Sherman's Travel

Despite romantic sentiment, major motion pictures, and irretrievably tight pants, pirates are still getting a bad rap. Luxury cruise line, The Yachts of Seabourn has canceled a five-month series of cruises in the Indian Ocean and Africa due to increasing incidents of piracy. The 208-passenger Seabourn Legend would have delivered guests to Kenya and the islands of Seychelles, Madagascar, and Zanzibar on a series of 15 sailings in 2010 and 2011.

Despite these cancellations, the Seabourn Spirit is still set to depart from the Mediterranean in November 2010 and will sail through the Gulf of Aden to Dubai and Oman. Controlled zones – such as the Mediterranean and the Gulf of Aden – have driven pirates south and east to the Indian Ocean. According to Seabourn spokesman, Bruce Good, the risk of danger is much less in the Gulf of Aden than it has been in previous months.

Seabourn Cruises will not cancel the Legend’s 2010-2011 season altogether and will instead station the ship in the safer shores of the Caribbean. Guests are discouraged from bringing any pirate paraphernalia due to poor taste.