Seabourn has confirmed the formal signing of a contract for a new 604-passenger ship for delivery in summer 2016.
The vessel will replace capacity that will be reduced when the company’s 208-passenger Seabourn Pride, Seabourn Spirit, and Seabourn Legend are transferred to new owner Windstar in April this year, April 2015, and May 2015, respectively.
The new all-suite ship will be similar to the ultra-luxury line’s three Odyssey class vessels but will have an additional deck and expanded public areas.
The contract with shipyard Fincantieri continues a longstanding relationship of more than two decades between Seabourn’s parent company Carnival Corporation and the Italian shipbuilder.
Seabourn president Richard Meadows said: “The new ship will continue the evolution that began with Seabourn’s fleet expansion, adding modern design elements and innovations consistent with Seabourn’s reputation for understated elegance.
“With its delivery, the most highly rated cruise line in the world will also offer travellers the newest fleet of ships in the luxury segment.”
Fincantieri chief executive Giuseppe Bono said: “An order from a new brand is always a source of great satisfaction.
“Today we can also add a note of pride, because the addition to our customer base of Seabourn, the Carnival Group’s top-end cruise line, means that we are now building ships for all the operators in the ultra-luxury segment, a niche market that has seen strong investments in the past year.
“This gratifying result, which gives us cause to be optimistic about the future, is the product of the cultural renewal being pursued with determination at every level of our business activity.”