Seabourn takes delivery of fifth all-suite cruise ship Ovation

Seabourn Cruise Line’s new cruise liner Seabourn Ovation officially entered service on Friday following an 11-day inaugural voyage departing May 5 from Venice, Italy, and culminating with its arrival in Barcelona, Spain.

Seabourn Ovation is the latest of the line’s Odyssey-class ships, which enhanced ultra-luxury cruising with new accommodations and innovative amenities when they were introduced between 2009 and 2011.

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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. She rounds off a major fleet enhancement program undertaken by Seabourn during the previous decade.

“The stunning new Seabourn Ovation is the latest example of our long-term strategy to build highly efficient and innovative new vessels that create excitement for cruising and help boost consideration for cruise vacations among consumers in the broader vacation market,” said Roger Frizzell, chief communications officer for Carnival Corporation.

Ovation is a sister ship to Seabourn Encore, launched in 2016.

Seabourn Cruise Line is one of nine cruise lines owned by Carnival Corporation, the largest cruise company in the world.

“In addition to the introduction of new ships, our fleet enhancement plan includes refurbishing existing ships and replacing less-efficient vessels over time as part of our measured capacity growth strategy,” Frizzell added.

The fifth all-suite ship in the Seabourn fleet, Seabourn Ovation offers a number of in-suite amenities to provide guests with a “home away from home” onboard experience, including a private veranda in every luxurious suite, along with a comfortable living area, elegant bedding, a walk-in closet, in-suite entertainment options and a marble bathroom with separate bath and shower.

Seabourn Ovation was created by notable hospitality designer Adam D. Tihany with contemporary interiors, modern design elements and innovations consistent with Seabourn’s reputation for understated elegance.

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Seabourn Ovation also features “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 well-being; and The Grill by Thomas Keller, reminiscent of the classic American restaurant from the 1950s and 1960s.

Exclusive to Seabourn, The Grill is a unique culinary concept for Chef Keller, focusing on updated versions of iconic dishes.

Seabourn Ovation will spend the majority of its maiden season cruising the waters of Northern Europe, offering a series of seven-day Baltic and Scandinavian sailings between Copenhagen and Stockholm.

Seabourn Ovation will also sail on longer 14-day voyages, visiting the Norwegian fjords and British Isles. Select sailings will also include the Ventures by Seabourn program, which are optional for-charge expedition-style excursions featuring a team of experts, Zodiacs and kayaks with a focus on allowing guests to experience nature up close.

Seabourn Ovation is the second of four new ships that will enter service in 2018 across four of Carnival’s nine global cruise brands. The first, Carnival Horizon, was launched in early 2018.

AIDAnova from AIDA Cruises, the leading cruise line in Germany, will also be launched in 2018, marking a new generation of the brand’s ships that combine innovative design with state-of-the-art technology to provide even greater on-board comfort and further enhance the guest experience.

Holland America Line, a leader in premium cruising, will launch Nieuw Statendam, the line’s second Pinnacle Class ship following Koningsdam in 2016.

The four new ships are part of Carnival Corporation’s ongoing fleet enhancement strategy, which will build on the delivery of Carnival Horizon and Seabourn Ovation with 18 new ships scheduled for delivery between 2018 and 2023.