Germany-based Seven Seas Society has named SeaDream Yacht Club the world’s best cruise line for 2008.

Seven Seas Editor-in-Chief Oliver Mueller presented the award to SeaDream President & chief exective officer Larry Pimentel at the Seatrade Conference in Miami.

The award marked the first time the 10-year-old Seven Seas Society had presented cruise line awards.

“We are especially pleased to accept this honor since the German-speaking region is highly important to us and each year the number of our guests from the region has increased dramatically,” said Pimentel.

“I also believe it is interesting to note that since 2007, SeaDream Yacht Club has received three major awards from notable German organizations. In 2007 Capital, a leading German business publication, named SeaDream I and II the Best Small Cruise Ships in the World; and Kreuzfahrt Guide, an authoritative German guidebook named SeaDream Best Cruise Line for Service and awarded the honor at the 2008 ITB travel fair, the largest in the world. And now comes the Seven Seas Society award,” he added.

“At SeaDream we take seriously all such honors and accolades. They are a testimonial to the diligence and skill of our onboard officers and staff, as well as to the shore side staff that backs them up,” Pimentel said.

Yacht Club is the yachting venture by Norwegian entrepreneur Atle Brynestad, who founded Seabourn Cruise Line, and Larry Pimentel who was president of Seabourn under Brynestad and later president and CEO of the merged Cunard and Seabourn. Pimentel is president and CEO of the Miami, Florida-headquartered SeaDream Yacht Club and a co-owner. Brynestad is chairman.