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. (more…)

Odyssey Blog Correspondent Neil Carney gives us an update on the two Seabourn yachts that are also under construction…..

Neil Carney

“Whilst a lot of attention is being focused on the building of MAR062, or Seabourn Odyssey as you know her, it should not be forgotten that there are an additional two Seabourn sisters also under construction – MAR063 and MAR064. (more…)

The Seabourn Team pouring over table details for the main dining room.

Check out a few words from Adam Snitzer, one of our trusted blog correspondents….

“It’s amazing how much attention the Seabourn team is paying to Odyssey decisions and details.  For instance, we are taking the dining experience very seriously. The show plate is a great example. If you aren’t familiar with a show plate, you might have heard it referred to as a “charger.” When you go to a nice restaurant, the charger is the plate that remains on the table when your appetizer plate is removed. We’ve had two meetings and there’s been a lot of work done between the meetings as well.  We’ve been talking about everything from chair upholstery to lighting, to the ceiling height, to the curtains… all  of these play a role in deciding which china to put on the table – especially the show plate, which to me really creates a first impression. (more…)

As Seabourn Odyssey was being towed to the drydock, we got the first chance to see her in full profile. She is completely different from most cruising vessels being built today. She really is an elegant Italian yacht. Look at that raked prow and the graceful slope of her “brow” made by the terraced decks. Note the bulbous bow, which will be underwater when she is fully loaded. That serves to divide the water as she goes forward and reduce the drag on the hull, making her much more fuel efficient.

From astern, you again see the sloped “wedding cake” of deck terraces that will give her a distinctive profile. When she is finished, we won’t be able to see under her stern like this. The rudders and propellers will be under there, and she will sit lower in the water after they get all the champagne and caviar on board!

Odyssey Hull being towed to Genoa, Italy

If you ever put together model ships as a child, you might remember how interesting it was to meticulously fit together the wooden deck, the propellers and maybe even the little lifeboats. Model ships require painstaking detail, right? Now multiply that by about 10,000 and you come somewhat close to the work required to build a magnificent yacht like Seabourn Odyssey. (more…)