Intrepid travelers everywhere celebrated the launch of Seabourn Venture, which officially set sail on her maiden voyage around the Svalbard archipelago in July 2022. The new purpose-built, ultra-luxury ship—and her soon-to-arrive sister ship, Seabourn Pursuit—is a gamechanger in expedition travel, taking guests to some of the most distant, awe-inspiring places on the planet in ultra-luxury comfort. Yet if you think expedition cruising is only for active adventurers, think again. Indeed, a Seabourn expedition is truly about sharing an adventurous mindset.

These adventure-filled expedition voyages cater to everyone from the young to the young at heart, with a host of inclusive and optional excursions available in each destination from Zodiac® cruises through Antarctica’s icy waters to kayaking tours along the Amazon River, walks and hikes ashore to Viking ruins in the Arctic and exploring underwater worlds in our submarines. Guests are always free to choose the level of adventure they would like to experience in each location.

Let’s say you want to join a Zodiac cruise excursion through one of Norway’s breathtaking fjords, but don’t feel confident getting in and out of the Zodiac from the ship. Not to worry: Expedition Team members are ready and willing to share an arm to lean on to assist you on and off the boat so you can relax and enjoy the cruise.

Perhaps you long to explore the undersea world, but don’t snorkel or dive. Seabourn Venture and her sister ship, Seabourn Pursuit, are both equipped with a pair of six-passenger submarines that descend more than 300 feet below the ocean’s surface. Designed specifically for Seabourn, these battery-powered, air-conditioned submarines are outfitted with custom-embroidered leather seating, a Bluetooth stereo system, and even a Champagne chiller. So you can explore while toasting with a flute of bubbly.

Of course, wildlife viewing is a huge draw for expedition cruising, and some excursions ashore may require the ability to walk over uneven and often wet, snowy, or rocky terrain. But it is important to note that in many locations Seabourn’s Expeditions offer various levels of exploration so everyone can take advantage of our amazing adventures both ashore and at sea. There is a wide range of possibilities, from taking a Zodiac cruise instead of a landing to joining interpretive talks in the Discovery Center to relaxing in the comfort of your own superbly appointed suite.

New for expedition travel is the Cineflex gyro-stabilized camera system. Cineflex is a pioneer in high-definition aerial camera systems, best known for being used on the award-winning BBC series Planet Earth. The custom camera system installed on board both Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit features a digital telescopic lens and camera housed in an ultra-stable platform, which can capture video and still images from a considerable distance without disturbing the animals. Those images are then streamed live into the Expedition lounge and throughout your Seabourn ship including your suite.

And whether you participate in every activity or none at all, you can still reap plenty of benefits from an expedition voyage—everything from lowering your blood pressure and anxiety levels to enhancing the immune system. (Click here for seven reasons why expedition cruising is so good for your wellbeing.)

Become part of the experience when Seabourn Venture explores the United Kingdom on two new voyages in May 2023, followed by in-depth explorations of Iceland and Greenland before taking the iconic trek across the Northwest Passage in late August. From there she will head down the West Coast of the Americas before reaching Antarctica. She will then make a once-in-a-lifetime crossing of the Atlantic encompassing the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and Ascension Island. In March and April, Seabourn Venture will take two sailings up the West Coast of Africa and Europe to be in position for her 2024 Arctic season. Seabourn Pursuit will start her maiden season in late 2023 by traveling down the East Coast of South America before joining Seabourn Venture for the Antarctica season. Both ships offer you the chance to experience nature like never before.