Seabourn firms up cruise ship order at Fincantieri

New ship will be based on configuration of Seabourn Odyssey (above) but will have an additional deck

JANUARY 21, 2014 — Carnival Corporation’s Seabourn Cruises has followed up on a Letter of Intent inked last October and signed a formal contract with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri for construction of a new all-suite cruise ship.

The configuration of the 40,350 grt vessel will be based on the highly popular Seabourn Odyssey-class ships, with one additional deck and new expanded public areas, with delivery from the shipyard scheduled for mid-2016. It is expected to carry just 604 guests, based on double occupancy of the all-suite lower berths.

The design will maintain Seabourn’s high ratio of space per guest and enable highly personalized service by nearly one staff member per guest on board. In addition, every suite will feature a private veranda.

“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.

The vessel will replace capacity that will be reduced when the company’s Seabourn Pride, Seabourn Spirit, and Seabourn Legend are transferred to new owners Wind Star in April 2014, April 2015, and May 2015, respectively.