Seabourn Sojourn’s christening was short, sweet, and to the point. Godmother Twiggy commenced the festivities with a blessing and the smash of the ceremonial champagne bottle. The 32,000-ton Sojourn is the sister ship to the Seabourn Odyssey, the third sister ship (Seabourn Quest) debuts next year.

Carrying just 450 passengers, Sojourn is oppulent and intimate with standout features that includes the largest spa on a luxury vessel, the two-deck Spa at Seabourn provides the ultimate pampering experience at sea. Exceptional new amenities in the 11,400-square-foot spa include a Kneipp Walk, an herbal bath facility and aroma steam bath with salt inhalation. For pure indulgence and relaxation, guests can reserve the canopied Spa Villa, with a whirlpool big enough for two, a private balcony for sunbathing, a double daybed and a full living room.

The ship has nine-hole mini golf course,two swimming pools, six outdoor whirlpools and its own water fold-out sports marina. Food connosieurs will enjoy menus designed by celebrity chef Charlie Palmer and the relaxing and a cushy, innovative Seabourn Square a multi-tasting “concierge lounge” area with a library, upscale shops, computer center, coffee bar and outdoor terrace.

Staterooms are very spacious with some ninety percent offering private balconies. All are equipped with flatscreen TVs, iPod and MP3 connections and granite bathrooms with separate bath and shower.

Silver Spirit’s christening ceremony on Thursday morning at Port Everglades will be webcast live at www.silverspiritblog.com. The event is set to start at 10 a.m. EST.

Godmother Silvia Lefebvre D’Ovidio, the sister of Silversea chairman Manfredi Lefebvre D’Ovidio, will name the ship with a balthazar of Moët & Chandon.

Silversea says a smaller replica of the Champagne bottle will be auctioned as a memento during Silver Spirit’s ‘Grand Inaugural Voyage’ to benefit the Maruzza Lefebvre D’Ovidio Foundation, a non-profit organization spearheaded by Silvia Lefebvre D’Ovidio.

On Tuesday, Larry Pimentel, Azamara Cruises’ president, announced that the cruise line brand is changing to reflect a new, “up market, baby-boomer” clientele who want more destination-driven itineraries. The cruise line will now be known as Azamara Club Cruises. With a new logo and a tag line: “You’ll love where we take you.”

“We will be a very different and unique product with a destination-driven focus that is all about culture, sounds, food and wine. Destinations will be our cornerstone,” Pimentel says.

The company will focus on four key pillars:

1. Destination immersion - We’re in no hurry (you can go on short voyages or long voyages. Seven-day voyages can be connected into longer ones). Additionally, to enhance the port experience tours will be broken down into “track experiences” – cultural, cuisine, and shopping.

2. Exceptional service – already a great product and taking it to an upscale level. Adding better trained butlers and concierge services.

3. Cuisine and wine – 8,000 bottles of wine on vessels. More inclusive cruising that will have complementary wine at lunch and dinner.

4. Wellness and vigor – amazing spa experience all surrounding wellness and vigor. The product will be refined.

The rebranding to Azamara Club Cruises reflects those changes. Why change the brand now? “The brand needed to be tweaked; the brand needed focus,” said Pimentel. Additionally, the product will become more inclusive with in addition to adding the aforementioned wine at lunch and dinner will include coffee, soda, bottled water, shuttles in port, gratuities, and self-service laundry — these changes will start in April 2010. There will also be a new loyalty program for repeat guests called Le Club Voyage. “Repeat guests are our biggest customers,” says Edie Bornstein, Azamara’s vice president of sales and marketing.

Alas, all these upgrades will come at a price – literally. Pimentel says the pricing will absolutely be higher to reflect the upgrades.

Silversea Cruises’ Silver Shadow reported one adult male passenger overboard today. The United States Coast Guard was immediately contacted and Search and Rescue Operations were put in progress (Watch the rescue video).

Due to the joint efforts of Silver Shadow staff and the Coast Guard, the overboard passenger was found alive and rescued. The investigation regarding the incident is ongoing. Silver Shadow arrived into Port Everglades for regularly scheduled disembarkation procedures today