Seabourn at Sea: A Story of What Luxury Means to Different People
When you step aboard a Seabourn ship, you quickly realise that luxury isn’t just one thing, it’s many things, depending on who you are and what you value most. For me it is a little of everything.
For some, luxury is ease. At the terminal, there were no endless queues, no stress. The welcome was warm, the process smooth. Within minutes I was on on board, cocktail in hand (virgin for me of course), feeling that long-awaited “exhale”, the moment where everything slows down and you know you’re going to be taken care of.
For others, luxury is space. With no more than 600 guests, Seabourn’s ships feel like sanctuaries. Wide corridors are calm and uncluttered, lounges invite quiet reflection, and there’s always a corner where the sea stretches endlessly before you. The Observation Lounge, with its sweeping views, became a favourite hideaway for me—an elegant living room at the edge of the world.
Luxury can be about atmosphere. Sailing in December, the ship glowed with festive touches, garlands, twinkling lights, and music that seemed to float through the atrium. One evening, the Captain himself led a tree-lighting ceremony. We all gathered with a mulled drink in hand, voices joined in carols, laughter and warmth filling the air. For some, this was the heart of their voyage, the spirit of celebration, shared among strangers who, for a time, felt like family.
For many, luxury is taste. At dinner, white-gloved service and Michelin-inspired artistry turn meals into memories in The Restaurant. At The Colonnade, fresh seafood paired with ocean views proves that casual can be just as exquisite. And sometimes, for some luxury is as simple as a perfect cappuccino enjoyed slowly on deck while the coastline slips by.
Luxury also means discovery. On this voyage through New Zealand, well-known ports like Auckland abounded with energy, while Fiordland’s dramatic landscapes and waterfalls left you in awe. But it was Stewart Island, a hidden gem of wild beauty and authentic Kiwi charm that captured many hearts including mine. For most of us, the luxury was in being surprised, in finding something new when you least expected it.
For others, luxury is connection. Evenings brought live jazz, intimate shows, and expert talks that sparked lively conversations long after. Friendships formed over shared stories, laughter at the piano bar, and clinking glasses under the stars.
And sometimes, luxury is value. On Seabourn, there’s no need to calculate or second guess. You can have fine wines, craft cocktails, dining in every venue, along with gratuities and Wi-Fi which are all included. I spoke with other guests who said the inclusions gave them freedom, to savour, to explore, to simply live the journey without a single thought of having to pay for extras.
This is the truth of luxury at sea which I discovered. For others, it’s the space, the taste, the ease, the discovery, or the connection. On Seabourn, it becomes whatever you need it to be, an experience shaped not by one definition of luxury, but by your own.