NEW: Seabourn's Signature Service Desk

[blackbird71]

Seabourn's Signature Service Desk Knows More Than You Do.

About Le Lavandou. And Florence. And Bangkok, Muscat and Lima.

 

MIAMI, April 3

Puzzled about Portofino? Curious about Callao? Seabourn Cruise Line

has come up with a solution for its yachting guests who want to plan a

picture-perfect day in any of its far-flung, and sometimes unfamiliar,

ports of call. Seabourn's Signature Service Desk uses privileged,

up-to-date local knowledge and assistance to create customized

shoreside experiences tailored to the guests' individual tastes. There

is no charge for this concierge service -- like the rest of Seabourn's

award-winning service -- it's all included in the fare.

 

Whether a guest dreams of a massage and steam bath in an exotic

Turkish hammam, a visit to a factory in Stockholm that manufactures

the same sort of widgets the guest does at home, or a private tasting

at a tiny boutique winery in the Provencal countryside, Seabourn's

Signature Service Desk can help transform any port call into a

uniquely personal, perfect day.

 

"Travelers who book a Seabourn vacation do so largely because of where

we go and the style in which we take them there," noted the line's

president and CEO, Pamela C. Conover. "They expect fascinating places

and they value highly personalized service," she continued. "Our

Signature concierge staff is an evolution of that promise, ensuring

that we meet or exceed their expectations on both counts."

 

Special-interest arrangements might also include a tour of Berlin for

classic-car lovers, a chance to operate a virtual full-size cargo ship

on an innovative computer simulator, or a fantastic super-cold

freezing treatment in a Finnish spa, where participants experience

therapeutic temperatures of minus 166 degrees Fahrenheit.

 

For those who would like a custom experience but aren't sure what

they'd prefer, the staff has a vast menu of special-interest concepts

from which undecided travelers may choose, including Signature Series

tours, which have long been the gold standard for shore excursions,

and "Insider Tips" provided by editors of Conde Nast Traveler

magazine.

 

Signature Service Desks on board each of the line's three intimate,

all- suite ships are manned by a tour staff capable of creating a wide

range of custom arrangements in ports along the way. However, guests

can create more elaborate plans and finalize costs and details long

before they embark on the ship. Seabourn guests or their travel agents

can call toll-free at 1-800-929- 9391 and ask for the Signature

Service Desk to start the process. Once the guests have voiced their

wishes, the Seabourn's staff will do the research and report back on

availability and costs for the various adventures. Finalized

arrangements are paid in advance.

 

Back on board, guests on the line's 208-guest Seabourn Pride, Spirit

and Legend enjoy a continuing series of thoughtful enhancements to

shipboard and shoreside services that add luxury and value. These

"Signature Delights" include Exclusively Seabourn complimentary

shoreside experiences in selected ports of call; free Massage Moments

on deck; complimentary service of spirits and wines including French

champagne throughout the cruise, gourmet cuisine created by celebrity

chef Charlie Palmer, and indulgent Pure Pampering therapeutic bathing

selections from Molton Brown.

 

Seabourn is the highest-rated cruise line for two consecutive years in

Travel + Leisure's World's Best Awards, and has been honored in every

annual edition of Conde Nast Traveler's Gold List and voted the top

luxury cruise line by readers of Departures, published exclusively for

American Express Platinum and Centurion Card members.

 

The Yachts of Seabourn sail cruises of seven to 18 days or longer on

itineraries worldwide. With Early Booking Savings of up to 40 percent,

fares start from $2,757 per person, based on double occupancy. For

information, contact a travel agent.

 

The Yachts of Seabourn is a proud member of World's Leading Cruise

Lines. Our exclusive alliance also includes Carnival Cruise Lines,

Holland America, Princess Cruises, Cunard Line, and Costa Cruises.

Sharing a passion to please each guest, and a commitment to quality

and value, our member lines appeal to a wide range of lifestyles and

budgets. Together we offer exciting and enriching cruise vacations to

the world's most desirable destinations. The Yachts of Seabourn is a

brand of Carnival Corporation and plc (NYSE; LSE: CCL and NYSE: CUK),

and supports the Ocean Conservation & Tourism Alliance, dedicated to

education and promotion of best practices for protecting the marine

environment.

 

Sounds like a good addition:)

[SantaAna,CA]

After this Spa "experience"...are you put back aboard the ship as that evening's decorative ice sculpture?

 

Jane :p

 

Thanks BB!!

[blackbird71]

as long as they do not come around with knifes to do ice carving. :eek:

 

I do not know about the Paul G. but normally RSSC has a Concierge Desk on their ships to handle special requests for tours and things. Divers and shoppers find this service helpful.

[Lanie]

Quote: "with Early Booking Savings of up to 40 percent,..."

 

Can someone tell me how early must your booking be to qualify for "Early Booking Savings"? We just booked a July 19th cruise on the Spirit, and our TA did not offer us a discount.

 

Thanks in advance for your comments.

 

:)

[LaPaloma]

If you watch Seabourn.com...you can get the savings. If you are a past psgr..you hit..club savings.

[Lanie]

This is our first cruise with Seabourn. :rolleyes:

[JDRMYS]

I don't really understand why this is supposed to be a change. For years we have used the wonderful shore excursion staffs on Seabourn and Regent Seven Seas to arrange special excursions for us. The staffs have always been extremely accomodating and have made extraordinary arrangements for us. We have paid for the services that the on board staff arranged, but we were never charged for the the services of the ship's staff.

 

An example: Last June we were on the Pride's North Cape Cruise. We were travelling with an older lady friend of ours. When we were in Bergen, our friend wanted to visit a house museum on a fairly remote island (accessible only by ferry) that had been the summer home of her great aunt whose husband had been a famous musician (and idol, almost like a rock star today) 100 years ago. Because of the timing, the ferry schedules and getting in touch with the staff at the museum, it was somewhat complicated to set this up. Our friend had tried to make this visit more than 30 years ago, but had missed the last ferry and had had to leave Bergen the next day.

 

The wonderful people in the Pride's shore excursion office worked very hard and set up a magnificent day. Our friend was treated like a queen and was very happy. All museum and ferry fees were waved. We we not even allowed to pay for anything that we wanted to buy in the museum shop. We were given a wonderful private tour of the property before several school groups were allowed to come over.

 

How could Seabourn do any better than they are already doing?

[blackbird71]

 

How could Seabourn do any better than they are already doing?

 

IMHO, there are some old/new Seabourn sailors that do not know this can be done and for that reason Seabourn is spotlighting this feature.

[JaneBP]

This is our first cruise with Seabourn. :rolleyes:

 

Welcoome to Seabourn! Once you have sailed on Seabourn, you are a member of 'The Club' and are eligible for increased savings on many cruises.

 

The 'Onboard Booking Savings', is a 5% reduction if booked while sailing. Many of us just put down a deposit ($1000.00 for me un the US) to be used for a 'future booking' and get the same 5% discount. I usually can't decide, there are always so many places I want to sail. Also, booking onboard does not negate your TA's work, and they are still part of the planning. I figure that 5% is a better return than the money market!

 

Here's to smooth seas and limitless champagne!

[Lanie]

Thanks, JaneBP, for the information and the welcome. After reading many posts by past cruisers on Seabourn, I feel confident we will enjoy our voyage.:p

[blackbird71]

Welcoome to Seabourn! Many of us just put down a deposit ($1000.00 for me un the US) to be used for a 'future booking' and get the same 5% discount. I usually can't decide, there are always so many places I want to sail.

 

BB thinks he made a mistake on his Legend cruise. I did not know I could have put down a deposit for a "future booking". With my eyes on my New Zealand cruise, I did not know when I would be booking again on Seabourn. But I do know I will be back.....

[blackbird71]

Seabourn press release

 

SEABOURN ∏CUSTOM SHORE EXPERIENCES‚ FOR EUROPE 2007

 

Concierge Helps Guests Customize Experiences to Personalize Port Calls

 

MIAMI, May 7, 2007----The Yachts of Seabourn has designed more than 60

Custom Shore Experiences to help guests plan personalized activities

in ports of call throughout Europe for summer 2007.

 

Seabourn‚s Custom Shore Experiences are arranged through the line‚s

Signature Service Desk, personal tour planners available to help

booked guests plan picture-perfect, special-interest experiences. In

most cases, these private tours are offered in sedans with a driver

for a maximum of two guests, or in vans that seat up to six. Examples

include:

 

 Learn the art of creating personalized scents from Lorenzo

Villoresi, a master who crafts custom blends for private clients in

his 15th century Florentine palazzo.

 

 Visit a Russian family in their summer dacha outside St. Petersburg,

to chat over tea and experience the tranquil, pastoral lifestyle that

Dr. Zhivago fondly recalled.

 

 Get moving on Mallorca, with an exhilarating half-day of hiking,

kayaking or mountain biking in the island‚s rugged back country, with

an expert guide.

 

 Car buffs will marvel at Berlin‚s Meilenwerk complex of vintage

repair shops, exhibits, car clubs and shops, and visit the spectacular

Mercedes Benz World.

 

 Enjoy a breathtaking ride between rugged peaks and the blue bay from

Cetinje to Kotor, Montenegro, among the world‚s most scenic highways.

 

 Ferry from Aalesund, Norway to the workshop of an award-winning

sculptural furniture maker, then marvel at an exhibition of fine wood

furniture at Sykkilven.

 

In addition to Custom Shore Experiences, the line‚s Signature Service

Desk can arrange pre- and post-cruise stays in some of the world‚s

finest hotels, air transportation, ground transfers and overland

Seabourn Journeys to inland attractions. The Signature Service Desk

can be reached by calling Seabourn at 1-800-929-9391.

 

„These suggested Custom Shore Experiences, while no doubt enticing,

are really just meant to inspire guests to create their own dream

excursions,‰ said Pamela C. Conover, Seabourn‚s president and CEO.

„Our Signature Service Desk is all about helping guests plan exactly

the shoreside experiences they want.‰

 

On board the line‚s 208-guest Seabourn Pride, Spirit and Legend,

guests enjoy a continuing series of thoughtful enhancements to

shipboard and shoreside services that add luxury and value. These

„Signature Delights‰ include Exclusively Seabourn complimentary

shoreside experiences in selected ports of call; free Massage Moments

on deck; complimentary service of spirits and wines including French

champagne throughout the cruise, gourmet cuisine created by celebrity

chef Charlie Palmer, and indulgent Pure Pampering therapeutic bathing

selections from Molton Brown.

 

Seabourn is the highest-rated cruise line for two consecutive years in

Travel + Leisure‚s World‚s Best Awards, and has been honored in every

annual edition of Condé Nast Traveler‚s Gold List and voted the top

luxury cruise line by readers of Departures, published exclusively for

American Express Platinum and Centurion Card members.

 

The Yachts of Seabourn sail cruises of seven to 18 days or longer on

itineraries worldwide. With Early Booking Savings of up to 40 percent,

fares start from $2,757 per person, based on double occupancy. For

information, contact a travel agent.

 

The Yachts of Seabourn is a proud member of World‚s Leading Cruise

Lines. Our exclusive alliance also includes Carnival Cruise Lines,

Holland America, Princess Cruises, Cunard Line, and Costa Cruises.

Sharing a passion to please each guest, and a commitment to quality

and value, our member lines appeal to a wide range of lifestyles and

budgets. Together we offer exciting and enriching cruise vacations to

the world‚s most desirable destinations. The Yachts of Seabourn is a

brand of Carnival Corporation and plc (NYSE; LSE: CCL and NYSE: CUK),

and supports the Ocean Conservation & Tourism Alliance, dedicated to

education and promotion of best practices for protecting the marine

environment.