out Seabourn Odyssey, Seabourn Sojourn and Seabourn Quest as the “Best for Luxury,” Seabourn Sojourn and Seabourn Quest were also cited as the “Best for Spa-Lovers, ” and Cruise Critic’s U.K.-based sister site selected Seabourn as the “Best of Luxury” for the second consecutive year. Porthole magazine announced that its readers had named Seabourn Best Luxury Line, and Seabourn Quest as the Best Small Ship in its 13th Annual Readers’ Choice Awards, and had also cited the fleet for offering the Best Accommodations afloat.
After a year of planning, Crystal Cruises has now officially begun its transition to an all-quality “All Inclusive.” Launched with the start of Crystal Symphony’s Miami to Lisbon Trans-Atlantic cruise today, guests can now enjoy a generous and impressive selection of complimentary fine wines and premium spirits throughout the ship, as well as open bar service in all lounges, and pre-paid gratuities for all housekeeping, butler, bar and dining staff. Crystal Serenity follows suit with her spring Trans-Atlantic sailing on May 8.
This summer, Regent Seven Seas Cruises kicks off its 20th anniversary season with the debut of Sette Mari at La Veranda. Translated from the Italian “Seven Seas,” the new restaurant will offer a casual dining experience that broadens the all-inclusive, luxury line’s diverse gourmet dining options.
The personalized, 24/7 luxury service, available for purchase internationally by all Crystal cruisers, utilizes worldwide, “on-the-ground” airport resources to facilitate a hassle-free airport experience for guests traveling to and from their Crystal ship. Travelers might feel like a rock star with customized, luxury services that may include:
The ship also ranked in the top ten in six other areas:
Seabourn Cruise Line has announced an alliance with Colorado-based Black River Caviar that will provide its discerning guests with top quality ossetra sturgeon caviar produced by a sustainable “wild farming” method in South America.
With almost a dozen dining choices on each ship, Crystal Cruises’ most popular daytime gathering spot, The Bistro, is expanding to evening hours. Reflecting the space’s European-style sidewalk café ambiance, the complimentary menu will offer “small bites,” desserts, and “midnight” snacks, along with premium wines and flavored coffees. The new nightly café debuts in April on Crystal Symphony and June on Crystal Serenity, shortly after the ships go all-inclusive.
