Seabourn ship Seabourn Encore will resume sailing earlier than anticipated in February with departures from Lisbon.

The vessel had originally been due to return to service in April 2022 but will now run ten and 11-day itineraries to the Canary Islands, Madeira  and the Mediterranean from the Portuguese capital.

The ship’s return has been brought forward to February 19 from April 17, becoming the third vessel in the luxury line’s fleet to re-enter service following the pandemic.

Seabourn Encore will then run a 15-day repositioning cruise from Lisbon to Athens, where it will be positioned for its originally scheduled eastern Mediterranean deployment next summer.

The new Canary Islands and Mediterranean sailings will be available for booking from October 5. 

Musical lyricist Sir Tim Rice is due to feature on the first Canaries sailing.

Seabourn 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.”