MIAMI, May 30, 2007----After months of detailed planning, on May 9 the first steel plates were cut for The Yachts of Seabourn's newest, largest vessel, the first addition to the ultra luxury segment of the cruise industry in six years. In all, more than 8,500 tons of steel will be cut and welded to form the sleek hull and graceful superstructure of the line's $250 million flagship, which is scheduled to enter service in mid-June 2009.

The yet-unnamed vessel is being designed by the renowned architecture firm of Yran & Storbraaten of Norway and constructed in Italy by T. Mariotti S.p.A., leaders in the construction of mega-yachts and intimate cruising vessels. The ship's designers have mirrored the distinctive silhouette of the existing Seabourn Pride, Spirit and Legend while adding additional facilities and amenities. Indeed, past guests will appreciate a familiar scheme to the general layout of public rooms and accommodations.

"We've been careful to incorporate Seabourn's signature features while designing the next generation of ultra luxury ship to satisfy the desires of a new generation of luxury travelers," said Pamela C. Conover, the line's president and CEO.

Seabourn's grand, new yacht will offer more dining options, more types of suites, more verandas, more entertainment venues and enhanced spa and recreational facilities. Although three times the size of her smaller 10,000-ton sister ships, the new vessel will carry just over twice as many guests (450 passengers), boasting among the highest space-per-guest ratio (71.1) in the cruise industry.

13 Categories of Suites

In response to feedback from past passengers, the new ship will offer a range of luxury accommodations. Seven of its 11 passenger decks will feature 225 ocean-view suites, measuring from 277 to over 1,300 square feet. Approximately 90 percent of the suites will include private verandas providing from 68 to 344 square feet of outdoor living space. Decks 9 and 10 are home to 22 penthouses with 450-square-foot interiors and verandas measuring nearly 100 square feet.

The most expansive guest quarters on board will be five Owners Suites that measure over 700 square feet (including veranda) and four, two-bedroom Grand Suites providing over 1300 square feet of private living space. All suites will feature granite bathrooms, with separate tub and shower, twin sinks and a stunning glass vanity.

Four Dining Venues

Guests can enjoy superb cuisine in a choice of four venues:

The Restaurant - the ship's gourmet, open-seating dining room, where guests savor multi-course dinner menus designed by acclaimed celebrity chef Charlie Palmer; Veranda Café - a stylish, yet casual restaurant serving regional specialties, with both indoor and outdoor seating; Restaurant 2 - an elegant and intimate specialty restaurant featuring innovative tasting menus; and Patio Grill - where guests can enjoy pizza and grilled items, poolside. In addition to a 24-hour, in-suite service menu, during dinner hours guests can order from The Restaurant menu, dining course-by-course if they wish.

Six Open Bars

Anticipating the desires of sophisticated travelers, the newest addition to the Seabourn fleet will offer a selection of lounges and bars to satisfy a myriad of moods and entertainment styles. With an open-bar policy that ensures fine wines, champagnes and spirits flow freely, choices will include:

Grand Salon - the main showroom and home to Seabourn's dance band, features a unique living room-like foyer furnished with inviting booths and arm chairs, in addition to tiered banquettes that surround the dance floor.

The Club - with both indoor and outdoor seating, is where a pianist, duo or trio will perform a variety of musical genres throughout the evening.

Sky Bar - this popular icon of the existing Seabourn yachts overlooks the ship's central, outdoor living space: Poolside Patio.

Patio Bar - in the evenings, guests can enjoy live, alfresco entertainment, weather permitting.

Coffee Bar - situated portside at Seabourn Square, traditional Italian espresso, cappuccino and café latte are complimented by champagne, wine and spirits.

With a dramatic square bar as its focal point, the ship's forward-facing observation lounge is located atop the navigational bridge and boasts panoramic views; high-powered, motion-dampened spotting scopes and binoculars-behind-the-bar for use by patrons.

Other Facilities & Amenities

Seabourn Square - the heart of the ship and home to the pursers and tour desks, Internet center, library and three duty-free retail shops.

The Marina - a beloved icon of the current Seabourn fleet, a fold-down teak platform provides a staging area for guests to enjoy complimentary water sports including waterskiing from the ship's own speed boat, banana boat rides, paddleboats and kayaks.

Sun Terraces - Stepped terraces, on Deck 11, at the ship's highest and furthest-forward point, are home to another intriguing amenity. There, protected by a glass windbreak, guests will find a terraced enclave furnished with large sun-beds.

Spa at Seabourn - With a thallasso whirlpool as its focal point, the spa will feature his and hers Finnish saunas, a selection of aromatic steam rooms, separate gym and aerobics areas and two outdoor decks, for exclusive use by spa guests.

Swimming pools and whirlpools - Guests can choose from swimming pools on Decks 8 and 5, plus a total of seven whirlpools.

[ 05-31-2007: Message edited by: joe at travelpage ]

[ 05-31-2007: Message edited by: Carlos Fernandez ]

[ 05-31-2007: Message edited by: Ernst ]

I want to have more than one forward facing open deck - and the only one aboard Silver Whisper / Silver Shadow is front of the only forward facing public room....

The outside deck space is generally not too attractive. (which is my major criticism)

Only one (outside) pool is not sufficent for a ship of the highest category. (of this size)

The interior is not bad - but also not special - one would expect more of such a ship. (but this is sadly an industry wide phenomenon)

Europa BTW has very similar flaws - I hope Seabourn will not repeat this.

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Originally posted by Ernst:

The interior is not bad - but also not special - one would expect more of such a ship. (but this is sadly an industry wide phenomenon)

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Originally posted by Pascal:

Carnival Corp should ask Farcus to design the Seabourn interiors, at least they would be "special".

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I like this idea.

(I am absolutely sure that Mr. Facrus could do that)

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Originally posted by Ernst:

Seriously - very high on my wishlist is a ship designed by a renowned contemporary architect or designer. Not all present ship designs are bad - but the 'crowd' of designers doing ships is a bit too small - more variety would be nice.

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Originally posted by Pascal: Carnival Corp should ask Farcus to design the Seabourn interiors, at least they would be "special".

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Great idea! This is another great opportunity for Carnival Corp. to capitalize on the "economies of scale" and save even more money. Use the same designer for all Carnival Corp. brands. They already have two brands covered so why not the rest? Since so much of the fleet hardware are clones anyway, I doubt the passengers would notice if Seabourn, Cunard, and HAL were decorated in the same style as Carnival and Costa. Seems to have worked well for Costa. Think of the money that could be saved!!! More return for the various stake holders of the company!!!! Woo Hoo!

The Spa pool is within but the area with the chairs behind must be decking as is the Spa Terrace, all of deck 11, and possibly the area above the Sky Bar.

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Originally posted by Pascal:
If Starck designed a ship, I'm not sure the result would fit the taste of the targeted passengers.

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Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:
I notice that many of the public rooms are at the very stern of the ship, spread over five decks.

Although I'm sure that this is hardly a unique design, the only ship I have been on quite like this is Olsen's 'Braemar'.

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This is a typical layout of the SilverSea ships as well. I think the EUROPA (now HOLIDAY DREAM) was one of the first vessels to feature accommodations forward, public rooms aft. This design scheme even appears on Royal Caribbean's SOVEREIGN-Class ships.

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Originally posted by Linerrich:

This is a typical layout of the SilverSea ships as well. I think the EUROPA (now HOLIDAY DREAM) was one of the first vessels to feature accommodations forward, public rooms aft. This design scheme even appears on Royal Caribbean's SOVEREIGN-Class ships.

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The Sovereign-class ships was really an evolution of the Song of America design. Song of America also had public rooms aft and cabins forward.

There are no aft "wake" cabins. These are the most preferred cabins by experienced cruisers. Try and get one on the "R" ships after day one after bookings opened, you can't. Pretty much the same with Princess and Celebrity ships, they're gone very quickly.

So, here we have the newbuilds with no aft cabins, but, the "unwanted" 6 owners suites in the bow.
The premium aft space is occupied by the main "showroom", aren't showrooms supposed to be in the front of the ship. And, the "Square", pursers office, shops, etc., again prime aft space instead of elsewhere. To conclude, why the SPA in the aft....stick it behind the "Bridge". And, no reason why the Club, too, wouldn't fit nicely fore rather than aft.

Restaurant 2 looks about the size of the cardroom.

I could add a few more less important criticisms, but, for now, I'll let it pass.

Disappointed, thought we'd have those wonderful "wake" cabins!

[ 06-01-2007: Message edited by: annnthony ]

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Originally posted by Pascal:

The majority of pax on those ultra-luxury ships (or ultra premium or super deluxe, never mind... ) tends to be 50 years old or +. A renowned contemporary designer could design something which is likely to be considered too drastic (does it mean something in English ?) by many people. If Starck designed a ship, I'm not sure the result would fit the taste of the targeted passengers.

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There are 'many' hotels in this price range with a contemporary design.

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Originally posted by Linerrich:

[...] I think the EUROPA (now HOLIDAY DREAM) was one of the first vessels to feature accommodations forward, public rooms aft. This design scheme even appears on Royal Caribbean's SOVEREIGN-Class ships.

Rich

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As much as I love the Europa from 1981 - Finnjet was the first ship which had this accomodations forward public rooms aft scheme.

The advantage is to have the cabins in the quiet part of the ship - and more public rooms with access to open deck space - BUT passenger flow is usually far from ideal in such a vertical arrangement.

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Originally posted by PamM:
There are 2 outside pools there Ernst? I also think they ran out of 'decking ink' on decks 9,10 & 11 on those plans. I am wondering if the area around the observation lounge may be outside decking too. [...]

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Where is a second pool aboard Silver Whisper / Silver Shadow?

There is indeed outside deckspace around the observation lounge - THIS is the only forward facing outside deck space aboard Silver Whisper / Silver Shadow.

[ 06-01-2007: Message edited by: Ernst ]

One of the problems of having balconies for most cabins is the resultant lack of clear outside decks.

The biggest difference is they added cabins on Deck 10 where the spa is on the SHADOW and WHISPER and moved the spa aft on Deck 9. Of course they also added the marina.