Seabourn president hails ‘record-setting’ year amid strong trade sales

Seabourn’s president has hailed a “record-setting” year as he revealed UK trade sales are on track to “at least” match last year’s double-digit growth.

 

Speaking on a Travel Weekly webcast, Mark Tamis said the line has had “an incredible run of profitability over the last 12 months” as he outlined his ambition to “accelerate” profitability and demand.

 

Tamis also said the luxury cruise and expedition line would be going into 2026 “in an even stronger booked position than last year” as it has been able to pull the booking curve forward, with itineraries on sale until April 2028.

 

He noted Seabourn would “consider its capacity” when the business is in “sustainable profitability”.

 

“We will invest in the current fleet in a dry dock cycle starting from next year,” he said.

 

Speaking about the UK market, he revealed sales are on track to “at least” reach the same level as the 22% recorded last year.

 

Lynn Narraway, vice-president for the UK and EMEA, thanked trade partners for their work this year in helping the brand “grow again” and ensuring the UK market remains “the second most important” for the line.

 

Narraway said the continued strong performance was down to a combination of “very loyal partners” selling more Seabourn product and new partnerships attracting new-to-cruise passengers, especially through membership of Atas.

 

Expedition sales have recorded 14% growth this year, an increase on the 9% recorded last year, and Narraway said she would like to see that level “higher” next year.

 

Tamis and Narraway also hailed the success of new product launches, including the 94-day Pole-to-Pole Grand Expedition in 2027 and combined itinerary with Uniworld Boutique River Cruises in 2026.

 

Tamis said sales had been “fantastic” for the pole-to-pole expedition, with more than half of the ship sold for the full voyage from the South Pole. Narraway called it “huge revenue driver” for the UK.

 

She added the Uniworld partnership had been “amazing” with both sailings already sold out and “more to come” in other destinations for 2027.

 

The pair unveiled two new taglines – ‘Explore more like never before’ and ‘Where luxury meets exploration’ – which they said would help customers differentiate between the brand’s non-expedition and expedition sailings.