Seabourn Makes Milestone Moment as First
Cruise Line to Appoint Aboriginal Traditional Owners as
Godparents
SEATTLE, April 18,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Seabourn, the leader in
ultra-luxury cruises and expedition travel, is thrilled to announce
the Wunambal Gaambera Traditional Owners as godparents of
Seabourn Pursuit, the line's newest ultra-luxury,
purpose-built expedition ship.
Seabourn is the first cruise line to appoint Traditional Owners
as godparents of a ship. The naming of Wunambal Gaambera
Traditional Owners as godparents of Seabourn Pursuit serves
as a symbolic gesture of stewardship and responsibility toward the
environment and the communities that Seabourn visits, as well as
Seabourn's commitment to sustainable tourism. The naming ceremony
will take place on Seabourn Pursuit's June 22-July 2, 2024 voyage in the Kimberley
region of Australia.
"We believe no one can give a better blessing to our ship than
the communities we visit. We truly believe in the transformative
power of travel, and when we visit local communities, we are able
to both celebrate their culture and drive positive sustainable
change in the places they call home," said Natalya Leahy, president of Seabourn. "When we
set out to name the godparent for Seabourn Pursuit, we knew
we wanted to do something that celebrates this special moment for
the ship and also allows us to drive long-term sustainable positive
change in line with the values Seabourn and our guests stand
for."
The Wunambal Gaambera people are the Traditional Owners of a
region in the Kimberley that includes the sea country of Ngula Jar
Island (Vansittart Bay) and Yirinni (Hunter
River), and the freshwater country of Ngauwudu (Mitchell
Plateau).
Christening the ship is a symbolic event that bestows blessings
upon everyone who will ever sail on board. The godparents bring
good luck and protection to the vessel with this maritime
tradition. Godparent to the Wunambal Gaambera people can be
described as garrangarru– which is a word used to describe a
mother or listener. Wunambal Gaambera Aboriginal Corporation
(WGAC), its country and people, embody ideal ambassadors or
godparents for Seabourn Pursuit. Their rich cultural history
and deep connection to the land and sea, alongside their
established sustainable tourism initiatives along the Kimberley
Coast, make them a natural fit for Seabourn Pursuit's
inaugural season in Western
Australia.
Representatives from the Wunambal Gaambera Aboriginal
Corporation will be at Ngula Jar Island on the Uunguu Coast to
welcome Seabourn Pursuit guests and to participate in the
inaugural dedication ceremony on June 29,
2024.
A Lasting Partnership: Investing in Sustainable
Tourism
As part of this appointment with the Wunambal
Gaambera Traditional Owners, Seabourn will make a donation to
assist Wunambal Gaambera to develop a self-sustaining industry,
producing authentic works of art and craft by Wunambal Gaambera
artists to sell. In addition, Seabourn will also supply the
Wunambal Gaambera Aboriginal Corporation with pearl shells and
various art supplies and polishing materials to foster sustainable,
commercial arts and craft initiatives year-round for Wunambal
Gaambera artists and craft producers.
Seabourn intends to work alongside Wunambal Gaambera Traditional
Owners as they share their unique Uunguu Experience – the sharing
of their Wanjina Wunggurr culture through welcome and smoking
ceremonies; rock art tours; junba song and dance; and art and
stories from the Uunguu Rangers looking after and keeping the
country healthy.
"We, the Wunambal Gaambera people, have a communal need and
responsibility to look after and prosper from our country.
Seabourn's contributions will assist us to be on country, look
after and keep our land and sea country healthy, strengthen our
Wanjina Wunggurr culture, and create economic opportunities for our
people," said Catherine Goonack, Chairperson of the Wunambal
Gaambera Aboriginal Corporation. "It is important we are looking
after our country in the way of our Wanjina Wunggurr law. We are
happy when we and our future generations are living and working on
our healthy Wunambal Gaambera Country. We appreciate Seabourn's
support to us in these efforts and look forward to sharing our
unique Uunguu Experience with Seabourn and their guests as the
garrangarru or Godparents of the Seabourn
Pursuit."
Seabourn's monetary contribution, along with funding already
received from the State Tourism Authority, Tourism Western
Australia, will contribute to Wunambal Gaambera's development of
tourism facilities and products for Traditional Owners to live on
their country during the dry season when tourism operators can
access the vast coastline of the Kimberley region. Seabourn
congratulates Wunambal Gaambera Aboriginal Corporation's
implementation of their Uunguu Visitor Management Plan to reconnect
with their country, to manage visitor access and take leadership in
the tourism industry, and to engage with water-based visitors who
arrive on their land, thus participating in the value chain that
operators like Seabourn offer. Ngula Jar Island will be featured on
all Seabourn itineraries in the Kimberley, ensuring consistent
visitation to Wunambal Gaambera Country.
"This is a wonderful collaboration of Wunambal Gaambera and
Seabourn that is augmented by Tourism Western Australia,
demonstrating our shared values and the promise of greater
opportunities for Traditional Owners in the Kimberley region. We
are proud to support Wunambal Gaambera's Ngula Jar Island
development as we strive to position Western Australia as the leading Australian
destination for authentic Aboriginal experiences," said
Carolyn Turnbull, Managing Director
of Tourism Western Australia. "We know visitors to Western Australia — the Dream State
— are seeking immersive Indigenous experiences and the work we
are supporting on Ngula Jar Island will enable this to happen. The
ongoing visitation fueled by premium cruise tourism operators, like
Seabourn, provides the necessary market to make this initiative
successful and sustainable."
Seabourn's newest ultra-luxury, purpose-built expedition
ship, Seabourn Pursuit, is an intimate ship with private,
yacht-like atmosphere, featuring 132 luxuriously appointed
ocean-front veranda suites — taking ultra-luxury travelers further,
deeper, and closer to the most coveted and remote destinations in
the world. Led by a world-class 24-person Expedition Team to
deliver immersive experiences throughout the entire journey, each
voyage offers exclusive experiences such as curated shore
excursions, cultural tours, guided Zodiac cruises, hikes, nature
walks, snorkeling and scuba diving.
Further information on Seabourn Pursuit, suites and
public spaces of the ship can be found here. For more details about
Seabourn, or to explore the worldwide selection of Seabourn
cruising options, contact a professional travel advisor, call
Seabourn at 1-800-929-9391, or visit www.seabourn.com.
About Seabourn:
Seabourn represents the pinnacle of
ultra-luxury ocean and expedition travel and operates a suite of
seven modern ships. The all-inclusive, boutique ships offer
all-suite accommodations with oceanfront views; award-winning
dining; complimentary premium spirits and fine wines available at
all times; renowned service provided by an industry-leading crew; a
relaxed, sociable atmosphere that makes guests feel at home; a
pedigree in expedition travel through the Ventures by Seabourn
program and two new ultra-luxury purpose-built expedition ships,
including Seabourn Venture that launched in 2022 and Seabourn
Pursuit in 2023. Seabourn takes travelers to every continent on the
globe, visiting more than 400 ports including marquee cities and
lesser-known ports and hideaways. Guests of Seabourn experience
extraordinary offerings and programs, including partnerships with
leading entertainers, dining, personal health and wellbeing, and
engaging speakers.
Seabourn is a brand of Carnival Corporation and plc (NYSE/LSE:
CCL and NYSE: CUK).
For additional information about WGAC, please visit:
- https://www.facebook.com/uunguulife
- https://www.instagram.com/uunguulife/
-
https://www.linkedin.com/company/wunambal-gaambera-aboriginal-corporation/mycompany/
Find Seabourn on Twitter, Facebook,
Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest.
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SOURCE Seabourn