Seabourn Encore Resumes Service in Europe

After a 23-month operational pause, the Seabourn Encore is welcoming the passengers back today.

As the third Seabourn vessel to resume revenue service, the luxury ship is launching a series of ten- and 11-night cruises to the Canaries and the Mediterranean.

Sailing roundtrip from Lisbon, Portugal, the first cruise features visits to five ports in the Spanish archipelago of the Canaries, such as La Palma, Tenerife and Arrecife.

The itinerary also includes a call at Funchal, Portugal’s Madeira Island.

Continuing its first post-pandemic season, the Encore is poised to offer additional sailings to the Atlantic Islands until early April. The vessel then repositions to the Mediterranean in time for a summer program in the region.

Designed to offer an ultra-luxury product, the 40,350-ton cruise ship originally entered service in 2016.

As an enlarged version of Seabourn’s previous series of newbuilds, the Seabourn Encore carries 604 guests and features expanded public areas.

According to the Seabourn, the vessel was projected drawing inspiration from the brand’s rich history and yachting heritage and offers modern design elements and innovations consistent with its reputation for understated elegance.

The all-suite ship has multiple dining venues, in addition to a showroom, a spa, several lounges and bars, a casino, and the popular Seabourn Square, the social hub onboard with a club-like ambience.

Seabourn first resumed guest operations in Europe with the Seabourn Ovation. In July 2021, the 2018-built vessel kicked off a series of cruises to the Greek Islands and the Eastern Mediterranean.

The Seabourn Odyssey followed later that same month, sailing Eastern Caribbean cruises from Barbados.

Upon the completion of its summer program in Europe, the Ovation joined the Odyssey in the Caribbean, offering its first-ever departures from a U.S. port.

The remainder of the company’s fleet is set to resume service before the second half of 2022.

New ship Arvia will offer the line’s first multi-sensory escape room experience

The new experience, titled Mission Control, is set underwater onboard a fictional submarine Arvia II, with a series of live-action puzzles.
 
The “expedition” is led by fictional Dr Ryan and has multiple storylines, suitable for all ages, with a film-like plot and motion simulation.

P&O Cruises president Paul Ludlow said holidays are “all about new experiences”, and the “immersive” escape room will create “unforgettable action-packed moments with family and friends”.
 
“Mission Control will expand our onboard entertainment offering even further, giving guests an opportunity to create unique bonding experiences they will talk about for years to come,” he added.
  
Arvia’s maiden voyage is a 14-night Canary Islands cruise, departing from and returning to Southampton on 9 December 2020. Ports of call are Madeira, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Cadiz and Lisbon and prices start from £1,449pp.

Cruise Ships Dock and Anchor in Funchal for New Year’s Fireworks

Ships in Funchal for New Year's Eve

Cruise ships are stacked in Funchal (Madeira) for the city’s landmark midnight fireworks display to mark the start of a new decade.

At Anchor:

  • CMV Columbus
  • CMV Marco Polo
  • Saga Sapphire
  • Pullmantur Zenith
  • TUI Mein Schiff 3
  • Fred. Olsen Balmoral
  • Marella Explorer
  • Phoenix Reisen Amera

Docked:

  • Cunard Queen Victoria
  • Ocean Majesty
  • AIDAstella
  • P&O Aurora