Mitsui acquired this relatively small ship for her suitability for cruising the Seto Inland Sea.

The ship undertook sea trials on 22 May 2009 and the naming ceremony took place in Venice, Italy on 24 June 2009.

[12] The ship was drydocked in Genoa for ten days, allowing the contractor to refit public areas as well as some suites.

Lines, Ltd. (MOL) and would complete all published itineraries through August 2024 and thenthe ship would be turned over to Mitsui Ocean Cruises.

The ship's maiden World Cruise begun on 5 January 2010 and was scheduled to visit 42 ports over 108 days.

The Retreat features a nine-hole mini golf course, a giant chess board and shuffleboard.

At the time of its launch, Seabourn claimed that the ship had "the largest spa on any luxury vessel at 11,400 square feet" and one of the highest ratios of space onboard per guest.