Seabourn Venture has touched water for the first time, floating out of its construction dry dock at the T. Mariotti shipyard in Genoa, Italy ahead of its April, 2022 debut.

Seabourn marked the float out, the modern equivalent to a “launch” with a bottle of celebratory Champagnesmashed against the ship’s side by her “madrina” or godmother.

Rendering of Seabourn Venture

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Serving in this role was Jarda Versloot-West, Seabourn’s Senior Manager of Expedition Staffing, who first joined Seabourn nearly a decade ago for the brand’s maiden voyage to Antarctica.

The float out of the ship comes after her coin ceremong was held in July, another important construction milestone, during which Versloot-West welded a commemorative coin to the ship structure to mark the completion of her hull.

Seabourn Venture will now move from its dry dock to its outfitting dock at the shipyard, where it will undergo final fit out and finishing, with much of the work now moving to the ship’s interior.

“This ceremony carries on a rich shipbuilding tradition, representing a significant step toward the launch of our first purpose-built ultra-luxury expedition ship,” said Josh Leibowitz, President, Seabourn.

“I receive notes from guests and partners across the travel industry on a regular basis, who eagerly await the arrival of this beautiful, very capable ship that will take them to places many people dream of visiting one day,” he added.

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The launch of the ship comes just days after Seabourn announced that her inaugural season will begin on April 10, 2022, with the ship sailing the UK on her maiden voyage.

A second yet-to-be-named sister expedition ship is also under construction at T. Mariotti. Each will carry two custom-built submarines, 24 Zodiacs, kayaks, and a 26-person expert expedition team.

Seabourn Venture and her sister ship are Seabourn’s first ever expedition cruise ships. The submarines carried by both cruise ships will be luxurious outfitted, with leather seats and Champagne served onboard, while unique design touches to the ships include an Observation Lounge modelled on the navigation bridge.

Seabourn Venture was meant to be delivered in June, 2021, but her construction was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing travel restrictions and uncertainty that resulted.