You’ve just scored the photograph of your Arctic vacation: a humpback whale breaching so close to your sea kayak it seemed like you could touch the gorgeous creature. It’s the icing on the cake after an indescribable day paddling among brilliant ice patches and shimmering shoreline.
Arriving back on board the ship that’s become your home away from home, you’re instantly enveloped in an inviting ambiance that includes mahogany-infused interiors and intoxicating aromas emanating from the dining lounge. You recline in a luxurious leather chair and begin perusing your photographs in pursuit of the perfect crop.
This vibe—the great outdoors meets world-class comfort—is the ethos underpinning an expansion of Seabourn’s luxurious offerings. The cruise line has announced the addition of two new expedition ships to its fleet: Seabourn Venture and its yet-to-be-named sister ship, set to launch in June, 2021 and May, 2022, respectively. Both will be built to combine the rugged romanticism of expedition travel with the ultra-luxury experience the cruise line is known for, and will feature public areas brought to life by preeminent hospitality designer Adam D. Tihany.
Embodying the Spirit of Exploration Through Thoughtful Design
Seabourn has developed a unique approach to cruising, pairing utmost luxury with invigorating excursions. This is one of the factors that helped the cruise line to nominations for AFAR Travelers’ Choice Awards in six categories in 2018. Expedition experiences, which Seabourn launched in 2013, are especially exciting—with itineraries in alluring destinations like Alaska, the Antarctic, Australasia, Northern Europe, Iceland, Greenland, and the Amazon. On board, the Ventures by Seabourn program enlists scientists, scholars, naturalists, wildlife specialists, and other professionals to enhance guests’ experience through informative lectures and immersive experiences.
Seabourn Venture will include state-of-the-art amenities and feature activities like Zodiac cruising, kayaking, and guided hiking through some of the planet’s most surreal landscapes. But that’s just the beginning.
How would you like to go exploring in a submarine? On board these expedition ships, you’ll be able to plumb the depths of the ocean. Two custom-built submarines will accompany voyagers on board Seabourn Venture, allowing guests a once-in-a-lifetime look at the otherworldly seascapes beneath the hypnotizing waves.
Back on board, every design element encourages guests to find comfort, relaxation, and community awaiting after their adventures. New spaces in these ships—the Expedition Lounge, Discovery Center, Landing Zone, and Atrium—are crafted to be oases of calm and community after adrenaline-pumping activities.
Traveling as a family? You may return from a day of trekking and spend the evening at the Discovery Center, learning more about the exotic wildlife you saw that day. Honeymooning couple? You may relax on your suite balcony, excitedly reminiscing about a submarine excursion while sharing a Champagne toast. The design of the Venture and its sister ship epitomize the themes that Seabourn has come to be known for: elemental and tactile, while evoking the romanticism of legendary expeditions of the past. Even the Landing Zone (the area where guests embark for and return from shore) has been designed with an intentional mixture of functionality and aesthetics.
“When you conjure up images of the ideal adventure trip, you would head out into the stunning wilderness for the day knowing that when you return, a cozy, welcoming space filled with luxurious materials like leathers and rich woods that invites relaxation and conversation awaits you,” said Seabourn President Richard Meadows. “Each of these newly designed spaces hits that note perfectly.”
Visit Seabourn to learn more about these soon-to-launch ships and how you can be one of the lucky first passengers to set foot on board their elegant decks.
