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At dinner time, the Colonnade transitions to the Earth and Ocean restaurant. This is a more casual dinner option with theme meals based on different regions of the world. Earth and ocean is a sit down dinning facility with table service. A luxury Antarctica cruise had been at the top of our travel bucket list for a long time. When it finally happened, Alan and I chose to cruise to Antarctica with Seabourn. We’re puzzled at Seabourn’s decision to store the Zodiacs on the ship's top deck, as opposed to water level, as it slows down deployment.
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Or take advantage of Seabourn two submersibles and explore the seafloor. Only Seabourn Antarctic cruises provide you with these unique experiences. The White Continent Antarctica expedition deals are usually only available in November when the pack ice is thick and most animals are just arriving and landings are limited. Or other deals tend to occur in early March when the sea ice starts reforming and the weather changes as winter starts to set back in. However, I have an amazing deal for both Veranda Suites or Penthouses for a single departure in December 2024. The bow lounge is a great place to meet the expedition team and see the ships navigation tools.
How This Remote Norwegian Archipelago Became a New Travel Hot Spot
There is no pool deck, per se aboard Seabourn Venture, at least in the traditional cruise ship sense. Instead, there’s an infinity pool and hot tubs at the back of the ship on Deck 5, outside the Patio/Colonnade. Still, for people who want a true luxury cruise experience at the ends of the earth, Seabourn Venture will check all the boxes, and then some.
Food on Seabourn Venture Includes Several Options; Expansive Room Service
While roughly 50 or so cruise ships now serve this market, the ultra-luxe segment is still the tip of the spear. Not only is it really the only way to get here (charters aren’t an option, although you can fly), it’s also where innovation occurs. We went aboard to see what fresh advantages this ship has over the competition. Depending on weather, ice conditions and reported wildlife distribution during your voyage, your captain and expedition team will program an additional day of discovery and adventure for you in Antarctica.
See weddell seals, orca’s, humpback whales, chinstrap, adelie, gentoo penguins and more. From the world’s largest ice bergs to dynamic mountains, there’s no place in the world like Antarctica. Spend each day walking and exploring the white continent by foot and zodiac. Under international agreements, ships with more than 500 passengers are restricted from landing sites, with Seabourn this is not a problem.
There are plenty of shared spaces to relax and enjoy the view as you sail into some of the most remote regions in the world. New lounges that have a decided expedition focus include the underutilized (by guests; the expedition staff loved this area) Bow Lounge at the front of the ship on Deck 6. Here, navigation instruments that mimic the bridge give maritime geeks all kinds of stats about the ship's position and progress, and you can also find sodas and snacks. We also loved pre-dinner cocktails in the cozy Expedition Lounge on Deck 4, squarely between the Discovery Center (which has multiple uses as theater and briefing room) and the Restaurant. Launched in 2022, the 264-passenger Seabourn Venture marks the luxury cruise line’s first expedition ship, with a sister ship, Seabourn Pursuit, coming in 2023.
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But the line isn’t exactly a neophyte when it comes to expedition cruising. Seabourn has been running cruises to Antarctica for years on Seabourn Quest and the line developed its Ventures by Seabourn program that offers expedition options in various locales across its fleet in 2015. Offering a luxury expedition cruising experience, Seabourn Venture allows you to explore without compromising on comfort. Seabourn Pursuit carries up to 264 passengers in 132 oceanfront suites (some Antarctic cruises carry 1,000). Better still, each suite comes with downy bedding, 24/7 room service (including caviar—a win), and a state-of-the-art spa that ticks all the best travel boxes. But that’s not why you cross the dreaded Drake down to the Great White Continent.
Each day on board offers delicious dining options, world-class entertainment and enriching activities. Embark on a photo expedition of expedition history from over a century ago. See the world through the eyes of Jean-Baptiste Charcot on this island named for the expedition’s photographer Paul Pleneau. In addition to Caribbean-blue lagoons, and stunning ice formations, this island hosts a number of gentoo and chinstrap penguin colonies, complete with abundant opportunities to dote on adorable chicks from afar. You will have the chance to observe onboard lectures from the expedition crew and various guest experts, as well as take advantage of the facilities onboard, such as the pool, casino, onboard spa and fitness centre.
Expert Review of Seabourn Pursuit Cruise Ship - Cruise Critic
Expert Review of Seabourn Pursuit Cruise Ship.
Posted: Wed, 12 Jul 2023 16:10:57 GMT [source]
Seabourn Antarctica Expedition on Sale: $8,999
All passengers are offered daily zodiac cruise options along with landings. If the weather cooperates you can expect getting off the ship 2-3 times a day for 1-3 hours at a time. IAATO regulations limit 100 tourists on land at a time and prohibits ships with greater than 500 passengers from landing in Antarctica. This elegant and very capable 264 guest ship boasts innovative design throughout and the unique opportunity to explore a part of Antarctica very few others get to see, through the use of its submarines. Purpose-built in Italy, the ship launched in 2022 and offers a luxury expedition cruising experience; on Seabourn Pursuit you can explore Antarctica without compromising on comfort. Antarctica is one, luckily, but Svalbard and many other countries where expedition ships go do not allow their use.
The Seabourn Venture and Pursuit are both brand new ultra-luxury polar class vessels. These Antarctica Seabourn cruise ships are much smaller than the more well known Seabourn Odyssey and Seabourn Encore ships. Instead of hosting 500+ guests, Seabourn’s new Antarctica expedition ships hold a maximum of 264 people. I cannot stress enough how this is one of the best experiences guests can have visiting the white continent. We’re talking about an experienced cruise and expedition team which preemptively anticipates your every need.
“Paradise” and “frigid, frozen Antarctica” might not seem like they go together, but the tranquil, blue beauty of this place makes the name fitting. Paradise Harbor is one of many sites that expedition ships visit and is known for its absolute beauty with its mountains and glaciers. The area is characterized by jagged, ice mountains in all different shades of blue. Visitors can jump on smaller Zodiac boats to travel across the slimmer channels that their cruise ship won’t be able to access on the more remote Western coast of Antarctica.
Transformed by wind and sea, ice formations of surprising shapes and sizes fill the channel, leaving fortunate visitors in awe of this pristine environment. Sail to the southernmost reaches of the world to experience icy, otherworldly landscapes in Patagonia and Antarctica. There is a club for live music and dancing in the early morning hours. Plus there is the constellation lounge at the front of the ship with live music.
Guests will be accompanied by a veteran Expedition Team, who in many cases have made Antarctica the focus of their life’s work. They’ll tell you what they know, point out what they think you ought to see, and step ashore with you to share the profound experience of adventure and discovery that brings them back year after year. Are you ready for an awe inspiring 6 star luxury Antarctica Expedition at a 3 star price?
