Seabourn and Uniworld extend partnership into 2027

Seabourn and Uniworld Boutique River Cruises are extending the partnership they launched in August, with combined sailings for 2027 set to go on sale on December 27.

When the brands announced in the summer that they were joining forces to offer a 2026 package, they described the proposition as a “world first”.

They are now preparing to deliver an “elevated” offering, featuring Uniworld’s deluxe cabins and Seabourn’s veranda suites, with two 16-day packages departing in June 2027.

“We’ve upgraded the packages,” said Uniworld UK and Europe managing director Chris Townson, adding: “It’s fantastic we can go out to the trade again and relaunch for 2027.”

He revealed agents had been enthusiastic about the original offering, which brought together Uniworld’s ‘Venice and the Jewels of the Veneto’ itinerary on La Venezia and seven nights on Seabourn Quest between Venice and Athens.

“It actually sold out within six weeks – the only cabins we had left were a couple of classics at the end,” he said.

Lynn Narraway, vice-president for the UK and EMEA at Seabourn, hailed the “fantastic collaboration” between the brands.

She noted agents had shown high levels of awareness of the partnership, which she said had helped encourage “luxury travellers” to book cruises.

Townson added: “From what we’ve seen, there was a mix of Uniworld guests, Seabourn guests and then ultra-luxury guests in the middle who thought, ‘Wow, this is a product I wasn’t even thinking about’.”

Narraway said the 2027 packages would involve a “slightly bigger” Seabourn ship, with Ovation offering 300 suites compared with Quest’s 225.

“Guests will be able to have a Seabourn experience, but on a slightly bigger ship. So I think if they’ve sailed in 2026, there’s a good reason for them to repeat in 2027 as well,” she said.

Full details of the 2027 sailings are set to be unveiled on Boxing Day, before sales begin the next day.

The first package, The Adriatic and the Venetian Lagoon, departing on June 5, 2027, will begin with eight nights on Seabourn Ovation from Athens to Fusina, in Venice, on the Greece, Italy, Croatia, Montenegro and Slovenia itinerary, before travellers join Uniworld’s La Venezia for seven nights’ all-inclusive in Venice and its islands.

The Venice, Adriatic and Aegean Seas itinerary, starting in Venice on June 6, 2027, will begin with Uniworld’s Venice and the Jewels of the Veneto cruise on La Venezia, before travellers stay eight nights on Seabourn Ovation from Fusina to Croatia, Malta, the Aeolian Islands, Sorrento and Civitavecchia. 

There will also be an option to add Uniworld’s Ljubljana extension, bookable as the 19-day Slovenia, Venice, The Adriatic and Aegean Seas.