For cruisers who have conquered the seven continents and collected passport stamps from every corner of the globe, Seabourn has unveiled the ultimate challenge: a 94-day “Pole-to-Pole Grand Expedition” that promises to redefine the very notion of expedition cruising. Departing August 17 and concluding November 19, 2027, this ambitious voyage will span over 20,500 nautical miles, charting a course from the High Arctic to Antarctica aboard the ultra-luxury Seabourn Venture. It represents the cruise line’s most audacious itinerary yet – and quite possibly the most extraordinary way to witness our planet’s most dramatic seasonal transformation.
Where luxury meets the last frontier
The concept is breathtaking in its scope: begin your journey with an overnight stay in Reykjavik, Iceland, followed by a charter flight to Kangerlussuaq, Greenland, where you’ll embark Seabourn Venture. From there, you’ll journey under the midnight sun of the Arctic summer, following legendary polar explorers through the fabled Northwest Passage for six days, then continue south as the seasons change, ultimately arriving in Antarctica as the austral summer begins. The voyage spans 14 countries and territories, offering 60 days of expedition experiences, including five days in Antarctica, three in South Georgia, and three in the Falkland Islands. It’s a journey that few humans will ever experience, offering guests the rare privilege of witnessing both polar regions in a single, seamless voyage.
This ambitious expedition is the centerpiece of Seabourn’s newly announced 2027-2028 season, which features 111 departures across 72 unique itineraries, visiting 369 destinations in 71 countries. The collection spans all seven continents and showcases Seabourn’s growing expertise in expedition travel, with purpose-built ships Seabourn Pursuit and Seabourn Venture leading the charge into the world’s most remote waters.
The allure of polar extremes
What makes the Pole-to-Pole voyage so compelling isn’t just its duration or destinations, but the profound transformation guests witness along the way. The journey charts more than 20,500 nautical miles and traverses 147 degrees of latitude, beginning in the Arctic during summer 2027, when the midnight sun casts an ethereal glow over ice-covered seas and guests can observe wildlife from Beluga whales to Atlantic puffins in their natural habitat.
The expedition includes remarkable highlights that showcase the planet’s extremes: crossings of the equator, Tropic of Cancer, and Tropic of Capricorn, taking guests from Arctic ice to tropical warmth and back to Antarctic wilderness. Between the poles, passengers will explore sun-drenched Caribbean islands and vibrant South American coastal regions, experiencing the full spectrum of our planet’s geography in a single voyage.
A new three-day experience to the remote and rarely visited Ellesmere Island in the Arctic Archipelago adds another layer of exclusivity to an already extraordinary itinerary. The expedition includes immersive experiences that go far beyond typical sightseeing. Guests visit Inuit communities in the Canadian High Arctic, gaining insights into traditions shaped by one of the world’s most challenging environments. The ship’s 23-member expedition team of scientists, naturalists, scholars, and photographers provides expert interpretation throughout the journey, transforming each wildlife encounter and ice landing into a deeper understanding of our planet’s polar ecosystems.
Signature moments in ice and snow
Seabourn has crafted unique “Signature Events” that elevate expedition travel to new heights of luxury. Imagine sipping champagne and savoring caviar while surrounded by towering glaciers, or taking a polar plunge from Zodiac boats in some of the world’s most pristine waters. These moments, available on both Arctic and Antarctic segments, represent the perfect marriage of adventure and indulgence that defines modern expedition cruising.
The voyage includes 33 relaxing sea days, providing ample opportunity to enjoy Seabourn Venture’s luxurious amenities, including over 30,000 square feet of open deck space – ideal for witnessing the Northern Lights, a breathtaking possibility on this extraordinary journey. When ice conditions permit, guests may have the rare opportunity to step directly onto the frozen ocean in northern Greenland, walking where few humans ever have.
The Antarctic portion of the journey offers a distinct Early Season experience featuring abundant sea ice and peak penguin courtship displays.
Beyond the poles: a world of expedition opportunities
While the Pole-to-Pole voyage represents the ultimate expedition experience, Seabourn’s 2027-2028 season offers remarkable journeys to every corner of the globe. The Kimberley coast of northwest Australia beckons with rugged sandstone peaks and thundering waterfalls, while the ship’s godparents – the Wunambal Gaambera traditional owners – provide cultural context to this ancient landscape.
In the South Pacific, guests can explore Easter Island’s iconic Moai statues and experience the unique cultural traditions of remote island communities. The ship’s custom-built submarines offer underwater exploration opportunities, including visits to historic shipwrecks like the 110-year-old German vessel Titania, discovered during a previous Seabourn expedition.
A different kind of luxury
What sets Seabourn’s expedition voyages apart is the seamless integration of ultra-luxury amenities with authentic expedition experiences. The ships feature all-suite accommodations with private verandas, award-winning dining, and complimentary premium spirits and wines available at all times. Yet guests can also step directly onto sea ice through the ship’s side doors, navigate crocodile-inhabited rivers in Zodiac boats, or witness the Northern Lights from more than 30,000 square feet of outdoor deck space.
Guests on the Pole-to-Pole voyage receive extraordinary value-added benefits, including up to USD10,000 in shipboard credit per suite, round-trip business class airfare, one submarine dive in one of the ship’s two custom-built submarines, two kayak tours (one per hemisphere), and a commemorative custom polar parka designed exclusively for the voyage. The ship is equipped with Starlink-powered enhanced Wi-Fi and features a 4K GSS Cineflex camera mounted on the Constellation Lounge mast, broadcasting imagery from miles away to monitors throughout the vessel.
Featured complimentary experiences that define the journey
Beyond the standard expedition offerings, the Pole-to-Pole voyage includes an exceptional array of complimentary experiences designed specifically for this unprecedented journey. Guests enjoy guided hikes and walks, Zodiac tours for up-close wildlife encounters, and exclusive submarine dives that provide rare underwater perspectives. Signature events include Caviar on the Ice experiences and Polar Plunge opportunities, while daily briefings from the expert expedition team ensure guests understand the significance of each destination. With opportunities to search for Northern Lights from the ship’s 270-degree floor-to-ceiling windows and bucket-list wildlife viewing from both sea-level Zodiacs and private suite verandas, every moment is crafted to maximize the extraordinary nature of this pole-to-pole adventure.
This balance between comfort and adventure appeals to discerning cruisers who refuse to compromise on either luxury or authenticity. The intimate scale of the ships – carrying just 264 guests – ensures a bespoke experience that larger expedition vessels simply cannot match.
The new frontier of expedition travel
As expedition cruising continues to evolve, Seabourn is positioning itself at the forefront of this transformation. The cruise line’s approach combines the intimacy and luxury of traditional Seabourn voyages with the expertise and equipment necessary for serious expedition travel. The result is a new category of ultra-luxury expedition that appeals to cruisers who demand both comfort and authenticity.
“Our Pole to Pole: Grand Expedition is unlike anything we’ve ever offered and is a once-in-a-lifetime journey designed for travelers who dream of exploring the ends of the Earth in total comfort and luxury.”
Mark Tamis, President of Seabourn.
For those seeking a slightly shorter but equally transformative experience, Seabourn offers an 82-day Grand Expedition option departing August 29, 2027, which follows the same remarkable itinerary from the tropical segments southward through the Falklands, South Georgia, and Antarctica. Both voyages conclude in Ushuaia, Argentina, with a post-cruise charter flight to Buenos Aires.
The 2027-2028 season represents a significant expansion of this concept, with 49 expedition departures visiting 189 destinations across 39 countries. From Arctic ice landings to Antarctic penguin encounters, from cultural immersion in remote Pacific islands to wildlife photography in the Kimberley, these voyages offer experiences that simply cannot be replicated on land or aboard larger ships.
For the modern luxury globetrotter, Seabourn’s expedition offerings represent something increasingly rare: the opportunity to explore truly untouched destinations while enjoying the highest levels of comfort and service. In a world where authentic experiences are becoming harder to find, these voyages offer genuine discovery – from pole to pole and everywhere in between.
Visit the Seabourn website for more information.
About the Author: Jason Kerr
