An Antarctic expedition can begin with the spectacle of ice and open water, but the people guiding the journey help reveal what lies behind the view. A whale sighting becomes a conversation about marine life. A glacier opens a window onto geology. A landing offers a chance to consider the history of exploration alongside the landscape itself.
For its 2026–2027 Antarctica season, Seabourn is bringing together scientists, researchers, naturalists, historians and experienced expedition leaders aboard Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit. Each voyage will be supported by a dedicated 21-member expedition team, with expertise spanning marine biology, conservation, wildlife, environmental science, geology and polar history.
The season includes 19 departures between November 2026 and March 2027. For travelers considering the journey, the roster offers a useful reminder that an expedition’s value rests partly with the people who help interpret it.
Learning Beyond the Lecture Hall
Seabourn’s expedition programming connects onboard learning with time in the field. Presentations and daily briefings provide context for shore landings, Zodiac cruises and wildlife observations, while fireside chats create opportunities to continue the conversation back on board.
The specialists will also contribute to Seabourn Conversations, the line’s onboard enrichment program. Their experience includes work with Antarctic research vessels, marine mammal studies, oceanographic education programs and organizations such as GLACIARIUM, the glacier museum in Patagonia.
For guests, that range of expertise creates several ways into the destination. Some may be drawn to seabirds and marine mammals; others may want to understand the forces shaping the ice or the human stories associated with polar travel. The expedition team brings those interests into a shared journey.
Experienced Leaders Guiding the Season
The expedition leaders named for the season are Luciano Bernacchi, Ignacio Rojas, Juan Restrepo, Dom del Rosario and Fridrik Fridriksson. Assistant expedition leaders Joe Cockram and Sean Bercaw will also support operations.
Their collective experience includes more than 20 consecutive Antarctic seasons and expedition work across the world’s continents and oceans. They oversee the planning and execution of the off-ship program, bringing practical field experience to decisions about exploration.
In a destination where conditions shape each day, that leadership is an essential part of the experience. The itinerary provides a framework, while the team helps guests make sense of the opportunities that unfold along the way.
Whale Researchers and Marine Mammal Specialists
Among the experts scheduled across the season is Dr. Sean Todd, a marine mammal scientist and polar specialist. Marine biologist and whale researcher Molly Gaughan and marine biologist and whale expert Emily Fosbery are also part of the roster.
Their backgrounds give guests access to perspectives developed through studying marine life. An encounter on the water can become the starting point for questions about behavior, research and the wider ecosystem, adding depth to the excitement of a sighting.
Wildlife expert and conservationist Brent Houston brings another perspective to the team, connecting observations in the field with the broader subject of conservation.
Seabirds, Geology and the History of Exploration
Bird enthusiasts will find several specialists among the announced team. Ornithologist and expedition naturalist JJ Apestegui, marine ornithologist and seabird researcher Kim Stevens, and wildlife expert and ornithologist Will Wagstaff will sail during the season.
Geologist and earth science educator Dr. Lori Snyder brings expertise in the landscapes underlying the expedition. Her discipline offers a different way to read a coastline, looking beyond its visual impact to the processes that formed it.
The roster also includes archaeologist and Viking scholar Dr. Elizabeth Pierce, along with astronomer and Indigenous cultures specialist Vishwa Rana. Ecologist and naturalist guide Rorie Duncan, polar expedition specialist Demetri Capetanopoulos, and reproductive biologist and science communicator Dr. Jarrod McKenna add further breadth.
These names represent a selection of the specialists sailing aboard the two ships throughout the season. Guests interested in a particular expert should ask which team members are scheduled for their departure.
Exploring Aboard Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit
Both ships were built for expedition travel, pairing remote exploration with Seabourn’s all-suite accommodations and onboard hospitality. The Antarctic program includes guided shore landings, Zodiac cruises and educational activities, with optional kayaking excursions offering another way to experience the surroundings.
The relationship between field exploration and life on board is part of the appeal. After an outing, guests can return to a briefing or conversation that helps connect what they have seen with the science and history of the region.
For a closer look at another aspect of the shipboard experience, read DRIFT Travel’s coverage of dining aboard Seabourn Pursuit.
Seabourn’s 2026–2027 Antarctica Itineraries
The announced season runs from November 2026 through March 2027, with 19 departures sailing roundtrip from Ushuaia, Argentina. Antarctica voyages range from 10 to 12 days, while select 20-day departures also feature South Georgia and the Falkland Islands.
Seabourn says all Antarctica voyages in the program include a pre-cruise hotel stay in Buenos Aires and roundtrip charter flights to Ushuaia, where guests embark. Travelers should review the details of their chosen sailing, including activity arrangements and the scheduled expedition team, when booking.
Those considering a longer journey can also explore DRIFT’s story on Seabourn’s 2027 Pole to Pole Grand Expedition, a separate voyage aboard Seabourn Venture linking the High Arctic with Antarctica.
For this Antarctic season, the central promise is the opportunity to travel with people who have devoted their working lives to understanding remote environments. Their knowledge gives guests something to carry home alongside photographs: a richer understanding of the place they have visited.
Further information and current sailing details are available through Seabourn.
