Seabourn is investing in a training programme to ensure new crew understand the “brand’s culture and values”.

Speaking to 150 agents onboard Seabourn Venture, the line’s new president Natalya Leahy said “exceptional service” was one of her top three priorities for the brand, alongside supporting the trade and delivering “incredible experiences”.

The line is reintroducing a shipboard training programme which was originally introduced pre-pandemic.

Leahy, who is two months into her new role, said the aim of the programme was to ensure “the environment and atmosphere [onboard] is reflective of the brand’s culture”.

She said it was important passengers felt comfortable calling Seabourn ships their home-from-home.

“It’s really targeted at new team members and it showcases what the brand is all about,” she said. “We already hire very well so our team is already the best in hospitality, but we know it’s important to exactly explain more about what the Seabourn culture is all about. We want everyone to feel part of a family and that goes for both crew and guests.

Leahy stressed that strong relationships with the trade were a “strategic priority” for the brand.

She described agents as “an extension of [Seabourn’s] leadership team”.

“The trade is a strategic priority for us,” she said. “More than ever the luxury guest puts their trust in a travel agent.

“You bring this brand to life. You have given me lots of feedback already and we have taken action. We introduced the Grand Africa deployment based on recommendations from the trade.”