PHOTO: This rendering shows the main dining room on Seabourn Encore. (Courtesy of Seabourn)

Think Seabourn’s new luxury cruise ship is highly anticipated? Its christening voyage sold out in two days — and it’s not scheduled to depart until Jan. 7, 2017.

“We are thrilled with the overwhelming response we have received for the inaugural voyage of Seabourn Encore,” said John Delaney, Seabourn’s senior vice president-marketing and sales.

Seabourn Encore will build on the line’s acclaimed Odyssey-class ships, which were introduced between 2009 and 2011. The Seabourn Encore is slightly larger than the Odyssey-class vessels, with an additional deck, but will maintain a high ratio of space per guest. The 40,350-ton Seabourn Encore and its sister ship, Seabourn Ovation, due out in 2018, will accommodate 604 guests each. The Odyssey-class vessels are 32,000 tons and accommodate 450 passengers.

The Seabourn Encore will operate two pre-inaugural cruises in December 2016 along the coasts of Israel, Arabia, India and Southeast Asia, before arriving in Singapore for its naming ceremony on Jan. 7, 2017, and official 10-day inaugural voyage. Seabourn Encore will spend the remainder of its maiden season operating 16-day voyages in Australia and New Zealand. While the inaugural sailing is sold out, there is still space on the other maiden season voyages.

Seabourn Encore was designed by hospitality design icon Adam D. Tihany.

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