Seabourn Legend – I Never Knew What An Odyssey She Was

Tonight I stumbled across a 1996 news release about Seabourn’s acquisition of the Seabourn Legend from the then failing (now long gone) Royal Cruise Line.  It seems Seabourn has two ships named Odyssey:

SAN FRANCISCO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Jan. 18, 1996–Seabourn Cruise Line announced today that an agreement has been concluded for its acquisition of the vessel, Queen Odyssey, sister ship of the line’s two elegant all-suite cruise ships, Seabourn Pride and Seabourn Spirit.

San Francisco-based Seabourn said the vessel had been purchased for $55 million from Kloster Cruises Ltd. of Oslo, Norway. Financial details of the acquisition were not released.

(It was announced publicly Tuesday, Jan. 16 in San Francisco that Royal Cruise Line would cease operations.)

Seabourn Cruise Line is jointly owned by Norwegian Industrialist Atle Brynestad who founded the line in 1987, and Carnival Corporation (NYSE:CCL).

The purchase agreement was signed today in Oslo by Atle Brynestad who serves as chairman and CEO of the line, and a representative for Kloster Cruises Ltd.


The elegant and highly regarded Seabourn will take possession of the Queen Odyssey on Jan. 26, 1996 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.


Seabourn pointed out that it had not acquired Royal Cruise Line but one of its assets and said it intends to continue to operate it as the Queen Odyssey and honor the Royal Cruise Line published schedule, pricing and marketing initiatives for a short period.


Seabourn stated that any guests booked at tariff on any modified Queen Odyssey itinerary can be assured that they will have the option of selecting itineraries from the Seabourn Pride or the Seabourn Spirit at Royal Cruise Line published prices. Details will be announced as soon as plans currently underway are finalized.

Learn something new every day.