Seatrade Cruise News is part of the Informa Markets Division of Informa PLC

This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 8860726.

Seabourn Odyssey is sold to Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (updated)

CRUISE_Seabourn_Odyssey.jpg
Seabourn Odyssey was built for a reported price of $250m in 2009
Seabourn's oldest ship, the 2009-built Seabourn Odyssey, has been sold to Mitsui O.S.K. Lines for delivery in late August 2024.

Seabourn will continue to operate Odyssey's published voyages through Aug. 22, 2024, under a charter arrangement.

The terms were not disclosed. The ship was built for a reported $250m.

Not part of Carnival's December disclosure

In December Carnival Corp. & plc said three older, less efficient ships, two belonging to Costa group, would be leaving the fleet.

Update: Seabourn Odyssey is a new development and not part of the December disclosure. 

Costa Magica and AIDAvita were named in December, with AIDAaura subsequently announced to exit in September this year

(Also in December, Costa Fortuna was expected to leave the fleet in 2023; however, based on business needs the company opened Fortuna itineraries for an additional year.)

So the removal of 26 ships from the fleet has been announced since before the pandemic — 24 were already removed, plus the pending AIDAura and Seabourn Odyssey departures.

Supplements Mitsui newbuild plans

In November, Mitsui — which operates the 1990-built, 22,472gt Nippon Maru — announced plans to build two 600-passenger, 35,000gt cruise ships, with the first for delivery around 2027. Further details on those haven't come out.

However, the company said the Seabourn ship will expand its business ahead of the launch of these two new vessels and that it aims to develop a 'high-quality international service based on a new concept that will 'enrich people’s lives and celebrate the culture of Japan.'

Renovation planned

Prior to starting service in late 2024 in the waters around Japan, Seabourn Odyssey will undergo renovations and be renamed. Mitsui said it plans to develop itineraries of various lengths, from short trips to world cruises.

'We are proud that Seabourn Odyssey carried our guests across the world for the last 14 years and are happy to see her join a great company, MOL,' Seabourn President Natalya Leahy said. 'As we prepare to say farewell to Odyssey in September 2024, I am excited to further optimize our fleet as we grow our expedition business. With the addition of Seabourn Pursuit this summer, Seabourn will have one of the most modern fleets in the ultra-luxury segment with an average age of just seven years.'

Higher capacity

With the two new expedition ships Seabourn will have higher capacity compared to 2019 even after Seabourn Odyssey’s departure.

Odyssey was the first of a new series of 32,000gt ships, followed by Seabourn Sojourn (2010) and Seabourn Quest (2011), all from T. Mariotti. Then came the slightly larger, 40,350gt Seabourn Encore (2016) and Seabourn Ovation (2018) from Fincantieri.

The 23,000gt expedition newbuild Seabourn Venture was delivered by T. Mariotti last year, with sister Pursuit to soon follow.

See also 'Tony Kaufman to advise as Mitsui O.S.K. strengthens cruise business'