Luxury cruise line Seabourn was busy celebrating this week, as it formally introduced the new Seabourn Encore to the world at a festive pier side ceremony in Singapore the other evening. International recording artist and best-selling soprano Sarah Brightman attended the naming ceremony as the Encore’s Godmother.
The first of two new all-suite vessels for the fleet, the 600-guest Seabourn Encore departed on its Inaugural Voyage, a 10-day Indonesia-bound cruise titled Gems of the Java Sea shortly after the party’s end. Though one of four ultra-luxury vessels to join the Seabourn fleet, the Seabourn Encore is the first of two ultra-luxury, all-suite vessels to join the fleet designed by hospitality design icon Adam D. Tihany. Tihany’s second ship, the Seabourn Ovation, is currently under construction and scheduled to join the fleet in 2018.
The party included projection screens showing the cinematic moment with Brightman sent a bottle of champagne smashing against the bow of the ship, a long time honored ship christening tradition. A variety of local musicians and cultural acts like lion dances and stilt walkers were the life of the party as the ship departed in style.
Within the inaugural voyage, the Seabourn Encore is debuting several new onboard programs. The Spa and Wellness with Dr. Andrew Weil was introduced in partnership with The Onboard Spa by Steiner, creating a holistic spa for guest wellness experiences integrating physical, social, environmental and spiritual well-being. Another new Seabourn exclusive is a Belina King Creative Productions show, An Evening with Tim Rice, debuting in the ship’s Grand Salon. The Grill by Thomas Keller, a new restaurant inspired by the American classic chophouse that first opened on the Seabourn Quest in 2016, is also being featured on the new ship.
Good to know: All three partner programs will be rolled out across the entire Seabourn fleet by 2018.
Designed to feel like a luxury yacht, the Seabourn Encore features modern design elements that simultaneously maintain Seabourn’s reputation for elegance. New for the fleet includes an additional deck and expanded public areas. The Retreat is a new and secluded for-charge sanctuary that will allow guests to stretch out in private cabanas. Sushi is the ships one-of-a-kind dining destination, completely unique to the 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."