Seabourn Ovation, the second ultra-luxury cruise ship being built for Seabourn Cruise Line, was launched by Italian shipbuilder and ship designer Fincantieri at its Sestri yard in Genoa.
“Watching the coin ceremony and seeing Seabourn Ovation officially touch the water for the first time today was a very special moment for all of us at Seabourn, representing a significant step toward the further expansion of our luxury fleet,” Richard Meadows, president of Seabourn, said.
Seabourn Ovation is set to welcome guests and begin sailing in May 2018. Following delivery, it will embark on an 11-day inaugural voyage departing May 5, 2018, from Venice, Italy, to Barcelona, Spain.
The ship will go on to spend the majority of its maiden season cruising the waters of Northern Europe, offering a series of seven-day Baltic and Scandinavian cruises between Copenhagen and Stockholm, which will include a three-day stay in St. Petersburg, Russia. Seabourn Ovation will also sail on longer 14-day voyages, visiting the majestic Norwegian fjords and British Isles.
The ship will feature 40,350 gross tons, a length of 210 metres and a width of 28 metres. It will be able to reach a cruising speed of 18.6 knots and carry up to just 600 guests, based on double occupancy.
The vessel’s sister ship Seabourn Encore was delivered by Fincantieri at the end of 2016 at the Marghera shipyard in Venice.
Fincantieri said that Seabourn Ovation, as its sister ship, is an innovative project, focused on energy optimisation and minimum environmental impact.