SEATTLE, March 3, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Seabourn has opened for sale today the maiden season itineraries for Seabourn Encore, the newest addition to join the ultra-luxury, small ship cruise line. Between December 2016 and April 2017, the ship will sail on a variety of voyages exploring the exotic coasts of Arabia and India, the gilded temples and tropical isles of Southeast Asia, and the incredible natural splendors and vibrant, friendly cities of Australia and New Zealand.

"We're excited to offer a diverse range of itineraries for the maiden season of Seabourn Encore and provide our guests with the opportunities to visit some of the most charming and sought-after destinations in Asia, Australia and New Zealand on the world's newest and most beautiful ultra-luxury ship," said Seabourn President Richard Meadows. "Seabourn Encore will set a new standard of ultra-luxury cruising that can only be found on Seabourn, and we can't wait to share her with our guests."

Following the ship's delivery in December 2016, Seabourn Encore will offer two pre-inaugural cruises, providing travelers with a preview of the vessel before its official maiden voyage. On December 4, 2016, Seabourn Encore will sail on a 16-day pre-inaugural cruise from Athens bound for Dubai, visiting various exotic ports including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, Israel; Petra, Jordan; and Muscat, Oman. The voyage will be followed by an 18-day pre-inaugural holiday voyage departing Dubai on December 20, 2016, sailing to Arabia, India and Southeast Asia before arriving at Singapore.

On January 7, 2017, Seabourn Encore will make its official debut with a gala naming ceremony in the vibrant Asian city-state of Singapore. Following the naming, the vessel will embark on its 10-day official inaugural voyage to Bali, including stops in Surabaya, Java; Celukan Bawang, Bali; and Slawi Bay, Komodo, Indonesia. Seabourn Encore will go on to spend its maiden season operating a series of 16-day voyages cruising the Pacific Rim in Australia and New Zealand, calling at the metropolitan cities of Sydney and Melbourne and exploring both islands of New Zealand. The ship will visit popular ports, such as Auckland and Wellington, while exploring other picturesque towns, including New Zealand's southernmost city, Oban on Stewart Island, and the charming port of Picton, the gateway to the stunning scenery of Marlborough Sound.

In April 2017, Seabourn Encore will return to Europe with two 16- and 18-day Arabia and India voyages. The ship will spend the summer in the waters of the eastern Mediterranean with a series of seven-day voyages.

Seabourn Encore will expand and build on the line's award-winning and highly acclaimed Odyssey-class ships, which revolutionized ultra-luxury cruising with enhanced accommodations and innovative amenities when they were introduced between 2009 and 2011. Seabourn Encore will maintain the line's high ratio of space per guest, enabling highly personalized service by close to one staff member for each guest on board. A sister ship, Seabourn Ovation, will join the fleet in 2018, and, with the addition of the two new ships, Seabourn will have the youngest and most modern ultra-luxury fleet in the industry.

Designed by hospitality design icon Adam D. Tihany, Seabourn Encore will feature modern design elements and innovations consistent with the line's reputation for understated elegance. The 40,350-GRT ship will be configured with one additional deck and new expanded public areas, and is expected to carry just 604 guests, based on double occupancy. In addition, every suite will feature a private veranda.

Seabourn has revealed renderings and updates about Seabourn Encore via a new dedicated microsite: http://encore.seabourn.com. Filled with imagery, details and updates on the ship's progress, including "sunsets until launch," the microsite offers an inside look at the most exciting Seabourn launch in years. Additional details, news and images will be revealed on the site on an ongoing basis.

For more details about the award-winning Seabourn fleet, or to explore the worldwide selection of Seabourn cruising options, contact a professional travel advisor, call Seabourn at 1-800-929-9391 or visit www.seabourn.com.

Notes to Editors:

Seabourn is consistently ranked among the world's top travel choices by professional critics and the discerning readers of prestigious travel publications such as Departures, Travel + Leisure and Conde Nast Traveler. Its stylish, distinctive cruising vacations are renowned for:


    --  Five intimate ships with just 104 or 229 suites
    --  Unique itineraries visiting must-see cities and hidden gems where larger
        ships cannot follow
    --  Intuitive, gracious service provided by a staff passionate about
        pleasing our guests
    --  Spacious all-suite accommodations with sweeping ocean views - many with
        verandas
    --  Gourmet dining experiences as fine as the best restaurants anywhere
    --  Open bars throughout the ship and fine wines poured with lunch and
        dinner

Seabourn is a proud member of World's Leading Cruise Lines. The exclusive alliance also includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Cunard Line, Costa Cruises, AIDA, P&O Cruises UK and P&O Cruises Australia. Seabourn is a brand of Carnival Corporation and plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL and NYSE: CUK). It has formed a partnership with United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to help protect World Heritage, and also supports the Ocean Conservation & Tourism Alliance, dedicated to education and promotion of best practices for protecting the marine environment.

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SOURCE Seabourn