In a strategic adjustment at the close of the current Antarctic season, the cruise line Seabourn has announced the discontinuation of its expedition submarine programme, which will be phased out over the coming 6 weeks and will not continue beyond this season’s conclusion. The decision affects the custom-built submersibles that have been deployed aboard Seabourn Venture and its newly delivered sister ship Seabourn Pursuit, vessels that were designed and built with integrated submarine capability when they entered service in 2022 and 2023 respectively.
The rationale given for the withdrawal of this optional undersea activity cites a combination of factors that constrained its viability. Engagement by guests with the submarine experience was lower than anticipated, reducing its operational justification. In addition, the maintenance and recurring recertification demands imposed by the specialised equipment required significant technical resources, complicating the programme’s sustainability aboard expedition deployments. Finally, evolving regulatory requirements in certain regions of operation had increasingly restricted the areas and conditions under which submarine operations could be conducted, narrowing the scope of possible deployments.
Seabourn’s expedition profile has long included a suite of optional activities designed to bring travellers closer to remote environments, from Zodiac small-boat excursions and sea kayaking to guided hikes ashore. The removal of the submersibles does not affect those core elements of the “Ventures by Seabourn” programme, and the line has indicated that these other expedition features will remain part of the operational offerings of both ships.
Travel advisors with clients who had reservations for submarine dives have been contacted by the company to discuss alternative arrangements or refunds, reflecting standard practice when an optional excursion element is withdrawn from a published itinerary.
The broader expedition deployment of Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit continues to serve polar and other remote regions, with both ships constructed to Polar Class standards and equipped for a range of immersive experiences available to guests alongside the consulting of expert expedition teams.