Seabourn Ovation

The 2018-built Seabourn Ovation cruise ship is the newest vessel in the Seabourn's fleet, and in the same class with the sistership Seabourn Encore (2016-built).

History - construction and ownership

Seabourn Cruises is a top-luxury (all-inclusive) company founded in 1986 and headquartered in Seattle WA. Seabourn operates on global itineraries, ranging from the 7-day Caribbean to 100+day Around the World voyages. Since 1998, Seabourn is fully-owned by Carnival Corporation - world's largest passenger shipping company. Seabourn is a signature travel brand and a major player on the premium-cruising market, competing for head-on with Silversea and RSSC-Regent Seven Seas.

The 600-passenger ship Seabourn Ovation is a top luxury vessel with surprising facilities’ wealth. The new Ovation is 26% larger than the older Seabourn ships Odyssey, Quest, and Sojourn. She holds 34% more guests and has 6% less space per guest. The newest Seabourn ship features an additional deck and expanded public areas.

Cruise itinerary program

Seabourn Ovation itinerary program is based on luxury voyages to exotic destinations around the world. In January 2017 were opened for booking the new ship's inaugural cruise itineraries. The inaugural season in Europe (May through November 2018) included ports in Northern Europe (Baltic Sea, Scandinavia, Russia), the UK, the Mediterranean.

The 11-day "inaugural cruise" was on May 5, 2018, leaving from Venice to Barcelona. The itinerary was along the Adriatic Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, with call ports in Croatia, Montenegro, Greece, Malta, Italy, France, Spain. Baltic cruises in 2018 were part of a series of 7-day itineraries between Copenhagen Denmark and Stockholm Sweden, with a signature call port St Petersburg Russia (3-day / 2-night stay). Seabourn Ovation also operated 14-day itineraries themed "Norwegian Fjords" and "British Isles".

In 2019, the ship operated on Asian cruises leaving from Singapore and Hong Kong China to ports in Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Myanmar, Cambodia.

Following the Coronavirus crisis, in early April 2021 Seabourn announced that the brand restarts passenger shipping with the Ovation ship leaving on July 3. The Eastern Mediterranean (Aegean Sea) mini-season was based on 7-day roundtrip itineraries to Greek Isles out of homeport Piraeus-Athens. B2Bs (14-day combo voyages) were also scheduled. Itinerary 1 visited Agios Nikolaos (Crete), Rhodes, Mykonos, Nafplio, Limassol (Cyprus). Itinerary 2 visited Patmos, Rhodes, Santorini, Spetses, Paphos (Cyprus). Bookings opened on April 12.

Decks and Cabins

Seabourn Ovation staterooms (302 total) are all in Suite categories (13 grades). Like all Seabourn ships, Ovation is an all-suite vessel, but every suite aboard this Seabourn's vessel has a private veranda. All accommodations are thoughtfully appointed, designed as homes with a separate lounge room. The Owners Suites measure up to 1065 ft2 (including a veranda); four Grand Suites (two-bedroom) are up to 1,680 sq. feet private living space. Choose to stay in a Penthouse Suite (one of the 21) on uppermost decks, featuring up to 540 sq. feet each.

The boat has 12 decks, of which 10 are passenger-accessible and 7 with cabins.

By company's loyalty program "Seabourn Club", Silver Level and above passengers receive free Internet (limited and unlimited packages), free phone calls (20-30-40 min worldwide), complimentary Spa Massage, Day Pass for Spa Serene Area, free laundry (1 bag for every 7-days on the ship), plus discount pricing on onboard alcohol purchases (premium wines and spirits), future cruise booking discounts, luggage shipping service discounts, access to special offers and exclusive onboard events.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Seabourn Ovation is operated with all-inclusive deals and provides the best choice of dining venues (all complimentary) and open-bar lounges. Guests dine when, where, and with whom they wish. The design of Ovation features contemporary spaces created by the Adam Tihany’s company, including ship's Main Dining Room and the club-like Seabourn Square lounge area.

Follows the complete list of Seabourn Ovation restaurants and food bars.

• The Restaurant (main dining room with open-seating breakfast, lunch, and dinner; the dining amenities are top-luxurious; the Restaurant’s dress code is “elegant casual” with optional “formal” dress on special nights.
• Sushi Restaurant (replacing the traditional “Restaurant 2” on the Odyssey-class Seabourn ships)
• Patio Grill (serves the pool area with grilled specialties, salads, and several side dishes; fresh pizza by the slice is offered throughout the afternoon)
• The Colonnade (open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner; its chefs cook in an open kitchen and guests can enjoy watching the food being prepared; the menu for dinner is differently themed each day; the restaurant has an aft Terrace and an outdoor seating area)
• The Grill by Thomas Keller (the menu and ambiance are inspired by the classic American chophouse; a collaboration between designer Adam D. Tihany and 3-star Michelin chef Thomas Keller).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

The ambiance of Seabourn Ovation is relaxed, with sheer activities’ variety. Most sailings feature the Seabourn line’s Caviar in Surf Beach Barbecue or Marina Days when you can go kayaking or sail right from the ship. Seabourn cruise line’s service is ranked the best on the luxury cruising market – highly personalized and attentive. Tipping is not expected.

Additional amenities include Complimentary 24-hour Room-Service, Internet/WiFi Access, Laundry, Self-Serve Laundromats. Tipping/gratuities - tips are not expected or calculated in the price. Wedding parties on Seabourn ship Ovation are held in any of the public spaces (no dedicated chapel on board).

Follows the complete list of Seabourn Ovation lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults.

• Living room (open-floor area serving as a lounge with a small seating area)
• The Casino (with 1 roulette table, 3 gaming tables for blackjack and poker, 15 slot machines)
• The Club lounge (disco & nightclub)
• The Club Pool area (with one plunge pool flanked by two Whirlpools, served by The Club’s bar)
• Whirlpool (with an open-deck area with loungers)
• Grand Salon (main show lounge for grand productions, featuring a 6-piece band; hosts guest lectures and presentations during the day)
• Card Room (cards playing and bard games room)
• 3 duty-free shops (The Boutique for fashion clothes, perfumes, and luxury cosmetics; The Seabourn Shop for Seabourn-logo merchandise; The Collection for brand watches and jewelry)
• The Coffee Bar (patisserie & specialty coffee bar, serving Seabourn Square lounge area, which has a corner serving as the Library/Computer Centre)
• Patio Pool (swimming pool, two Whirlpools, sunbathing area with loungers, private cabanas; served with drinks by Patio Bar; the pool deck also hosts barbecue parties)
• Sky Bar (serves the Patio Pool’s balcony level)
• The “Spa at Seabourn” (11,400 ft2 wellness area spanning on two decks, with outdoor relaxation deck area, Massage-Treatment Rooms, Steam Room, Saunas, Thermal Suite, glass-roofed Spa pool, Beauty Salon)
• Fitness Center (panoramic-view modern gym)
• Motion Studio (separate Aerobics Room)
• Observation Bar (round-shaped observation lounge with grand piano)
• Promenade; Outdoor relaxation areas (The Retreat, Sun Terrace, Spa Terrace)
• The Retreat (multi-use, open-air relaxation area with a 9-hole Golf putting green and courts for deck games - Giant Chess, Shuffleboard).

Seabourn Ovation cruise ship is the line's second newest vessel providing all-inclusive "big yacht cruising" vacation experiences. Her sister as the design is Seabourn Encore (2016). The other fleet members are named Odyssey, Quest, and Sojourn. All Seabourn ships, as a sea vacation travel concept, continue to be widely acknowledged as the "game-changer" for the luxury ship travel industry. Traditionally for all ships in the Seabourn fleet, all passenger cabins (all are suites) have private verandas.

Compared to the line's three Odyssey-class (old) vessels, the Ovation ship is about 1/5th larger in size (34%), 1/3rd bigger as passenger capacity (26% at double occupancy), with 1 additional deck, re-designed venues, expanded public spaces, the biggest Spa at sea ever, new onboard programs.

On June 7, 2016, at the Fincantieri's shipbuilding in Sestri Ponente (Genoa) was held the vessel's steel cutting ceremony. The most special event was attended by Mr. Richard Meadows (Seabourn Cruises' President) and Mr. Raffaele Davassi (the shipyard's Director).

On December 2, 2016, in Genoa Italy was held the traditional keel laying ceremony. The most special event was attended by the new ship's assigned Captain Stig Betten (of Norwegian origin), and the shipbuilder's General Manager - Alberto Maestrini.

In January 2017 the ship's inaugural cruise itineraries were opened for booking. The 11-day inaugural cruise (Venice to Barcelona) leaves on May 5, 2018. The itinerary visits ports in Croatia, Montenegro, Malta, Greece, Italy, France, Spain.

The vessel was launched on September 1, 2017. In the period 1990-2017, the Fincantieri company had built a total of 78 cruise vessels, of which 55 between 2002-2017. Of all ships, 63 were ordered by Carnival Corporation. In 2017, Fincantieri had a total of 31 cruise vessels currently being built or in the design phase, of which 8 were for Carnival Corp.

On March 18, 2018, were completed the vessel's 4-day sea trials, during which officers and engineers tested all technical and mechanical systems. Ship's official delivery was on April 27, 2018. The ceremony was attended by Richard Meadows (Seabourn's President) and Giuseppe Bono (Fincantieri's CEO).

Ship's christening ceremony was on May 11, 2018, held in Port Valletta (Malta). Boat's godmother is Elaine Paige (English singer and musical theater actress). In 1995, she was awarded the OBE ("Order of the British Empire") by HM Queen Elizabeth II. The christening ceremony featured a live performance by Elaine Paige and a full orchestra ensemble performing on Pool Deck. Passengers and VIP guests witnessed the debut of Seabourn Cruises' new anthem “We Sail to See the Lives of Others” - performed live for the first time. The naming ceremony ended with a fireworks show in the harbour.

Inaugural cruise itineraries 2018

The following tables show the ship's inaugural cruise itineraries in 2018. Prices shown are indicative, in USD, per person, and based on double-occupancy (Veranda Suite cabin).

11 nights / 12 days, Inaugural Mediterranean Cruise from Venice to Barcelona (from $8,000 pp)

14 nights / 15 days, Inaugural Baltic Cruise from Amsterdam to Copenhagen (from $10,000 pp)

14 nights / 15 days, Inaugural Norwegian Fjords Cruise roundtrip from Copenhagen (from $15,000 pp)

21 nights / 22 days Inaugural British Isles Cruise from Stockholm to Copenhagen (from $15,000 pp)

(repositioning from Europe to Asia) 52 nights / 53 days from Piraeus-Athens to Hong Kong (from $23,000)

Godspeed to the new ship!