SEATTLE, April 13, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the
award-winning ultra-luxury, small ship 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 special nod 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 will expand and build on the line's
award-winning and highly acclaimed Odyssey-class ships, which
revolutionized 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 personalized 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.
To follow the progress of Seabourn Encore, please visit
the ship's dedicated microsite: http://encore.seabourn.com. Filled
with imagery, details and updates on the ship's progress, including
"sunsets until launch," the microsite offers an inside look at the
most exciting Seabourn launch in years. Additional details, news
and images will be revealed on the site on an ongoing basis.
For more details about the award-winning Seabourn fleet, or to
explore the worldwide selection of Seabourn cruising options,
contact a professional travel advisor, call Seabourn at
1-800-929-9391 or visit www.seabourn.com.
Click to Tweet: Construction of @SeabournCruise's new
#SeabournEncore begins with Steel Cutting Ceremony on April 13,
2015!
Notes to Editors:
Seabourn is consistently ranked among the world's top
travel choices by professional critics and the discerning readers
of prestigious travel publications such as Departures, Travel +
Leisure and Conde Nast Traveler. Its stylish,
distinctive cruising vacations are renowned for:
- Intimate ships with no more than 300 suites
- Unique itineraries visiting must-see cities and hidden gems
where larger ships cannot follow
- Intuitive, gracious service provided by a staff passionate
about pleasing our guests
- Spacious all-suite accommodations with sweeping ocean views –
many with verandas
- Gourmet dining experiences as fine as the best restaurants
anywhere
- Open bars throughout the ship and fine wines poured with lunch
and dinner
Seabourn is a proud member of World's Leading Cruise Lines. The
exclusive alliance also includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland
America Line, Princess Cruises, Cunard Line, Costa Cruises, AIDA,
P&O Cruises UK and P&O Cruises Australia. Seabourn is a
brand of Carnival Corporation and plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL and NYSE:
CUK). It has formed a partnership with United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to help protect World
Heritage, and also supports the Ocean Conservation & Tourism
Alliance, dedicated to education and promotion of best practices
for protecting the marine environment.
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150413/198153
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150413/198154
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150413/198155
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150413/198156
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visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/first-steel-cut-for-seabourns-newest-ultra-luxury-vessel-seabourn-encore-due-for-delivery-in-late-2016-300064899.html
SOURCE Seabourn