Seabourn has revealed that Seabourn Encore will return to the Canary Islands and the Mediterranean from 19 February 2022.

The ship was scheduled to resume operations in April but will now set sail earlier than planned.

Seabourn will run 10 and 11-day itineraries starting from Lisbon during the winter and spring of 2022. Itineraries will be available to book from 5 October 2021.

In addition, the ship will sail on a 15-day voyage along the coasts of the Mediterranean Sea from Lisbon to Athens, Greece, where it will be positioned for its originally scheduled Eastern Mediterranean deployment in the summer.

Guests will also be able to book 22 or 26-day combination cruises, sailing in March and April.

President Josh Leibowitz said: “The Canary Islands are a tropical paradise for sun-seekers and nature enthusiasts, making them a beautiful getaway at this time of year.

“We saw the opportunity to bring Seabourn Encore back earlier than anticipated in these destinations rich in culture, history, and renowned cuisine, and with our partnership with UNESCO, to help guests discover something special all along the way.

“We’re also looking forward to welcome Sir Tim Rice back on board to celebrate the ship’s first voyage back in service, making for a very memorable holiday that our guests will never forget.”

Lyricist Sir Tim Rice will be on board Seabourn Encore’s return voyage on 19 February.

Rice will appear live on stage to share his career highlights and perform alongside the Seabourn singers and dancers.

Seabourn recently announced the name of its second purpose-built expedition ship, Seabourn Pursuit.

Construction for the vessel began in autumn last year. It is scheduled for delivery in February 2023, with its sister ship, Seabourn Venture, slated to launch in March 2022.