“marvelous” with “exceptional service, delicious cuisine, and casual onboard atmosphere that past Seabourn cruisers love and expect.”

Want to see why Odyssey is so marvelous? Read the Seabourn Odyssey review and be sure to check out her photo gallery.

Ensemble Travel Group is bullish on The Yachts of Seabourn because Seabourn shares the same priority as our network of nearly 900 expert premium- and luxury-focused travel agencies in the U.S. and Canada – and that’s you, the customer and guest.
We are both committed to exceeding customers’ expectations. Ensemble Travel Group accomplishes this through strong personal relationships and by offering clients a lineup of standout products and programs. Take for example Ensemble Hosted Cruises, a very popular series of  300 annual sailings that features the company of a gracious Ensemble® Host, a private cocktail party aboard the ship, and the Ensemble® Experience, a complimentary custom event ashore exclusively for our guests. Seabourn has been delighting our hosted cruise clients as a partner for years, and next year, Seabourn joins our hosted world cruise program.

This summer, get ready for an even bigger WOW with Ensemble Hosted Cruises when Seabourn launches Odyssey, followed by Sojourn in summer 2010. The timing couldn’t be better as our repeat hosted cruise clients are looking to their travel agents for new vacation options. These two ships and Seabourn’s host of intriguing new destinations enable us to really cater to their needs.

And speaking of needs, Ensemble Travel Group and Seabourn know that the seasoned luxury client is often looking beyond the mainstream vacation for a more experiential, life-enhancing travel adventure. In part, that’s why Seabourn is adding 44 new destinations next year and why Ensemble Travel Group offers a collection of exclusive products built around meaningful guest experiences.

For example, our Ensemble® Inspired Journeys blend an enlightening cruise or land adventure with an in-depth enrichment program led by experts. This type of extraordinary travel experience gives clients real purpose and meaning behind their vacation. Don’t be surprised to see Seabourn as part of our Ensemble Inspired Journeys moving forward.

We also understand that affluent travelers appreciate value – or getting the most out of their travel investment. Both Ensemble Travel Group and Seabourn have recently enhanced their customers’ travel experiences with special perks and privileges, some of them exclusive to our organizations. Just another way of putting the customer first.

The ISO 14001 certification indicates that Seabourn has created an environmental management system that will enable it to identify and control the environmental impact of its activities, to continually improve its environmental performance and to implement a systematic approach to setting goals, meeting those goals and demonstrating that they have been met.

According to Gerry, “This is an international standard for the highest level of environmental management for companies. All of the ships and office staff ashore and afloat should be proud of this accomplishment.”

As we have noted before, Seabourn Odyssey and her sisters are being designed to meet or exceed all the international standards for environmental management systems that will qualify them for ratings as “Green Ships” by the registration society R.I.N.A.

Along with advanced wastewater treatment systems, the new Seabourn yachts will have technically advanced systems for handling food waste that will reduce the consumption of fresh water in the galleys, and fancoil chillers that will greatly reduce the amount of energy required to cool the suites and public rooms on board. Less energy means less fuel, so that will be an environmental boon.

“I write this as an update to both my blog of 3rd Nov’08 – Seabourn Sojourn’s (MAR063) Wartsila Engine FAT’s and what’s just happening in Port Nogaro with those engines. I also hope it answers the interest raised in the comment written by Wayne E Porter to that blog report.”

Engine Facts and figures -

Maker – Wartsila – of Finland
Type – W12V32B3 – meaning a V12 engine with a bore of 320mm in the Wartsila’s B3 configuration.
Number on Odyssey – 4 (Four)
Power (each) – 100% MCR – 5760 KW or 7830 BHP
No of Cylinder – 12 – V configuration (55deg)
The Crankshaft is a one piece fully forged, fully balanced and in an underslung configuration.
Clylinder Bore – 320mm (about 12 inches)
Piston Stroke – 400mm (about 15 inches)
Turbocharged – 2 fitted – maker ABB
Fuel System – Non Common Rail, burning IFO 380cst
Waste Gas heat recovery – yes – Each engine fitted with an exhaust gas economizer

Electrical Alternator -
Maker – VEM
Voltage – 6600 Volts
Frequency – 60 Hz
Power – 6920 Kva

Weights and Measures -
Total weight Engine and Alternator unit – 100 metric tones (about 110 tons)

Total Length – 10 mtrs  (32 feet)
Max Height – 4 mtrs  (13 feet)
Max width – 3 mtrs  (10 feet)

The small bits -
Each Piston weighs 82 kg (180 lbs.)
Each Cylinder head weighs 410 kg (904 lbs.)

“I hope this gives a bit more of an insight in to the impressive nature of these engines.
I reported on the 3rd Nov that the engines for MAR063, to be named Seabourn Sojourn, would soon be on their way to Porto Nogaro to be fitted into the hull. Well just this last week, the engines arrived and in just one day, the engines were lifted from the transport ship and into the hull, onto their foundations, safe and sound.

To give you some idea of this operation, there are two photos of the engines being fitted into Odyssey which was completed in June, earlier this year.”

Matthew Upchurch

Most Seabourn  guests book through travel agents, and a number of those agents are members of a network of travel advisors  called Virtuoso. We asked Matthew Upchurch, CEO of Virtuoso, to tell us how Seabourn matches up with the Virtuoso philosophy and also what he is looking forward to with the launch of Seabourn Odyssey. Here is his answer:

“Seabourn and Virtuoso have a long partnership based on our common desire to deliver unique and personalized ultra luxury experiences for our customers.  Our shared mission is to help others realize their dreams and increase their Return on Life ™.   By Return on Life™, I mean the real value of time invested in relationships with others – friends and family – and in rejuvenation and purpose-driven pursuits.  The memories we make are our greatest treasures and the source of our greatest feelings of personal fulfillment.  Travel gives us an exceptional Return on Life™, providing opportunities for exploration, enrichment, and reflection.  Seabourn’s desire to make each voyage special for all their guests reflects their commitment to be the best stewards of their guests’ most precious asset – their time.

With the introduction of the Odyssey, Seabourn has created the perfect union of advanced technologies and modern amenities with its heritage of thoughtful personal service.  From cabin style to expanded onboard experiences, the slightly larger Odyssey is a welcome addition to the Seabourn fleet.  Looking ahead to further expansion of the fleet from three to six ships, Seabourn is poised to offer an increased number of destination choices around the world.  Each of these enhancements provides Virtuoso members greater opportunity to increase their clients’ Return on Life™ by creating for them personalized travel portfolios on The Yachts of Seabourn.”

“Guests will feel special and cared for by everything from scented Pure Pampering baths drawn by the stewardess to an intimately shared Caviar on the Surf beach party.  The Odyssey will maintain Seabourn’s famous industry highest crew to guest ratio.”

We are proud to see that Odyssey is generating so much buzz! Thanks to Ryan for recognizing us.

Seabourn has always utilized eco-friendly practices, and Odyssey will surpass all previous standards. For instance,  advanced technology allows us to forgo conventional oil-lubricated stern tubes and shaft seals for Thorden water-lubricated bearings (as seen above in the “I” & “V” Bracket photo’s and a ManeSeal from Wartsila/Deep Sea Seals.) Using water-lubricated bearings removes any chance of any oil leakage/pollution if the stern tube was damaged – as there is NO oil. We simply pump “seawater” to lubricate the bearings, which is possible due to the special material the bearings are made from.

For more information on the manufacturers, check out www.wartsila.com and www.thordonbearing.com.