Christened by international recording artist and world's best-selling soprano Sarah Brightman, Seabourn’s luxurious new Seabourn Encore has officially arrived.

At a ceremony attended by staff, guests and VIPs in Singapore over the weekend, on January 7, 2017, the all-suite ship joined the fleet as it was named by godmother Brightman, releasing a bottle of champagne traditionally crashing against its hull. Entertainment was had thanks to regional musicians and cultural acts such as lion dancers and stilt walkers.

READ MORE: Photo Sneak Peek at Seabourn’s Newest Seabourn Encore

"The launch of Seabourn Encore marks the start of a new era of ultra-luxury cruising," said Richard Meadows, President of Seabourn. "Seabourn Encore marks a major step forward in terms of growth for our company. This ship is stunningly beautiful and I know guests are going to be absolutely captivated as they step aboard and see it firsthand."

The new ship, designed by hospitality designer Adam D. Tihany "to feel more like a luxury yacht,” can be further seen in an embedded slideshow below, showcasing many new images of the vessel’s classy public spaces and suites.

Now that the Seabourn Encore has been welcomed, the ship has left on its 10-day Gems of the Java Sea Inaugural Voyage headed towards Indonesia. Following will then be a 16-day Great Barrier Reef & Gold Coast itinerary and a pair of 16-day Australia & New Zealand sailings. The ship will eventually end up in the Mediterranean for summer 2017, embarking on a variety of 7-, 10-, 14- and 20-day cruises.

READ MORE: What Makes Seabourn So Special?

The Encore also introduces the Spa and Wellness with Dr. Andrew Weil program to Seabourn as well as the new “An Evening with Tim Rice" production show onboard. Of course, the culinary partnership with Thomas Keller also continues on the Encore with an expanded The Grill by Thomas Keller. The trio of new features are scheduled to be included fleet-wide by 2018.

During the christening, Lionel Yeo, Chief Executive, Singapore Tourism Board added, “We are honored that Singapore hosted the christening of Seabourn's crown jewel. This event marks another milestone in our partnership with Seabourn Cruise Line and the Carnival Corporation. It is also testament to the growing appeal of Southeast Asia as the destination of choice for discerning travellers. We are confident that Seabourn's guests will enjoy experiencing the rich and diverse offerings of the region, and look forward to welcoming more of Carnival Corporation's ships to Singapore."

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