Seabourn Is Ending Its Expedition Submarine Program

Seabourn is ending its expedition submarine program at the end of its current Antarctic season due to low engagement, maintenance complexity, and regulatory hurdles that increasingly limited where the vessels could operate.

Rob Coleman, Seabourn’s senior vice president of sales, made the announcement in a message to travel partners on Thursday. The news means that the custom-built submarines currently carried on Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit will be removed from service over the next six weeks.

“Our custom-built submarines have been a distinctive part of our expedition offering. However, guest participation was lower than anticipated, and the program required a high level of specialized expertise to maintain and recertify the submarines. In addition, evolving regulatory requirements in certain regions have increasingly limited where and how submarine operations can take place,” Coleman wrote in the message.

The submarines were part of the ships’ original design when Seabourn Venture debuted in 2022, followed by Seabourn Pursuit the year after. They were initially pitched as a way for guests to get closer to nature on the expedition sailings. Even with their removal, they are far from the only expedition features on either vessel and Seabourn will continue to offer Zodiac cruises, kayaks, snorkeling, and guided hikes for its guests.

“Combined with the refined luxury, cuisine, service, and comfort for which Seabourn is known, we are confident that our expedition voyages will continue to deliver extraordinary value and unforgettable experiences for your clients,” Coleman added.

Any advisors with clients currently booked on submarine excursions have been contacted by Seabourn directly to discuss alternatives or refunds.