A Glimpse Inside Seabourn: My First Tour of Carnival Corp’s Ultra-Luxury All-Inclusive Cruise Experience

In 2025, one of the most opulent cruise ships from Carnival Corp will set sail at a rate exceeding $700 per day, with caviar included.

No, this isn’t one of the massive vessels from Carnival Cruise Line featuring roller coasters. Instead, it’s Seabourn’s 458-guest Quest, ingeniously blending the expectations of contemporary affluent travelers with its 13-year-old design.

Carnival Corp oversees eight distinct cruise lines, with its flagship brand recognized primarily for its theme park-style features and comparatively budget-friendly trips.

This luxury brand operates six ships, and Quest, at 13 years old, is the second oldest in their fleet.

A portion of the ship’s voyages in 2025 have already reached full capacity. The least expensive option — a 14-day roundtrip voyage from Yokohama, Japan, to southern Japan and Taiwan — starts at $10,236 for each traveler.

This price tag significantly contrasts with the cheapest 14-day voyage offered by its mass-market counterpart, which begins at just $934 per traveler.

Carnival Cruise Line’s oldest ship is 26 years old. However, Quest is relatively older than the rest of Seabourn’s fleet, which boasts an average age of eight years.

Thus, you might notice some design elements that reflect its 2011 launch, including lower ceilings and some slightly outdated furnishings.

Nonetheless, treating yourself to appealing enhancements such as upscale dining options can rapidly increase the expenses of your Carnival getaway.

Luxury cruise lines like Seabourn adopt a different strategy by offering more expensive — though completely inclusive — starting prices.

While its cruises may come at a higher price point than Carnival’s, you won’t be required to pay additional fees for premium dining, beverages, or Starlink WiFi access.

Regrettably, activities such as excursions and spa services will still incur extra charges.

Hey, at least the caviar is complimentary.

The Colonnade serves as a breakfast and lunch buffet, transitioning to a table-service restaurant with changing international themes as night falls.

This indoor-outdoor dining venue offers a more relaxed atmosphere compared to Solis, the ship’s high-end Mediterranean-inspired restaurant.

The contemporary dining area combines the upscale vibrancy of a Virgin Voyages dining experience with the elegance of a fine-dining menu, showcasing offerings like branzino and a 32-ounce Tuscan-style porterhouse steak, both prepared at your table.

Don’t anticipate simply strolling in whenever you like — guests are allowed a single Solis reservation for each sailing.

At least it comes at no cost, unlike the ultra-luxury competitor Silversea, which charges extra for dining options on its latest vessel.

For those who enjoy intellectual pursuits, the cruise line features guest speakers — including Apple cofounder Steve Wozniak and King Charles III’s former butler, Grant Harrold — who present lectures at the theater.

For those looking to relax in the sun, Quest also boasts a classic pool deck and a marina that opens directly to the sea.

The latter has emerged as a favored amenity on rival ultra-luxury cruise liners, like Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collections’ Evrima.

Proceed toward the bow and pass the guest cabins located on deck six to discover the ship’s fifth hot tub.

Alternatively, you can ascend five decks to uncover the serene, staggered rows of lounge chairs.

It serves as a perfect spot to enjoy a good book or take a nap in the sunshine.

There, you can choose from an array of books, puzzles, or get your caffeine fix from the coffee shop.

If puzzles aren’t your thing, a short walk will take you to the card room’s well-stocked board game cabinet.

Unlike Carnival, Seabourn does not cater to families with young kids. Therefore, don’t expect more kid-friendly activities than the board games and shuffleboard available on the upper deck.

Quest features 229 cabins, ranging in size from 295 to 1,182 square feet. Most of them come with balconies, providing an additional 558 square feet of space.

The floating hotel rooms provide an array of luxurious amenities, including a personalized in-suite bar and spacious walk-in closets.

These accommodations outshine those on its parent company’s cruise line, where opting for the least expensive option means settling for a windowless cabin that is quite compact.

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