By
Rebecca Gibson |
Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri has officially delivered the all-suite Seabourn Encore to Seabourn Cruise Line at its Marghera yard in Italy.
Modelled on Seabourn’s Odyssey-class ships, the 40,350gt Seabourn Encore carries just 600 guests and has been configured with one additional deck, new expanded public areas, and 300 suites with private verandas. All interiors have been created by renowned by hospitality designer Adam D. Tihany.
New onboard highlights include new dining venues The Grill by Thomas Keller and Sushi, and The Retreat, a sanctuary area with private cabanas and a cabana for personalised spa services.
While onboard, guests will also be able to enjoy a new theatre production created exclusively for Seabourn by award-winning musical theatre lyricist Sir Tim Rice and Belinda King Creative Productions. Titled ‘An Evening with Tim Rice’, the production will debut when Seabourn Encore sails from Singapore on her inaugural voyage in January 2017. It will be rolled out across the rest of the fleet throughout the year and on Seabourn Ovation, which will launch in spring 2018.
The new Spa and Wellness with Dr. Andrew Weil programme, which has been designed in collaboration with US-based integrative medicine specialist Andrew Weil, will also debut on Seabourn Encore in January.
“We have been looking forward to this day for over two years,” said Richard Meadows, Seabourn president. “Seabourn Encore is a stunning ship that will set new standards in ultra-luxury cruising. I am so proud of our partnership with Fincantieri, it has been such a pleasure to work together transforming raw materials into this incredible vessel.”
International recording artist and best-selling soprano Sarah Brightman will officially christen Seabourn Encore during a naming ceremony at the port of Singapore on 7 January 2017. The ship will then depart on her 10-day ‘Gems of the Java Sea’ maiden voyage.
Following her inaugural sailing, Seabourn Encore will sail various cruises in Australia and New Zealand, then head to India, the Arabian Gulf and the holy Land, before closing her winter season in Athens, Greece on 5 May 2017. The vessel will then spend summer 2017 in the Mediterranean, departing from Piraeus in Athens, and later Barcelona, Spain.
Seabourn Encore will be the fourth ship in the Seabourn fleet and will be joined by a sister, Seabourn Ovation, in spring 2018.
“The jewel we deliver today is the first ship we have had the pleasure of building for Seabourn,” said Giuseppe Bono, CEO of Fincantieri. “I am thrilled to confirm that dry dock works for the next addition to the fleet – Seabourn Ovation – will begin in the next few days in our shipyard in Sestri Ponente.”