Seabourn Odyssey Cruises from Venice

SeabournOdyssey

Seabourn Odyssey launched from Venice today as the first ultra-luxury vessel to debut in six years.

The yacht, a 32,000-ton ship, was built by Mariotti of Genoa, Italy and can house 450 guests in 225 suites, 90 percent of which have verandas. With one of the highest space-per-guest ratios in the industry, Odyssey offers the largest spa on any luxury yacht, four restaurants and a variety of luxury amenities.

The Spa at Seabourn is the largest spa on any ship and is the only cruise ship to offer SkinCeuticals. While in the spa, guests can enjoy the hydropool, Kinesis wall, two herbal steam rooms and two Spa Villas— with a private balcony, a double daybed and a full living room.

Guests can also enjoy fine-dining menus from Charlie Palmer, a casual Patio Grill or they may choose course-by-course dining from their suites.

"It is with great pleasure that I welcome Seabourn Odyssey to our distinguished fleet of yachts," said Pamela Conover, President and CEO of The Yachts of Seabourn. "The launch of Odyssey allows us to serve more travelers but still offer the intimate and exclusive experience which has made us a leader in the luxury cruising market."

Other highlights of the ship include 11 decks with two swimming pools, six outdoor whirlpools, water sports from the marina and a private diamond showroom. Also, the Retreat features a nine-hole mini golf course, a giant chess board, shuffleboard and stargazing in the evening.

Guests can also take advantage of the Seabourn-branded netbooks and iPods that are available for loan as well as complimentary pool-side massages and “Caviar in the Surf” service.

The Grand Wintergarden Suite, the largest Seabourn suite, offers guests two verandas with two bedrooms and two bathrooms, and features a glass-enclosed solarium with a tub and day-bed as well as a whirlpool, dining for six, two bars and three flat-screen TVs.

Guests on board the Odyssey will find that the ship offers nearly one staff member per guest.

A new feature of Odyssey, Seabourn Square, is a "concierge lounge" with a library, upscale shops, outdoor terrace and coffee bar, as well as concierges in a relaxed, club-like atmosphere.

Odyssey will spend her maiden year sailing the Mediterranean throughout the summer and early fall, then sailing the Caribbean before embarking on Seabourn's first world cruise— a 108-day voyage departing January 5, 2010, where she will visit 42 ports in 26 countries on six continents from Ft. Lauderdale to Athens.

Odyssey is the first of three new vessels Seabourn is building, a 216 percent increase in capacity for the line. Seabourn Sojourn is scheduled to launch in June 2010 and a third new-build is scheduled in 2011.

Visit www.seabourn.com