MS Bremen
An expedition cruise ship built in Japan in 1990 for polar and remote-destination voyages.
Last updated August 25, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
MS Bremen is a small expedition cruise ship designed for polar exploration and remote-destination cruising. The vessel was built in 1990 at Mitsubishi’s shipyard in Kobe, Japan, under the name Frontier Spirit. With accommodation and operations structured around a capacity of approximately 155 passengers, the ship belongs to the expedition-cruise segment rather than the large resort-cruise market. Its compact scale supports access to remote waters and destinations where larger cruise ships may be unable to operate. The vessel became associated with the Bremen name after entering service with Hapag-Lloyd Cruises GmbH in 1993. Under that operator, it was marketed as an expedition vessel capable of voyages in demanding Arctic and Antarctic environments. Its operating history includes notable navigation achievements and incidents that contributed to its public profile. In 2001, while sailing in the Southern Atlantic, the ship encountered a rogue wave that caused substantial damage, including the breaking of a bridge window. The vessel lost propulsion and remained adrift for roughly two hours before power and maneuverability were restored. The event was later featured in the television program Killer Waves. Bremen was involved in the discovery of an island in Antarctica in 2003. The island was subsequently named Bremen Island in 2004, linking the ship’s name to a documented geographic discovery. In 2006, the vessel completed a passage through the Northwest Passage. Satellite imagery was used to help identify navigable routes through sea ice, demonstrating the importance of voyage planning, remote sensing, and ice information in the ship’s expedition operations. The ship also became the subject of public controversy in July 2018, when a crew member shot and killed a polar bear in the Svalbard archipelago. Another crew member, who was escorting passengers during a shore excursion, was injured by the bear and evacuated by helicopter. The operating company stated that the shooting was an act of self-defense and could not have been avoided. The incident highlighted the operational and environmental risks associated with expedition cruising in polar wildlife habitats. In January 2019, the ship was sold to Scylla AG, with the planned handover scheduled for May 2021. It was renamed Seaventure in 2020. Following the renaming, the ship was chartered by Polar Latitudes for the austral summer and by Iceland ProCruises for the boreal summer, allowing it to continue operating in both Antarctic and Arctic expedition markets. In 2024, the vessel was sold to the Chinese company 66expeditions, and the new owner took over in May 2025. The available reference material does not specify a later name, detailed itinerary, or current operating schedule. Across its history, the ship’s identity has therefore shifted from a Hapag-Lloyd expedition vessel known as Bremen to a later chartered expedition ship operating under the name Seaventure.
History
MS Bremen was constructed in 1990 at the Mitsubishi shipyard in Kobe, Japan. The ship entered service as Frontier Spirit and was designed as a relatively small expedition vessel, with capacity for approximately 155 passengers. Its size and configuration were intended to support voyages to polar and other remote regions rather than conventional high-capacity cruise operations. In 1993, the vessel began operating as MS Bremen under Hapag-Lloyd Cruises GmbH. During this phase, the ship developed an identity as a German-associated expedition cruise vessel serving Arctic, Antarctic, and other high-latitude destinations. Expedition operations exposed the ship to difficult weather, ice, and wildlife conditions. In March 2001, a rogue wave in the Southern Atlantic caused heavy damage and broke a window on the bridge. The damage temporarily left the ship without propulsion, and it drifted for approximately two hours. The incident later appeared in the television program Killer Waves. The ship’s expedition history also includes a geographic discovery. In 2003, Bremen discovered a previously uncharted Antarctic island. The feature was named Bremen Island in 2004. Three years later, in 2006, the ship successfully completed the Northwest Passage. Satellite images helped the crew and expedition team determine where sea ice permitted passage, illustrating how modern remote-sensing information supported navigation in a difficult and changing environment. A serious wildlife incident occurred in July 2018 in the Svalbard archipelago. A crew member shot and killed a polar bear after a different crew member, who was leading passengers on a shore excursion, was injured by the animal. The injured crew member was evacuated by helicopter. The company stated that the shooting was an unavoidable act of self-defense. The incident became one of the most publicly discussed events associated with the vessel and reflected the risks created when expedition tourism brings people into polar wildlife habitats. In January 2019, the vessel was sold to Scylla AG. Although the planned handover date was May 2021, the ship was renamed Seaventure in 2020. Under the new name, it continued to operate in expedition cruising through seasonal charters. Polar Latitudes chartered the vessel during the austral summer, while Iceland ProCruises used it during the boreal summer. This arrangement connected the ship with both Antarctic and Arctic markets across the year. The vessel changed ownership again in 2024, when it was sold to the Chinese company 66expeditions. The new owner took over in May 2025. The supplied reference material does not establish whether the ship retained the Seaventure name after the takeover, identify a current charterer, or provide a current itinerary. Its documented history nevertheless shows a progression from Frontier Spirit to Bremen and then Seaventure, alongside a continuing role in small-ship polar expedition cruising.
- 2025
66expeditions takes over
[1]The new owner took over the ship in May 2025.
- 2024
Sale to 66expeditions
[1]The ship was sold to the Chinese expedition company 66expeditions.
- 2020
Renamed Seaventure
[1]The vessel adopted the name Seaventure after its ownership transition.
- 2019
Sale to Scylla AG
[1]The ship was sold to Scylla AG, with a planned handover in May 2021.
- 2018
Svalbard polar-bear incident
[1]A crew member killed a polar bear after the animal injured another crew member during a shore excursion.
- 2006
Northwest Passage completed
[1]Bremen successfully navigated the Northwest Passage, using satellite imagery to help assess sea-ice conditions.
- 2004
Bremen Island is named
[1]The Antarctic island discovered by the vessel received the name Bremen Island.
- 2003
Discovery of an Antarctic island
[1]The ship discovered a previously uncharted Antarctic island, later named Bremen Island.
- 2001
Rogue-wave incident in the Southern Atlantic
[1]A rogue wave caused heavy damage, broke a bridge window, and left the ship without propulsion for about two hours.
- 1993
Begins service as MS Bremen
[1]The vessel entered operation under Hapag-Lloyd Cruises GmbH using the name MS Bremen.
Products and positioning
A compact expedition cruise ship positioned around access to polar and other remote destinations, emphasizing exploration, small-group operations, and navigation in challenging environments rather than mass-market cruise amenities.
Expedition cruise ship · 1990
MS Bremen / Seaventure
A small expedition cruise ship built in 1990 for approximately 155 passengers. Its operating profile centers on Arctic and Antarctic voyages, remote destinations, and technically demanding routes such as the Northwest Passage. The vessel operated as MS Bremen for Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, was later renamed Seaventure, and continued in service through seasonal charters by Polar Latitudes and Iceland ProCruises.
Controversies
2018
Polar bear shooting in Svalbard
During a shore excursion in Svalbard, a polar bear injured a crew member who was leading passengers. Another crew member shot and killed the bear, and the injured person was evacuated by helicopter. The company characterized the shooting as unavoidable self-defense.
Brand decisions
2024
Sale to 66expeditionsM&ABackground
The vessel changed ownership again after its period under Scylla AG and the Seaventure identity.
Action taken
The ship was sold to Chinese company 66expeditions.
Aftermath
66expeditions took over the vessel in May 2025. Its subsequent name and detailed operating plans are not established in the supplied material.
2020
Adoption of the Seaventure name and seasonal charter modelStrategyBackground
Following its ownership transition, the vessel continued to serve expedition markets in both hemispheres.
Action taken
The ship was renamed Seaventure and chartered by Polar Latitudes for the austral summer and Iceland ProCruises for the boreal summer.
Aftermath
The arrangement enabled year-round seasonal deployment across Antarctic and Arctic expedition cruising.
2019
Sale to Scylla AGM&ABackground
After operating for Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, the expedition ship was sold as part of a change in ownership.
Action taken
Scylla AG agreed to acquire the vessel, with handover planned for May 2021.
Aftermath
The ship was renamed Seaventure in 2020 and continued expedition operations through seasonal charters.
Recent events
- 2025
New owner takes over the expedition ship[1]
M&A · Leadership change
66expeditions took over the vessel in May 2025.
- 2024
66expeditions acquires Seaventure[1]
M&A
The ship was sold to the Chinese company 66expeditions.
- 2020
The vessel is renamed Seaventure[1]
Other
The expedition ship adopted the name Seaventure after its sale to Scylla AG.
- 2020
Seaventure operates under seasonal expedition charters[1]
Other
The renamed vessel was chartered by Polar Latitudes for the austral summer and by Iceland ProCruises for the boreal summer.
- 2019
Bremen is sold to Scylla AG[1]
M&A
Scylla AG acquired the vessel, with the planned handover scheduled for May 2021.
- 2006
Bremen completes the Northwest Passage[1]
Other
The ship successfully navigated the Northwest Passage with the aid of satellite imagery used to assess sea-ice conditions and identify a route.
- 2003
Bremen discovers an Antarctic island[1]
Other
The expedition ship discovered a previously uncharted island in Antarctica. The island was named Bremen Island in 2004.
- 2001
Bremen suffers heavy damage after a rogue wave in the Southern Atlantic[1]
Other
A rogue wave broke a window on the ship’s bridge and caused heavy damage. The vessel was left without propulsion and drifted for approximately two hours.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/ms-bremen · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled