Seabourn Venture: Mary Jean Tully’s tales from Antarctica

"You could have caviar every single night – and I did.”



You see? Mary Jean Tully knows that expedition cruising – so often thought of as just the realm of the rugged and hardy – can come with a luxury side, particularly when Seabourn is involved. Her voyage to Antarctica, filled with glistening icebergs, massive glaciers and snowy mountain ranges, was well within luxury parameters, the Seabourn Venture a deluxe window to the polar world.

The purpose-built polar-class ship, launched in July 2022, was created specifically for the discerning expedition traveler. Modern hardware and technology are supported by intuitive interior design, allowing guests to experience the tranquil isolation, majestic beauty and incredible wildlife of the Seventh Continent in total comfort.

“There are a lot of nice little touches throughout the ship – the gorgeous wood reception of the Spa, the vintage feel of the Club, just sitting by the fire or listening to the expedition team talks,” Mary Jean says. “There was so much open deck space, you didn’t even have to get off the ship to feel like you had, with the beauty of Antarctica all around you.”

The outdoors is truly brought inside on the Seabourn Venture. Mary Jean feels that some of the best pictures she took were of people swimming in the pool with the glaciers all around them and whales swimming up to the ship. “It was incredible, and there were so many little nooks and crannies, places where you could sit and experience this without having to go outside.”

A wonderful sense of camaraderie.

Unlike a European cruise, where everyone goes their separate ways during the day and returns to the ship with a different story to tell, expedition passengers are watching the same show.

“You almost felt like you were part of a country club, with everybody excited about seeing the same thing,” Mary Jean says. “We saw penguins, whales and seals, and the most stunning scenery, so we were all in it together, which made it really nice.” A recap session every evening at cocktail hour recounted the day’s discoveries and outlined what to expect on the agenda the next day.

Shore excursions are ruled by the weather, as you would expect. And with the weather in this part of the world as unpredictable as it is, guests never know what to expect until morning arrives – and even then, a weather report is merely a guide. “Some mornings it was snowing and we would be thinking that the excursions would be cancelled,” Mary Jean says, “but all of a sudden, five minutes later, it was sunny and gorgeous.”

Excursions were never more than 90 minutes, with half the passengers cruising in a Zodiac, going alongside beautiful ice formations and baby seals, while the other half did a shore landing to go for a hike and commune with the wildlife. “In some places, there were thousands of penguins everywhere you looked – and you never got tired of looking at them,” Mary Jean says. “They were just so adorable.”

Antarctica is converting people to cruising.

“I would say probably 40% of the people that I met were on their first cruise,” Mary Jean says. “They thought they would never go on a cruise, but they knew they had to, in order to reach Antarctica. And now that they’ve seen how great a cruise can be, they’ll likely do more – the Galápagos Islands, Alaska, an African safari tied to a cruise. They want to experience more of it.”

Polar scenery aside, the Seabourn Venture makes it even harder not to fall in love with cruising. The roomy layouts, full baths, luxe finishings and romantic design of the 132 all-veranda ocean-front suites sweeten the pot. “The cabins were spacious and open, with some really nice touches, totally exceeding expectations for an expedition ship,” Mary Jean says. “And there were Swarovski binoculars in all of the rooms, which were really nice to take out onto the balcony.”

Mary Jean says that the new Panorama Veranda Suites category is her new favorite. “This is Seabourn’s best-kept secret, well worth the upgrade. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer fabulous long-range views, so you can lie in bed and see everything.”

“We can't keep up with the enquiries.”

Truth be told, Antarctica is definitely trending. And with global warming such a concern, many people are choosing the White Continent now, thinking: ‘How much longer am I going to be able to do this?’

Seabourn Venture’s sister ship, Seabourn Pursuit, is launching in August 2023 and will also offer Polar Expeditions. Find out how Tully Luxury Travel Designers can make your Antarctic adventure come true.

What’s in Mary Jean’s suitcase?

Warm clothes are at the top of the Antarctica packing list, with many people simply digging out their best skiwear, minus the jacket, as a parka is supplied. Mary Jean suggests you bring your own ski pants, ones that are both warm and waterproof. Definitely bring sunglass straps, so you can remove them easily to take pictures. And don’t forget one or two neck warmers, that you can pull up over your face. “What gets you is the wind, so these are invaluable.”