Seabourn Cruise Line history

In 1987 Ted Arison sold 18 percent of the shares of his private empire, raising nearly $400 million for the company, and Carnival went on a spending spree.

An identical sister ship, Seabourn Spirit, launched in 1989.

The effects were reflected in Carnival's stock price, which slid from 25 points in June 1990 to 13 points late in the year.

In 1991, Carnival Corporation purchased a 25% stake in Seabourn.

1992 Carnival agrees to acquire a percentage of Seabourn Cruise Lines.

In September of the same year the Fascination, to be ready in late 1994, was ordered at a cost of $315 million.

The company also signed a contract for a $330 million ship, the Imagination, to be delivered in the fall of 1995.

Carnival Corporation increased its stake to 50% in 1996, providing the company sufficient capital to purchase the Queen Odyssey, which was then renamed Seabourn Legend.

In 1997 Carnival purchased a 50 percent interest in Costa Cruise Lines, in partnership with Airtours, a travel company.

For me, 1998 marks the beginning of the First Dark Period of Seabourn.

In 1999, three Cunard ships, Sea Goddess I, Sea Goddess II, and Royal Viking Sun were transferred into the Seabourn fleet as Seabourn Goddess I, Seabourn Goddess II, and Seabourn Sun.

P&O, formed by the demerger of The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company in October 2000, had more than 150 years of experience in passenger cruising and had become a leader in the United Kingdom and Australian cruise markets.

In 2001, Carnival bought out the Norwegian shareholders, and Seabourn's parent company became a wholly owned subsidiary of Carnival.

A bidding war with competitor Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. began in 2002.

2003 P&O Princess Cruises plc is acquired; its name is changed to Carnival plc.

In 2004, the company achieved record financial results with revenues of $7.68 billion and net income of $1.46 billion.

Revenue and profits climbed even higher in 2005, reaching $8.7 billion and $1.78 billion, respectively.

And then, in October 2006, just as construction of the 450 guest, all-suite, Seabourn Odyssey was to start, Debbie Natansohn suddenly died of a massive heart attack.

In terms of awards, Seabourn has won the Travel & Leisure Magazine ‘World’s Best Small-Ship Cruise Line’ award for four years running, as well as in 2007, as well as being recognised in the Conde Nast Gold List for 17 years straight.

But Seabourn survived…and so did her baby, the Seabourn Odyssey, which was when delivered in 2009 a resounding success with even the most loyal Seabourn guests who swore they would never sail on thelarger ship embracing it (and eventually taking over as their favorite class of ship).

Pam also oversaw the construction of the Seabourn Odyssey’s sistership, Seabourn Sojourn, which was delivered in 2010, and the Seabourn Quest…almost to delivery.

On March 31, 2011, Seabourn moved operations from Miami, Florida, to the Holland America Line quarters in Seattle, Washington.

In February 2013, Seabourn sold its three original vessels to Windstar.

In April 2014 the Seabourn Pride, Seabourn Spirit and Seabourn Legend were sold to Windstar Cruises.

* Azamara Quest – Southeast Asia and Japan (February 2015)

In late 2016, 600-passenger Seabourn Encore -- a new-build based on a slightly modified version of the Odyssey-class design -- took to the seas.

– Avalon Myanmar – Myanmar River Cruise – April 2017

*Azamara Club Cruises – Azamara Journey – Singapore to Dubai (April 8, 2018)