BEHIND THE SHIELD
Did you know?
In this issue, we highlight four voyages to exotic regions corresponding to destinations featured in this Seabourn Club Herald. These itineraries all depart during the last quarter of 2019 and the first part of 2020, sailing in either the warmth of the tropics or, in one case, in the extreme Southern Hemisphere during austral summer. These are popular destinations with Seabourn Club members, offering an impressive variety of scenic natural beauty, historic interest and fascinating cultural diversity. Be sure to read the corresponding articles to discover what intrigued our guest authors about these places. But you’ll doubtless find your own reasons to go and see them for yourself.
Pearls of Arabia & India – Seabourn Ovation 19 days, Dubai to Singapore – Dec. 2, 2019
Chanel Samson’s article on the dance traditions of India is a perfect lead-in to this in-depth exploration of venerable trade routes in South Asia. The ancient Arabian cities of Khor Fakkan and Muscat on Oman’s mountainous east coast will lead up to four different Indian ports: two days at spectacular Mumbai, Cochin with its multicultural colonial past, and maiden calls at Chennai (formerly Madras) and Karaikal on the Bay of Bengal. Trincomalee on verdant Sri Lanka and the tiny outpost of Sabang on Pulau Weh precede the amazing merlion city-state of Singapore, one of Asia’s most fascinating metropolises.
Thailand & Vietnam – Seabourn Ovation 14 days, Singapore to Hong Kong – Dec. 21, 2019
The holiday departure of this popular itinerary offers a taste of the Thai curry highlighted in Kevin Revolinski’s “Five Curries” piece in this issue’s Cuisines of the World. If you arrive in Singapore ahead of departure, you’ll find some Indian curries and local Straits variations in the city’s famous “Hawker Centres.” Your call at Bangkok will offer a variety of red, yellow and green Thai versions. Save room for the lavish Caviar in the Surf beach barbecue laid out by your ship’s staff at lovely Ko Kood Island on Christmas Day. Cambodian and Vietnamese cuisine are delights unto themselves, and your overnight stay in Ho Chi Minh City offers easy access to old Saigon and the “Rice Bowl” of the Mekong Delta. Da Nang and ethereal Halong Bay are fitting climaxes to the voyage before your entry into glittering Hong Kong Harbour, ringed by forested peaks and shining glass towers.
FOUR VOYAGES TO EXOTIC REGIONS
Orchid Isles Escape – Seabourn Encore 7 days, Singapore to Benoa (Denpasar) – Nov. 27, 2019
Our shortest Asian option is a fascinating Indonesian pilgrimage to the idyllic isle described in Kate Wickers’ article about her own sensual and spiritual renewal on enchanting Bali. Departing the towers and gardens of Singapore, you’ll explore the long, lush island of Java from end to end. From bustling Semarang, visit the UNESCO World Heritage Buddhist monument of Borobudur, ringed by jungle and volcanoes. Then, call at Surabaya, rich in Dutch colonial architecture and the exotic trade of the Java Sea. Probolinggo on Java’s wild eastern end offers natural splendors including the volcanic moonscapes of towering Mount Bromo. Celukan Bawang begins your Bali experience as the gateway to an old Dutch colonial capital or to traditional crafts villages in the highlands. Your Bali voyage ends in Benoa, near the Balinese capital of Denpasar.
Ultimate Antarctica & Patagonia – Seabourn Quest 21 days, Santiago (San Antonio) to Buenos Aires – Nov. 28, 2019; Jan. 12 and Feb. 23, 2020
No Seabourn voyage anywhere earns higher ratings than our ultra-luxury voyage to the White Continent. Chile’s breathtaking lakes and volcanoes, the dramatic peaks of Torres del Paine rising from the pampas, and the spectacular scenery of the Chilean fjords and Glacier Alley are featured in a photo essay elsewhere in this magazine. But according to those who have been there, no pictures nor words can adequately describe the experience of cruising in Antarctica. You’ll enjoy daily Zodiac landings and endless hours of watching whales, seals, penguins and other wildlife in an untouched paradise, all while cosseted in the ultraluxury elegance of a floating Seabourn resort.
THESE ARE POPULAR DESTINATIONS WITH SEABOURN CLUB MEMBERS, OFFERING AN IMPRESSIVE VARIETY OF SCENIC NATURAL BEAUTY, HISTORIC INTEREST AND FASCINATING CULTURAL DIVERSITY.