Seabourn Celebrates Keel Laying For Its First Ultra-Luxury Purpose-Built Expedition Vessel

Seattle - December 4, 2019

Seabourn, the world’s finest ultra-luxury cruise line, celebrated the keel laying for Seabourn Venture during a ceremony held today at the T. Mariotti shipyard in San Giorgio di Nogaro, Italy. With Seabourn Venture scheduled to debut in June 2021, today’s ceremony marks a significant milestone in the construction of the line’s first ultra-luxury purpose-built expedition ship.

“This milestone is always an exciting moment, as it represents another step forward in a new chapter of expedition cruising for Seabourn and our guests,” said Richard Meadows, president of Seabourn. “I am incredibly proud of the way our fleet has continued to evolve and deliver over more than three decades of the finest cruise experience on the seas. As Seabourn Venture continues to take shape, we look forward to revealing more details and highlights of her progress over the months to come.”

A second Seabourn expedition vessel, still to be named, is scheduled to launch in May 2022. Together, the ships will offer the best in expedition travel blended with ultra-luxury amenities and personalized service by leading travel experts and seasoned professionals with deep experience in expedition, hospitality, and ultra-luxury cruising. Both vessels are being built for diverse environments to PC6 Polar Class standards and will include an array of modern hardware and technology that will extend their global deployment and capabilities, including two custom-built submarines onboard each ship to provide passengers unforgettable views of the world beneath the ocean’s surface.

"T. Mariotti's commitment and dedication to the construction of the first ultra-luxury expedition vessel for Seabourn is high and for this I would like to thank all those who have long been working on this ambitious project," says Marco Ghiglione, managing director of T. Mariotti. "After an intense design phase, this marks a new step forward in the process of building the ship, marking the result of a well-established collaboration with a major partner like Seabourn.”

Renowned hospitality designer Adam D. Tihany is designing the public areas and all categories of the ship’s 132 luxurious oceanfront veranda suites, including the first-ever two story Grand Wintergarden Suite, as well as a bespoke furniture collection for both expedition vessels. Renderings of a selection of these spaces can be found in the link here.

Seabourn continues to represent the pinnacle of ultra-luxury travel with intimate ships offering key elements that set the line apart: spacious, thoughtfully appointed suites, many with verandas and all 100% ocean front; superb dining in a choice of venues; complimentary premium spirits and fine wines available on board at all times; award-winning service and a relaxed, sociable atmosphere that makes guests feel right at home on board. The ships travel the globe to many of the world’s most desirable destinations, including marquee cities, more than 170 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and lesser-known ports and hideaways.


From left to right: Ruggiero Rizzo, T.Mariotti Project Manager - Seabourn Venture; Carmelo Bottecchia, Cimolai Manager; Marco Ghiglione, T.Mariotti Managing Director; Richard Meadows, Seabourn President; Jan Velthuis, Holland America Group - Newbuild Project Manager. Image Seabourn Cruise Line

About Seabourn:
Seabourn currently operates a fleet of five modern ultra-luxury ships and is a proud member of World's Leading Cruise Lines. The exclusive alliance also includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Cunard Line, Costa Cruises, AIDA, P&O Cruises UK, and P&O Cruises Australia. Seabourn is a brand of Carnival Corporation and plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL and NYSE: CUK). Seabourn is the official cruise partner of UNESCO World Heritage under a multi-year agreement to help promote sustainable tourism at World Heritage sites around the world.

Seabourn, press release