Seabourn took delivery of its newest ship, Seabourn Ovation, last Friday during an official handover ceremony at the Fincantieri shipyard in Genoa, Italy. Seabourn Ovation is the 5th ship in the line’s award-winning fleet and the newest ultra-luxury ship in the industry.
“We are delighted to take delivery of Seabourn Ovation, offering yet another reason for luxury travellers around the world to choose us for their next holiday,” said Richard Meadows, president of Seabourn. “It has been an incredible journey to see the ship come to life and the Fincantieri team has done a fantastic job in the construction of the ship. The combination of Adam Tihany’s design vision and Fincantieri’s fine craftsmanship have resulted in yet another stunning creation. We are very proud to welcome her to the Seabourn family.”
Said Giuseppe Bono, CEO of Fincantieri: “It has been a great honour for all of us at Fincantieri to work with the Seabourn and Carnival Corporation teams to bring to life such a beautiful ship that in many ways is a true work of art. There was an extraordinary level of luxury elements and complexity involved in the construction of Seabourn Ovation, and as always our team of world-class ship-builders rose to the occasion. It is with much pride that we hand over a ship that sets the new standard in ultra-luxury cruising, and it is exciting that Seabourn guests from around the world will soon be enjoying wonderful cruise holidays on this magnificent luxury vessel.”
Seabourn Ovation will expand and build on the line’s award-winning Odyssey-class ships, which revolutionised ultra-luxury cruising with enhanced accommodations and innovative amenities when they were introduced between 2009 and 2011. A sister ship to Seabourn Encore, Seabourn Ovation features 300 all-oceanfront suites and maintains the line’s high ratio of space per guest, enabling highly personalised service.
Seabourn Ovation was 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 newest and most consistent fleet in the ultra-luxury segment.
The all-suite ship will offer a number of in-suite amenities to provide guests with a “home away from home” onboard experience. In every suite will be a private verandah, providing oceanfront views and spacious enough for private al fresco dining. Featuring striking design and sophisticated décor, each suite will include a 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 marble bathroom with separate bath and shower and luxury bath products, including the 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 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 wellbeing; and The Grill by Thomas Keller, reminiscent of the classic American restaurant from the 1950s and ‘60s. Exclusive to Seabourn, The Grill is a unique culinary concept for 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 favourites like premium steaks, whole roasted chicken and Lobster Thermidor, presented à la carte.
Seabourn Ovation will begin her maiden season with an 11-day inaugural voyage departing 5 May 2018 from Venice, Italy, to Barcelona, Spain. The ship’s naming ceremony will take place on Friday 11 May in the baroque harbour of Valletta, Malta. Highly acclaimed actress and singer Elaine Paige will serve as godmother and will name the ship during a spectacular ceremony that will light up the dramatic UNESCO World Heritage Site and the 2018 European Capital of Culture.
The ship will spend the majority of its maiden season cruising the waters of Northern Europe, offering a series of 7-day Baltic and Scandinavian sailings between Copenhagen and Stockholm. Seabourn Ovation will also sail on longer 14-day voyages, visiting the majestic Norwegian fjords and the British Isles.