The inaugural sailings on Seabourn’s new purpose-built, ultra-luxury expedition ship, Seabourn Venture, are now on sale.

The first of two ships, the 264-passenger Seabourn Venture is scheduled to depart for its inaugural cruise – Wild & Ancient British Isles Voyage – on 10 April 2022, sailing from Greenwich to Leith.

It will then depart on a 12-day Scottish and Norse Legends Expedition out of Leith on 22 April 2022, exploring the coast of Scotland and Norway en route to Tromso.

From Tromso, the ship will embark on its previously announced deployment for its first summer season in the Arctic, starting on 4 May next year.

It will explore destinations in Svalbard, the North Cape and other locations in Norway, as well as Iceland, Greenland, and the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. 

Seabourn Venture had been due to launch in December this year, but the date was changed due to “pandemic disruptions and related supply chain challenges”.

A launch ceremony was held at the T. Mariotti shipyard in Genoa, Italy, earlier this month (August).

A bottle of celebratory Champagne was smashed against the hull and the ship is now at the outfitting dock at the shipyard, where it will undergo its final construction phase.

Seabourn president Josh Leibowitz said: “We’re looking forward to the dawn of a new era of expedition cruising, and our inaugural Seabourn Venture itineraries through the British Isles, Scotland and Norway are the perfect beginning.

“Our first purpose-built expedition vessel, Seabourn Venture, is a ship unlike any other, with a perfect blend of luxury and adventure to break boundaries and create lasting memories in destinations brimming with natural and cultural marvels.” 

Venture and its sister ship will provide a “wide range of included shore excursions at nearly every destination the ships will visit”, according to the line.

Expedition experiences will include hiking, snorkelling, scuba diving, and zodiac cruising, as well as two custom-built submarines at select destinations.