Two expeditions in one: New Seabourn cruise takes guests to Arctic, Antarctica
- Seabourn's new "Pole to Pole: Grand Expedition" cruise will sail from the Arctic to the Antarctic in a single 94-day voyage in 2027.
- The itinerary includes stops in 14 countries and territories, featuring diverse wildlife encounters and exploration of remote regions like Ellesmere Island.
Seabourn already takes guests on expedition cruises to the icy wilds of the Arctic and Antarctica. Now, a new itinerary will combine both into one voyage.
The luxury line will offer its “Pole to Pole: Grand Expedition” in 2027, sailing more than 20,500 nautical miles over 94 days.
“This is the first time in Seabourn’s history – and one of the first in the cruise industry – that a luxury expedition has been designed to explore both polar regions in a single sailing,” Robin West, Seabourn’s Vice President of Expedition Operations & Planning, told Paste BN in an email. “The idea was born from our desire to push the boundaries of expedition travel and create a journey that few could even imagine, let alone undertake. With Seabourn Venture’s advanced capabilities and PC6 Polar Class rating, we knew we had the right ship to make it a reality.”
Here’s what guests can expect.
When is Seabourn’s ‘Pole to Pole’ expedition?
The itinerary will start in Reykjavik, Iceland, on Aug. 17, 2027. Guests will spend the night there before taking a charter flight to Kangerlussuaq, Greenland, to board the 264-guest Venture.
Where will the expedition cruise go?
West said the sailing’s combined format will give visitors a “much deeper perspective.”
“Traveling from pole-to-pole in a single expedition allows guests to witness the full spectrum of Earth’s most remote environments,” he said. “In doing this, the format eliminates itinerary repetition and creates a natural progress through changing ecosystems, cultures, and wildlife. It also gives our expedition team the opportunity to guide our guests through the shifts in environment across hemispheres.”
Passengers will explore destinations in 14 countries and territories, from Canada to Brazil and Argentina, and explore famed waterways and remote regions. Those include six days in the Northwest Passage between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans; three days in South Georgia, home to king penguins and other wildlife; and five days in Antarctica.
The trip also includes three days at Ellesmere Island, a lesser-visited destination in the Arctic Archipelago. “The island is home to fewer than 200 people and remains one of the most pristine and isolated environments on Earth,” said West. “Our guests will have the rare opportunity to explore Canada’s northernmost landmass – an area few will ever reach – featuring dramatic Arctic landscapes such as ice caps, ancient glaciers, and rugged mountain ranges.”
Guests will primarily explore Alexandra Fiord, and get the chance to see musk oxen, polar bears, walruses and more. The agenda isn’t all chilly, either: other stops include warmer locales such as Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and Barbados. The adventure will come to a close in Ushuaia, Argentina, where passengers can board a charter flight to Buenos Aires.
How much does the ‘Pole to Pole’ expedition cruise cost?
The 94-day expedition starts at $104,999 per person based on double occupancy. That includes dining on the ship, Zodiac landings, onboard lectures, Wi-Fi and more.
The sailing is currently available to book for previous Seabourn guests, and opens to the general public on Aug. 13.
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for Paste BN based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.