Just found this. Apparently it was announced today. Similar size and pax as the Navigator.

SEABOURN CRUISE LINE ORDERS TWO NEW ULTRA LUXURY SHIPS
To Be Built at Mariotti Shipyard, Genoa, At an All-In Cost of Approximately
250 Million Dollars Each

MIAMI, October 19, 2006—Seabourn Cruise Line announced today that it will build two new, ultra luxury ships, for delivery in spring 2009 and 2010. Seabourn, a division of Miami-based Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), has signed a letter of intent for the project with shipbuilder T. Mariotti S.p.A. of Genoa, Italy. The sister ships will have an all-in U.S. dollar cost of $250 million each.

Each of the 32,000-GRT ships will accommodate all guests in 225 luxury suites, ninety percent of which will offer private verandas. Combined, the two vessels will more than double Seabourn’s current fleet capacity of 634 berths.

“Our brand has been experiencing more demand in the marketplace than we could fulfill for quite some time now,” stated Deborah L. Natansohn, president of Seabourn. “The new ships will allow us to bring the unique Seabourn experience to a larger number of people, particularly the highly affluent and active baby boomer generation just now heading towards the more leisurely years of their lives.”

The letter of intent to build the ships is subject to a number of conditions including definitive contracts, financing and other terms.

According to Micky Arison, Chairman and CEO of Carnival Corporation & plc, “This order represents our confidence in the luxury segment of the cruising market, which has shown significant and consistent revenue growth in recent years, with robust future potential. Through our own and independent research, we know that the luxury consumer views the Seabourn brand as the absolute ultimate in leisure travel. This new generation of yacht-like ships will secure its position at the top of the cruise industry pyramid for many years to come.”

The vessels have been specifically designed to enable Seabourn’s award-winning staff to deliver the highly personalized service experience that is a hallmark of the brand. “They will be spacious, with the sleek lines and relaxed, personal feel of an oversized yacht,” Natansohn said. “We’ve essentially taken the signature elements of our existing yachts and added some exciting new features that the larger hulls will allow.”

Marco Bisagno, President of T.Mariotti S.p.A. noted, “When they were introduced, the three existing Seabourn ships embodied a new class of cruising vessel, and they spawned an entirely new niche in the market. We are proud and excited that Seabourn has enlisted Mariotti to craft what will be the next generation of intimate, ultra luxury cruising vessels, to be built in Genoa by our skilled team.”

With this order, Mariotti confirms its leadership in the small/medium size ultra luxury ships market.

The design specifications call for hulls 650 feet long, with a beam of 84 feet and a draft of 21 feet. The ships will be powered by diesel-generated electricity and operate with twin screw propellers, with a service speed of 19 knots. They will be equipped with two bow thrusters to enhance maneuverability and two stabilizers. The ships will also be “green ships” employing advanced wastewater treatment technology.

Natansohn said that past guests and luxury-selling travel agents worldwide will be ecstatic at the word of new ships for the brand. “The Yachts of Seabourn have always been the highest-rated ships in the world when it comes to cuisine and service,” she stated. “With an increased ability to deliver Seabourn’s superior cruise experience to even more travelers, on state-of-the-art vessels, we will continue to define the standard for ultra luxury cruising.”

WOW interesting.

I'm curious as to why they aren't making them 100% balconies, since they are building them new. I guess we'll find out.

Seabourne ships with balconies.....finally, may be worth trying by then.

I LOVE Seabourn - we only cruised them until we tried RSSC and after that couldn't go without balconies. Editing to add - it will be even better now that we can book them through B&K!

You really wonder why not "ALL" balconies. To my knowledge Regent is the only American market ship that is 100% balconies.

I do know it created some challenges in design. Mariner had to have the obstruction between the cabins down the hall for all the "necessary stuff, plumbing, electrical or whatever" to run through the ship. I dont like that center area dividing the halls - I prefer the Navigator and Voyager lay out in the halls. However, on the Mariner the life boats are tucked neatly out of sight.

The Voyager did not have that center area down the halls but then the life boats stick out in order for the "necessary stuff" to go down the outer walls. So some cabins look down into a lifeboat.

I dont understand all this but that is how it was explained to me in simple terms.

The Mariner does NOT work well for block parties as that center area makes the halls too narrow. The Voyager works well for block parties.

All the ships have an obstruction in the hallways under the swimming pool that makes sense.

The Navigator has deck number five with the obstruction in the hallway between the cabin but the rest of the decks are open hallways. Of course the Navigator is not an all balcony ship.

I guess there is no perfect solution which is why perhaps Seabourn and other lines do not create 100% balcony cabins. There are complications that as non ship builders we dont understand.

There is a rendering of the ships here in a CC article.

I saw the "cc" article last night. Had it all ready to copy and paste here but felt guilty for "lifting" their material and was too lazy to go find the official press release. But, then, I knew someone would post it by today. I was right, Don!

I agree, Ngaire about not liking the obstruction down the halls. It's one of the reasons I prefer Voyager over Mariner. Although, I won't turn down a cruise on any Regent ship ;) , but I do enjoy those Voyager block parties!

I am a Seabourn fan, but doubt that a ship with 450 passengers can feel the same as one with only 200. Service and the atmosphere on board make Seabourn special. You feel as if you have been invited as a guest, not a paying passenger. Time will tell if they can duplicate that with a larger ship.

The deck above the pool has the Sky Bar, the grill and table service, and only a railing separating you from the view. This layout makes sailing wonderful on this level and it is a gathering place where passengers mingle and get to know each other. The only other ships I have been on that have this layout are Seadream’s. I hope Seabourn will retain this feature.

One positive about larger ships (in addition to balconies and more dinning and entertainment options) will be the ability to enhance itineraries. The current ships are rather slow and so some itineraries, such as Asia, require a very large number of sea days relative to port days. And of course the current small size can result in some very rough rides in rough open seas.

Merril

I love the fact that the propulsion will be old-fashioned twin screw propellers with bow thrusters! Someone finally has the courage to build a new ship without those modern, but unreliable PODS! Good for Seabourn.
Debbie

These ships will be about the same size as the Navigator. A little larger than the Silver Whisper and Silver Shadow.

I hope they get built, would be nice to have some new luxury ships.

Hallelujah! I am so glad this is happening. We want to try Seabourn but a "real" balcony is a MUST, and with their current ships, you have to book one of the most expensive categories to get one.

I see they are building in the same shipyard where Silversea's fleet was built.

Kristin, the RSSC Navigator and Voyager were built there as well. I would guess these ships will probably have a real similar layout to the Navigator, Whisper, and Shadow.

I agree Merril, it may be tough for them to give the same level of service as they currently do on the triplets, but what a welcome addition. I think this will give all of us so many more options.

BTW, does anybody know at what tonnage, a ship is no longer considered to be in the small ship category for ratings?

Cruisinsince75: I think it varies with the rating system. Conde Nast uses 500 pax as the dividing line between small and large ship cruise lines. hence RSSC's recent selection as the best large ship cruise line. So, 490 pax would still keep Silversea in just the small ship category.

Kristen, I'm with you! Have to have my balcony. Doesn't hurt to have a little more competition in this area for both pricing and itineraries!

Oh my goodness. I just learned that the President of Seabourn, Deborah Nathanson, just died. She just signed the letter of intent for the two new ships last week. She was respected by all who worked with her. She often called passengers herself, to deal with complaints. She will be sorely missed. A sad loss for everyone at Seabourn.

Julie...I was shocked by the news, she was very young.

news story

WOW that is sad. She definitely was well respected by passengers as well as the Agent community.

Wow! She was the same age as me! How sad indeed for her family and friends.

Don...having celebrated my last birthday in the fifties....I am so sad to see others leaving us earlier. Live well, stay healthy and be happy!