The time-honored coin and launch ceremony is a long standing maritime tradition that calls for a “madrina” to preside over the celebratory events. Jan Stearman, the popular Cruise Director and Seabourn’s longest-serving female shipboard team member, who joined the company 22 years ago, was chosen for this honour. Along with Seabourn President Richard Meadows, Fincantieri Shipyard Director Paolo Capobianco and Seabourn Ovation Captain Stig Betten observed the welding of two commemorative gold coins to the ship’s keel. Jan Stearman then cut the ship’s cord to allow water to flow into the ship’s building dock. The ship will be “floated out” from its dry dock and moved to its outfitting dock at the shipyard, where it will undergo final construction until the ship is delivered in early 2018.
“Watching the coin ceremony and seeing Seabourn Ovation officially touch the water for the first time today was a very special moment for all of us at Seabourn, representing a significant step toward the further expansion of our luxury fleet,” said Richard Meadows, president of Seabourn. “Many guests and partners across the travel industry have expressed their enthusiasm for the arrival of this incredible ship following the successful debut in December 2016 of her sister ship, Seabourn Encore.”
Like its sister ship Seabourn Encore, Seabourn Ovation is designed by the hospitality design icon Adam D. Tihany with contemporary interiors, modern design elements, and innovations consistent with Seabourn’s reputation for understated elegance. The new ship will round out the current planned expansion of the Seabourn’s and highly acclaimed fleet.
Seabourn Ovation will maintain the line’s high ratio of space per guest, enabling highly intuitive and personalized service for each guest on board. The 40,350-GRT ship will carry just 600 guests, based on double occupancy.
We hope to be sailing on the inaugural sailing next May and very much look forward to this experience.
Photo courtesy of PRNewsfoto/Seabourn
0 Comments