Seabourn Partners With UNESCO & Brings World Heritage Experts Onboard

Our travels have taken us to many interesting and historic places around the world and in some cases we were unaware of their designation as World Heritage Sites by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), or why they were chosen to be designated as such. Some are obvious—such as the Alhambra in Spain and the Acropolis in Athens, Greece—but others are not entirely clear.

To answer those questions and more, in conjunction with its newly-formed partnership with UNESCO, Seabourn is making insight into those designations available to guests by hosting prominent world heritage experts for its Seabourn Conversations enrichment and special guest entertainment program. Conversation topics will include culture, heritage, history, and the importance of sustainable tourism in preserving World Heritage Sites. Sharing their insights onboard Seabourn vessels over the next year-and-a-half will be a host of UNESCO advisors and consultants. UNESCO seeks to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity.

More than a dozen UNESCO speakers are scheduled to take part in Seabourn Conversations on voyages around the world through fall and the year ahead. A sampling includes: Jacinta Nzioka, (Seabourn Sojourn, Dec 13, 2014) the Director of Marketing at the Kenya Tourist Board; Dr. Carol Westrik, author of "The Future of World Heritage" for UNESCO's 40th anniversary, and Dr. Juan Jose Negro, an internationally renowned speaker on natural heritage and director of the Doñana Biological Station in Spain (Seabourn Quest, May 12, 2015); and Dr. Ray Bondin (Seabourn Sojourn, May 31, 2015), who has extensive experience in the rehabilitation of heritage sites and served as Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Malta to UNESCO. The full list of scheduled UNESCO guest speakers is available at Seabourn.com/luxury-cruise-vacation-onboard/Seabourn-Conversations.action.

Seabourn's ships circle the globe throughout the year and include more than 150 designated World Heritage Sites in its itineraries. In addition to the deeper insight guests receive on board their ships, the line has created special World Heritage Discovery Tours with exclusive enhanced content developed in cooperation with UNESCO World Heritage site managers and tour experts. Fares for Seabourn optional excursions that include UNESCO World Heritage Sites will include a small donation to UNESCO's World Heritage Fund.

"UNESCO's vital role in encouraging cultural understanding and preservation will make for fascinating conversation on Seabourn vessels around the world," said John Delaney, Seabourn's senior vice president, marketing and sales. "The significance of cultural experiences only continues to grow, and we're excited to welcome those who lend their expertise to UNESCO to engage our guests about such important topics as sustainable tourism, culture and heritage."

Image Courtesy of Seabourn