The new Seabourn Venture officially entered service in Norway, as Seabourn's first purpose-built expedition ship, the ultra-luxury cruise ship welcomed guests to Tromso on a voyage to Svalbard. The one-way itinerary sails to the North Cape and the Northern Islands before ending in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen. In addition to visits to Storstappen Island, Hornvik, Skarsvag and Bear Island, the expedition includes a seven-day in-depth exploration of the Svalbard archipelago.

According to Seabourn, during the cruise passengers will be able to take part in zodiac rides along deeply carved fjords, hikes across vast tundra and paddles around sparkling bays. The itinerary is said to favor wildlife encounters, allowing guests to spot polar bears, whales and migratory birds.

Continuing her inaugural season, Seabourn Venture will spend the summer in the Arctic, with itineraries that explore not only Svalbard, but also remote destinations in Greenland, Iceland and the Canadian Arctic.

In October, the ship heads to the Caribbean, the Panama Canal, the west coast of South America and the Chilean fjords before beginning a winter program in Antarctica.

Delivered by shipyard T. Mariotti in June, the Seabourn Venture is designed and built for cruising in remote and polar regions.

In addition to a total of 132 balcony suites and luxury small ship experiences, Venture also offers a range of complimentary expedition activities led by an expert 26-person team of scientists, scientists, naturalists and more.

Among these activities are zodiac cruises, hikes, nature walks, diving and snorkeling, as well as additional curated complimentary excursions.

Other features of the ship include a fleet of specially designed submarines, eight restaurants, a panoramic lounge and more.