Seabourn opens sales for newest ship Encore’s 2016 and 2017 cruises

Small-ship luxury cruise line Seabourn on Tuesday revealed itineraries and opened sales on cabins for one of its newest ships, the Encore.

The ship, still under construction, will have a splashy gala and naming ceremony Jan. 7, 2017, in Singapore, according to a statement. Seabourn has scheduled two “pre-inaugural” cruises to sail before then.

The first cruise from Athens to Dubai leaves Dec. 4, 2016, and lasts 16 days. It will stop in Crete (Greece) as well as Haifa and Jerusalem in Israel before entering the Suez Canal. Stops also are planned in Jordan for passengers who want to tour the ancient city of Petra and Oman before ending in Dubai.

The second cruise from Dubai to Singapore takes 18 days and stops in Oman, cities in India and Malaysia. It sails Dec. 20, 2016.

The Encore then sets sail from Singapore to Bali on Jan. 7. Prices for the 10-day cruise start at $7,499 per person, double occupancy.

Australia and New Zealand itineraries are part of the ship’s 2017 cruises, along with seven-day cruises in the Mediterranean during summer 2017.

The Encore and another new ship, the Ovation, are part of Odyssey-class vessels that the line debuted in 2009. The ships will feature the Seabourn Square, a kind of expanded living room with a library, computer center, guest services area and coffee bar.

Each will carry 604 guests (based on two passengers per cabin) and add an extra deck. The all-suite ship features private verandas on each. The Ovation is scheduled to sail in 2018.

Seabourn came in first in 2013 and second in 2014 as Travel + Leisure’s best small-ship cruise line in the world.

Info: Seabourn, (800) 929-9391, or contact a travel agent