Seabourn has confirmed that it will end its expedition submarine program at the conclusion of the current Antarctic season in early March 2026. The news came via a letter to travel advisors, citing low guest participation, operational complexity, and increasingly restrictive regulatory requirements.
Wait, more regulatory requirements? Shocking! Actually not really. If you’ve been paying attention to expedition cruising over the last few years, this move shouldn’t come as a surprise. Cruise ships are being kicked out of port and places are closing and restricting access. Svalbard is more strict than Antarctica now and the Conflict Islands in PNG just ended all expedition invitations.
Although this is sad to lose this program. The facts are it probably should have happened sooner.
The Submarine Was Mostly Marketing
When Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit launched, the submarines were positioned as a defining feature and a headline‑grabbing differentiator meant to separate Seabourn from every other luxury expedition operator.
And visually? It worked. Submarines look great in press releases and ship tours. But in practice, they never became central to the expedition experience.
Most guests never did one. And those who did often found that the most memorable moments of the voyage still happened on land, in Zodiacs, or during wildlife encounters, not hundreds of feet underwater staring at sediment and shadows.
Antarctica, the Arctic, and remote expedition regions are fundamentally surface experiences. Penguins, whales, ice formations, and scale don’t improve the deeper you go. On my own submarine trip at Deception Island we did see many sea stars and a few jelly fish but that’s all. The other animals like penguins, seals, and whales avoid them due to the noise from the propulsion systems.
Low Participation – High Costs
Seabourn openly acknowledged that guest participation was lower than anticipated. That’s a polite way of saying demand never justified the cost or complexity. At $1,000 per dive, per person. It was an expensive hour! When first launch it was $500 per dive. That was an easier sale. Once it moved to a grand, I heard more grumbles and less participation.
And low participation matters, because submarines are not a “set it and forget it” feature. They require highly specialized crews, ongoing recertification, extensive maintenance, and strict safety oversight.
All for short experience that only a fraction of guests ever access and only on select voyages in the Arctic and Antarctic. On my last Seabourn cruise I felt as though they were begging guests to go diving. Likely again because of the high costs!
From a business standpoint, it’s hard to defend. From an expedition standpoint, it was always a distraction.
What Seabourn Is Actually Focusing On
Importantly, this isn’t Seabourn retreating from expedition cruising. If anything, it’s Seabourn refocusing on what actually works and what most guests are interested in.
The company has been clear that guests will continue to get:
- Zodiac cruising and landings in remote areas
- Guided shore excursions led by experienced expedition teams
- Wildlife viewing supported by onboard naturalists
- Cultural encounters where possible
- Optional kayaking ($) and included snorkeling (conditions permitting)
- Daily enrichment from scientists, academics, and general naturalists
- The Image Masters photography program on select voyages (added cost)
In other words: the core expedition pillars that define the best operators in the space.
This puts Seabourn more in line with what consistently works for companies like Swan Hellenic Expeditions, Silversea Expeditions, and Atlas Ocean Voyages Expeditions.
Who Still has Expedition Submarines
If you are looking for a voyage with a submarine dive then you need to either travel this year at Seabourn or look at two other companies with Submarines. Viking Expeditions and Scenic expeditions both have submarine onboard. On Viking their ship hosts over 300 guests and on most voyages only 20 or less get to go. Typically those in top suites. So unless you book the owner suite you’re likely going to miss the opportunity.
Scenic offers similar submersibles on the Scenic Eclipse I and Eclipse II. With only 199 guests you have a much higher likelihood of getting on a sub in Antarctica. Plus with our below market rates (often 20-30% public pricing) I can help save you money on your next Scenic trip. Email me for more details.
Bottom Line
Seabourn ending its expedition submarine program isn’t a failure. It’s a long‑overdue acknowledgment of how expedition cruising actually works. Submarines are expensive, operationally burdensome, and increasingly constrained by regulation all while delivering limited incremental value to most guests.
By stepping away from them, Seabourn is simplifying its operation and doubling down on what makes a great expedition voyage in the first place. If you want the fancy toys, look to Scenic. They have helicopters too!
