Greg Mortimer's X-BOW cutting the seas, photo: Scott Portelli/Aurora Expeditions.

The X-BOW® experience

The ULSTEIN X-BOW® significantly improves sea behaviour by splitting wave energy and reducing slamming impact. Proven effective in over 120 ships, this hull shape has become a game-changer for expedition cruising.

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4 reasons why guests and crew enjoy being onboard an X-BOW® vessel

1. Gentle wave entry and minimal slamming

The unique shape of the X-BOW hull ensures a soft encounter with oncoming waves, reducing jolts and jerks. Further, the sloped design reduces bow impact, ensuring smoother rides in rough seas.

And this made us wonder.

Can ship design cure seasickness?

In October 2019, the first ULSTEIN X-BOW polar expedition cruise vessel, 'Greg Mortimer', left Ushuaia for her inaugural voyage. She was heading for the dreaded Drake Passage to reach Antarctica. Among those on board was Peter Szyszka, a diving instructor who “gets seasick just by looking at water.”

Learn more about his experiences:

The overall comfort and quietness of the vessel is another real big plus. The comfort that the X-BOW provides is just incredible: I have not had a single bow slam the entire season! Also, speed is considerably less impacted in head-on seas. The Drake Passage is a much less dreadful place now.

Martin Graser

Captain on 'National Geographic Resolution', an X-BOW expedition cruise vessel

2. Comfort and safety

We have a long history of designing offshore vessels. The crew need a sound, reliable platform to do their work, a vessel that can keep going in some of the hostile environments they could be working in. They do not need to be bounced about in bad weather and be too tired to do their work.

A captain operating one of twelve Ulstein‑designed platform supply vessels in the Tidewater fleet, several of which are active in the North Sea, offers the following assessment:

The vessel is extremely quiet when underway and minimal vibrations are felt in heavy seas. It is a ride of luxury.

I have never been on board a vessel that is so good to work and live in, both in transit and under operation. Other offshore vessels cannot match the X-BOW in getting quickly to a mission in bad weather.

Arvid Samdal

Master of the 'Seven Viking' subsea vessel

3. More time where it matters with higher transit speeds

By maintaining speed while preserving exceptional comfort, the vessel reduces time spent in open seas and heavy waves. Softer motions and minimal vibration create an environment where guests can truly make the most of their journey – from lectures and entertainment to photography, wellness activities and fine dining.

8-10 metre waves and only 1-knot speed loss

During the maiden voyage of the expedition cruise vessel Greg Mortimer, the ship encountered severe weather after leaving Cape Town for Ushuaia, Argentina. The captain reports wave heights of 8–10 metres, with some waves reaching above Deck 5, combined with strong winds. Even under these demanding conditions, the vessel maintained a steady speed of 12–13 knots, with only a marginal reduction of one knot.

It’s a totally different experience! In big seas, I kept waiting for the slamming, but it never came. You don’t feel the sea, you have to relearn how to interpret the vessel behaviour. Other ships can only keep half the speed.

Ulf-Peter Lindstrøm

Captain on 'Greg Mortimer', the first X-BOW expedition cruise vessel

4. First row seats for a wide variety of wildlife viewing

Cruise vessels serve a very different purpose from purely operational ships. Passengers are paying guests, on board by choice, with high expectations of comfort, experience and quality at every stage of the journey.

Aurora Expeditions welcomed its third ULSTEIN X-BOW cruise vessel, Douglas Mawson, in September 2025.

Many of our guests have travelled on other expedition ships before and immediately notice the difference. Whether it’s sleeping better at night, feeling less vibration during lectures, or spending more time in observation areas, the design truly enhances the experience.

says Katie Malone, Chief Marketing Officer at Aurora Expeditions, when commenting on the X-BOW design feature.

The bow area of a cruise vessel is often a gathering place in the early morning. This is where you can stand to look at whales, penguins and dolphins.

Sven Lindblad

Lindblad Expeditions

Trust through experience

Decades of building state-of-the-art vessels for demanding marine operations have given us a knowledge base and experience that guarantee the highest standards of quality, execution, and delivery.

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