Ships – Antarctica

Embark on an unforgettable adventure to the pristine and awe-inspiring landscapes of Antarctica with Eclipse Travel. Our selection of small expedition ships offers an intimate and immersive experience, allowing you to explore the last great wilderness on Earth in comfort and style. Whether you’re a seasoned explorer or a first-time adventurer, our expertly curated fleet provides a range of options to suit your needs and preferences. Small expedition ships offer numerous advantages including the ability to access narrower channels and more remote locations, a more intimate atmosphere and personalised service on board, and more opportunities for closer wildlife encounters under the guidance of an expert expedition team.

Click through below for general information on our Antarctica expedition ships, cabin overviews and deck layouts. Contact us for a no obligation enquiry and one of our friendly travel consultants will be happy to help. Our expert team is here to help you choose the right ship and itinerary to match your interests, travel style, and budget.

Douglas Mawson

Named after the legendary Australian geologist and explorer, our new small ship embodies Mawson’s pioneering spirit and is designed for global discovery. Featuring the revolutionary Ulstein X-BOW® and purpose-built with enhanced sustainability features, it takes on average 154 adventurers to the world’s wildest places in smooth, quiet comfort. It boasts our most extensive range of cabins yet, including a range of single cabins.

G Expedition

The eye-catching G Expedition (formerly MS Expedition) is Danish-built and refurbished in 2009, offering spacious and comfortable accommodation for up to 134 passengers.

With a focus on top of the line safety, comfort and the unique demands of polar travel, the G Expedition is one of the world's leading polar expedition cruise ships.

Greg Mortimer

This 104-metre ship is Aurora Expeditions' very first, purpose-built expedition vessel. Capable of negotiating the strongest winds and waves, the Greg Mortimer is built to world-class polar standards – designed in close consultation with expedition specialists, taking advantage of more than 25 years of experience. Accommodating a maximum of 100 passengers plus kayakers and divers for polar expeditions, the Greg Mortimer redefines expedition cruising for the future.

Hanseatic inspiration

The Hanseatic Inspiration: where luxury meets adventure. Sail in style to remote destinations, with gourmet dining, expert-led expeditions, and breathtaking views from your private balcony.

Heritage Adventurer

Often referred to as the 'Grande Dame of Polar Exploration' due to her celebrated history and refined design, the Heritage Adventurer was purpose built for adventure in 1991 at Finland's Rauma shipyard and specifically designed for Polar exploration.

Hondius

Hondius is the first-registered Polar Class 6 vessel in the world, meeting the latest and highest Lloyd’s Register demands for ice-strengthened cruise vessels

L’Austral

Launched in 2011 l’Austral, this magnificent mega-yacht has 132 cabins over 6 passenger decks. She is the sister vessel of Le Boréal and Le Soléal. l’Austra offers chic and elegant interiors as well as refined and personalised services giving you the feeling that you are travelling on your own private yacht. It has a host of services and facilities including 2 public lounges, an open-air bar overlooking the pool deck, a pool, a theatre, a gym, a spa as well as two restaurants.

Le Boreal

Le Boréal was built in 2010, and is a sister vessel of L'Austral and Le Soléal. Like her sisterships, Le Boréal embodies the subtle alliance between luxury, intimacy and wellbeing. The elegance of her exterior and interior lines and her intimate size (only 132 staterooms and suites) make this a rare and innovative yacht on the cruise market.

Le Commandant Charcot

Enjoy a unique cruising experience when you step aboard Le Commandant Charcot, a luxury polar expedition vessel which uses hybrid propulsion combined with liquefied natural gas (LNG) and electric generators to minimise it's environmental impact and the World’s Only Luxury Ice Breaker

It is equipped with just 135 staterooms with balconies and outside views and offers outstanding gastronomy in the two restaurants. Additionally, it has an indoor pool surrounded by a winter garden, a sauna and a snow room.

Le Laperouse

Le Laperouse features just 92 staterooms and suites to create a unique and intimate atmosphere. Along with innovative and eco-friendly equipment, this ship emphasises luxury and authenticity and boasts an ever-increasing range of destinations. The luxurious ship offers fantastic features to passengers including the Blue Eye which is a unique multi sensory underwater lounge providing a whole new experience in luxury expedition cruising.

Le Lyrial

Le Lyrial embodies the subtle alliance between luxury, intimacy and wellbeing. The elegance of her exterior and interior lines and her intimate size (only 122 staterooms and suites) make her a rare and innovative yacht. She has two restaurants, two lounges, an open-air bar on the pool deck, a boutique, a theatre, a gym and a spa.

Le Soleal

The elegant small cruise ship Le Soléal was launched in December 2012, and like her sister ships Le Boreal, L’Austral and Le Lyrial, embodies the subtle alliance between luxury, intimacy and wellbeing. Aboard you will find an atmosphere which is both relaxed and informal, yet stylishly modern. Le Soléal specialises in offering excellent service and superb cuisine.

Magellan Explorer

M/V Magellan Explorer features 50 passenger suites and cabins in five categories of accommodation, including dedicated single cabins. Public areas include a large, forward-facing observation lounge, an observation deck, a dining room that accommodates all guests and expedition staff in a single sitting, a protected outdoor barbecue area, a gym and sauna. The bow of the ship is accessible to guests to offer expansive views during exploration.

The vessel was built in Chile to the latest Polar Code specifications and started service in 2019.

MS Seaventure

Explore coves, bays, and channels as you participate in activities like kayaking, snowshoeing, and camping

MV Ushuaia

The MV Ushuaia is a very well appointed and ice-strengthened polar vessel which provides a great value, comfortable and engaging way to explore Antarctica. The MV Ushuaia has 46 comfortable cabins and suites all of which range in size, shape and bedding configuration, even within the cabin categories. All cabins other than the standard twin cabins have private bathroom facilities.

National Geographic Endurance

A next-generation expedition ship, purpose-built for polar navigation. Fully stabilised, highly strengthened vessel designed to navigate polar passages year-round, and safely explore uncharted waters, while providing exceptional comfort.

National Geographic Explorer

Inaugurated in 2008, National Geographic Explorer is the world’s ultimate expedition ship. Originally built for service along Norway’s coast as part of the famed Hurtigruten, or Coastal Express, her excellent manoeuvrability and just-right size made her a natural choice for addition to our fleet. National Geographic Explorer provides a peerless expedition experience.

National Geographic Orion

Designed and purpose built in Germany in 2003 specifically for expedition travel, National Geographic Orion was created from the outset to explore the far corners of the Earth in complete self-sufficiency. She is spacious and modern, with a variety of public rooms that offer panoramic views of the passing landscape. Friendly and informal, Orion fosters a welcoming atmosphere where like-minded guests share in exceptional experiences and enrichment.

National Geographic Resolution

A fully-stabilized vessel of the highest ice class (PC5 Category A), she will enable adventurous guests to go where few have or can. National Geographic Resolution’s most striking exterior feature is her distinctive profile, the patented X-Bow®, a game-changing design that guarantees the smoothest, most comfortable ride in all kinds of conditions; and since it eliminates bow impact, a quieter ride, as well.

Ocean Albatros

With a total of 95 comfortable staterooms and suites, all with unobstructed sea view, most with their own balcony, the Ocean Albatros will definitely become one of the most popular expedition cruise vessels in the world

Ocean Explorer

Ocean Explorer, is modern, elegant and purpose-built for polar exploration. The 138-passenger vessel has been designed with the latest in expedition ship technology. One of the ship’s key features is the ULSTEIN X-BOW®, a marine engineering innovation that ensures a comfortable and smooth sailing experience thanks to the inverted bow.

Ocean Nova

Ocean Nova is a modern and comfortable expedition vessel. She was built in Denmark in 1992 and fully refurbished in 2006 and has since benefitted from annual upgrades and improvements. Her ice-strengthened hull is ideally suited for Polar travel and with a maximum of just 78 guests, the Ocean Nova offers an intimate expedition experience. Cabin configuration differs slightly between Arctic and Antarctic cruising.

Ocean Victory

This stylish cruise ship, ideally suited for small ship expeditions, will be deployed and dedicated to varied Antarctic region voyages. With a total of 93 comfortable cabins, all with a view of the ocean

Ortelius

The ice-strengthened vessel Ortelius is an excellent vessel for Polar expedition cruises in the Arctic and Antarctica, providing travellers the opportunity to adventure to remote locations such as the Ross Sea and Franz Josef Land. The vessel has the highest ice-class notation (UL1 equivalent to 1A) and is therefore very suitable to navigate in solid one-year sea ice and loose multi-year pack ice.

Plancius

The ice-strengthened vessel Plancius is an excellent vessels for polar expedition cruises in the Arctic and Antarctica.Plancius is a comfortable and nicely decorated vessel made for explorers. While it is is spacious it still retains a small ship character, boasting comfort, style and modern technology. Plancius makes the ideal base camp for active, adventure and wildlife minded modern explorers.

Scenic Eclipse

Introducing Scenic Eclipse, the point on the map where luxury meets discovery. Scenic Eclipse sets the standard in ocean cruising in terms of technology, size and luxury. State-of-the-art safety features allow us to unlock destinations others can only dream of. Designed to deliver the ultimate experience of a lifetime for only 200 in the Polar Regions, Scenic Arctic Cruises will take you to the northernmost regions of the Arctic and showcase the world’s most breathtaking natural sceneries, marine and wildlife.

Sea Spirit

Sail aboard the luxurious Sea Spirit and you’ll experience Antarctica in style. Providing spacious suites and social areas for 114 guests the Sea Spirit at the same time features manoeuvrability and friendly atmosphere of small ships. Sea Spirit has an open Bridge policy, so you can visit with and talk to the Captain and officers. The Restaurant on board the Sea Spirit offers open-seating dining, and contemporary, international cuisine created by talented chefs.

SH Diana

Named after the Ancient Roman goddess of light, the moon, hunting and the wilderness, SH Diana been specially designed for worldwide cruising to explore the most inspiring and inaccessible places on earth. A Polar Class 6 ice-strengthened hull combines with extra-large stabilisers to make your journey as comfortable as possible.

SH Vega

SH Vega, named after the first ship to cross the Arctic Northeast Passage, has been designed to journey to off the beaten path destinations and remote polar regions in style and comfort. The ship incorporates a PC5 ice-strengthened hull combined with extra-large stabilisers to make your journey as smooth as possible.

Silver Cloud

Silver Cloud is one of the most spacious and comfortable ice class vessel in expedition cruising

Silver Endeavour

The Silver Endeavour is a luxury expedition ship designed for polar exploration. It accommodates up to 220 guests and offers spacious, all-suite accommodations with butler service, large private balconies, and panoramic windows. The ship is equipped with cutting-edge technology, including a dynamic positioning system to avoid anchoring in fragile environments. It features multiple dining venues, a spa, fitness center, and onboard experts to enhance the expedition experience.

Silver Wind

Timelessly elegant, a refurbishment in summer 2020 will see this luxurious vessel benefit from a strengthened to ice-class hull and will make her one of the most adaptable ships on the seas

Sylvia Earle

This purpose-built expedition vessel honours the highly accomplished marine biologist, oceanographer and explorer, Sylvia Earle. As the first female chief scientist of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and named by Time Magazine as its first Hero for the Planet in 1998 – this vessel pays tribute to Sylvia’s long standing conservation efforts for marine protected areas and ocean wildlife.

Ultramarine

Ultramarine is equipped with two twin-engine helicopters, spacious guest suites, sprawling public spaces and more outdoor wildlife viewing spaces than you can imagine

World Explorer

The World Explorer is among the fastest ships, and is also one of the finest, with six tiers of deluxe accommodation

World Navigator

Embark on authentic immersions in captivating destinations aboard World Navigator, a yacht designed for a highly personalized and all-inclusive experience. Designed with a 1940s aesthetic inspired by the new millennium, she’s a modern classic. Complete with comfortable accommodations, globally inspired gourmet cuisine and unlimited premium cocktails, and an onboard life that cultivates connection with yourself and fellow travelers, she is made for you to explore your world in relaxed luxury.

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Ships – Antarctica