A number of new and newly renovated luxury cruise ships passed major milestones this week.
The Seabourn Ovation, the newest ship from Seabourn, held its official naming ceremony in Valletta, Malta, this week. The ship’s godmother, actress and singer Elaine Paige, headlined the event, performing and then taking part in the traditional blessing and champagne breaking for the new ship. The Seabourn Ovation is the fifth ship to join the Seabourn fleet over the past decade, and the second of two ships designed by Adam D. Tihany.
The Viking Jupiter, the sixth ship for Viking, was floated out on Thursday, marking the first time that the new ship touched the water. Scheduled for delivery in early 2019, the Viking Jupiter will officially make Viking the largest small ship ocean cruise line only four years after the company expanded into ocean cruises, officials said. The float out ceremony took place at Fincantieri’s Ancona shipyard. The new ship will have a capacity of 930 guests based on double occupancy.
Finally, this week Silversea wrapped an ambitious lengthening and renovation project for the Silver Spirit. The project involved cutting the ship in half and inserting a pre-built section into the middle, adding 49 feet to the ship’s length. Other improvements included décor updates to the ship’s public areas and suites; enlarging the pool deck; and increasing the ship’s dining options to eight, including the newly introduced Spaccanapoli, Silver Note, Atlantide, and Indochine, as well as the renovated La Terrazza. Other new onboard amenities include the Arts Café, Tor’s Observation Library, the Zagara Spa, the Panorama Lounge, and the Dolce Vita lounge. All told, the lengthening and renovations increased the ship’s capacity by 12 percent, its dining capacity by 15 percent, and its outdoor seating by 20 percent.
Related Stories
Cruise Planners Conference: New Tools and Updates
MSC Seaview Delayed a Few Days; Short Cruise Cancelled
Ensemble Adds AQSC, Hurtigruten and Victory to Small Ship Partners