by Jason Leppert
Last updated: 10:11 AM ET, Fri September 8, 2017
A follow-up to Seabourn's popular new Seabourn Encore is nearing completion.
The luxury cruise line just celebrated the coin and launch ceremony for the Seabourn Ovation at the Fincantieri shipyard in Sestri, Italy.
"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, in a press release.
"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."
Seabourn cruise director Jan Stearman-the brand's longest-serving female crew member-served as madrina, overseeing the ceremony. Also present were Meadows, Fincantieri Shipyard Director Paolo Capobianco and Seabourn Ovation Captain Stig Betten as two commemorative gold coins were welded to the mast.
Stearman was charged with cutting the cord to release the flow of water into the building dock, officially floating out the ship and relocating it to the outfitting dock. From there it will finish construction before its delivery next year.
The Seabourn Ovation marks the completion of the line's current expansion plans. The ship is expected to be mostly identical to the Encore with the same high level of refined design from hospitality designer Adam D. Tihany.
Notable inclusions onboard the 40,350-GRT, 600-guest vessel is its roomy passenger space ratio, plus all-suite and all-veranda accommodations. Each will feature separate living and bedroom areas, as well as walk-in closets and luxurious bathrooms with exclusive Seabourn Signature Scents by Molton Brown
[READMORE]READ MORE: Full Review of the Luxurious Seabourn Encore[/READMORE]
Guests will be wined and dined at The Grill by Thomas Keller, pampered at the Spa and Wellness center and entertained by "An Evening with Tim Rice" accordingly.
Seabourn Ovation's maiden voyage will be an 11-day cruise from Venice, Italy, to Barcelona, Spain, leaving on May 5, 2018. Its inaugural season will continue in Northern Europe with several seven-day Baltic and Scandinavian sailings. Cruises will go between Copenhagen and Stockholm and highlight three-day visits in St. Petersburg, Russia. Also featured will be 14-day journeys to the Norwegian fjords and British Isles.
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