New Seabourn expedition ships

Luxury cruise line Seabourn have announced the construction of two new ultra-luxury expedition ships. Seabourn tell us the new ships will be a brand new and innovative design, with features created especially to appeal to the ultra-luxury expedition market.

The first of the new expedition ships is due for delivery in June 2021 and the second is anticipated in May 2022. Each will be smaller than the other ships in the Seabourn fleet, with room for just 264 pampered guests in 132 luxurious oceanfront veranda suites. However, both vessels will feature all the luxurious amenities for which Seabourn is famous, including world-class dining, fine wines and impeccable service.

As vessels built exclusively for expedition cruising the ships will offer guests unparalleled access to some of the most remote areas in the world. They will have a complement of kayaks and 24 Zodiacs to land guests on the beaches in wilderness areas. They will also offer guests some entirely new experiences, including submarining. Two submarines will be carried onboard each vessel giving unforgettable views of the undersea environment.

The Seabourn announcement today is not entirely unexpected. Luxury expedition cruising has boomed in popularity and the market has been left largely to competitors like Silversea and Ponant, both of whom have dedicated expedition fleets.

So the arrival of the new Seabourn expedition ships will be eagerly anticipated by Seabourn. Richard Meadows, the president of Seabourn said, “This is a groundbreaking moment for Seabourn and for luxury travelers, who will now find a new standard of authentic yet luxurious expedition adventures in new and amazing destinations few people will ever see”.

Seabourn have told us they will announce design and service details for the new ships later this year. Specific details about itineraries and booking availability will be released in early 2019. The first ship is currently planned to sail in the Arctic in the late summer of 2021, followed by a full winter season in Antarctica.