From debut itinerary details to new names and amenities, this week saw the cruise industry looking forward to new product in 2016 and beyond.
Seabourn revealed the names of its two newest ships, the Seabourn Encore and Seabourn Ovation, as well as a dedicated microsite.
Seabourn Encore will launch in late 2016 and Seabourn Ovation will launch in spring 2018.
The two new ships will expand on the line's Odyssey-class vessels, which include Seabourn Odyssey, Seabourn Sojourn and Seabourn Quest. Both ships will be configured with one additional deck, newly expanded public areas and modern design elements and innovations. The new vessels are expected to carry 604 guests each, based on double occupancy, and every suite will feature a private veranda.
Carnival Cruise Line released more information on Carnival Vista. This week, the line took a look at the new ship's debut itineraries, which will kick off in 2016.
Carnival Vista will embark on its inaugural cruise from Europe — a 13-day voyage departing Trieste, Italy — on May 1, 2016, arriving in Barcelona on May 14.
The voyage is the first of 18 European departures from Barcelona and Athens through October 21, 2016 that will feature a number of new ports for Carnival, including Crete (Heraklion), and Corfu, Greece; Valletta, Malta; Palermo, Sicily; Cagliari, Sardinia and Gibraltar.
Carnival is also offering special deals to promote the new ship. The line is offering reduced initial deposits for group bookings and enhanced amenity points for travel agents on Carnival Vista journeys.
Finally, Regent Seven Seas Cruises reports that the maiden voyage of its new flagship, Seven Seas Explorer, is nearly sold out. The ship has posted both single-day and first week record bookings since the ship went on sale to members of the line's loyalty program, the Seven Seas Society.
Reservations will become widely available starting February 4.
Scheduled to set sail in the summer of 2016, Seven Seas Explorer’s maiden voyage will be a 14-night sailing from Monte Carlo to Venice on July 20, 2016. The inaugural season highlights a variety of locations throughout the Mediterranean, including Ibiza, Barcelona, St. Tropez and Venice.
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