SunStone's Chinese built cruise vessels
Revolutionary expedition cruise ships designed by Ulstein and constructed at CMHI for SunStone Ships. The inclusion of the pioneering ULSTEIN X-BOW® ensures ultimate passenger comfort and long-term charter agreements.
From Greg Mortimer to Ocean Discoverer: The INFINITY class saga of exceptional design and delivery
The INFINITY Class vessels are 104m long, 18m wide, and have a draft of 5.1m. They feature a passenger capacity between 130-200 and a crew capacity between 85 and 115. Six INFINITY Class new-builds have so far been delivered (Greg Mortimer, Ocean Explorer, Ocean Victory, Sylvia Earle, Ocean Odyssey and Ocean Albatros). Vessel number 7, the Douglas Mawson, is under construction. Ulstein Design & Solutions AS is responsible for the exterior design, and Tomas Tillberg Design for the interior design.
Greg Mortimer in Antarctica
The first of seven newbuilds in the INFINITY Class, based on the ULSTEIN CX103 design. Photo: Sergei Andronov.
The INFINITY Class vessels
Latest updates
Milestone for 'Douglas Mawson' – one step closer to cruising adventures
On Thursday, 30 May 2024, the CMHI yard, China, marked the keel lay for the next Ulstein-designed expedition cruise ship for SunStone Ships, the 'Douglas Mawson'.
Update
Ulstein captures its 7th cruise ship design contract for SunStone
SunStone Ships goes for another cruise vessel in its INFINITY class. All the vessels in this class are designed by Ulstein Design & Solutions AS. These vessels were the first to introduce the patented X-BOW design in the cruise industry, a solution that has been warmly welcomed by cruise passengers and crews alike.
Update
Aurora Expeditions launches its new expedition cruise vessel 'Sylvia Earle'
The CX103 designs, Ocean Odyssey and Sylvia Earle, have been delivered from the CMHI shipyard in Haimen, China to SunStone. The final documents were signed on 21 October 2022, completing the delivery. This series of vessels is the first expedition cruise vessels to implement the X-BOW feature for increased comfort.
'GREG MORTIMER'
The 104-metre expedition cruise ship has been built to Polar Class 6 standards, with 77 passenger cabins, private bathrooms, and balconies. The facilities include a restaurant and bar, a lecture room, a lounge, a 180-degree indoor observation deck, outdoor viewing areas, a gymnasium, a sauna and a spa.
Stories
Best Adventure Cruise Lines
Lindblad Expeditions and Aurora Expeditions are two of the top ten winners of best adventure cruise lines in 2021.
Feature
'Greg Mortimer' – attractive in the world of cruise
Recently introduced to the cruise market, the 'Greg Mortimer' has called upon much attention among cruise media and cruise travellers. While the X-BOW® shape is well known in the offshore market, this is the first time it has been implemented in a cruise ship.
Feature
‘In big seas I kept waiting for the slamming – it never came’
The first X-BOW® cruise vessel, Greg Mortimer, set off for her first Antarctica expedition and crossed the notorious Drake Passage early November. The X-BOW® feature reduces the slamming in head seas. This was proven firstly on her transit from China to Argentina, when she entered 10m high waves and strong winds.
Press Release
First X-BOW polar vessel named, delivered and ready to explore
On 6 September, the ‘Greg Mortimer’ was named and delivered in a ceremony on the CMHI Haimen base. This is the first expedition cruise vessel in SunStone’s INFINITY series. The vessels have been designed by Ulstein Design & Solutions together with the ship’s owner and their client, Aurora Expeditions.
'OCEAN EXPLORER'
The INFINITY CLASS vessels are 104,4 m long and 18,4 m wide, small enough to give an exclusive atmosphere, and large enough to yield all expected services and facilities. They can be individually adapted, according to the operator's specifications.
Stories
Delivery of the next X-BOW expedition cruise vessel from CMHI
The ‘Ocean Explorer’, an Ulstein designed expedition cruise vessel featuring the iconic X-BOW®, has been successfully delivered from the CMHI Haimen yard, China, on 13th July 2021.
Update
Successful seatrials of expedition cruise vessels
In the first week of February 2021 the expedition cruise vessels 'Ocean Explorer' and 'Ocean Victory', customised versions of the ULSTEIN CX103 designs, completed their sea trials. Both vessels are under construction at CMHI in China. All equipment and systems have successfully been tested at sea.
Update
Launching the SunStone expedition vessel Ocean Explorer
SunStone's new expedition cruise vessel, the 'Ocean Explorer' has been launched at the CMHI shipyard, China, on Wednesday 12 August 2020. The ship is number four in the INFINITY class of X-BOW expedition ships, all designed by Ulstein.
Update
Keel laid for the Ocean Explorer
On 16 December 2019, the CMHI Haimen yard in China carried out the keel laying ceremony for the Ocean Explorer. This is the fourth ULSTEIN X-BOW® design in the INFINITY class of expedition cruise vessels that the U.S. based shipowner SunStone Ships has contracted to CMHI.
'OCEAN VICTORY'
The 104.4m long X-BOW vessel sports the capacity for 185 guests in 93 suites, 68 with balconies, nine with French balconies and 16 with panoramic windows. The vessel has been chartered out to Albatros Expeditions for Antarctica journeys and to American Queen Voyages for Alaska cruises.
Stories
First expedition ship naming ceremony in South Georgia
The ‘Ocean Victory’, one in a series of X-BOW expedition cruise vessels of the CX103 design by Ulstein, has been officially named in South Georgia in the Atlantic Ocean.
Update
‘Ocean Victory’ expedition cruise vessel delivered
The ‘Ocean Victory’, an Ulstein designed expedition cruise vessel featuring the iconic X-BOW®, has been successfully delivered from the CMHI Haimen yard, China, on 12 October 2021.
Update
Cruise vessels nearing completion
SunStone’s next newbuild expedition cruise vessels, the ‘Ocean Explorer’ and the ‘Ocean Victory’, are nearing completion from the CMHI yard.
Feature
Announces record-low cruise ship emissions
Following the successful sea trial of the ‘Ocean Victory’ which was completed in February 2021, the charterer Albatros Expeditions now announces record-low emissions per passenger.
'SYLVIA EARLE'
An expedition cruise vessel of the ULSTEIN CX103 design. Designed with the X-BOW® hull, the vessel will provide the best possible comfort for passengers in rough head seas, as well as being fuel efficient.
Stories
Aurora Expeditions launches its new expedition cruise vessel 'Sylvia Earle'
The CX103 designs, Ocean Odyssey and Sylvia Earle, have been delivered from the CMHI shipyard in Haimen, China to SunStone. The final documents were signed on 21 October 2022, completing the delivery. This series of vessels is the first expedition cruise vessels to implement the X-BOW feature for increased comfort.
Update
Next expedition cruise ship: Sea trial completion for ‘Sylvia Earle’
The ULSTEIN CX103 design, SunStone Ships’ ‘Sylvia Earle’ newbuild, has successfully completed sea trials in end October 2021. Ulstein has delivered the ship design and a comprehensive equipment package and has also been represented with a site team at the CMHI yard during the shipbuilding period.
Update
Twin ceremony for next generation expedition cruise vessels
On 18 March 2021, the CMHI Haimen yard in China celebrated the launch of the 'Sylvia Earle' and the keel laying of the 'Ocean Odyssey', both are Ulstein designed, X-BOW expedition cruise vessels under construction for the U.S. based SunStone Ships.
Update
The Sylvia Earle’s new design revealed
Aurora Expeditions is on schedule with the build of its second state-of-the-art expedition ship, the Sylvia Earle, and recently revealed its new exterior design. The expedition cruise vessel, and X-BOW design from Ulstein Design & Solutions, is under construction at the CMHI yard, China.
'OCEAN ODYSSEY'
The expedition passenger ships in the INFINITY CLASS fleet are 104,4 m long and 18,4 m wide, small enough to give an exclusive atmosphere, large enough to yield all expected services and facilities. They can be individually adapted, according to the charterer's specifications.
Stories
Aurora Expeditions launches its new expedition cruise vessel 'Sylvia Earle'
The CX103 designs, Ocean Odyssey and Sylvia Earle, have been delivered from the CMHI shipyard in Haimen, China to SunStone. The final documents were signed on 21 October 2022, completing the delivery. This series of vessels is the first expedition cruise vessels to implement the X-BOW feature for increased comfort.
Update
'Ocean Odyssey' hits the water
The expedition cruise vessel ‘Ocean Odyssey’, an ULSTEIN CX103 design, was successfully launched at the CMHI Haimen yard on 23 October 2021. The vessel is one in a series of cruise vessels contracted by the U.S. based SunStone Ships.
Update
Twin ceremony for next generation expedition cruise vessels
On 18 March 2021, the CMHI Haimen yard in China celebrated the launch of the 'Sylvia Earle' and the keel laying of the 'Ocean Odyssey', both are Ulstein designed, X-BOW expedition cruise vessels under construction for the U.S. based SunStone Ships.
Update
Project start-up of Sunstone's expedition cruise vessel no 5
The US based SunStone Ships has placed a number of expedition cruise ship design contracts at Ulstein, for the design and project follow-up at the construction yard, CMHI, in China. Vessel 5, the Ocean Odyssey, has now entered into the shipbuilding phase, for which the first important milestone was recently celebrated.
'OCEAN ALBATROS'
The Ocean Albatros will operate in both Antarctica and the Arctic and on cruises between these core expedition areas. The vessels in the SunStone Ships' INFINITY series were the first to introduce the proven X-BOW hull in cruise ships. The vessels have low emissions due to a combination of power system and ship design.
Stories
Delivery of the 'Ocean Albatros' expedition cruise vessel
The CMHI Haimen yard, China, delivered SunStone's sixth expedition cruise vessel in the Infinity class, the Ocean Albatros, on Thursday, 20 April 2023. The vessel will operate on year-round charter for Albatros Expeditions.
Update
Finalising the interior of the Ocean Albatros
The CX103 designed, polar expedition cruise vessel Ocean Albatros is preparing for her first journey, and these days there is hectic activity to finalise the interior. Work is proceeding on the reception, the carpet is being installed in the lecture area and the mud room is taking shape.
Update
Launching the Ocean Albatros
‘Ocean Albatros’, ship number six in the SunStone Ships’ INFINITY series, had her launching ceremony on 16 September 2022 at the CMHI Haimen yard. Ulstein Design & Solutions is providing the design and equipment package for this project.
Update
Ocean Albatros soon ready for sea trial
Albatros Expeditions recently announced that their brand new expedition cruise vessel, Ocean Albatros, "is almost in the water and will soon be undergoing sea trials." She is scheduled to arrive for their Arctic 2023 season, and the ship operator is more than excited to be receiving her.
'DOUGLAS MAWSON'
This new vessel shares the feature of three other vessels in the INFINITY class of having windows all around the bow lounge to give a lot of light and a feeling of being in nature whilst indoors. The vessel has 81 double cabins, 5 single cabins and 32 optinal. Crew onboard are 101 (82+19 expedition)
Stories
Milestone for 'Douglas Mawson' – one step closer to cruising adventures
On Thursday, 30 May 2024, the CMHI yard, China, marked the keel lay for the next Ulstein-designed expedition cruise ship for SunStone Ships, the 'Douglas Mawson'.
Update
Aurora Expeditions to welcome third X-BOW ship, 'Douglas Mawson', to fleet
Aurora Expeditions, the Australian-owned expedition travel company, will soon welcome its third purpose-built small expedition ship, Douglas Mawson, to its family of pioneering vessels. The cruise vessel, based on the ULSTEIN CX103 design, is due to begin sailing in December 2025.
Update
Ulstein captures its 7th cruise ship design contract for SunStone
SunStone Ships goes for another cruise vessel in its INFINITY class. All the vessels in this class are designed by Ulstein Design & Solutions AS. These vessels were the first to introduce the patented X-BOW design in the cruise industry, a solution that has been warmly welcomed by cruise passengers and crews alike.
Get in touch
Lars Ståle Skoge
- Description
- Commercial Director
- Affiliation
- Ulstein Design & Solutions AS
