Seabourn Cruise Line has bought the 2 sister ships, Seabourn Goddess I and Goddess II to the previous Seabourn founder and proprietor Atle Brynestad for an undisclosed quantity. Brynestad, who beforehand was chairman of Cunard Line and a board member of Carnival Company, will take supply on September 1, 2001.
Brynestad stated that he deliberate to proceed to function the 2 4,260-ton, 116-passenger ships on their schedules as revealed by the earlier proprietor, via spring of 2002, when each ships will bear main refurbishment. They first entered service in 1984 and 1985, respectively, and have been constructed for $32 million every.
It has beforehand been reported that Brynestad deliberate to launch a spa-ship idea, however when contacted late final yr, a spokesperson for Brynestad stated he had no plans to re-enter the cruise enterprise.
In line with a ready assertion, “A number of former associates who initially began Seabourn are additionally anticipated to take part in the way forward for the 2 vessels.”
New bookings and constitution inquiries for the Sea Goddesses will likely be accepted by the brand new proprietor’s basic gross sales agent, North Star Excursions, based mostly in Fort Lauderdale.
Battle for Passengers
Seaboum is providing passengers and brokers robust incentives to modify their bookings to one in every of its different ships. In 2001 and 2002, the Seaboum Goddess I and II had been deployed on itineraries of 4 to seven days within the Caribbean and the Mediterranean, with a couple of seasonal 10-day positioning cruises between these areas.
In line with Seabourn, anybody holding reservations for 2001 departures on Seaboum Goddess can swap to a different Seaboum ship in the identical area for as much as 14 days in 2001 at no extra fare(!). Visitors booked in 2002 may additionally change their 5 or seven-day Seaboum Goddess cruises to any Seabourn cruise as much as 14 days at no extra cost.
As well as, all company who rebook with Seabourn will obtain a $300 per suite shipboard credit score. And brokers who rebook their purchasers on an alternate Seabourn cruise will obtain a bonus fee of $400 per suite. Visitors preferring to cancel may have their fares refunded. As well as, canceling company will obtain credit of $500 per particular person towards fares on future Seaboum cruises.
The brand new so-far unnamed firm bas countered with what it known as “unbelievably low charges,” providing Mediterranean cruises at $325 per day and Caribbean cruises for $199 per day.
Perspective
Brynestad as soon as launched Seaboum however wanted Carnival’s sources to bail him out. How he’s going to succeed with two smaller ships stays to be seen, particularly in mild of the battle that Seaboum appears to be gearing up for.
Business sources speculate that the Seabourn Goddesses sale is the start of the unraveling of the Cunard/Seabourn fleet. Sources advised that the Caronia is already on the block and that the Seabourn sister ships will comply with. The Seaboum Solar will likely be becoming a member of Holland America Line’s fleet subsequent yr because the Prinsendam. If that state of affairs performs out, solely Cunard Line will survive with the QE2, whose future will likely be unsure as soon as the brand new QM2 enters service.
In the meantime, the sale of the Seaboum Goddesses completes a distillation of the Seaboum fleet again to its unique ships, in response to Rick Meadows, vice chairman of gross sales and advertising and marketing, who stated they may safe the corporate’s place as probably the most unique trip out there at any value.
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