Ships – Arctic

Embark on an unforgettable journey through the wild and captivating landscapes of the Arctic with Eclipse Travel. Our collection of small expedition ships offers an immersive and personal way to explore this remote northern frontier, combining comfort with authentic adventure. From dramatic ice formations to remote polar communities and diverse wildlife, each voyage reveals a different side of the Arctic’s unique beauty.

Whether you’re an experienced traveller or discovering the polar regions for the first time, our carefully selected fleet caters to a range of interests and travel styles. Small expedition ships provide distinct advantages, including access to narrow fjords and isolated regions, a relaxed and intimate onboard atmosphere, and enhanced opportunities for close wildlife encounters, all led by knowledgeable and experienced expedition teams.

Click through below for general information on our Artic 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.

Expedition

Extensively refurbished with new engines, upgraded common areas, and refreshed cabins with ensuite bathrooms, this adventure-ready vessel was designed to keep things cozy, capable, and close to the action.

And when it’s time to brave the Drake? Its Ice Class 1A technology, upgraded stabilizers, and a modern propulsion system deliver smoother, quieter sailing, and all with a significantly smaller carbon footprint.

With space for just 128 passengers, we aim to get everyone off the ship and exploring daily (conditions permitting) — something bigger vessels simply can’t do. That means more time on land, more wildlife sightings, and way more moments you’ll never forget.

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.

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 Bellot

Le Bellot has been designed to provide absolute comfort for its passengers, even at the heart of the world's most remote and isolated regions. Racy lines, state-of-the-art equipment, a refined design, a softly muted and at the same time convivial ambiance together with a deliberately restricted number of cabins all contribute to the modernity of Le Bellot, a unique ship in the world of cruising.

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.

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 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 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.

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 Minerva

Ready to sail and explore in style and comfort? Designed for voyages to far-flung places and remote polar regions, the SH Minerva incorporates stylish, sophisticated interiors with the latest in cruising technology. This elegant 5-star expedition ship has a special PC5 ice-strengthened hull, and extra-large stabilizers, to make sailing with us as smooth 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.

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 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 – Arctic