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Seabourn Odyssey farewell voyage bringing back original team members

Seabourn Odyssey's 22-day farewell voyage in September will include tributes, appearances by the ship's original team and performing cast, local artists and commemorative gifts.

Anne Kalosh, Editor, Seatrade Cruise News & Senior Associate Editor, Seatrade Cruise Review

April 22, 2024

2 Min Read
Credit: Seatrade Cruise News

The 2009-built ship, acquired by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines in March last year and chartered back to Seabourn, will be leaving to become Mitsui Ocean Fuji for Mitsui Ocean Cruises.

The farewell cruise is scheduled to depart Seattle Sept. 2, bound for Yokohama. It will visit 11 ports and destinations, including Alaska's Kodiak Island and five in Japan. 

John Barron and Handré Potgieter

John Barron and Handré Potgieter will return as cruise directors. Both were part of the original on-board team when the ship entered service, with Barron its first cruise director and Potgieter part of the entertainment team. In addition, Seabourn President Natalya Leahy will be on board in Seattle to wish passengers and crew farewell.

Barron said it would be a 'heartfelt journey ... filled with memories of [Odyssey's] inception in the shipyard, the exhilaration of her maiden voyage and the joy of witnessing guests embark on her for the first time ... We will celebrate 15 years of unforgettable moments, friendships and the legacy Seabourn Odyssey leaves behind.'

Potgieter added: 'Seabourn Odyssey is really where my journey with Seabourn started, and it feels like I'm coming back home. It will be an incredibly special voyage, and I am very excited to share this final chapter with our many loyal guests, amazing on-board team and colleagues Belinda King and John.'

Belinda King and guest performers

Belinda King of Belinda King Creative Productions will participate in a 'Seabourn Conversation' Q&A about 'The World Behind Seabourn Entertainment.'

Guest performers will include piano entertainer Roy Tan and vocalist Corlea Botha, magician Mark Haslam, cellist Andre Cavassi, pianist Aisa Ijiri and violinist Irina Guskova.

Other guest speakers and happenings

Other 'Seabourn Conversations' speakers will include NASA astronaut Heidemarie Piper, award-winning photographer Michael Yamashita, author and chef Maria Finn, marine scientist Dave Plourd and maritime historian Tim Runyan.

Donna Lewis will be on hand for the complimentary artist-in-residence mixed media classes inspired by the ports Seabourn Odyssey visits. Participants can develop a memento of their voyage to take home. 

Further activities will include a signature caviar event.

Seabourn Odyssey by the numbers

During 15 years of Seabourn service, Odyssey has carried 180,454 passengers and traveled 859,554 nautical miles — equivalent to 39.7 circumnavigations of the equator — calling at 426 ports.

Four tons of caviar, 13m breadsticks and more than 300,000 bottles of champagne have been consumed.

About the Author

Anne Kalosh

Editor, Seatrade Cruise News & Senior Associate Editor, Seatrade Cruise Review

Anne Kalosh covers global stories, reporting both breaking and in-depth news on cruising's significant people, places, ships and trends. A sought-after expert on cruising, she has moderated conferences around the world, including the high-profile State of the Industry panel at Seatrade Cruise Global. She created and led the acclaimed itinerary-planning case study for Seatrade's cruise master classes held at Cambridge and Oxford universities. She has been the cruise columnist for AFAR.com, and her freelance stories have appeared in a wide range of publications, from The New York Times to The Miami Herald.

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