by Donald Wood
Last updated: 9:30 AM ET, Tue April 23, 2024
WHY IT RATES: Seabourn is
celebrating Odyssey's 15 years of service.—Donald Wood, Breaking News Senior
Writer.
Seabourn, the leader in ultra-luxury cruising and expedition
travel, invites guests to experience the iconic Seabourn Odyssey one last time
during its 22-day Farewell Voyage, departing September 2, 2024, from Seattle,
Wash., to Yokohama, Japan. The one-of-a-kind voyage will feature a number of
memorable tributes to Seabourn Odyssey's greatest moments, including
appearances from the original team and performing cast, incredible local
artists, and unique gifts and memories to be made with their Seabourn family.
In honor of this sailing, John Barron and Handré Potgieter
will return as cruise directors for Seabourn Odyssey's final voyage. Both
Barron and Potgieter were part of the original onboard team when the ship
launched in 2009, when Barron served as the ship's first cruise director and
Potgieter was part of the entertainment team. In addition, Seabourn President
Natalya Leahy will be on board in Seattle to personally wish farewell to guests
and the onboard team as they embark on this special voyage.
"Returning as cruise director for Seabourn Odyssey's
Farewell Voyage is a heartfelt journey for me, filled with memories of her
inception in the shipyard, the exhilaration of her maiden voyage, and the joy
of witnessing guests embark on her for the first time," said Barron.
"I'm thrilled to co-host this voyage with my dear friend Handré. We will
celebrate 15 years of unforgettable moments, friendships, and the legacy
Seabourn Odyssey leaves behind. This final voyage promises to be a magical
'full circle' experience, brimming with emotion and sweet surprises, as we bid
farewell to our beloved ship."
Potgieter echoes Barron's sentiment, "What a beautiful
'full-circle' Seabourn Moment for us both. Seabourn Odyssey is really where my
journey with Seabourn started, and it feels like I'm coming back home. It will
be an incredibly special voyage, and I am very excited to share this final
chapter with our many loyal guests, amazing onboard team and colleagues,
Belinda King and John."
The farewell voyage will offer special entertainment and
activities, including:
- Belinda King of Belinda King Creative Productions - Belinda
King, founder and CEO of Belinda King Creative Productions which produces the
finest shows at sea, will join Seabourn's cruise directors for a special walk
down memory lane, as well as a Seabourn Conversation Q&A that delves into
"The World Behind Seabourn Entertainment".
- Bespoke Acts by Guest Performers – The sailing will feature
a number of guest performers, including piano entertainer Roy Tan and vocalist
Corlea Botha, magician Mark Haslam, cellist Andre Cavassi, pianist Aisa Ijiri,
and violinist Irina Guskova.
- Seabourn Conversation speakers – A number of distinguished
guest speakers as part of its Seabourn Conversations program are scheduled,
including NASA Astronaut Heidemarie Piper, award-winning photographer Michael
Yamashita, author and chef Maria Finn, marine scientist Dr. Dave Plourd, and
maritime historian Dr. Tim Runyan.
- Artist in Residence Program – Seabourn invites guests to
join artist Donna Lewis for the ship's complimentary Artist in Residence mixed
media classes inspired by the ports of call visited by Seabourn Odyssey. The
class will allow guests to develop a wonderful memory of their voyage to take
home. Classes are open to all ages and levels of expertise and beginners are
welcome. Materials are provided on board.
Seabourn Odyssey's farewell voyage will also feature other
special activities, including a signature caviar event and more.
During the 22-day Farewell Voyage, Seabourn Odyssey will
traverse the glacial scenery of Alaska's southern reaches, visit the wildlife
havens of Kodiak Island and Dutch Harbor, and explore the cultural enclaves of
Japan's Hokkaido Island to revel in the first turn of fall foliage.
Seabourn Odyssey will visit 11 ports and destinations,
including five in Japan across two islands. Highlights include the following:
- Kodiak Island: With two-thirds of the island covered by a
national wildlife refuge, Kodiak is the ultimate escape with large stretches of
private wilderness and beaches to enjoy and reflect. Guests may want to catch a
glimpse of the island's eponymous bears or enjoy Fort Abercrombie and step into
Kodiak's World War II defense encampment and military museum.
- Hubbard Glacier - Cruising the Hubbard Glacier is the
quintessential Alaska experience as you navigate past towering icy walls and
feel the rumble of the glacial calving. The Hubbard is North America's longest
tidewater glacier and continues to impress as she "gallops" forward
and continues to grow.
- Hakodate, Japan - One of Hokkaido's largest cities, Seabourn
Odyssey will arrive just in time to see start of Japan's fall foliage. A key
highlight here is a gondola ride to the top of Mount Hakodate to take in the
city vistas and enjoy a sample of Hokkaido's extraordinary natural beauty.
During her 15 years at Seabourn, Seabourn Odyssey has
welcomed 180,454 guests on board and traveled over 859,554 nautical miles to
426 different ports, a distance equivalent to a staggering 39.7
circumnavigations of the world's equator. Along the way, the ship has become
synonymous with ultra-luxury and excellence, serving up to 4 tons of caviar and
13 million breadsticks and pouring more than 300,000 bottles of champagne.
SOURCE: Seabourn press
release.
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