Seabourn’s entry into expedition cruising has been further delayed, but the line’s president Josh Leibowitz promises it will be worth the wait.
Seabourn Venture will now debut in April 2022, missing a planned Norwegian winter season, while a sister vessel will come in early 2023. The T. Mariotti shipyard in Genoa has been affected by pandemic disruptions and related supply chain challenges, so the ship’s delivery date slipped from June, 2021 to December and is now March, 2022. “We … were amazed at the design and beauty of the ship,” Leibowitz said after a tour at the shipyard before it was launched from drydock to be fitted out.
Here’s what’s coming:
Design a ship ready for adventure anywhere in the world, but make it oh so very sexy was the challenge noted ship and restaurant designer Adam Tihany says he faced as he imagined expedition ships that are rugged enough to break through ice at the poles but provide the grace and ultra-comfort guests expect from Seabourn Cruise Line.
Tihany describes the design process as starting with the unique DNA of a ship and its guests. “What excites me is what a person expects and what kind of life do they live. I design specific things for the specific kinds of people who will sail aboard. Is their expectation Birkenstocks or Birkenstocks by Loro Piano?”
Adam Tihany plotted the DNA of Seabourn Venture in pictures–Photo by Wallace ImmenIt started with what he calls DNA boards he created of the ship. They feature images like free-flowing Champagne, elegant dining, club-like leather chairs, polished wood and marble and multiple vistas of fascinating scenery.
“Each space aims to capture the romanticism of early explorers and the thrill of discovery with thoughtful details and materials that are very tactile-and very elemental,” Tihany said. “For me it is very romantic and beautiful and I want to take that romance of discovery into the twenty first century, capturing the sense of ruggedness that comes with expedition travel, while maintaining pristine luxury and comfort,” he says. The spaces include:
The Expedition Lounge
Located on Deck 4, this will be the heart of the ship. It’s a gathering place where guests meet before daily expeditions and are invited to relax after returning with a complimentary cocktails or glass of fine wine from the bar as they share photos and stories from the day with their fellow travelers and the onboard staff. There will be two fireplaces adding ambience and warmth.
Custom furniture designed in a variety of natural materials will create an inviting, tactile atmosphere, Tihany explains. The Lounge features an etched glass partition displaying a vintage map of Antarctica and vitrines showcasing intricate tools and devices of the trade. Two large touch screens will also display ever-changing information including photos, navigational charts, weather charts, and maps.
Discovery Center
Adjacent to the Expedition Lounge, this presentation room acts as the learning center for natural history and cultural programming. Tihany says the Discovery Center was inspired by expedition landscapes and it incorporates the shapes of topography maps against the elegant curves of plush custom seating. It’s large enough to accommodate all 264 guests at one time and this is where guests will get briefings as well as interact in Seabourn Conversations enrichment programs.
The ship will have a 26-person expedition team of wilderness experts, scientists, historians and naturalists who will lead tours and deliver insightful lectures and discussions on a broad array of topics related to the region where guests are sailing.
Audio-visual experiences will come to life with high-definition video screens eight feet tall and 30 feet wide. Footage from daily voyages of Venture’s two mini-submarines will also be shown, providing an enticing look at the undersea world and the marine life that calls it home.
Landing Zones
There are two staging areas that on other expedition ships are simple “mud rooms,” but on Seabourn Venture they will be not only functional but also elegant. As the launch and recovery point for landings on a fleet of 24 zodiacs and kayaks, each room will be a generous space where guests can change into their gear in comfort, with racks to store their rubber boots.
In tropical areas, the Landing Zones will also be used for snorkeling and water sports activities, with storage space for fins and masks. Guests will use the two Landing Zones in small groups distributed evenly to keep waiting time and crowding to a minimum for excursion departures.
The Atrium
A sky-it central space featuring an elegantly winding staircase is a focal point on all Seabourn ships. On Venture and a sister ship due in 2022, Tihany extended the wood and metal detailing of the public rooms and added details such as rhythmically placed rope work and wall treatments inspired by topography. Suspended at the center of the Atrium and echoed at its base are thought-provoking art installations emulating traditional wind measuring instruments.
“When you conjure up images of the ideal adventure trip, you would head out into the stunning wilderness for the day knowing that when you return a cozy, welcoming space filled with luxurious materials like leathers and rich woods that invites relaxation and conversation awaits you,” said Richard Meadows, Seabourn’s president. “Each of these newly designed spaces hits that note perfectly, leaving our guests wanting for nothing and giving them an inviting place to talk to fellow travelers each day about the incredible experiences they had, sharing memorable stories or viewing photos they took.”
Seabourn’s far-ranging expedition itineraries will be possible because of innovative engineering as well, he added. The hull is constructed specifically for PC6 Polar Class standards, capable of breaking through ice. There will be three-bow thrusters and Azipod propulsion that will deliver greater maneuverability.
“There are always challenges in designing spaces that are unique and inspiring and also function well, but I wake up every morning excited,” Tihany said. “Designing is my life and I am very fortunate because I can get to pick and choose my clients and this adventurous project is right up my alley.”
Seabourn Venture is now planned to depart on its maiden voyage from Greenwich (London), on April 10, 2022. The ship will sail two new itineraries around the U.K. Voyages to northern Norway, Svalbard, Greenland and Iceland follow.
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