Seabourn has signed a letter of intent for the construction of two ultra-luxury expedition ships, as part of a partnership between shipbuilders T.Mariotti and Damen.

The first delivery is expected in June 2021, with the second ship arriving in May 2022. Both will include two onboard submarines, a complement of kayaks and 24 Zodiac inflatable boats.

“This is a groundbreaking moment for Seabourn and for luxury travellers, who will now find a new standard of authentic yet luxurious expedition adventures in new and amazing destinations few people will ever see,” said Richard Meadows, president of Seabourn.

“The combination of immersive experience, fine accommodations, and sumptuous amenities offered by these new ships builds on the success of our current product lineup and further demonstrates our leadership as innovators as we continue offering the finest ultra-luxury cruises available.”

The 170m, 23,000 gross ton ships will add new capacity for Seabourn in Antarctica, the Arctic, and other destinations around the world. Each will feature 132 ocean-front veranda suites, with space for up to 264 guests.

“It’s been amazing to watch the growth of our expedition-style experiences since our first sailing to Antarctica in 2013 through today, where we now offer the Ventures by Seabourn programme in a number of desirable destinations around the world,” said Robin West, vice president of Expedition Operations and Planning for Seabourn.

“A year ago we started developing the concept for this next chapter of our expedition story with dedicated ships built to take luxury travellers to the most coveted places on the planet, and they will be thrilled to see these remote destinations in Seabourn style.”

Seabourn will announce design and service details for the ships later this year, while details about itineraries and booking availability will be released in early 2019. The first ship is currently planned to sail in the Arctic in late summer 2021, with a full winter season in Antarctica to follow.