If the “shoreside experience” is critical for your enjoyment while cruising, then check out what ultra-luxury Seabourn is doing. For 2025, the cruise line is introducing “The Collection.” These new Collection cruises are exclusive sailings that offer one-of-a-kind shoreside experiences and events.
During these select Seabourn Venture sailings in the western Mediterranean, guests will have exclusive access to private cultural events, fine dining at top wineries and premium tickets to iconic tennis tournaments in select marquee ports. (Photo above shows Monte Carlo, Monaco. Photo by Seabourn.)
Onboard too, a maximum of just 264 guests will enjoy an intimate, ultra-luxury experience. Launched in mid-2022, Seabourn Venture is modern, comfortable, eco-friendly and well-appointed. The Meandering Traveler can vouch for the high quality of the ship, having sailed on two full cruises in 2022 and 2023.
Special Interest Experiences
“Each journey within ‘The Collection’ is a bespoke masterpiece and promises an immersive blend of luxury and special interests that fit perfectly with our ultra-luxury experiences,” says Natalya Leahy, president of Seabourn. “From private dinners at some of the best wineries to attending prestigious tennis tournaments, ‘The Collection’ will deliver special ‘Seabourn Moments’ for our extraordinary guests who seek out-of-the-ordinary experiences.”
It’s important to note that these 2025 spring Seabourn Venture cruises in or near the Mediterranean region won’t feature any typical expedition experiences akin to what the ship offers in polar regions. Instead, guests will head out on the unique, special-interest, landside events and experiences.
Readers can find the entire lineup of these new Collection voyages at this Seabourn website page. “If any of these tweak your interest, be sure to talk with your travel advisor today,” recommends Shelby Steudle, president, Pavlus Travel.
Why today? “Given the strong consumer demand this year with soaring cruise bookings, these types of voyages that offer unique landside events and experiences will likely book up quickly,” she adds.
New Collection Cruises: Spotlight on Seville
On March 26, 2025, the 264-guest Seabourn Venture will depart from Lisbon, Portugal, to Barcelona, Spain, on a “10-day Andalusian Nights: Spotlight On Seville” voyage. Designated as part of “The Collection,” it will feature two exclusive events in Granada and Seville, Spain.
For example, during an overnight stay in Seville, guests will be treated to an authentic Andalusian experience. For a moment, just imagine yourself at the iconic Villa Luisa enjoying sumptuous cocktails, dinner and a private, flamenco-dance performance.
In case you’re wondering, Villa Luisa is an exclusive private home in the heart of Seville. It’s famed for having hosted important social and private events since 1929.
But beyond Seville, this voyage also calls at Portimao, Portugal; Motril, Palamos and Mahon, Menorca, all in Spain; and Tangier, Morocco. At press time, pricing started at $8,999 per person, double occupancy, for this 10-day voyage.
A Longer Journey
Desire to sail longer than a week? That’s totally possible. On March 26, 2025, guests can head out on Seabourn Venture’s 18-day Andalusian Nights: Spotlight on Seville” departure from Lisbon, Portugal.
Yes, they’ll have all the perks of the first voyage (including the port calls and Collection perks mentioned above). But they’ll stay aboard beyond Barcelona as well. So, additional port calls will include Port Vendres, Toulon, St. Tropez and Cannes, France; Monte Carlo, Monaco; and Portovenere, Italy.
Bottom line? Guests will enjoy a lengthier luxury cruise vacation. They’ll go ashore in more destinations. And the voyage will end in Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy.
At press time, pricing for this 18-day voyage started at $14,599 per person, double occupancy. If you want to know more about either of these voyages, contact a professional travel advisor for more details, to ask questions and to have that expert professionally handle and service your booking.
“The beauty of that is that using an advisor can free you to just sit back, relax and enjoy the pre-cruise anticipation,” says Pavlus’ Steudle.
Tennis-Focused Collection Sailings
In addition, the 2025 new “Collection” cruises will include two seven- and eight-day “Mediterranean Marvels & Matches” sailings between Barcelona and Rome.
The big perk here for tennis buffs is that, depending which voyage is selected, guests will either overnight in Monte Carlo or Barcelona with tickets to either the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters or the Barcelona Open Tennis Tournament.
Attending the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters
The Collection’s new eight-day “Mediterranean Marvels & Matches: Monte Carlo Masters” sailing departs April 5-13, 2025, from Barcelona to Rome. During an overnight in Monte Carlo, Seabourn Venture’s guests will receive a general, upper-level admission ticket to the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters quarterfinal.
This ATP 1000 event unfolds at the iconic Monte Carlo Country Club. Seabourn’s guests will also have options to upgrade (at an added charge) their tournament experience with luxury ticket packages and hospitality enhancements.
For general perspective on the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters event, here’s the official website link for the 2024 tournament (although not yet with 2025 details).
The Onboard Focus
Aboard Seabourn Venture, the tennis focus continues. Seabourn Conversations programming will connect guests with world-class tennis players who are also Seabourn enthusiasts. Also, travelers will discover onboard tennis-themed activities.
Beyond the courts, guests can explore ashore at Palamos on Spain’s rugged Costa Brava; chic St. Tropez, France; and Portovenere within Italy’s picturesque Cinque Terre region.
At press time, fares for this sailing started at $7,199 per person, double occupancy. Great News! Did you know that the Collection voyages qualify for Seabourn’s latest promotion, “A Sale Beyond Event.”
So, guests can receive a two-category veranda suite upgrade, plus up to $2,000 per suite shipboard credit. But you need to act fast to qualify. Talk with your personal travel planner today as this promotion is only available now through April 30, 2024!
Attending the Barcelona Open
Tennis enthusiasts also have another enticing voyage option to consider. Seabourn’s new seven-day “Mediterranean Marvels & Matches: Barcelona Open” voyage departs April 13, 2025.
Plying waters between Civitavecchia (Rome) and Barcelona, Seabourn Venture will visit the French Riviera including Cannes and St. Tropez. Another highlight is a chance to explore the Tuscan island of Elba which lies about six miles off the Italian coastline.
While in Elba, for instance, popular shore options include visiting Napoleon’s summer residence, touring Porto Azzurro village or visiting a winery for a tasting experience. Or active guests might instead opt for Seabourn’s optional “Hiking the Slopes of Mt. Capanne: A Mindful Living Tour,” which starts at $210 per person.
Appealing to Tennis Fans
But for tennis buffs, the top highlight of this “Mediterranean Marvels & Matches: Barcelona Open” itinerary is the Barcelona call. They’ll spend two exhilarating days and one overnight spent in Barcelona, where they’ll attend the Barcelona Open. In 2025, this ATP-500 event will unfold at the historic Real Club de Tenis Barcelona, which dates from 1899.
Onboard, guests will also enjoy tennis-focused programming and special activities. Pricing for this voyage — including a ticket (one per guest) to the Barcelona Open tournament play – start at $6,299 per person, double occupancy.
Die-hard fan? Then Pavlus’ Steudle also suggests talking to your travel advisor and requesting more information about Seabourn’s Barcelona Open ticket upgrade options. For an added charge, guests can upgrade their tournament experience with bespoke luxury ticket packages and hospitality enhancements.
New Collection Cruises: “Vineyard Vista”
Another new Collection cruises option is Seabourn’s eight-day “Vineyard Vista: An Evening in Bordeaux” itinerary between Lisbon and Dublin, Ireland. Departing April 30, 2025, guests will spend an overnight in the heart of Bordeaux, France, with an exclusive wine-centered shoreside event.
During that intimate evening at Chateau Smith Haut-Lafitte, guests will enjoy a private dinner, savor the wines and engage in conversations with passionate winemakers. Experts will unveil the secrets behind each blend.
Other ports of call on “Vineyard Vista”? Guests will go ashore at Gijon, Spain; Hendaye (Biarritz), France; and Cobh (Cork), Ireland. At press time, pricing started at $6,299 per person, double occupancy.
To learn more about ALL the new Collection cruises on Seabourn Venture, check out this Seabourn website page.
Seabourn’s Non-Polar Offerings: Parting Thoughts
Again, the typical Seabourn Venture expedition experience won’t be offered during any of the line’s new Collection cruises in spring 2025. Frankly, though, we like this approach of offering cultural, lifestyle or special interest programming when any expedition vessel is visiting Europe.
It’s a different region, there are many unique draws and delving deeply into those while also sailing on a luxurious small ship is highly rewarding. For example, The Meandering Traveler previously wrote a blog about Atlas Ocean Voyages‘ new cultural and culinary cruises in Europe for its expedition vessels.
On such cruises, guests also return to their ship to enjoy amazing dining and culinary experiences; entertainment and enrichment; luxuriously appointed accommodations and great service.
Booking a Seabourn Cruise
Seabourn Venture will return to its expedition-focused voyages later in the year. From the perspective of Pavlus’ Steudle: “Whether you prefer these new special interest-focused voyages in the Mediterranean or the full expedition experience of viewing penguins in Antarctica or puffins in the Arctic, give us a call.
“Best of all, we’ll help you get the best value for money — in terms of unadvertised discounts, promotions or incentives,” she stresses. “We also pride ourselves on providing great service and we never charge a service fee.”
Important Notes from Pavlus Travel
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