Sylvia Earle Antarctic and Arctic Cruises

All images of the Sylvia Earle are artist’s impressions only and final results may vary.

Welcome aboard the Sylvia Earle, a brand-new cruise ship named after the first female chief scientist of the U.S. National and Atmospheric Administration. Sylvia Earle was also named by Time Magazine as its first Hero for the Planet in 1998. Set to sail in October 2021, this powerful new ship honors Sylvia’s long-standing marine conservation efforts. Built for intense weather conditions, the Sylvia Earle is a pioneer in nautical technology. Sail the Arctic or the Antarctic like never before aboard one of the most modern and elegant cruise ships.

The Sylvia Earle was created for the most rugged and remote trips. It features the Ulstein X-BOW®, which cuts through swell so passengers feel fewer vibrations during ocean crossings. If you are prone to seasickness, this cruise ship will make your polar voyage much more comfortable. The Ulstein X-BOW® also reduces fuel consumption by up to 60%.

A Sylvia Earle polar cruise offers passengers a wide array of cabin choices to suit any comfort level. Whether you are embarking on a solo polar adventure or bringing along the entire family, the Sylvia Earle cruise ship will happily accommodate your needs. Each en suite cabin features great amenities like a room-controlled thermostat, a safe, plenty of closet space, a 42’’ flat-screen TV, and much more. You won’t need to compromise comfort on your Arctic or Antarctic cruise.

Just like Sylvia Earle herself, preserving and protecting the fragile Arctic and Antarctic environments is one of the most important values aboard a Sylvia Earle polar cruise and is reflected in many features aboard the ship. The Sylvia Earle is proud to be one of the lowest polluting ships in the world due to its high fuel efficiency and streamlined design delivering an 80% reduction in emissions. The Sylvia Earle also uses a virtual anchor thanks to GPS and steering technology. This significantly minimizes damage to the sea floor usually caused by regular anchors.

The Sylvia Earle was built for adventure cruising. The brand new ship carries many zodiacs, which you can board via 4 different platforms. These platforms make boarding quick and easy so passengers can enjoy more time on their polar expeditions. On the zodiacs, you’ll venture through small riverbeds inaccessible by larger ships, and you’ll get a closer look at the impressive Arctic and Antarctic flora and fauna. A Sylvia Earle polar cruise also offers a range of optional activities lead by expert guides from kayaking, diving, climbing, and ski touring.

The Sylvia Ealer is an expedition ship constructed to support all outdoor experiences so each passenger can maximize their time on board. The Sylvia Earle is also equipped with a Mudroom- the launchpad for all polar cruise expeditions. Guests will have access to locker rooms with drying areas to hang up their gear in between each polar excursion.

The Sylvia Earle expedition team is eager to educate all of its guests about the history, culture, biology, and climate change of the polar regions. On your Arctic or Antarctic cruise, you’ll meet naturalists and local specialists in the state-of-the-art lecture theater for educational and highly entertaining presentations. The Sylvia Earle cruise ship library is also a great place to relax, pick up a good book, play board games, view and organize your trip photos, or just stare out the floor-to-ceiling windows.

In between expeditions, make sure to enjoy the heated saltwater open-air swimming pool and jacuzzis on board the Sylvia Earle, where the Arctic and Antarctic views will leave you in awe. For even more relaxation, visit the wellness center aboard the cruise ship, equipped with a gym, sauna, and professional massage therapists.

Aurora Expeditions is committed to travelling respectfully and providing a trip of a lifetime experience, while aiming to create lifelong ambassadors for the protection of our planet and the diverse places we visit around the world.

Our fleet boasts the lowest polluting marine engines in the world, and our state of the art engines deliver an 80% reduction in emissions.*

The revolutionary ULSTEIN X-BOW® cuts through the swell, reducing vibrations and making quicker transits through waves, which helps reduce our fuel consumption by up to 60%.

Our onboard desalination plant converts seawater to freshwater that’s safe to drink. This means we can carry less freshwater on sea crossings, further reducing our fuel consumption.

Our fleet uses virtual anchoring, a combination of GPS, steering technology, propellers and thrusters, which allow the ship to hold position. This protects the sea floor and minimizes the damage caused by conventional anchors.

Plastic: towards zero On board we’ve replaced many single-use plastic products with sustainable alternatives and our aim is to eliminate them altogether.

Responsible dining All of our seafood onboard is sustainably sourced in accordance with the Marine Stewardship Council guidelines. We also cater for vegetarian and vegan diets (please mention this when booking).

Gentle cleaning products For our onboard cleaning products, we aim to use biodegradable, phosphate free and non-bioaccumulative products as much as possible. We are proud to provide Stream2Sea’s mineral-based sunscreen, tested and proven safe for fish and coral larvae onboard – available for passenger use.

Recycling We use recycling bins onboard to separate waste and reduce our landfill, and aim to recycle our waste at every port. We are proud to be a member of the SeaGreen recycling initiative in Ushuaia, and participate in beach clean-up initiatives such as Clean up Svalbard.

Arguably the most important part of any trip- The food! A Sylvia Earle polar cruise offers hearty delicious cuisine with a variety of options and courses for each meal. Mealtimes are a great way to get to know your fellow travelers in the open seating dining room. Tea, coffee, and various snacks are available 24 hours a day. Enjoy a wide range of house wine, beers, and soft drinks included with dinner, perfect after a long day of exploration.

Every passenger is also invited to join the cruise ship captain and expedition team for Welcome and Farewell drinks, which include complimentary cocktails and appetizers. The bars and lounges aboard the Sylvia Earle are a tasteful, yet inviting place to gather with new friends. Enjoy the sunset through the floor-to-ceiling windows that offer stunning views. The friendly bartenders aboard the ship will quench your thirst and entertain you with tales of previous adventures.