Review: Seabourn Pursuit

What is the line? Seabourn

Name of ship? Pursuit

Passenger occupancy? 264

Itinerary? Charm of Italy, France & Spain, 7-Day cruise

Start out with the big picture—what is this cruise line known for?

Once my colleagues found out I was sailing with Seabourn, the first thing they told me was, “Oh, you’ll have a great time—the service is impeccable.” And boy, were they right.

The service and the crew’s attention to detail is what sticks out the most about my voyage, even months later. They knew my name, learned my drink preferences, asked how my excursions that day went—all the little things that make you feel well cared for, especially while traveling solo.

Tell us about the ship in general.

Pursuit is a small “yacht-like” expedition ship with a distinct green exterior, always beckoning from offshore. You can walk from bow to stern in a matter of minutes, though it never feels cramped. Plenty of open deck space invites you out to enjoy the salty air and park on a chaise lounge to soak up the sun (and the breathtaking views).

The elegant interior designed by Adam D. Tihany favors soothing neutrals with warm-toned accents—think tropical scenes set in stained glass—to complement sister expedition ship Venture, which features cool tones and polar scenes.

On the top deck, you’ll find 24 Zodiacs ready to be deployed for wildlife sightings at a moment's notice. Hidden in Pursuit’s bowels are two custom submarines, built for expedition trips whose destinations range from Antarctica (Pursuit meets PC6 Polar Class standards) to warmer climes like the Kimberley in Australia.

Who is onboard?

Retired couples and Seabourn loyalists make up the majority of passengers, all happy to share their treasure trove of great stories from past sailings and travels around the world. Sharing a new table at dinner every night meant I had the pleasure of hearing about past Grand Voyages, a memorably unsteady dinner during rough waters, and a particularly amorous monkey in Indonesia. Only a handful of families sailed onboard, with children under 10 numbering in the single digits.

Describe the cabins.

Bigger than some standard hotel rooms, the cabins feel spacious and relaxing (coming from an NYC studio, they felt particularly decadent). You can hang your dresses for dinner in the walk-in closet and dry your wet swimwear—or damp Arctic expedition gear—in the built-in warming compartment; have sunrise breakfasts or sunset cocktails mixed at the in-room wet bar on your private balcony (every cabin has one); and sleep in a plush, queen-sized bed.

Tell us about the crew.

The crew were attentive, friendly, available, and, of course, extremely knowledgeable. Every member made me feel not only like a VIP but like an old friend. I was always greeted by name with a smile and a helpful answer to any and all questions I had. I was far from the only passenger who experienced this—I heard from many fellow guests that the Pursuit crew was the best they'd ever come across.

I enjoyed lively dinners hosted by crew members; went on a personalized tour of the ship with the expedition director; and even made a new friend in one of the event coordinators, who helped me with a mishap in Cinque Terre—and then laughed it off with me over a glass of wine. By the middle of my sailing, it was clear the crew had truly learned my preferences when I returned from the pool or afternoon excursion to an ice-cold bottle of San Pellegrino waiting in my cabin.

What food and drink options are available on board?

There are two main restaurants: the Restaurant and the Colonnade. The latter serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner buffet-style, while the former offers full-service dining for dinner with a changing menu to reflect the latest port of call. (One of the excursion options was shopping with the ship’s chef at a local market for dinner that evening.)

I also grabbed snacks from Seabourn Square, which serves coffee-shop favorites most of the day, usually up until dinner. I spent one night in the Club, indulging in fresh sushi made-to-order from the sushi bar while listening to live music.

My favorite meal tended to be breakfast, which I would order for room service and have on my balcony, often as we were pulling up to the next port.

Is there a spa on board and is it worth visiting?

The spa is absolutely worth visiting, but book early, especially ahead of at-sea days. I booked a deep tissue massage to work out the knots in my shoulders and calves and only wish I could’ve had one daily. (The luxuriously warm massage oil was a sure highlight of the treatment.)

What about activities and entertainment?

There were always more activities offered than I could get to in a day, but not so many that I felt overwhelmed. I actually looked forward to coming back to my cabin after dinner to find the next day’s itinerary and start mapping out my future adventures.

Every port had its excursion options, of course, as well as transportation to and from the port itself. Daily activities like yoga and pilates were always on the schedule, as was afternoon tea, trivia competitions, and late-night dancing on the deck.

Most days, I liked to catch the live music acts around the lounges. There was a nightly show at the Discovery Center, which served as the ship’s main stage. I caught two of the acts—a comedian and a magician—who would often join guests for dinner. But my personal favorite onboard activity? Lounging by the pool with a piña colada from the patio bar. And if you’re feeling fancy, might as well try the caviar too.

How was the experience for families?

With few families onboard, the experiences were mostly geared toward adults. Not to say that children wouldn’t enjoy this cruise, but there were certainly fewer entertainment options than offered on a bigger ship, simply by virtue of more space. And because Pursuit is primarily designed for expedition sailing, the pool is smaller than on other ships in the line’s fleet.

Where did it sail and how were the excursions? Did anything stand out?

My sailing included ports in Italy, France, and Spain—all were beautiful and none were overcrowded. Elba and Portovenere in Italy were my personal favorites, offering more of an authentically local feel than I expected of cruise ports. We often tendered into the ports, as they were too small for us to dock, which I never minded.

The excursions felt super tailored to each port, and I ended up on two of them—the first in Italy to visit Cinque Terre and the second in Spain to tour Gala Dalí’s castle in Púbol. I still think about our initial excursion to Cinque Terre. We left Pursuit to take the public ferry (absolutely the best way to see it) with a local guide, who gave us free time to wander in each village we visited (only a few of the five). I found out later from a crew member that this was a last-minute addition because, as he said, how do we port on the Ligurian coast without visiting Cinque Terre!

Are there any stand out sustainability or green initiatives about this cruise?

Every Seabourn ship has a full-time Environmental Officer who oversees environmental compliance. To lower emissions, the cruise line uses marine gas oil (MGO) and/or Advanced Air Quality Systems (AAQS) to reduce sulfur compounds and particulate matter like black carbon from the ship’s engine exhaust. Seabourn is also the official cruise partner of UNESCO, working with them to promote sustainable tourism at 1,100 World Heritage sites around the globe.

Finally, give a sentence or two on why the cruise is worth booking.

Sailing on the Pursuit is a truly tailored experience—the crew will make the trip unique for you, and you’ll never lack for comfort or new experiences—bringing together the very best aspects of any good trip.