Sylvia Earle
An expedition cruise vessel of the ULSTEIN CX103 design. Designed with the X-BOW® hull, the vessel provides the best possible comfort for passengers in rough head seas and is fuel-efficient.
Primary Specifications
Ship history
Shipbuilding milestones
Contract signing: 2018
Ship name decision: Jan 2020
Steel cutting: Mar 2020
Keel laying: July 2020
Launch: Mar 2021
Sea trial: Oct 2021
Delivery: 22 Oct 2022
Review of the vessel by Aurora Expeditions'
In addition to kayaking, diving, hiking excursions, and honing wildlife photography skills, there's plenty to do onboard the Sylvia Earle, which features state-of-the-art perks like an ocean-view sauna, a quiet library for reading up on Antarctic history, regular lectures, and stately lounge and deck areas for taking in the views. The entertainment is outside: icebergs, whales, penguins, snow, mountains, colours, and the sea.
Thanks to the ship's X-BOW design, seasickness is also likely to be less of an issue.
In September 2025, Aurora Expeditions completed its first biofuel trial aboard Sylvia Earle, making it the first Infinity-class vessel to run on 100% Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), a sustainable fuel made from used cooking oil. After bunkering in Valencia, the ship cruised the Spanish coast with an estimated 90% reduction in fuel-related emissions and no impact on engine performance. This marks a significant milestone in Aurora's decarbonisation journey.
A journey of a Lifetime
Spectacular bow views from the fore staircase on the Sylvia Earle.
Pool area on the Sylvia Earle- Observation deck on the Sylvia Earle
Sylvia Earle exploring the glacier shelf at Svalbard.
