Seabourn Names New Ship “Odyssey”

Today, Seabourn announced the name of their new ship currently being built in Italy. Dubbed Odyssey, over fifty past passengers from Seabourn Club correctly guessed the moniker. Thousands of Seabourn connoisseurs made a guess and one duo who guessed correctly— John and Hazel Coleman of Monaco—was randomly selected as the winner of a cruise aboard the all-suite, 450-guest ship during her maiden year at sea. Seabourn Odyssey will be officially christened in Venice in mid-2009.

How did Seabourn winnow down potential names for the ship? Seabourn president Pamela C. Conover explains: “There were literally hundreds of names that we considered and we pursued dozens of different directions. But in the end, we wanted her name to reflect her primary purpose, which is to wander the globe, carrying our guests to the world's most exciting and fascinating destinations, in signature Seabourn luxury and style.”

Beginning last May, more than 8,500 tons of steel is being cut and welded to form the sleek hull and graceful superstructure of the line's new, $250 million flagship, which, when she is launched, will be the first addition to any fleet in the ultra-luxury segment of the cruise industry in six years.

Although three times the size of her smaller 10,000-ton sister ships, Seabourn Pride, Spirit, and Legend, Seabourn Odyssey will carry just over twice as many guests, and boast the same ratio of staff to guests and among the highest space-per-guest ratios in the cruise industry. In addition, the new vessel will offer more dining options than her sisters, as well as more types of suites, more verandas, more entertainment venues, and enhanced spa and recreational facilities.

Plans for maiden year itineraries are still being finalized, but the initial level of interest and excitement prompted Seabourn to devise a system for accepting reservations that will be at once equitable to its loyal guests and supporters, and manageable for the company's internal staff.

Guests who wish to sail on voyages during the maiden year can secure a spot on a waitlist by making a standard Seabourn deposit of $1,000 per person, or $2,000 per person for the actual maiden voyage. These deposits are being accepted now.

Seabourn expects to publish the details of Odyssey's maiden year schedules by the end of 2007. At that time, waitlisted persons will be notified in advance and given priority booking access, which will allow them to select the specific voyage and accommodation they prefer. These reservations will be accepted according to the following criteria:

• Guests who sail with Seabourn in 2007 or 2008 will have first priority. They will be notified in advance and given a two-week priority booking window. This will include anyone who books and sails on a cruise departing by the end of 2008.
  
  
• Past guests of Seabourn who do not sail in 2007 or 2008 will be granted the second priority notification and a second two-week booking access.
  
  
• A third priority booking period will be available to first-time Seabourn guests who have deposited for the waitlist.
  
  
• After that, reservations will be accepted from anyone for remaining space on maiden year voyages, based on Seabourn's standard deposit and booking policies.

Travelers can experience Seabourn's award-winning style on cruises of seven to twenty-eight days or more in Europe, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, Central and South America, Asia, India, and Arabia. Cruise itineraries explore landmark ports and lesser-known gems where larger ships cannot go.

For information, contact a travel agent, call Seabourn at 1-800-929-9391 or visit Seabourn's website at www.seabourn.com.