SEATTLE, Sept. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the
world's finest ultra-luxury cruise line Seabourn marked a
major construction milestone with a traditional coin and launch
ceremony for its newest ship, Seabourn Ovation, at the
Fincantieri shipyard in Sestri, Italy. Seabourn Ovation is set to
welcome guests and begin sailing in May
2018.
The time-honored coin and launch ceremony is an enduring
maritime tradition that calls for a "madrina" to preside over the
celebratory events. Serving in this significant role was
Jan Stearman, Seabourn's
longest-serving female shipboard team member, who joined the
company 22 years ago, and a well-known and respected cruise
director. 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
mast. 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
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."
Following the ship's delivery, Seabourn Ovation will
embark on an 11-day inaugural voyage departing May 5, 2018, from Venice, Italy, to Barcelona, Spain. The ship will go on to spend
the majority of her maiden season cruising the waters of
Northern Europe, offering a series
of seven-day Baltic and Scandinavian cruises between Copenhagen and Stockholm, which will include the line's
signature three-day stay in St.
Petersburg, Russia. Seabourn Ovation will also sail
on longer 14-day voyages, visiting the majestic Norwegian fjords
and British Isles.
Like its sister ship Seabourn Encore, Seabourn
Ovation is being fashioned by notable 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 line's award-winning 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. The all-suite ship will offer a
number of desirable in-suite amenities to provide guests with a
"home away from home" onboard experience. In every luxurious suite
will be a private veranda, providing sweeping oceanfront views and
spacious enough for private al fresco dining. Featuring striking
design and sophisticated décor, each suite will include a
comfortable living area with sofa seating and a desk/dining table;
elegant bedding; a walk-in closet; in-suite entertainment options
with a wide selection of movies, music, broadcast television and
radio channels; and a superbly-appointed marble bathroom with
separate bath and shower and luxury bath products, including the
new exclusive Seabourn Signature Scents by Molton Brown. A personal bar and refrigerator
will be stocked according to guest preferences, coordinated before
arrival.
Guests who sail on Seabourn Ovation will also find a
number of innovative offerings and programs, including partnerships
with a select group of companies and individuals whose dedication
to superior quality, exceptional service and consistent customer
satisfaction matches Seabourn. These programs include 'An Evening
with Tim Rice', the new evening entertainment experience created
exclusively for the line in association with Belinda King Creative
Productions; Spa and Wellness with Dr. Andrew Weil, offering guests
a holistic spa and wellness experience that integrates physical,
social, environmental and spiritual well-being; and The Grill by
Thomas Keller, reminiscent of the classic American restaurant from
the 50's and 60's. Exclusive to Seabourn, The Grill is a unique
culinary concept for Chef Keller, focusing on updated versions of
iconic dishes. Guests will be treated to table-side preparations of
Caesar salad and ice cream sundaes, as well as a range of other
favorites like premium steaks, whole roasted chicken, and Lobster
Thermidor, presented à la carte.
Seabourn will continue to reveal updates about Seabourn
Ovation via the dedicated microsite:
http://ovation.seabourn.com. Filled with imagery, details and news
of the ship's continuing progress, the microsite offers an inside
look at the next addition to the newest overall fleet in the
ultra-luxury cruise category. In addition, the line has created a
video previewing the array of onboard experiences, thoughtful
elements, and inspiration and passion driving the creation of
Seabourn Ovation.
For more details about the award-winning Seabourn fleet, or to
explore the worldwide selection of Seabourn cruising options,
contact a travel professional, call Seabourn at 1-800-929-9391 or
visit www.seabourn.com.
Find Seabourn on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and
Pinterest.
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 Condé 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, P&O Cruises Australia and fathom. 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 sites.
Click to Tweet: @SeabournCruise holds traditional
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SOURCE Seabourn