Award-winning cruise line Seabourn is now one step closer to the launch of its newest ultra-luxury vessel, Seabourn Encore, with the commemorative cutting of the first steel at the Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera, Italy.
Seabourn President Richard Meadows said the cutting of steel for Seabourn Encore was an important milestone in the evolution of the cruise line’s small-ship fleet and the ultra-luxury cruise segment overall.
“We’re looking forward to seeing the ship come together and are excited to continue to add to our fleet. With the innovative vision of hospitality design icon Adam D.Tihany and Fincantieri’s excellent craftsmanship, Seabourn Encore will be the most beautiful ultra-luxury ship ever built,” Mr Meadows said.
Fincantieri’s Senior Executive Vice President of Merchant Ships Gabriele Cocco said the cutting ceremony was always a special time for shipbuilders. Mr Cocco said it represented the tangible beginning of Fincantieri’s cooperation with Seabourn, as well as the latest event in a long line shared with the Carnival group.
The ceremony was presided over by Mr Meadows and the director of Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard Antonio Quintano. In a special nod to the line’s departing original fleet, the ceremony was attended by two crew members from Seabourn Legend, the last of the three original Seabourn ships currently on its final sailing under the Seabourn banner. Their presence signified the closing of a chapter in the line’s history and marked the start of a new era with the construction of Seabourn Encore.
Australia will be one of the first countries to welcome Seabourn Encore, with the ship due to make nine maiden calls to local ports from January to March 2017 following her launch in Singapore on January 7, 2017.
Seabourn Encore will expand and build on the line’s award-winning and highly acclaimed Odyssey-class ships, which revolutionised ultra-luxury cruising with enhanced accommodations and innovative amenities when they were introduced between 2009 and 2011. Seabourn Encore will maintain the line’s high ratio of space per guest, enabling a highly personalised level of Seabourn service. A sister ship, Seabourn Ovation, will join the fleet in 2018. With the addition of the two new ships, Seabourn will have the youngest and most modern ultra-luxury fleet in the industry.
Seabourn Encore will feature modern design elements and innovations consistent with the line’s reputation for understated elegance. The 40,350-GRT ship will be configured with one additional deck and new expanded public areas, and is expected to carry just 600 guests, based on double occupancy. In addition, every suite will feature a private veranda.
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