Stig Betten, Seabourn captain; Paolo Capobianco, Fincantieri Sestri shipyard Director; and Roberta Pinotti, Italian minister of Defence, being the keel laying process

In a busy week for the luxury cruise line, Seabourn has welcomed the keel laying celebrations for Seabourn Ovation at the Fincantieri shipyard in Sestri, Italy.

With Seabourn Ovation’s launch date set for spring 2018, the ceremony marked a significant milestone in the construction of Seabourn’s newest ultra-luxury ship. 

Seabourn Ovation is the sister ship to Seabourn Encore, which was delivered just two days before, before she sailed to Athens where her first guests came aboard. 

With the addition of these two stunning new ships, Seabourn will have the youngest and most modern ultra-luxury fleet in the industry.

“Between the keel laying of Seabourn Ovation and the delivery of Seabourn Encore, this has been a historic week for our company,” said Richard Meadows, president of Seabourn.

“It’s so exciting to see our fleet evolving and growing and I am looking forward to each and every milestone during the construction of Seabourn Ovation over the next year and a half.”

Designed by hospitality design icon Adam Tihany, the 40,350-GRT ship will feature modern design elements and innovations in keeping with Seabourn’s reputation for understated elegance.

Seabourn Ovation will be configured with one additional deck and new expanded public areas, and will carry just 600 guests, based on double occupancy. In addition, every suite will feature a private veranda.

The ship will expand and build on the line’s award-winning and highly acclaimed Odyssey-class ships, which revolutionised ultra-luxury cruising with enhanced accommodations and innovative amenities when they were introduced between 2009 and 2011.