By Mike Coleman
Legendary broadcaster Hugh Downs, one of television’s most familiar and highly-regarded personalities, will be a special guest speaker onboard the luxurious 208-guest Seabourn Spirit during a 14-day Southeast Asia voyage later this year.Â
Downs will join guests Dec. 6 on a Singapore-to-Hong Kong journey. Highlights include calls at Bangkok and Ko Kood, Thailand; and Ho Chi Minh City, Danang, Halong Bay and Cai Lan (for Hanoi), Vietnam.
In 1985, the Guinness Book of World Records certified Downs as the person with the most exposure on network television, with a total of over 15,000 hours. Downs has received six Emmy Awards and has broadcast from every continent and both poles. He was anchor of ABC’s prime time newsmagazine 20/20 for 21 years and host of PBS’ Live from Lincoln Center for a decade.
Downs, who anchored Today and hosted NBC specials and documentaries from 1962 to 1971, earlier served as host of the game show, Concentration, and helped launch the Tonight Show, where he remained for five years. When he left regular broadcasting in 1999, he began to pursue other activities, including travel, flying, riding, sailing, composing, lecturing and writing.
Among Downs’ dozen books are Letter to a Great Grandson and My America: What America Means to Me, an anthology of essays from prominent Americans following the 2001 terrorist attacks. He and his wife co-authored Pure Gold, on marital longevity and he has written several books on aging, including Fifty to Forever. A Shoal of Stars is his account of sailing a 65-foot ketch across the Pacific and Rings Around Tomorrow is a collection of his science articles.
While cruising Asia, guests will be pampered as only Seabourn can. Look for thoughtful enhancements, both onboard and ashore, as part of the line’s Signature Delights program, including complimentary spirits, wines and French champagne throughout the cruise; gourmet cuisine created by celebrity chef, Charlie Palmer; complimentary massage moments on deck; therapeutic bathing selections from Molton Brown and a complimentary shoreside experience.
Guests will also enjoy special Seabourn services. Among them are Vintage Seabourn, a premium wines pre-purchase package; Seabourn to a Tea, an upgraded menu of rare estate teas; and Seabourn’s Personal Shopper, a program which provides luxury cars and specialized shopping guides in various ports.
Additionally, an insider tip program created exclusively for Seabourn from the pages of Conde Nast Traveler magazine features the latest information about attractions, suggested lunch spots, popular bars, unique experiences, shopping tips and more, for guests who wish to customize their own port activities through the ship’s onboard concierge.
