Seabourn Encore: Construction Begins

seabourn encore
Antonio Quintano, director of Fincantieri's Marghera shipyard, and Richard Meadows, Seabourn president, toast to the first steel cut for the line's newest ship, Seabourn Encore.

Seabourn reports it has cut steel on its newest ship, the Seabourn Encore

Taking place at the Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera, Italy, the ceremony was presided over by Seabourn President Richard Meadows and Antonio Quintano, director of Fincantieri's Marghera shipyard.

In a special nod to the line's departing original fleet, joining the ceremony were two crew members from Seabourn Legend, the last of the three original Seabourn ships and currently on its final sailing under the Seabourn banner. Their presence signified the closing of a chapter in the line's history, while marking the start of a new era with the beginning of the construction of Seabourn Encore, the line said in a release announcing the event. 

Seabourn Encore will expand on the line's Odyssey-class ships. Designed by Adam D. Tihany, the new ship aims to maintain a high ratio of space per guest. The 40,350 gross registered tons ship will be configured with one additional deck and new expanded public areas, and is expected to carry 600 guests, based on double occupancy. In addition, every suite will have a private veranda.

A sister ship, Seabourn Ovation, will join the fleet in 2018.