The award-winning ultra-luxury, small ship luxury cruise line Seabourn is now one step closer to the launch of its newest vessel, Seabourn Encore, with the commemorative cutting of the first steel. Taking place at the Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera, Italy, the ceremony was presided over by Seabourn President Richard Meadows and Antonio Quintano, director of Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard.
“The cutting of steel for Seabourn Encore is an important milestone in the evolution of both our beautiful fleet and the ultra-luxury cruise segment overall,” said Meadows. “We’re looking forward to seeing the ship come together and are excited to continue to add to our fleet. With Adam D. Tihany’s innovative design vision and Fincantieri’s excellent craftsmanship, Seabourn Encore will be the most beautiful ultra-luxury ship ever built.”
“For us shipbuilders, this ceremony is always a special time, and today it is even more. Not only because it represents the tangible beginning of the cooperation with Seabourn, with whom we have a recent, but already solid relationship, but also because it is the latest event in a long line shared with the Carnival group,” said Gabriele Cocco, Fincantieri’s senior executive vice president of merchant ships.
In a recognition to the line’s departing original fleet, joining the ceremony were 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, while marking the start of a new era with the beginning of the construction of Seabourn Encore.
Seabourn Encore, due for delivery in late 2016, will expand and build on the line’s award-winning and highly acclaimed Odyssey-class Luxury Cruise 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, and, with the addition of the two new ships, Seabourn will have the youngest and most modern ultra-luxury fleet in the industry.
Designed by hospitality design icon Adam D. Tihany, 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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