Luxury cruise line Seabourn has taken delivery of its first expedition ship, Seabourn Venture.

An official handover maritime ceremony was held at the T. Mariotti shipyard in Genoa.

The ship, which will depart for its maiden sailing from Tromso on 27 July, is the first of the line’s two purpose-built luxury expedition vessels, and will be joined by Seabourn Pursuit. 

It has been designed and built for “diverse environments”, the cruise line said. Expedition activities will be led by a 26-person team of scientists, scholars, and naturalists.

The ship will offer zodiac cruises, hikes, nature walks, scuba diving and snorkelling, as well as additional curated complimentary excursions.

Guests will also be able to choose from optional excursions, including kayaking and the use of two custom-built submarines, at select destinations.

Seabourn Venture to ‘raise the bar’

Seabourn president Josh Leibowitz said: “Today is so incredibly special and important as we take ownership of our first ultra-luxury expedition ship and welcome Seabourn Venture to the Seabourn family.

“The Mariotti team has done a wonderful job in the building of the ship and bringing Adam Tihany’s stunning design vision to life.

“[The ship] will raise the bar in ultra-luxury expedition travel, and we look forward to introducing her to the world as she sets sail to explore remote destinations from the polar regions in the Arctic to the southernmost continent of Antarctica.”

T. Mariotti MD Marco Ghiglione added: “Seabourn Venture is the fairest one of all, ice class PC6 certified to call polar routes.

“Since we started building Seabourn Venture, the world has literally changed before our eyes, requiring unexpected efforts.

“These efforts, together with the great dedication and passion of the team at T. Mariotti and subcontractors with Seabourn, have been the keys to success.”

• Discover more about what’s on board Seabourn Venture in this special interactive feature.