Seabourn’s new president has insisted she is happy with the line’s capacity levels, after it was announced the brand is selling its oldest ship.
Natalya Leahy, who has been in the role for two months, said there were no plans to adjust passenger capacity further.
The luxury line announced it was selling 458-passenger Seabourn Odyssey to Japanese transport company Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) for an undisclosed sum in March. The ship will continue to sail for Seabourn until August 22, 2024.
Speaking to Travel Weekly during a trade sailing on board expedition ship Seabourn Venture, Leahy said the line was focused on “exceptional service and experiences” rather than expansion.
When asked whether the line was planning any additional ships for either the expedition or classic fleet, she said: “I’m very pleased with what current capacity levels will be following the launch of Seabourn Pursuit [due to enter service in August 2024] and Odyssey leaving us.
“Once those things happen, our capacity will be slightly higher than in 2019.”
Leahy said the line hadn’t planned to sell Odyssey – launched in 2009 – but decided to go ahead with the deal after looking at the finer details of MOL’s offer. “The sale means we will have one of the most modern fleets out there and I’m very proud of that,” she added.
The line invited more than 150 agents to sail on board new vessel Venture during its first call to the UK last week.
As part of the one-night sailing from Tilbury to Greenwich, agents enjoyed lunch and dinner, a ship tour and a brand presentation updating them on the expedition offering.