Natalya Leahy, Seabourn: ‘We are seeing more luxury travellers placing a greater emphasis on authentic experiences’

With seven years at Holland America Group, Natalya Leahy has been a driving force behind the success of Seabourn, as well as the US-owned company’s other cruise lines. assuming the role of Seabourn President in March 2023, Leahy delves into what makes the travel brand distinct and discusses Seabourn Pursuit, its new expedition ship.

Could you share some insights into your career journey and what inspired you to pursue a leadership role in the luxury travel industry?

First of all, travel has played a transformational role in my personal journey. I believe travel expands our views of the world, builds lasting connections and enriches our lives in so many ways. These are all values that Seabourn stands for. So, there was always a strong personal motivation for me to work in the travel industry and support Seabourn. I spent the past seven years in various capacities, as Chief Financial Officer and then as Chief Operating Officer for Holland America Group. I was a part of building the success of Seabourn and developing the expedition business from the beginning. So, Seabourn Pursuit and Seabourn Venture truly feel like babies to me, and I am so proud of the results of our collective work. These ships are game changers, as they will allow our guests to experience destinations that once were only accessible to explorers without compromising on luxury, comfort or elegance. I also supported the restart of our cruise operations, which allowed all of us to learn a lot and structure our business, teams and processes to be more agile, responsive and resilient. I’m very excited to take the Seabourn brand to the next level.

Prior to working within the Carnival Corporation family, I was privileged to gain a diverse range of leadership experiences working for large global organisations such as United Nations and iconic consumer centric corporations such as Procter & Gamble and Coca-Cola.

What makes Seabourn stand out from other luxury cruise lines, and how do you maintain that unique positioning in the market?

Seabourn offers several key pillars that differentiate us from other cruise lines. We focus on the finest highly curated service combined with exceptional one-of-a-kind experiences. We are seeing more luxury travellers placing a greater emphasis on the level of authentic experiences they can have at destinations and be immersed in the world like never before.

Our guests are sophisticated travellers and extraordinary people and Seabourn has curated destination experiences to give them these unique experiences of the world. Seabourn’s voyages are carefully designed to feature a proper mix of smaller hidden gems and well-known destinations and our purpose-built expedition ships take people to some of the most remote areas in the world that only few will ever experience in their lifetime, such as Antarctica, the Kimberley region of Australia, and the South Pacific.

We combine these voyages with a diverse slate of shore excursion offerings, which provide amazing opportunities for our guests to experience the local culture in an in-depth, and authentic way. Our personalised, intuitive, warm and genuine service is at the heart of Seabourn because receiving personalised service can turn a great travel experience into an amazing one.

At Seabourn, our exceptional service is renowned. Many of our guests would say that our onboard staff is where we shine the brightest. Our team creates what we call ‘Seabourn Moments’, delivering attentive service and anticipating our guests’ needs before they even ask. We empower the team to shine through their individual personalities so that they can create one-of-a-kind experiences. They aim to please, and we’re incredibly proud of the dedication they bring to the guest experience. They learn our guests’ names and pay attention to the smallest details to ensure our guests have the best experience on board. Our guests feel instantly welcomed from the moment they step aboard our intimate ships. We view personalised service as a way of life — our guests will never lift a finger unless it’s to signal a waiter for another glass of champagne. This service has been widely recognised by guests, travel professionals and the media for many years.

Can you tell us about the vision behind the new expedition vessel Seabourn Pursuit and the key elements that make it a distinctive addition to Seabourn’s fleet?

Seabourn Pursuit will offer Seabourn’s extraordinary levels of luxury on its expedition voyages, as well as the same ‘yacht-like’ small ship experience that travellers have come to expect from Seabourn.

Both Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit are state-of-the-art because they are truly purpose-built luxury expedition ships. They are the best of both worlds: they allow guests to discover the world in the most immersive way, in true Seaborn luxury style. These ships have eight dining concepts, an unbelievably elegant design, spacious suites, an exceptional onboard team, and much more. On top of it all, experiences are curated by an expedition team of 24 world-class experts, each of whom has an inspiring biography and dedicated their life to the exploration of this world. We are creating a Seabourn experience that follows the traditions of expedition travel, with a highly luxurious, social, inquisitive environment where the guests feel like they become one in a shared experience of a lifetime.

With our new ships, we will offer an ultra-luxury expedition product with no compromise. True luxury is authentic and extends throughout everything a ship does. I really believe that no one else does it better than Seabourn. Many of our Seabourn Pursuit guests sailed on Seabourn Venture last year. In fact, the majority were repeat guests, and we heard very positive feedback from them about their experience.

Seabourn Pursuit just entered service in August 2023, where it sailed in the Mediterranean, crossed the Atlantic and headed south to the Caribbean, the Amazon, South America and Antarctica. Following its inaugural Antarctic season, Seabourn Pursuit will sail to the South Pacific and Australia, which will include the line’s first exploration of the Kimberley region in northwestern Australia between June and August 2024. The iconic Kimberley, with its red sandstone gorges, rivers, waterfalls, wildlife, and Aboriginal stories, is the ideal setting for a world-class expedition experience. In addition to the Kimberley, Seabourn Pursuit will visit Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, and sail to the South Pacific from Chile to Melanesia between March and October 2024.

Tihany Design was involved in crafting the interiors of Seabourn Pursuit. What aspects of the ship’s design are you most excited for guests to experience?

Tihany Design’s creative and artistic talents have proven to be a wonderful match for the Seabourn brand. Tihany Design created an inspiring concept that combines well-known Seabourn elegance and a sense of discovery and adventure.

Noteworthy design details include bespoke furniture by Roda, which combines authentic Italian craftsmanship with state-of-the-art technology and innovation; the Discovery Center, which houses an immersive large screen for lectures and video experiences, and the comfortable and engaging Expedition Lounge. Here, we have two fireplaces producing lifelike water vapour flames and a vintage map on an etched glass partition. These features create an enchanting ambience that calls to the memories of past adventures. Adam Tihany’s attention to detail exceeded every expectation, so embarking on a discovery of the art pieces in every corner of the ship is truly worthwhile. The colour palettes, materials, and textures used in Seabourn Pursuit’s design are said to resonate with Seabourn’s signature luxury and sense of ease.

Could you elaborate on how these elements contribute to the overall guest experience?

Our state-of-the-art expedition ship is truly a celebration of the creative energy and input of Tihany Design. The overall design scheme of Seabourn Pursuit balances the exploration theme with the elegant comfort and luxury Seabourn is well known for. Tihany Design has done a masterful job in creating a ‘home-away-from-home’ atmosphere with luxurious spaces that reflect the natural beauty guests will experience when they sail with us. Guests will immediately recognise their Seabourn ‘home away from home’ that they got to love: be it in the spacious and elegant suites or in everyone’s favourite, Seabourn Square. Yet, there are new spaces like the Expedition Lounge and Bow Lounge that encourage enrichment and discovery. Guests are invited to relax and enjoy downtime to complement daily adventures off ship, with interiors that carefully integrate light and space, a warm colour palette, and natural fibres. Different areas work together to optimise smooth passenger flow, inspiring a sense of ease throughout.

Seabourn Pursuit is finely tuned with decorative details such as lighter bedding accoutrements that align with its primary dedication to warm-water excursions in more tropical destinations. Suites will also be outfitted with lush blankets and fur pillows for the ship’s inaugural explorations of Antarctica, running from late November 2023 to March 2024. Details in suites include custom-designed switches on the bedside light panel that appear vintage and yet are ultra-contemporary in function; parchment-inspired wall panels finished with digitally printed wall laminate material that mimics wood with alluring, granular detail; heated flooring with wooden-look tiles; carpeting designed with organic shapes; and furniture with wood frames, exposed rivets, and bronze inlays.

How does Seabourn Pursuit build upon the success and lessons learned from its predecessor, Seabourn Venture?

The first of a new class of ships generally presents opportunities and learnings that can be applied to sister ships. It was no different with Seabourn Pursuit. For example, in the Discovery Center (the main lounge where briefings and presentations take place), we removed the last two rows of banquette seats and put bar top tables and chairs for more of an informal area. On deck 9, where the Zodiacs are stored, the area was built differently to better support the launching and recovering of Zodiacs. The chase boats that support submersible operations were also fine-tuned. These are just a few examples to ensure that we provide the best expedition experience to our guests.

With a focus on expedition travel, how does Seabourn ensure a seamless guest experience in remote destinations?

Both expedition ships are designed and built for diverse environments to PC6 Polar Class standards. The vessels include a plethora of modern hardware and technology that allows them to specifically go where other cruise ships cannot with polar-class PC6 hulls, an extensive expedition staff, a fleet of zodiacs and kayaks, and two submarines.

Seabourn Pursuit also has close to 30,000 square feet of deck space and special touches at every turn. Those include indoor and outdoor guest areas with nearly 270-degree views, and a 4K GSS Cineflex Camera mounted on the mast of the Constellation Lounge capable of broadcasting imagery from miles ahead on monitors located throughout the ship for guests to see.

On each expedition ship is a 24-person expedition team of experts who share their passion for exploring and knowledge of the world’s remote regions — from underwater dives that redefine anything travellers ever imagined about submersibles, to immersive Zodiac cruises and captivating hikes accompanied by the individual attention of our expedition experts. The expedition team consists of academics, scientists, photographers, wildlife experts, professors, and general naturalists, and they are excited to share their knowledge with our guests.

Each day, the expedition team holds a debrief in the Discovery Center for guests including insightful lectures, briefings, and Seabourn Conversations enrichment programming designed to help educate them throughout their experience. In the evenings, the Discovery Center turns into an entertainment venue, featuring live music and performances. A set of high-precision, long-range Swarovski telescope binoculars are offered in each suite, which are perfect for spotting diverse wildlife and viewing the remarkable landscapes from onboard the ship and during landings ashore. There are also fixed Swarovski telescopes in Seabourn Square.

In what ways does Seabourn Pursuit incorporate sustainable and environmentally responsible practices?

Seabourn’s sustainability efforts directly support Carnival Corporation’s sustainability goals for 2030 and aspirations for 2050. We act on our duty to protect and preserve the waters we sail upon through our commitment to sustainably sourced food, and by minimising and responsibly managing our food waste, embracing efficient energy practices and technology, and prioritising the preservation of fresh water.

Examples of some practices we have implemented include: reducing and eliminating single-use plastics across our fleet in guest and crew areas; using technology that reduces underwater noise radiation to help protect environmentally sensitive areas and remote destinations and embracing efficient energy practices, including LED lighting throughout Seabourn Pursuit and Seabourn Venture.

We will have zero food waste environments because both expedition ships by the end of this year will be equipped with food dehydrators and food grinders that allow us to process all food waste. We are not using freon in refrigerating systems on either of the ships. We are also only using the highest-grade, cleanest fuel type MGO on the expedition ships.

Last but not least, every ship on our fleet has an Environmental Officer as part of the senior leadership team. We really believe this is important to maintain and promote a culture of responsibility and compliance. Seabourn has a loyal and discerning clientele.

How does the brand continuously engage with its guests and ensure their preferences and desires are met?

As a leader in ultra-luxury travel experiences, Seabourn is committed to delivering moments that both delight and enchant our guests. In my first 90 days, I embarked on a listen-and-learn tour and thanks to their valued feedback, we recently unveiled some changes, big and small, to continue to enhance the guest experience.

Our aim is to create unforgettable experiences that capture the ‘Delight in the Details’ at every turn and elevate your Seabourn Moments to the next level. For example, we are in the process of implementing a new 24-hour in-suite dining menu; complimentary all-weather jackets in Alaska, the Arctic and Antarctica, and updated Starlink technology by SpaceX as inspired by our guests. We are also bringing back our daily printed Herald and complimentary designer soaps by Molton Brown.

We always want to hear from guests and show that their thoughts drive our actions. We hope that these small details will surprise and delight guests when they come on board.

What enrichment programmes and culinary experiences can travellers look forward to aboard Seabourn Pursuit?

Seabourn Pursuit’s experienced 24-member Seabourn Expedition Team is a select group of academics, scientists, and general naturalists who share the guest’s passion for exploring and learning about the world’s remote regions. They bring all their masterful scholarly accomplishments and their logistic skills to facilitate unparalleled experiences. On board, they provide expert insights into the biodiversity, ecosystems, physical science, history, and culture of the places we visit, both in formal Seabourn Conversations presentations and casual discussions over meals or at leisure. They also guide off-ship expeditions to enhance and enrich guest interaction and engagement with destinations.

For culinary, we take great pride in offering world-class gourmet dining prepared by our very highly skilled and passionate culinary team. On Seabourn Pursuit, there are eight dining concepts, and we ensure guests have all the traditional high-end culinary experiences Seabourn is known for, from Sushi in the Club and homemade gelato to our well-known caviar and champagne treats that our guests enjoy throughout the day. After exploring breathtaking remote destinations, our guests can unwind and create even more cherished memories over wonderfully prepared meals, a glass of wine, or a perfectly crafted cocktail. We have incredible provisioning teams to ensure the ships are well stocked, allowing us to deliver the finest culinary experiences on board. Even when the ship is in remote destinations, we are able to deliver signature events like Caviar on the Ice.

Each dining option showcases the high quality and breadth of cuisine created by the line’s highly skilled culinary team, led by Master Chef and Culinary Consultant Chef Anton Egger, and Senior Corporate Chef Franck Salein. From top-quality ingredients and an eye toward the latest innovations, Seabourn curates dining that rivals the finest restaurants, anywhere.

What exciting developments and plans can we expect from Seabourn?

We’re always looking to diversify our deployment to offer our guests a wide variety of destinations to explore. Seabourn Venture just finished a successful second season in the Arctic and is currently sailing in the Northwest Passage — a first for Seabourn. Meanwhile, Seabourn Pursuit gives us opportunities to visit more regions and remote destinations around the globe. One perfect example is the Kimberley, which is filled with many stunning landscapes unlike anywhere in the world, from the horizontal waterfalls to the ancient Montgomery Reef. Seabourn Pursuit will be sailing there between June and August 2024. We are equally excited about our South Pacific itineraries because that area is excellent for expedition sailing with its rich culture and abundant wildlife. Seabourn Pursuit will sail there before and after its Kimberley programme (between April and June 2024, and then between August and early October 2024). These two regions offer a warm weather expedition experience that complements our well-known, bucket-list destinations in the Arctic and Antarctica.

We are investing significant resources into creating even more bespoke destination experiences across all the places we visit, and I think our guests will be delighted with the things they will see ahead. Last but not least, culinary is an integral part of luxury experiences and we are working on more great surprises for our guests.

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