Seabourn says that from final frontier pursuits, nature-fuelled adventures and micro hospitality, it offers a glimpse into the future of travel with its trend predictions for 2022.
Seabourn also says that as many Australian travellers enter 2022 with more leave banked up than ever before and newfound freedom to travel internationally the prospect of an extraordinary trip is more tempting than ever.
Check out their 2022 trends:-
Small is Beautiful
Gone are the days of cookie-cutter experiences and mass tourism, as Seabourn predicts a trend for boutique hospitality, embracing destinations through micro-localised experiences. According to Josh Leibowitz, President of Seabourn: “high-net-worth clients want smaller resorts or hotels with less people, no crowds, open tables (outside), and space to relax.”
- Seabourn’s ships accommodate a range of 264 to 600 guests and are among the highest space-to-guest ratio in the cruise industry. The 7-Day Italy & The Rivieras also makes unique stops in French and Italian Riviera ports that are only accessible by smaller ships.
- Seabourn can help forge meaningful new relationships, only possible through smaller group interactions, by introducing guests to inspiring personalities and experts. Highlights include the new Seabourn Expedition itineraries, which include a 26- person team of wildlife experts, scientists, historians, and naturalists.
- Seabourn can facilitate incredible private experiences, such as a private speedboat sightseeing cruise along the Amazon River in the 33-Day Brazilian Beaches, The Amazon & Caribbean itinerary. Highlights include seeing the Meeting of the Waters, observing the Ribeirinhos or ‘river people’ carrying out their day-to-day activities, and passing floating markets.
The Great Outdoors
Travellers are increasingly seeking out remote places in which to disconnect, escape the amplified stress of city and daily life, and find sanctuary in nature. As they endeavour to keep a safe distance from crowds, quieter settings with fewer visitors are favoured, offering more opportunities to simply connect with nature and loved ones. According to Josh Leibowitz: “I believe we will continue to see a trend toward guests wanting to visit open-air, nature-rich places. Seabourn is shifting deployments to take guests to explore nature in remote areas such as Alaska’s hidden secrets, Iceland and Greenland, as well as the Arctic to tap into these interests.” Highlights include:
- Seabourn’s Scotland, Norway & Svalbard Exploration, sailing on the brand new Seabourn Venture expedition ship, includes exploring subarctic islands by Zodiac in search of polar bears, and getting up-close to Norway’s beautiful fjords.
- The 16-Day Australia & New Zealand itinerary features several opportunities to explore Kaipupu Sounds Nature Reserve, including a one-hour hike accessible only by boat. Following a short zodiac tour and after an interpretive hike, guests are then taken to a section of the Marlborough Sounds to kayak amongst the sights and sounds of Queen Charlotte Sound.
- The 7-Day Alaska Fjords & Canadian Inside Passage Watch itinerary will see guests spotting whales and eagles from a Zodiac, kayaking up close to wildlife in tranquil Misty Fjords, taking a photo safari for bears in Wrangell and hiking the Davidson Glacier with an expert naturalist in Haines.
Final Frontier Pursuits
After years grounded in one place, Australians have had plenty of time to crystallise their thoughts on a once-in-a-lifetime trip. “We see a desire among HNW clientele to do things no one else has done, so we have introduced marquee experiences such as the Northwest and Northeast passage, which are truly breathtaking, once-in-a-lifetime experiences that very few people have had,” says Josh Leibowitz. Highlights include:
- The brand new Seabourn Pursuit expedition ship will offer a 21-day adventure to the infamous Northwest Passage, a rarely transited route from Kangerlussuaq, Greenland to Nome. The expedition ship will be designed and built for diverse environments to PC6 Polar Class standards, with advanced technology to manoeuvre in these regions.
- Seabourn’s Antarctica & Patagonia itineraries feature several bucket-list moments, from seeing the picturesque Tierra del Fuego and the world’s southernmost city, Ushuaia, alongside discovering the unique flora and fauna of Antarctica on kayaks and hikes. The ship will also feature two on-board U-Boat Worx Cruise Sub 7 submarines, designed specifically for Seabourn, taking guests 300 metres beneath the surface to explore wrecks, reefs, and marine life.
- Uncover secrets of the Amazon on The Heart Of The Amazon itinerary. From Seabourn Venture’s open-air decks and in Seabourn Conversations with the Expedition Team lecturers, guests learn how the local Indigenous groups thrive hundreds of miles away from metropolitan life. Sailing to where the Amazon coincides with the Nanay and Itaya rivers, guests will also visit Iquitos, the so-called “Capital of the Amazon.” The largest city in the world that can’t be reached by road, Iquitos brims with grandiose mansions and historic squares, relics to the region’s Gilded Age boom in rubber production.
Health, Wellness & Safety
During lockdown, many have put great emphasis on nurturing health and wellbeing, whether this be through meditation, exercise, or finding ways to boost the immune system. According to Josh Leibowitz: “guests are seeking environments where they can feel confident, comfortable and safe.”
- Seabourn is differentiated from nearly any land-based option in that guests are reassured with full covid safety, requiring vaccination and testing, with onboard medical to support guest needs.
- Seabourn’s wellness partnership with Dr. Andrew Weil is the first-ever program of its kind at sea. Each Seabourn ship’s Mindful Living Coach is a certified yoga and meditation practitioner who inspires and educates guests with orientations, seminars, and classes during the voyage.
- Seabourn also has a curated Mindful Living Collection of shore excursions that have been designed to nourish the mind, body, and spirit during a voyage. Each experience — led by the Mindful Living Coach — is designed to be as memorable as it is emotionally and physically restorative. Highlights include a yoga session and healthy lunch by a picturesque bay in Crete, or a meditative bike ride through an Arabian wildlife park.
Active Luxury
In 2022, the desire for an active and adventurous holiday has also become a big motivator for luxury travel. “We see a trend toward guests wanting to go beyond typical touring and be highly active on vacation,” says Josh Leibowitz. “Seabourn has expanded its marina day operations which give guests access to Zodiacs, paddleboards, kayaks off the back of the ship and we have emphasised expedition experiences to keep guests moving and getting closer to nature.”
- The Humboldt Route, Chilean Fjords & Antarctica itinerary with Seabourn Venture offers the extraordinary experience to kayak in the vicinity of the Pío XI Glacie. 66 km in length, it is the longest glacier in the southern hemisphere outside Antarctica.
- On the 15-Day Mediterranean Allure & Greek Isles itinerary, guests have the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of pilgrims in the Middle Ages by hiking one of the most popular pilgrimage destinations in Spain — the Shrine of Our Lady of Montserrat. Highlights include seeing the statue of the Black Madonna (La Moreneta) and exploring the monastery, situated on an elevation of 2,380 feet.
- Seabourn’s 21-Day North Sea & Scandinavian Serenade allows guests to experience the Danish countryside on the island of Bornholm by bike. The top of the island offers magnificent views over to Sweden, before continuing on through a forest to reach the best-preserved church on the island, dating back to 1160.
Edited by John Alwyn-Jones, Cruise Editor
