Seabourn cruises reviews: is Seabourn a good cruise line?

Seabourn cruise review scorecard

Our verdict in one line: Seabourn is the luxury line to pick when you want almost nothing to pay on board and an itinerary that reaches places the big ships can’t, from Glacier Bay to the Antarctic Peninsula. It sits with Regent Seven Seas and Silversea at the top of our best luxury cruise lines. The catch is the short fleet list and the tours: on ocean cruises you buy excursions one by one.

Strengths

• A short list of extras. Seabourn’s own list, checked October 2026: all dining venues, premium spirits and fine wines, caviar, welcome Champagne and a stocked in-suite bar. Wi-Fi and gratuities are in the fare too, and tipping isn’t expected.
• Glacier Bay in Alaska. Seabourn is one of the six lines the National Park Service lets into Glacier Bay. Seabourn Encore sails 18 departures from May to September 2027, and each includes scenic cruising at Glacier Bay, Hubbard Glacier, Tracy Arm or Endicott Arm.
• Two real expedition ships. Seabourn Venture (2022) and Seabourn Pursuit (2023) are polar-class ships of 264 guests with 24 Zodiac boats and two six-passenger submarines.
• A young fleet for a luxury line. The oldest ship, Seabourn Quest, dates from 2011. The two largest, Encore and Ovation, carry about 600 guests.
• Small harbors. Ships this size reach ports such as St. Barts, Bequia and Montserrat in the Caribbean, which bigger ships skip.

Weaknesses

• Tours cost extra on ocean cruises. Excursions are sold one by one. That is the main gap with Regent Seven Seas, whose fare includes them.
• Fewer ships, fewer dates. Seabourn sold Seabourn Odyssey in 2024 and Seabourn Sojourn in 2026, both to Japan’s Mitsui Ocean Cruises. Three ocean ships means less choice of week than on Silversea.
• Extras on expeditions. Guided Zodiac rides and hikes are included, but the submarine dives and kayaking are paid add-ons.
• No flights. Air is sold separately.
• Quiet evenings. There are no production shows, water slides or late-night scene.

Seabourn Alaska cruise reviews: what to expect

A Seabourn Alaska cruise is a week or two on Seabourn Encore, a ship of about 600 guests, with Glacier Bay or one of three other glacier days on every voyage. The 2027 season runs from May to September with 18 departures of 7 to 15 days and 15 ports, and an optional Denali Experience adds eight days inland before selected cruises.

Not every sailing goes into Glacier Bay itself, so check the itinerary if the park is the reason you’re going. Encore’s 2026 season, its first in Alaska, ended on September 18. The Ventures by Seabourn program puts an expedition team on board, with kayak and Zodiac outings sold as optional excursions. Compare it with the big-ship lines in our best cruise lines for Alaska ranking, and see the Alaska cruise guide for the season and ports.

Seabourn Antarctica cruise reviews: what to expect

Seabourn’s Antarctica cruises are on its two expedition ships, Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit: 49 expedition voyages between March 2027 and April 2028, from 8 to 94 days, covering Antarctica, the Arctic, the South Pacific and Australia’s Kimberley coast. Landings are by Zodiac with the expedition team, and those are in the fare.

The longest is a 94-day Pole-to-Pole Grand Expedition from the Arctic to Antarctica. Ask how active the landings are before you book, and budget for the submarine if you want to dive. Our Antarctica, Arctic and Galápagos cruise guide explains the landing rules and seasons, and the Silversea review grades the other luxury expedition fleet.

Seabourn Sojourn cruise reviews: is the ship still sailing?

Not for Seabourn. Seabourn Sojourn finished its last Seabourn voyage in Vancouver on May 15, 2026, and was sold to Mitsui Ocean Cruises of Japan, which bought its sister Seabourn Odyssey in 2024. If you want the same small-ship feel, Seabourn Quest is the closest match in the fleet: it is the last of that ship class still with Seabourn and carries 450 guests.

Who Seabourn suits

• Couples who want a suite and an open bar without counting drinks. Our couples cruise guide sets Seabourn against the other luxury lines.
• Older travelers who want a small ship and a quiet pace. Our senior cruises guide covers what else to weigh, from accessible cabins to travel insurance.
• Alaska travelers who want Glacier Bay on a luxury ship rather than a big one.
• Expedition travelers who want a polar-class ship with submarines and luxury after the landing.

It doesn’t suit families with young children, travelers who want big-ship entertainment, or anyone shopping mainly on price.

Seabourn against the alternatives

• Seabourn vs Silversea: the closest match. Silversea has twelve ships and a butler in every suite; Seabourn has Glacier Bay and submarines on its expedition ships. Choose on route and date.
• Seabourn vs Regent Seven Seas: both include drinks, Wi-Fi and gratuities. Regent adds excursions on every ocean cruise; Seabourn has expedition ships and Glacier Bay, which Regent doesn’t.
• Seabourn vs Viking: Viking costs much less and includes one excursion per port, but limits drinks to wine and beer with meals and doesn’t include tips.
• Seabourn vs Azamara: Azamara is a step down in price, with older ships of about 700 guests, and charges for Wi-Fi and specialty restaurants.

Our all-inclusive cruise guide lists what each fare covers. The fleet and full 2026–2027 routes are in our Seabourn cruises guide.

Seabourn cruise reviews FAQ

Is Seabourn a good cruise line?

Yes, for travelers who want a small all-suite ship with every restaurant, premium drinks, Wi-Fi and gratuities in the fare, or a luxury expedition. It’s weaker value if you want tours included on an ocean cruise, and it isn’t built for families.

Are Seabourn cruises worth the money?

If you drink with meals, would tip on another line and want Wi-Fi, much of the gap with a cheaper fare disappears. Add shore excursions and flights to the Seabourn price before you compare it with Regent, which includes tours.

Is Seabourn all inclusive?

On board, largely yes: all restaurants, premium spirits and fine wines, caviar, an in-suite bar, Wi-Fi and gratuities. Flights, shore excursions on ocean cruises, spa treatments and the rarest wines are extra.

How many ships does Seabourn have?

Five: the ocean ships Seabourn Encore, Seabourn Ovation and Seabourn Quest, and the expedition ships Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit.

Are these Seabourn cruise reviews based on passenger ratings?

No. This is our editorial review, graded on the criteria in how we rate cruises and based on Seabourn’s published inclusions, fleet and itineraries. We don’t publish star ratings or passenger scores.