Aurora Expeditions

Sylvia Earle

PremiumNew Ship130 Guests

About this vessel

A floating ambassador for the conservation of the planet, the Sylvia Earle pays tribute to marine biologist, oceanographer and explorer Dr.

Sylvia Earle and six pioneering women in conservation, with public decks honouring their contributions. Featuring the Ulstein X-BOW® design, it cuts through the swell for a smoother transit through waves while minimising its environmental impact. Carrying a maximum of 130 expeditioners, it serves as a comfortable base camp for adventure with a fully equipped Citizen Science Center and a participative Citizen Science Program. Sister ship to the Greg Mortimer, it carries 71 staterooms across eight decks.

Guide

SpecsFacilitiesCabinsInclusionsActivitiesGallery

Specifications

Year Built

2022

New Ship

Gross Tonnage

8076 GT

Total Decks

8

Length

104m

Guest Capacity

130

Ice Class

1A (PC6)

IAATO Classification

Category 1

Operator

Aurora Expeditions

Steady Operator

Dependable, even profiles without an elite peak.

Polar Luxury Index

CSolid

How luxuriously Sylvia Earle lives — suites, crew-to-guest service, dining, wellness, and design, independent of fare.

Field Experience Score

AVery Strong

How efficiently Sylvia Earle converts time at sea into exploration — staging, landing rotations, and guide density.

Drake Comfort Coefficient

BStrong

How comfortably Sylvia Earle handles open-ocean swells — displacement mass, transit speed, stabilization, and hull shape.

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Onboard

Life on board.

A curated look at the dining, lounges and outdoor spaces that shape daily life aboard Sylvia Earle.

Discovery

2 spaces

Citizen Science Center

Deck 7 Signature

A fully equipped Citizen Science Center for the participative Citizen Science Program, honouring the ship's conservation mission.

Library

Deck 7

A quiet room with a well-stocked library of reference books and field guides.

Dining

2 spaces

Dining Room

Deck 1 Signature

The main dining room serving freshly prepared meals, with a single seating and unassigned tables for a relaxed, social atmosphere.

Rockhopper Restaurant

Deck 8

A casual grill and bistro offering lighter meals and outdoor dining with views.

Bars & Lounges

5 spaces

Atrium Lounge — Lower

Deck 5

The lower atrium lounge, the ship's central social hub.

Atrium Lounge — Upper

Deck 7

The upper atrium lounge, a light-filled gathering space spanning three decks.

Blue Hope Bar

Deck 4

A lower-deck bar named for the Blue Hope conservation area, the evening hub for drinks and conversation.

Observation Lounge

Deck 7 Signature

A panoramic lounge with floor-to-ceiling windows and a bar, the social heart of the ship for wildlife spotting, talks and evening gatherings.

Tektite Bar

Deck 8

A bar on the top deck serving drinks with sweeping polar views.

Spa & Wellness

3 spaces

Heated Outdoor Pool

Deck 8 Signature

A heated outdoor pool on the top deck for a warming swim with polar views.

Jacuzzis

Deck 8

Two outdoor Jacuzzis on the top deck with panoramic polar views.

Wellness Centre

Deck 8 Signature

A wellness centre with a gym, sauna and treatment areas, open to all guests.

Outdoor Decks

1 space

Mudroom & Activities Platform

Deck 2 Signature

Lockers for expedition gear, rapid drying areas and a dedicated launching platform for all Zodiac and kayak operations.

Entertainment

1 space

Lecture Theatre

Deck 7

A dedicated presentation lounge equipped with the latest audio-visual technology for talks by the expedition team.

Other

1 space

Medical Clinic

Deck 3

A small but well-equipped medical clinic staffed by a qualified doctor for the duration of the voyage.

Curious if this vessel suits you?

Our polar specialists can help you match the right vessel to your expedition goals — from capacity and cabin preference to seasonality and route style.

Cabins

Cabin categories.

Captain's Suite

Separate living room; walk-in wardrobe; private balcony

CS

An exclusive and spacious one-bedroom suite with a separate living room, bedroom and private bathroom.

Balcony Stateroom Superior

BSS

A superior stateroom with a private balcony on the top deck, featuring a floor-to-ceiling window and a lounge area.

Balcony Stateroom Category A

BSA

A stateroom with a private balcony on the upper deck, featuring twin beds that convert to a queen and a sitting area.

Balcony Stateroom Category B

BSB

A stateroom with a private balcony on the middle-upper decks, featuring twin beds that convert to a queen.

Balcony Stateroom Category C

BSC

A stateroom with a private balcony on the lower deck, featuring twin beds that convert to a queen.

Aurora Stateroom Superior

ASS

An inside-facing superior stateroom with a picture window, designed for single or shared use.

Aurora Stateroom Triple Share

AS3

An inside-facing stateroom with a picture window and a third berth for friends or family travelling together.

Accessible Stateroom

ACC

A wheelchair-accessible stateroom designed for guests with mobility needs, with widened access and a private bathroom.

What's included

Inclusions

✓ Included · ◐ Complimentary use · + Additional fee

Included

Ship Facilities

  • Spa Facilities

    Included · Sauna and wellness centre available to all guests.

  • Pool

    Included · Heated outdoor pool (Sylvia Earle & Douglas Mawson) and two Jacuzzis with panoramic views.

Suite & Room Amenities

  • Minibar

    Complimentary use · Free stocked mini-bar in suites (polar voyages).

Food & Beverage

  • Dining

    Included · All meals, snacks, tea, coffee, soft drinks and juices throughout the voyage.

  • Beverages

    Included · Premium spirits, cocktails, beer, wine and liqueurs with dinner; house wines, beers and soft drinks included.

Expedition Gear

  • Polar Boots

    Included · Waterproof muck boots provided for all shore landings on polar voyages.

  • Trekking Poles

    Included · Trekking poles available for shore excursions.

  • Parka / Expedition Jacket

    Included · A 3-in-1 waterproof polar expedition jacket per person to keep (polar voyages).

  • Binoculars

    Complimentary use · One free pair of binoculars per suite; loan binoculars available for all guests.

Not includedavailable at additional cost

Ship Facilities

  • Spa Treatments

    Additional fee · Body, facial and wellness treatments at additional cost.

Onboard Services

  • Wi-Fi

    Additional fee · Wi-Fi available for purchase; connection may be slow in remote polar areas.

  • Self-Service Laundry

    Additional fee · Laundry service available at additional cost.

Destination experiences

Activities

✓ Included · ◐ Complimentary use · + Additional fee

7 activities

Shore Landings & Hikes
Land
Included

Shore Landings & Hikes

Step ashore onto remote beaches and tundra, walking among penguin rookeries, historic huts and dramatic geological formations with expert guides.

Snowshoeing
Land
Additional fee

Snowshoeing

Trek across pristine snowfields on snowshoes, reaching ridgelines and viewpoints inaccessible on foot — a quiet, immersive way to cover ground.

Polar Plunge
Water
Included

Polar Plunge

The legendary polar plunge — a bracing, supervised leap into polar waters, followed by a hot drink and a certificate to mark the moment.

Water
Additional fee

Polar Snorkelling

Guided drysuit snorkelling excursions exploring polar marine life beneath the surface.

Sea Kayaking
Water
Additional fee

Sea Kayaking

Paddle silently among icebergs and along sheltered coastlines at water level — the most intimate way to encounter the polar environment.

Zodiac Cruising
Water
Included

Zodiac Cruising

Glide through brash ice and sculpted bergs in a stable inflatable Zodiac, exploring coves, glacier faces and wildlife haul-outs unreachable by ship.

Lectures & Presentations
Ship
Included

Lectures & Presentations

Daily talks from naturalists, historians and scientists on polar ecology, exploration history, glaciology and the wildlife you'll encounter.

Keep exploring

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