Expedition cruise newcomer Selar has reported major progress on its first vessel Captain Arctic which will debut later this year, describing 2026 as a “defining year” for the company.

As Co-Founder and CEO Sophie Galvagnon explained, just a year ago, Captain Arctic existed only “on drawings, calculations, and a few pieces of steel.”

That is no longer the case. “Her hull is fully built, tested afloat, and unmistakably real. She already carries the presence of an icon,” she said.  The ship’s completion reflects both engineering achievement and Selar’s ambitious vision for polar expeditions.

Alongside the ship’s progress, Selar itself is undergoing transformation. “From a small startup, driven by a handful of people, long days, and intense brainpower, we are growing into a structured, committed team both at HQ and onboard, with expert adventurous crew members who will soon bring this ship to life,” Galvagnon shared.

The success of Selar relies on more than technical skill, according to Galvagnon. “This journey, for us as entrepreneurs and for the future passengers who will sail with us depends on one thing above all: the right people to deliver the vision,” she stressed. “Skills matter, but the human side matters more. Trust, resilience, and shared ambition are what carry an expedition forward.”

Looking back on the company’s rapid development, Selar described 2025 as a foundational year, but is clear that 2026 marks the real turning point: “2025 ignited the mission. 2026 is the real departure: the year of execution, scale, and turning bold ideas into reality at sea.”

Selar’s Dancing with the Orcas expedition sets sail in November 2026.