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.

NCL CANCELS ALL REMAINING CRUISES UNTIL END OF MARCH

Norwegian Bliss
Norwegian Cruise Line has extended its suspension of operations and canceled all remaining voyages until 31 March.

The line had previously announced the halting of cruises on all ships except Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Escape, and Norwegian Joy but has now extended that to include its entire fleet.

NCL said it would continue to “closely review” the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s conditional sailing framework issued on 30 October and “continue to partner with global and domestic authorities, including the CDC, to chart a path forward”.

“We are committed to taking all appropriate steps and actions to combat the spread of Covid-19 and are working closely and in partnership with local, state, federal, and global agencies,” the line said in a statement on its website.

“Whilst this may result in additional future changes, please know our teams are working around the clock to do what is right by our guests and travel partners. We continue to monitor this situation closely and will provide additional updates as they are available.”

Royal Caribbean Sees 100,000 Sign Ups for Free Volunteer Cruises

Independence of the Seas in Southampton UK.

Royal Caribbean International has over 100,000 form submissions for volunteers to take trial cruises as part of the CDC’s new Conditional Framework to restart cruising in the United States.

Forms filled out required a person’s name, phone number, email, Crown and Anchor Society number, and the number of people in a person’s party, meaning the cruise line likely has upwards of 200,000 potential volunteers assuming each form submitted is for two people. 

The news came via Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley in a Facebook post.

The company launched the effort on Nov. 12 via Facebook after mentioning they were considering having volunteers on Nov. 4.

Potential volunteers can learn more about signing up here.