Seabourn Nixes 2010–2011 Indian Ocean Sailings; Fear of Pirate Attacks

There's bound to be some disappointed travelers today due to Seabourn's announcement that Seabourn Legend will not sail its five-month, 15-cruise stint in the Indian Ocean in the latter part of 2010 and early 2011. Caribbean cruises will replace the original schedule.

Seabourn president Pamela Conover said the decision was made with regrets. However, the company feels the risk of pirate attacks is too great. (You'll recall that Seabourn Spirit was attacked in the Indian Ocean in 2005.)

Ms. Conover said in a statement, "It makes me sad to have to cancel these cruises. I personally loved touring Kenya's game parks, and the islands of the Seychelles, Madagascar, and Zanzibar are lovely and exotic destinations where we sincerely had hoped to be able to take our guests. We look forward to a time when the sea routes are controlled enough for us to cruise there for a season."

Seabourn will contact any passengers (via their travel agents) regarding this change and will offer further discounts and onboard credits if they rebook an alternative sailing. If it were me, I'd rebook on one of these itineraries:

Gems of the Java Sea
Seabourn Spirit
January 12, 2011 (10 days)
Singapore to Benoa, Bali (Indonesia) via Kuching, Borneo, Malaysia and the following ports of call in Indonesia: Karimunjawa, Semarang/Java, Lembar/Lombok, and Padang Bay/Bali.

or

Spice Islands Discoveries
Seabourn Spirit
January 22, 2011 (12 days)
Benoa, Bali (Indonesia) to Singapore via Indonesian ports of call Komodo Island, Palopo/Sulawesi, Ujung Pandang; Malaysia stops in Sandakan/Borneo and Koto Kinabalu; and Maura in Brunei.

For more information about the Yachts of Seabourn, talk with your travel agent or contact Seabourn at 1-(800) 929-9391.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photo courtesy of Seabourn