Seabourn Odyssey in Sydney Harbor. Photos courtesy Seabourn Cruises
Seabourn Cruises, a leading ultra-luxury cruise line and subsidiary of Carnival Corporation, has announced the formal signing of a contract with Fincantieri for the construction of a new all-suite vessel, continuing the fleet modernization that the company began in 2009 with the launch of Seabourn Odyssey.
The configuration of the new, 40,350 GRT vessel will be based on the highly popular Seabourn Odyssey-class ships, with one additional deck and new expanded public areas. Seabourn says the new vessel is expected to carry just 604 guests, based on double occupancy of the all-suite lower berths, part of an effort to maintain Seabourn’s high ratio of space per guest and enable personalized service by nearly one staff member per guest on board. In addition, every suite will feature a private veranda.
The new ship will be built by Fincantieri S.p.A. in Italy, with delivery scheduled for mid-2016.
“The new ship will continue the evolution that began with Seabourn’s fleet expansion, adding modern design elements and innovations consistent with Seabourn’s reputation for understated elegance,” said Richard D. Meadows, Seabourn’s president. “With its delivery, the most highly rated cruise line in the world will also offer travelers the newest fleet of ships in the luxury segment.”
The Cruise Line International Association, the largest representing the global cruise industry and of which parent Carnival is a member, named luxury cruising (including luxury category ships, onboard upgrades) as one of the biggest cruising trends of 2014 as the global economy improves along with increased consumer confidence.
“An order from a new brand is always a source of great satisfaction,” said Giuseppe Bono, Fincantieri’s Chief executive officer. “Today we can also add a note of pride, because the addition to our customer base of Seabourn, the Carnival Group’s top-end cruise line, means that we are now building ships for all the operators in the ultra-luxury segment, a niche market that has seen strong investments in the past year.
“This gratifying result, which gives us cause to be optimistic about the future, is the product of the cultural renewal being pursued with determination at every level of our business activity,” Bono added.
The award winning Seabourn Odyssey-class also includes the Seabourn Sojourn (2010) and Seabourn Quest (2011).
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