Ship review: Seabourn Encore

You’dbe forgiven for thinking that Seabourn Encore was a carbon copyofthe rest of the luxury line’s fleet. It certainly feels the same, with awonderful consistency that is bound to comfort the brand’s loyal customers.

The suite categories remain the same, the favourite diningand lounge areas have returned and there will even be familiar faces among thestaff, who have been drafted in from other ships for the launch.

But there are slight differences throughout the 12-deckship, and repeat guests will notice these, regardless of how subtle they are.Let’s be honest, a luxury line that almost always sails full doesn’t need tochange much. It’s already a winning formula and perhaps that’s why designerAdam Tihany was instructed to be “evolutionary, rather than revolutionary”.

The ship looks and feels like a luxury yacht, and the“sexy Italian yacht feel” is something Tihany deemed critical when designingit. Seabourn Encore was Tihany’s first cruise ship design project,having built his reputation designing luxury hotels, but he says he enjoyedintroducing Seabourn to a more “Italian look and feel with sexy round curvesand no sharp edges”.

The biggest, and most obvious difference is the size ofthe ship. Seabourn Encore carries 150 more guests than SeabournOdyssey, Soujourn and Quest, with 604 passengers. An extradeck has been added to the ship to allow for more suites and dining options.

Those extra venues include The Grill, by US chef ThomasKeller, and Sushi, the first Japanese restaurant in the fleet.

Another new feature is The Retreat –atop deck area with a whirlpool, cabanas and loungers. Seabourn guests aren’tused to having to pay extra for onboard facilities. However, they’ll have to ifthey want access to The Retreat, which costs between $250 to $350 per daydepending on whether the ship is in port or at sea.

Despite having Bollinger on demand, guests may find theprice a little steep and you’d have to drink a few bottles to make the priceworthwhile.

Agents who joined the christening in Singapore were mostimpressed with the transformation of Seabourn Square. The new open-plan loungedesign is more welcoming and bound to be a popular hang-out spot for guests.

Edwina Lonsdale, co-owner of Mundy Cruising, said the sizeincrease wouldn’t faze past guests.

“This is an evolution of the Seabourn brand. When somelines launch new ships the massive change on the newer vessel isn’t always agood thing, it puts more spotlight on newer ships and guests are less inclinedto travel on the older ships. However, the consistency in the Seabourn fleetmeans there won’t be a preference among the ships because everyone will loveeach of them.”

Simone Clark, managing director of Iglu.com, said: “Pastguests will like that Encore feels like a Seabourn ship. It’s consistentwith the rest of the fleet.

“Everything that is loved on Seabourn is still there, butit’s just been enhanced to be made even better.”

Seabourn Encore returns to Europe in May for a season cruising around theMediterranean. Sister ship Seabourn Ovation will launch in 2018.