The Seabourn Venture visits Antarctica for the first time. The company's first expedition ship made its maiden voyage to the "Great White Continent" with an official christening ceremony on Sunday, November 20, 2022, when the ship stopped in the fast-moving ice of the Weddell Sea.
Guests of the Seabourn Venture, acting as honorary godparents, joined the ship's godmother, world adventurer, mountaineer and polar explorer Alison Levine, who performed her ceremonial duties virtually, to wish the Seabourn Venture many blessings and extraordinary expeditions in the future.
The crew released a bottle made of ice, which shattered against the ship. Following the ceremony, Robin West, Vice President of Expedition Operations for Seabourn, spoke about the Seabourn brand's expedition heritage and shared his excitement for upcoming adventure voyages. Luciano Bernacchi, expedition leader of the Seabourn Venture, praised Captain Stig Betten for finding the perfect location for the ceremony, which took place under calm winds and a beautiful blue sky.
“We have eagerly awaited the Seabourn Venture’s maiden voyage to Antarctica since the ship debuted earlier this year,” said Seabourn President Josh Leibowitz. “The extraordinary continent perfectly encapsulates what we hope to offer guests sailing aboard our newest ship: adventure, discovery, and breathtaking wonder. With the beauty of the Antarctic landscape as a backdrop, it was truly the perfect place to name our most luxurious expedition ship, the Seabourn Venture.”
Seabourn chose Antarctica for the christening ceremony, as the southernmost continent embodies everything the ship stands for. The ship departed from San Antonio, Chile, on November 7, 2022, and sailed along the Chilean coast, rewarding guests with breathtaking beauty in channels, straits, sounds, fjords, and glaciers, before reaching the frozen continent.
In Antarctica, the ship offered walking tours and Zodiac excursions, all led by a 26-member expedition team of wildlife experts, scientists, historians, and naturalists. Guests also had the option of participating in expedition experiences such as kayaking, where expedition guides led guests paddling through the stunning scenery, or diving in Antarctica with Seabourn's luxurious expedition submarines, where guests' eyes were opened to the wonders beneath the sea.
An inaugural year full of exploration
Between November 2022 and February 2023, the Seabourn Venture will operate 11- to 22-day voyages to Antarctica, South Georgia, and the Falkland Islands, offering close encounters with wilderness and wildlife, including swaying icebergs, waddling penguin colonies, and fur seals, as well as visits to research stations with footholds on the continent. The voyages will include multiple daily operations using Zodiacs for landings and cruising along the Antarctic Peninsula. Optional excursions, such as kayaking and the ship's submarines, will also be available, allowing guests to explore the vast underwater frontier.
In March and April 2023, the Seabourn Venture will embark on a series of seven- to twelve-day expedition voyages in Brazil and the Amazon, visiting many colorful colonial cities on the Brazilian coast and sailing into the heart of South America through one of the world's greatest rivers.
Beginning in May 2023, the Seabourn Venture will offer two new itineraries encompassing the British Isles and Iceland. The ship will depart from Greenwich, London, UK, on May 12, 2023, for a 12-day Expedition offering epic views of landscapes, wildlife, and birds across Ireland, including the Orkney Islands in northern Scotland, before concluding in Edinburgh, Scotland, on May 24. From there, the ship will continue its journey north for 11 days with stops in Scotland before heading to the Land of Fire and Ice and concluding in Reykjavik, Iceland, on June 4, 2023.
Between June and August 2023, the Seabourn Venture will explore the Arctic with a series of 14- and 15-day voyages to Greenland and Iceland. On August 27, 2023, the ship will embark on a 23-day voyage through the Northwest Passage, one of the world's most infamous and historically significant passages from the Atlantic to the Pacific, steeped in a fascinating history of exploration.
Designed for exploration and equipped for adventure
The Seabourn Venture is designed and built for diverse environments to Polar Class PC6 standards and includes state-of-the-art equipment and technology that expand the ship's deployment and global capabilities. The ship features an innovative design, created specifically for the ultra-luxury expedition traveler, and incorporates many of the features that have made Seabourn ships so successful.
The ship is equipped with kayaks and enough zodiacs to transport all guests on expeditions at once, as well as two custom-built submarines, each with a capacity for six people and capable of exploring the natural wonders under the sea in luxurious comfort.
