Cruisers can now travel into the depths of the ocean with Seabourn, who will will be taking guests under the sea for the first time on its custom submarines. These new subs will operate excursions for guests aboard the line’s two upcoming ultra-luxury expedition ships for an additional charge.
Each battery-powered sub will carry six guests as well as one pilot, who will guide the journey of up to 300 meters beneath the surface to explore sunken wrecks, reefs, and view marine life. Guests will be seated in two clear acrylic spheres with undisturbed views from all directions. The three passenger seats in each sphere are mounted on a rotating platform that can turn to offer the best sights.
“The undersea world is often considered as the last great frontier on Earth, with more than 80 percent of the underwater realm remaining unmapped, unobserved, and unexplored according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,” said Robin West, v.p. of Expedition Operations for Seabourn in press materials. “With these subs, we’re going to take our guests to places that few have ever seen firsthand, leaving them with a perspective on the world around us that is jaw-dropping and will create stories to last a lifetime.”
The subs will be outfitted with a host of optional equipment to enhance the opportunity. A 4k underwater video camera system will record the world outside while an internal video recording system will capture imagery of guests inside and their surroundings. The video footage will then be available to download, and will also be projected on large screens in the Discovery Center during lectures aboard the ships. A six-function manipulator arm capable of lifting up to 70 pounds will also be mounted on the side of the sub; and it will also be equipped with air conditioning, a Bluetooth stereo system, and a champagne chiller, plus LED flood/spot lights, imaging sonar that acts as secondary eyes, and an advanced underwater tracking and navigation system.
The subs will be operated multiple times per day in regions around the world. Seabourn Venture is scheduled to launch in June 2021, and the second sister ship is scheduled for May 2022. Between July 2021 and April 2022, Seabourn Venture will visit locations in remote destinations in the Arctic and Antarctica, as well as in the Amazon, Caribbean, Central and South America.
For more information, visit seabourn.com.
