Seabourn Adds Antarctica & Patagonia Sailings on Seabourn Quest

Luxury cruise line Seabourn plans to introduce Antarctica for the first time in 2013. Seabourn Quest, the newest ship in Seabourn's fleet, will begin a series of four 21- to 24-day voyages sailing between Valparaíso, Chile and Buenos Aires, Argentina starting in November 2013.

"Seabourn is already renowned for our extensive portfolio of worldwide itineraries," said Seabourn President Richard Meadows. "Antarctica was the only continent that Seabourn did not feature in our itineraries. This expands our global reach to all seven continents and builds on our already impressive list of exotic destinations. Seabourn is very proud to be bringing our highly rated ultra-luxury cruise experience to Antarctica."

The all-suite Seabourn Quest will cruise the Chilean coast, including visits to Puerto Montt for the Chilean Lakes District, Castro on the island of Chiloé, and Puerto Chacabuco, where guests can tour the Torres del Paine National Park. The ship will sail past glaciers, peaks and channels of the Chilean Fjords, culminating in a transit of the Beagle Channel and its Glacier Alley.

Weather permitting, following a call at Ushuaia in Argentina's Tierra del Fuego, Seabourn Quest will cruise by Cape Horn bound for the Southern Ocean. Guests on board will experience five days in Antarctica, including scenic cruising of highlights such as the Lemaire Channel, Paradise Bay and the Gerlache Strait.

An experienced Antarctic expedition staff will ensure that guests enjoy the best of the numerous available sites for landings and cruising in smaller inflatable boats, based on real-time weather and wildlife reports during their Antarctic adventures. Scientists, naturalists and other lecturers in a number of disciplines will speak on board and accompany guests ashore to add insights to their once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

During the South Atlantic portion of the voyage, guests will enjoy visits to Port Stanley, in the Falkland Islands, and Montevideo, Uruguay's capital, en route to or from Buenos Aires. A 24-day holiday version will include two days exploring the sub-Antarctic wildlife Eden of South Georgia Island, which is home to rookeries of king penguins and other seabirds, as well as breeding elephant and fur seals. Seabourn's new Ultimate Antarctica & Patagonia sailings are open for sale on Sept. 4, 2012, for sailings beginning in November 2013.

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