approximately how many kayaks available on Quest?

I have just seen that a number of trips have been offered from the Drop down Marina on the Route of the Vikings cruise, but am a bit reluctant to book ahead, mainly because I think the weather might cause a few to be cancelled....but at the same time, if there is only a limited number of Kayaks available, I would hate to miss out. ( wow..that was a long sentence.) Does anyone have a rough idea of how many Kayaks are available? I imagine they were there for Antarctica cruises.

I don't remember seeing more than 2 kayaks on marina days. Our last time was in the Philippines.

Do you really expect marina days with plastic kayaks during Antarctica cruises?

Happy sailing!

No Kayaks in antartica on debut

The marina was the main deck for tender debark/embark

And Flashharriet is going on the Route of the Vikings -- not Antarctica.

Does anyone have a rough idea of how many Kayaks are available? I imagine they were there for Antarctica cruises.

She was the one who asked about Antartica

I assumed that because Seabourn was offering Kayaking and Zodiac trips from the Marina on the Route of the Vikings trip, the equipment was all there from the Antarctic trip. I know from experience that on many Antarctic cruises, Kayaking is offered, so made the assumption that Seabourn did too. And since the Vikings cruise is full of the Expedition leaders that Seabourn used for Antarctica, I also assumed that they would have led Kayaking tours down there too. So..it seems assumptions are, as usual, there to make an A$$ out of U and Me! Guess I will wait till on board and see what equipment they have.

Thank you for your input.

Well I think it is pretty exciting that you will have the Antarctica expedition crew on board!

Well I think it is pretty exciting that you will have the Antarctica expedition crew on board!

Yes. We also have people from the Museum of Gibraltar for some bizarre reason, but lots of history specialists too. Should be most interesting, as long as the weather isnt too bad, and we can actually disembark.....

I can't imagine Seabourn allowing Kayaks on Route of the Vikings, as they are reluctant to deploy them even in the Med.

I assume Seabourn are concerned with the legal ramifications

With 150 plus days sailed on Seabourn I have managed only ONE Marina day with a short kayak trip close to the ship, (in Corsica) when I paddled near the bow I was called back.

In Antarctica last December I stripped down to my Speedo's for a photo shoot onshore at Neko Harbour, (after asking permission). The Expedition Team guys were freaking out that I was going to swim (I am not that silly, even though I swim year round in the sea in Melbourne) they had a Zodiac stationed just offshore and Jon Fonseca was standing close enough to stop me if I tried.

I did put my bare feet in the water, it took 24 hours to get the feeling back ! ;)

I was surprised to read it but very pleased. They mention dry suits, and also the fact that kayakers will be shadowed by the zodiac...maybe it's a try out for Antarctica next year. I expect that we will have to sign massive disclaimers...but fjord paddling in calm seas is pretty safe. We were going to see if we could hire them locally anyway, but if the equipment is decent, we will stick with the Seabourn option.

we did that trip in 2013 no marina days. we had a couple of excursions cut short or cancelled because of fog etc. Nice way to see the Northern lights.

Just read this in an email I subscribe to:

Seabourn Launches Excursion Program Using Fold-Out Marinas

on 12 May 2015.

Seabourn is launching Ventures by Seabourn, a new series of Zodiac and kayak shore excursions.

The program will begin this summer on three Northern Europe voyages aboard the Seabourn Quest, and will feature excursions launching directly from the ship's fold-out watersports marina.

"We are always looking for ways to enhance the cruise experience by getting guests up close to the natural and cultural wonders at Seabourn destinations around the globe," shares John Delaney, senior vice president of marketing and sales. "Combined with our onboard enrichment program that is filled with local, cultural content, Ventures by Seabourn will deliver extensive, authentic destination experiences that our guests are seeking."

Tour leaders include: Dr. Colleen Batey, a senior lecturer in archaeology at the University of Glasgow, Scotland, who has traveled extensively through Scandinavia and its surrounding areas; Kara Weller, whose research ranges from whales in the Bering Sea to mouflan sheep in Eastern Europe, and has traveled over 130 times to Antarctica; Luciano Bernacchi, whose travels to many destinations and wilderness areas around the world have led to a wealth of experience in adventure travel and ecotourism; Matt J. Dolan, who kayaked the entire Inside Passage from Seattle to Muir Glacier in Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska - a journey that encompassed more than 1,300 miles and a feat that few have accomplished; Robin West, Seabourn's Manager of Expedition Operations & Planning, who led the line's first two Antarctica programs and has tremendous experience in the operations of the expedition business.

Available in select ports, Ventures by Seabourn will lead guests through picturesque waterways and fjords, secluded inlets and to scenic islands via sturdy, stable Zodiac inflatable boats or paddling in double sea kayaks launched from the unique fold-out water sports marina onboard all Seabourn vessels. Seabourn plans to expand Ventures by Seabourn fleetwide over time, including adding kayaking tours to the Antarctica sailings.

The first wave of Ventures by Seabourn will be offered on three Seabourn Quest voyages through the summer of 2015, including:

• 14-Day Majestic Fjords and North Cape - Two voyages departing June 13 and July 11 from Copenhagen, Denmark. Ventures by Seabourn will offer sea-level exploration and shore excursions at several destinations including the fjord landscapes of the Lyse area around Stavanger by Zodiac; the Lofoten Islands by Zodiac; Nordfjord of Olden, Norway, by kayak; a zodiac tour of the Storstappen Islands and Nordkapp and a hike to Nordkapp, and more.

• 24-Day Route of the Vikings - Departing August 8 from Copenhagen, Denmark, and traveling to Scotland, Iceland, Greenland, Newfoundland and Quebec, Canada, en route to Montreal. Ventures by Seabourn will offer excursions at several destinations along the way, including a Zodiac exploration of Ísafjörður, Iceland; a kayak experience to icebergs and shore birds in and around Qaqortoq, Greenland; a naturalist-led Zodiac exploration of icebergs, plants and wrecks amid the islands surrounding Paamiut, Greenland; and more.

And this was in another email:

The "Ventures by Seabourn" program is set to debut this summer on a trio of Northern Europe voyages aboard the Seabourn Quest.

The optional excursions will launch from the ship's fold-out marina and will be guided by experienced expedition teams comprised of scientists, scholars and naturalists. During the excursions, guests will pass through various waterways and have access to rare sights aboard inflatable Zodiac boats and paddle-equipped kayaks.

"We are always looking for ways to enhance the cruise experience by getting guests up close to the natural and cultural wonders at Seabourn destinations around the globe," said Seabourn's senior vice president of marketing and sales John Delaney in a statement.

"Combined with our onboard enrichment program that is filled with local, cultural content, Ventures by Seabourn will deliver extensive, authentic destination experiences that our guests are seeking," added Delaney.

Dr. Colleen Batey, Kara Weller, Luciano Bernacchi, Matt J. Dolan and Robin West are among the tour leaders who will feature on the upcoming Seabourn ventures.

The excursions will be available on two 14-Day Majestic Fjords and North Cape cruises departing on June 13 and July 11 as well as a 24-Day Route of the Vikings voyage, which is scheduled to depart on Aug. 8.

All three cruises will depart from Copenhagen, Denmark.

The cruise line said it plans to expand the Ventures by Seabourn program fleetwide over time, and will look to add kayaking tours to select Antarctica sailings.

I can't imagine Seabourn allowing Kayaks on Route of the Vikings, as they are reluctant to deploy them even in the Med.

I stand corrected, I also received the notifications that "Needleinahaystack" posted above, this is a great innovation by Seabourn.

More info here:-

http://www.seabourn.com/pageByName/Simple.action?requestPage=Ventures&WT.ac=pnav_Ventures

On the July 11 Quest cruise Copenhagen to North Cape return,

online tours list:-

Flam: 3 hour Kayak tour at $149 ( Zodiac 1.75 hr $199)

Svolvaer: Kayak 2 hrs $145, Zodiac 4 hr $299.

Olden: Kayak 2.5 hr $149, Zodiac 1.75 hr $169

Scavenger: Zodiac private tour 3.5 hr $2499 (up to 14 pax ) eg $178.50 each for 14.

So it looks as if we will pay plenty for a paddle ( Drysuits, Guide and accompanying Zodiac included) :)

Its interesting, but the conditions under which they can use the marina seem to be rarer than hens teeth sometimes. I wonder how well a category of tour will do with a probably very high cancellation rate.

Thank you for posting the contents of the email...it would seem that there will be proper sea kayaks..just a shame they are doubles..my husband and I call them the "divorce boats". If they can get the Marina down, then I think it should be fun, none the less.

More info here:-

http://www.seabourn.com/pageByName/Simple.action?requestPage=Ventures&WT.ac=pnav_Ventures

On the July 11 Quest cruise Copenhagen to North Cape return,

online tours list:-

Flam: 3 hour Kayak tour at $149 ( Zodiac 1.75 hr $199)

Svolvaer: Kayak 2 hrs $145, Zodiac 4 hr $299.

Olden: Kayak 2.5 hr $149, Zodiac 1.75 hr $169

Scavenger: Zodiac private tour 3.5 hr $2499 (up to 14 pax ) eg $178.50 each for 14.

So it looks as if we will pay plenty for a paddle ( Drysuits, Guide and accompanying Zodiac included) :)

If you get the chance, I would love to hear how it went since you are on the cruise immediately before ours.

If you get the chance, I would love to hear how it went since you are on the cruise immediately before ours.

I will try and post details if I can.

We tried to book for yours but were too late (in Jan) so booked Dover to Boston for 2016. :)

We just got back from a three week cruise on the Quest. As I remember I only saw two kayaks and four Zodiacs. I would imagine there would be at least two more kayaks but I'm really guessing on that. If anyone is going on the "Majestic Fjords & North Cape" cruise I would say to definitely book the "Ventures by Seabourn: Extensive Fjord Exploration." Unfortunately this Zodiac excursion was booked and I missed out. They used the four Zodiacs and you are lucky to watch the Quest enter the Trollfjord, do a 360 turn, and then watch the Quest exit the fjord. On top of that, this fjord has got to be one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. At the cost of $299 per person, it is a bit pricey but, in my opinion, a once in a lifetime experience and definitely worth the price.