Seabourn Names The Atlantic Speakers for 2026 Ovation Sailings

Seabourn has named the first four speakers from The Atlantic who will join two Seabourn Ovation voyages in fall 2026 under the companies’ three-year programming partnership. Megan Garber and Yvonne Rolzhausen will sail on an Atlantic Coast itinerary beginning Oct. 31, while David Frum and Evan Smith will join a Southern Caribbean cruise departing Nov. 20.

Seabourn and The Atlantic announced their collaboration earlier this year. The programming will become part of Seabourn Conversations, the cruise line’s complimentary onboard enrichment program, with additional events planned through 2028.

Two voyages receive the first speaker lineup

Garber and Rolzhausen will appear aboard Seabourn Ovation during the 13-day Atlantic Coast: Lighthouses & New England Charms itinerary, scheduled from Oct. 31 to Nov. 13, 2026.

Garber is a staff writer covering culture and media and previously worked for the Nieman Journalism Lab and Columbia Journalism Review. She received a Mirror Award for media writing and is the author of “Screen People: How We Entertained Ourselves into a State of Emergency” and “On Misdirection: Magic, Mayhem, American Politics.”

Rolzhausen, The Atlantic’s managing editor and head of fact-checking, has worked at the publication for more than 30 years. Her speaking engagements have included discussions at universities and international events about accuracy, editorial standards and fact-checking.

Frum and Smith will sail on the eight-day Southern Caribbean Gems voyage from Nov. 20 to 28, 2026. Frum is a staff writer and host of the weekly “The David Frum Show” podcast, covering policy, politics, literature, art and history. The author of 10 books, he served as a speechwriter for President George W. Bush in 2001 and 2002 and later chaired the U.K. think tank Policy Exchange from 2014 to 2017.

Smith is The Atlantic’s managing director of events, overseeing its live journalism and public programming. He previously co-founded The Texas Tribune and led the publication as chief executive for more than 13 years after an earlier career at Texas Monthly. He also hosts the weekly interview program “Overheard with Evan Smith.”

“Our first events aboard Seabourn are an exceptional way to begin this partnership,” Smith said.

Programming extends beyond onboard talks

Seabourn Conversations can include lectures, interactive discussions, shared meals, shore experiences and informal gatherings with invited speakers. Under the Atlantic partnership, guests on selected voyages will also receive access to digital content from the publication.

Seabourn plans to add curated libraries across its fleet containing recent magazine issues and books by current and historical Atlantic writers. Seabourn has not named the 2027 speakers or voyages.

“By bringing some of today’s most compelling voices aboard, we’re creating conversations that spark new ideas, broaden perspectives,” said Kacy Cole, Seabourn’s chief marketing officer.

The partnership is scheduled to culminate during Seabourn’s 40th-anniversary year with the 12-day “With The Atlantic: A Seabourn Conversations Exclusive” voyage aboard Seabourn Quest. Departing Oct. 4, 2028, the sailing will carry editorial programming developed jointly by the publication and cruise line and inspired by The Atlantic Festival.

See current Seabourn Ovation fares and itineraries on Cruise Lookup.