MS Seaventure

The 1990-built MS Seaventure cruise ship ("MS Bremen" for Hapag-Lloyd between 1993-2020) was built as "Frontier Spirit" at Mitsubishi Shipyard (in Kobe Japan). In 2003, MS Bremen discovered a previously uncharted island in Antarctica, which was later named "Bremen Island". The Bremen cruise ship was successfully featured in the TV show "Killer Wave" (2007-launched). In 2006, the liner did a Northwest Passage cruise using real-time satellite data about sea ice locations.

For Hapag-Lloyd, the vessel (IMO number 8907424) was Bahamas-flagged (MMSI 308429000) and registered in Nassau. Scylla reflagged it to Cyprus (MMSI 210081000) and changed the registry to Limassol.

IMPORTANT: In May 2024, Scylla announced the sale of Seaventure to an undisclosed buyer, with the deal expected to be finalized in 2024. In September 2024 was announced that the vessel's owner is a China-based consortium of the companies Guangdong Travel Holding Group and Guangdong Port & Shipping Group. The new shipowner's plans were to launch "66 Degrees Expeditions" - China's first polar expedition cruise line, starting operations in May 2025.

History - construction and ownership

On January 15, 2019, was announced that Hapag-Lloyd sold it to Scylla. Initially, the vessel was planned for delivery to the new shipowner Scylla AG (family-owned Swiss company) in May 2021. Bremen ship's sale price was not disclosed. In 2019, Scylla AG owned 31 riverboats, most of which are chartered to various European cruisetour companies.

In mid-July 2020, Hapag-Lloyd announced that MS Bremen will not sail for Hapag-Lloyd ever again. When the announcement was made, the 30-year-old Bremen was docked in Port Warnemunde-Rostock Germany. It had scheduled voyages for HL to Antarctica for winter season 2020-2021. MS Seaventure was officially acquired by Scylla AG (shipowner/VIVA Cruises' parent company) from Hapag-Lloyd on November 1, 2020.

MS Seaventure was last drydock-refurbished in 2021 and is currently managed by the Cyprus company RsR Nemo Ship Management Ltd.

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises (Kreuzfahrten) is a Hamburg-based company, subsidiary of Hapag-Lloyd AG (shipowner) - currently ranked the world's 5th-largest container shipping line by fleet capacity. Until 2017, HL Cruises was a fully-owned subsidiary of Europe's leading travel group TUI AG.

The 168-passenger ship Bremen (as SeaQuest) was acquired by Hapag-Lloyd in April 1993. The Japan-built vessel was purchased in 1992 from Salen Lindblad Cruising and renamed "Frontier Spirit", starting operations for Frontier Cruises under the newly-established brand "SeaQuest Cruises". Frontier Spirit became the world's 4th passenger ship to transit the Canadian Arctic via the Northwest Passage route.

In the period April 2021-May 2024, the vessel (named "MS Seaventure"/previously "MS Seascape") was owned by Scylla AG and operated under charter by its subsidiary VIVA Cruises (2019-established travel brand). Seaventure was also seasonally chartered to Polar Latitudes Inc (Vermont USA-based travel agency/tour operator) and Iceland ProCruises (Reykjavik-based travel company).

Seaventure was chartered by Polar Latitudes in the winter months, during which period its max capacity was reduced to 139 passengers and 90 crew/staff. Polar Latitudes also seasonally charters the Noble Caledonia-owned vessels Hebridean Sky and Island Sky. Iceland ProCruises chartered Seaventure in summer-fall.

Decks and Cabins

MS Seaventure staterooms (a total of 82 / for max 168 passengers / double occupancy) are all Outside and mainly Oceanview (plus 16x Balcony and 2x Suites) in 7 cabin grades.

Staterooms' standard amenities include smart HDTV, DVD player, individual air conditioning, minibar, electronic safe box (in the closet), en-suite bathroom, premium bedding, plush bathrobes.

Handicapped (wheelchair-accessible) cabins are also available.

Suites have step-out balconies and larger lounge areas.

The boat has 8 decks, of which 6 are passenger-accessible and 5 with cabins.

Shipboard facilities and amenities

MS Seaventure ship's dining options include Restaurant (main dining room for open-seating breakfast and lunch) and the casual Lido Grill (buffet-style restaurant).

Enjoy exciting expert-guided shore excursions during the day. Nordic walking sticks, bicycles, kayaks and snorkeling gear are at hand for excursions. Lectures are hosted daily onboard ms Bremen in the Panorama Lounge. The ship additionally has Bremen Club, two bars and Beauty parlour. A mini boutique carries gifts, and an Internet center boasts microscopes and PC workstations. The fitness center has cardio equipment and offers great ocean views. The Sun deck, swimming pool, and sauna are perfect to relax after a day of exploring.

The ship has its own fleet of 14x Zodiacs (Zodiac Milpro boats) - rigid-hulled motorized high-speed boats used for shoreside cruising and landings in shallow coastal areas.

VIVA Cruises prices are inclusive of gratuities, stateroom, shipboard enrichment and entertainment, main dining (breakfast buffet, lunch, multi-course dinner with gourmet menus), fine dining (at dedicated restaurant / reservations-only), 24-hour coffee-tea with snacks, top-brand liquors, alcoholic drinks (cocktails, aperitif, sparkling and house wines by the glass, bottled beers) and non-alcoholic beverages (mineral water, sodas, juices, coffee drinks, specialty teas).

Seaventure itineraries (VIVA Cruises)

Hapag-Lloyd's MS Bremen itinerary program was based on South America cruises (to Amazon River and Antarctica), Europe (Iceland and Norway/Baltic Sea) and the Caribbean, with seasonally operated Transatlantic repositioning crossings.

MS Seaventure itinerary program started in April 2021. The ship's inaugural cruise for VIVA Cruises (fleet) was initially planned for May 15-21, 2021. The 7-day itinerary was from Amsterdam to Hamburg. From homeport Hamburg were scheduled 13 roundtrips to ports in Baltic Sea, Arctic Norway (Spitsbergen Island) and a Transatlantic crossing (via Iceland and Greenland) to Canada, then repositioning to South America.

The 17-day North Atlantic repositioning cruise (Kangerlussuaq Greenland to Quebec City Canada) was priced from USD 12150 pp (double-occupancy outside cabin rates).

However, in late-November 2020, VIVA Cruises rescheduled the Seaventure's maiden voyage (themed "Springtime Maritime Experiences") for April 18-25, 2021. The 7-night roundtrip from Bremerhaven Germany visits Wismar Germany, Szczecin Poland, Stralsund Germany, Copenhagen Denmark, Heligoland Island Germany and Hamburg. Prices started from EUR 2795 (GBP 2470) per person Outside Cabin (with double occupancy).

• Following the inaugural cruise, Seaventure sails 3 more 7-night roundtrip itineraries (out of homeport Bremerhaven) visiting Malmo Sweden, Goteborg Sweden, Kristiansand Norway and Sylt Island Germany. Prices started also from EUR 2795 pp.
• As a promo offer, celebrating the VIVA Cruises brand's inauguration, to all Seaventure cruise bookings made by December 31, 2020, the company offered a EUR 350 voucher - to be redeemed at any VIVA River Cruises 2021 European river itineraries.

In June 2021, VIVA announced Seaventure's 2022 program (April through October), with new itineraries in Western and Northern Europe (including the Arctic) departing from homeports Dublin Ireland, Bremerhaven Germany, Leith-Edinburgh Scotland, Tromso Norway, Reykjavik Iceland.

• The 7-day "Coastal Magic" itinerary (roundtrip from Dublin departing on April 16) featured Irish coast cruising (to Belfast) and northern Scotland (to Edinburgh). Followed port calls in Norway (including Spitsbergen Island).
• The 24-day "Eternal Ice of the Arctic" itinerary (2 roundtrips from Bremerhaven in July and August) featured Scotland's Shetland Islands and a Transatlantic crossing to Greenland.
• The 22-day "Beauty of Scandinavia" itinerary (Sept 2022, from Bremerhaven to Tenerife Canaries) was in the Baltic, visiting Oslo Norway, Goteborg Sweden, Copenhagen Denmark.

Prices for Seaventure's 2022 expedition voyages started from EUR 2205 (~GBP 1900) per person with double occupancy.

Iceland ProCruises Seaventure itineraries (2023 summer schedule)

Iceland ProCruises Seaventure ship's 2023 schedule included seven "Iceland Circumnavigation" voyages (roundtrips from homeport Reykjavik, departures in May-July) priced from US$2900 per person. The itineraries visit Arnarstapi Village/Snaefellsnes, Isafjordur, Siglufjordur, Skjalfandi Bay, Seydisfjordur, Djupivogur (near Papey Island) and Vestmannaeyjar Island.

Two itineraries visit Iceland and Greenland, with tickets inclusive of flights between Greenland and Iceland (Kangerlussuaq-Keflavik).

10-day "Iceland Circumnavigation" itinerary/departures (May 27 - June 5, June 5-14, June 14-25, June 23 - July 2, July 2-11, July 20-29, July 29 - Aug 7) was priced from GBP 2300 pp. The itinerary (roundtrip from Reykjavik) visits Arnarstapi/Grundarfjordur, Isafjordur, Siglufjordur, Grimsey, Flatey, Husavik (overnight), Seydisfjordur, Djupivogur, and Vestmannaeyjar (Westman Islands).

21-day "Hot springs and Eternal Ice" (Iceland and Greenland itinerary July 29 - August 18) was priced from GBP 4950. The itinerary (from Reykjavik to Kangerlussuaq) visits Arnarstapi/Grundarfjordur, Isafjordur, Siglufjordur/Grimsey, Flatey/Husavik (overnight), Seydisfjordur, Djupivogur, Vestmannaeyjar, Reykjavik, Ammassalik Island, Qarqortoq, Qeqertarsuasiat, Nuuk, Sisimiut, Ilulissat, Uummannaq, Qeqertarsuaq, and Kangerlussuaq.

12-day "Natural Wonders of Greenland - Tour 1" (itinerary August 7-18) was priced from GBP 7020 pp. The Tour 1 itinerary (from Reykjavik to Kangerlussuaq) visits Ammassalik Island, Qaqortoq, Qeqertarsuasiat, Nuuk, Sisimiut, Ilulissat, Uummannaq, Qeqertarsuaq, and Kangerlussuaq.

12-day "Natural Wonders of Greenland - Tour 2" (itinerary August 18-29) was priced from GBP 3045 pp. The reverse Tour 2 itinerary (from Kangerlussuaq to Reykjavik) visits Qeqertarsuaq, Uummannaq, Ilulissat, Sisimiut, Nuuk, Ikka Fjord, Ammassalik Island (overnight), and Reykjavik.

Both Iceland and Greenland cruises feature passing through Prins Christian Sound and crossing the Denmark Strait.

Iceland ProCruises schedule for the Seaventure ship charter in 2024 (June to August) included 10x sailings between Reykjavik and Kangerlussuaq, visiting destinations in Iceland and Greenland.

Polar Latitudes Seaventure itineraries (2023-2024 winter schedule)

Polar Latitudes charters MS Seaventure only for voyages to Antarctica (during winter) as the boat's hull is ice-classed "1-A Super" (the highest awarded to passenger ships). All voyages are roundtrips from homeport Ushuaia Argentina and via Drake Passage.

Polar Latitudes Seaventure's Antarctica 2021-2022 program started on November 23, 2021, with a 19-night roundtrip from Ushuaia. The maiden itinerary visited the UK's South Georgia Island and the Antarctic Peninsula (December 5 through 9).

Next is listed Polar Latitudes Seaventure's schedule (7 total departures/all Ushuaia roundtrips) for winter 2023-2024.

• 20-night/21-day "The Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica" itinerary (departure Dec 29, 2023, thru Jan 8, 2024)
• 12-night/13-day "Celebrating Antarctica" itinerary (departures Nov 29-Dec 11, Dec 9-21, 2023)
• 11-night/12-day "Adventures In Antarctica" itinerary (departure Nov 20-Dec 1, 2023)
• 14-night/15-day "Crossing The Circle" itinerary (departure Jan 16-30, 2024)
• 21-night/22-day "Puerto Madryn to the Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica" itinerary (departure Nov 2-23, 2023)
• 12-night/13-day "Christmas In Antarctica" itinerary (departure Dec 19-31, 2023)

Prices varied between USD 800-1050 per person per night (with double occupancy) depending on departure date/itinerary.