In the competitive luxury cruise ship market, one cruise line seems poised to take the lead in 2018–Carnival Corporation’s Seabourn Cruise Line. Seabourn is based in Washington State and operates out of Carnival’s Holland America offices, having relocated from Miami, where Carnival maintains its world headquarters.
The Seabourn fleet currently consists of only four ships, all flagged and registered in the Bahamas for the convenience of Carnival. The Seabourn Odyssey has been in service since 2009, the Seabourn Sojourn since 2010, the Seabourn Quest since 2011, and the Seabourn Encore since 2016.
However, it is their latest ship, the 600-passenger Seabourn Ovation, that has many in the cruise industry buzzing with excitement after it was just christened in Singapore for its maiden voyage, scheduled for May of 2018. The Ovation will be a sister ship to the Encore, but with an additional deck to accommodate more cabins, passengers, and both a sushi bar and piano bar.
Rather than trying to compete with the over-the-top opulence of the current “Queen of Luxury Cruise Ships”–NCL’s Regent Seven Seas Explorer–it is purportedly designed with a more sedate yacht-like feel, giving passengers a more nautical and less glitzy or Vegas feel.
THE PERFECT CRUISE FOR GOURMET DINING
Foodies who like to cruise will be excited to learn that the Seabourn Encore’s cuisine has been designed by Thomas Keller, who many believe is one of America’s if not the world’s leading chefs. If you have ever dined at the Yountville’s French Laundry or Napa’s French Laundry, you know that meals at a Keller restaurant can cost $400.00 or more a person. Passengers on the Encore can sit down nightly at one of several dining venues and enjoy his food at no extra cost. Sophisticated sushi lovers will rejoice because world-famous sushi chef Nobu Matsuhisa (probably not in person) will be slicing the sashimi onboard, making this the first NOBU at sea that we are aware of. Seabourn does promise that the chefs will all be Japanese and–best of all–the price of dining at NOBU is also included.
If you love lounging by the pool on a cruise ship, but hate the maddening crowds and screaming kids, the Encore offers private poolside cabanas, available at the exorbitant price of $359.00 a day. At that price, I might just opt to lay out on my own balcony and save the money for another cruise.
The Ovation will cruise Europe for its first six months, but will later take passengers to Israel and through the Suez Canal to Oman.
HIRING A CRUISE SHIP INJURY LAWYER FOR CLAIMS AGAINST SEABOURN
Personal injury claims against Seabourn must be filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington in Seattle, or King County, State of Washington, regardless of where the injured passenger is from. Before any lawsuit can be initiated, written notice must also be sent to Seabourn within six months of the date of the injury.
Because of the complexities of bringing a personal injury case against Seabourn, we strongly urge you to consult with an experienced maritime accident lawyer. Our cruise ship injury law firm, located in Miami, has successfully represented passengers from around the world in claims against all the major cruise lines, including Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, MSC, Disney, Holland America, and Princess.
If you have been injured while on your cruise, in port, on an excursion, in the terminal, on a tender boat, or on a gangway, contact our office today and speak with an experienced personal injury attorney who knows how to hold the cruise line accountable for your medical expenses, time lost from work, transportation costs, loss of enjoyment of your cruise, and pain and suffering. Call us today, toll-free at 1-866-597-4529, locally at 305-441-0440, or reach us by email at [email protected] or Skype. We are ready to help you recover from your cruise accident.
