Seabourn wants guests to know the excitement of their travel experience need not end at the final port of call – or start at the first. The brand is introducing three new Seabourn Journeys to exceptional destinations in Greece, Portugal and Israel for 2021.
Available as pre- and/or post-cruise trip extensions on select voyages, Seabourn Journeys provide in-depth, land-based cruise extensions that go beyond single-day excursions available from the ship. The packages offer guests a chance to linger and make new memories amid extraordinary sites of cultural and natural wonder.
“Seabourn is committed to providing guests with access to the world’s most coveted experiences,” said Josh Leibowitz, president of Seabourn. “Our partnership with UNESCO and access to World Heritage Sites enables guests to go deeper and reinforces our commitment to sustainable tourism.”
The three newest Seabourn Journeys set to launch in 2021 include:
- Welcome to Greece (5-day pre-cruise or post-cruise)– Athens, the Acropolis, the Parthenon and other revered sites are either the start or finish of this exploration of the birthplace of democracy, historiography, political science, the Olympics, feta cheese, and so much more. The Journey takes in historic Argolis, Epidaurus with the world’s best-preserved ancient Greek theatre, the Citadel of Mycenae, and picturesque Nafplion. A drive over the Rio-Antirio Bridge, one of the eye-catching wonders of the modern age, leads to the Oracle of Delphi on the hillsides of Mt. Parnassus, with a visit to a museum full of treasures unearthed at the site including a bronze of a charioteer still clutching the reins that is counted among the most famous statues in the world. A drive through the mountains of central Greece leads to Meteora – “in the midair” – with a visit to the Meteora Monasteries, widely considered the 8th wonder of the world, constructed by monks from huge pillars of stone more than 500 years ago, followed by a night in Kalambaka.
- Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Masada & Dead Sea (4-day pre-cruise or post-cruise)– The high points of the Holy Land are on this itinerary with destinations differing slightly for pre- or post-cruise journeyers. They include ancient Jaffa, where the prophet Jonah boarded a ship for Tarshish and Andromeda awaited a sea monster while tied to a rock that can still be seen; modern Tel Aviv, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site; Bethlehem to tour the Church of the Nativity built above the spot where Jesus was born; and Jerusalem with a walk through the Garden of Gethsemane, the Room of the Last Supper at King David’s Tomb, and a tour around the Old City with a moonlit visit to the Western (Wailing) Wall. The lowest point on the surface of the planet will be waiting at the Dead Sea in the Judean Desert, as will the mountain fortress of Masada, where King Herod built a luxurious refuge with magnificent palaces and swimming pools, and a cable car ride to the summit where nearly 1,000 Jews took their own lives in AD 73 rather than face retaliation and slavery under the sieging Romans. Post-cruise guests will start in Nazareth, the childhood home of Jesus, with a visit to the Church of Annunciation built over a house believed to have been Mary’s and St. Joseph’s Church over Joseph’s carpentry shop. The tour will also pass the Mount of the Beatitudes, where Jesus gave his sermon, and Tabgha, said to be the site of the miracles of the loaves and fishes.
- Lisbon, Fatima, Porto, and Douro Valley (4-day pre-cruise or post-cruise) – There’s a lot more to Portugal than Lisbon, as this Journey dotted with UNESCO World Heritage Sites will reveal. From the hilly coastal capital city, the itinerary includes the city of Porto, whose historic center is filled with important monuments such as Aliados Avenue and the Sao Bento Train Station; a wine tour of the Douro Valley, the oldest wine region in the country and the world, including a tasting experience in a Port Wine Cellar as well as a beautiful drive past a number of renowned estates and a tasting experience with lunch at Quinta da Pacheca Winery; and the narrow streets and neighborhoods of Coimbra, home to Santa Clara Monastery and prestigious Coimbra University. Don’t miss a taste of famous Pastel de Tentugal pastry. In Fatima, the most important religious site in Portugal, guests will observe the inspiring devotion of many pilgrims, visit the Chapel of Apparitions, and experience the Sanctuary. A panoramic drive through Lisbon will reveal many Instagram-worthy sites and scenes including Rossio, Liberdade Square, Park Eduard VII, and Belem Quarter.
The entire collection of Seabourn Journeys now comprises 18 specially crafted pre- and post-cruise land-based packages with pinpoint itineraries designed to highlight local culture, history, beauty, hospitality and relaxation in remarkable settings around the world. The fully escorted Journeys have been uniquely curated to give travelers more time in these locations to showcase the very best of the destinations via the experiential excursions they offer over the course of multiple days. Some Journeys include visits to iconic UNESCO World Heritage Sites through Seabourn’s official partnership with UNESCO.
