30 Years of Seafarer Celebration Raises Funds for RNLI

There are companies that grow by chasing volume. Seafarer has never been one of them. Instead, over 30 Years of Seafarer we have taken a different approach, creating smaller, more personal journeys travellers genuinely value.

On 4th March, we marked that milestone with the people who’ve made it possible, at an invitation-only evening in London. Overall, it was a room full of warmth, good music, and a cause worth supporting.

We wanted to raise a glass to say thank you for 30 Years of Seafarer. However, we knew the evening should do more than celebrate us. 

In fact, a Seafarer staff member volunteers with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. At some point, they spoke to our Managing Director Chris Lorenzo about the work they do. That moment really struck a chord. 

The RNLI has been saving lives on the water since 1824. This charity is run overwhelmingly by volunteers, providing a 24-hour search. Specifically, their rescue service operates around the coasts of the UK and Ireland and is independent of government funding. 

For example, in 2024 alone, their crews launched over 9,000 times. To date, they’ve saved over 146,000 lives, an average of two every single day since 1824.

For a company that spends its life on the water, supporting them felt like the right thing to do. For this reason, as part of the 30 Years of Seafarer celebration, we set up a JustGiving page. Additionally, we pledged to match every donation, raising over £2,000 on the night.

The venue set the tone from the start. The Water Rats in Kings Cross is a legendary London live music venue, intimate and characterful. Indeed, on that very stage Bob Dylan made his UK debut in 1962. 

The evening opened with a solo acoustic set from singer-songwriter Phoebe White, before rock band Keystone headlined. Meanwhile, what guests perhaps didn’t expect was to find our Managing Director behind the drum kit. There was Chris Lorenzo, playing the headline set.

It was an evening of genuine warmth. Colleagues and press gathered in a room that felt like a fitting reflection of 30 years of Seafarer.

Seafarer opened its doors in 1995 from a small office at Butler’s Wharf, London. The first trip was a cabin charter in the Cyclades, led by Chris and his wife. Still, Chris jokes that guests spent the first three days seasick. In the end, everyone had a brilliant time.

Over 30 Years of Seafarer, we’ve helped thousands of travellers discover small-ship cruises. These journeys are intimate and carefully chosen, far from the mass market. Seafarer remains independent and owner-managed, just as it began. Our guests recognised this with a Feefo Platinum Service Award for the sixth consecutive year. Feefo is an independent reviews platform, so it means a lot.

To sum up, as we celebrate 30 Years of Seafarer, we remain as excited about the journeys ahead as those behind us.