This Week in Cruise: 4 New Ship Updates, From Luxury to River

seabourn ovation constructionIt’s been another busy week for new ships in the cruise industry. 

Construction has officially begun on the new Seabourn Ovation, which is scheduled to set sail in spring 2018. The line cut steel on the vessel in a ceremony at the Fincantieri shipyard in Genoa, Italy, presided over by Seabourn President Richard Meadows and Genoa shipyard Director Raffaele Davassi.

Seabourn Ovation will be a sibling ship to the upcoming Seabourn Encore, which just got a captain this week. Captain Mark Dexter will serve as master of the new vessel, which is set to launch this December. Captain Dexter most recently served as fleet captain, overseeing the implementation of Bridge Resource Management for Seabourn. He joined the line in 2007. 

Both Seabourn Ovation and Seabourn Encore will expand and build upon the line's Odyssey-class ships, which were first introduced between 2009 and 2011. Designed by Adam D. Tihany, the new ships will be configured with one additional deck and new expanded public areas, and are expected to carry 600 guests, based on double occupancy. In addition, every suite will have a private veranda.

In expedition cruise news, Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic named its newest addition to the fleet, National Geographic Quest, which is currently being built in Seattle and will make its inaugural voyage on June 26, 2017.

National Geographic Quest will have 50 cabins, 22 with balconies, and eight that can be configured into four adjoining cabins for families. All category 5 cabins can accommodate a third guest. The ship will be outfitted with a fleet of 24 sea kayaks, paddle boards, snorkeling equipment, and Zodiacs. Other expedition technology will include a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), video microscope, and a hydrophone and bow-cam designed for immediate bow deployment to hear and film, for instance, humpback whale vocalizations and see bow-riding dolphins.  

In river cruise news, Tauck announced that three long-time employees will serve as godmothers to the company’s newest river cruise ship, the Joy, when it is christened in Vienna June 21. All three of those chosen initially served the company in the role of tour director, or Tauck Director in company parlance, and have since been promoted to managerial positions.

The three godmothers for Joy will be Jacque Moran (Recruiting & Training Manager, Tauck Director Operations), Mary Murrin (North America Account Manager, Tauck River Cruising), and Kristin Robinson (Tauck Director Manager, Tauck River Cruising). 

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