Renato Granieri

Burnham Arlidge

Billy Heaney

Istock.com/Javi Parejo

Istock.com/Neorodan

Istock.com/Alexey_Seafarer

Mark Stratton

Miranda Krestovnikoff

Mike louagie

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises (Widgety)

Ships

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Introduction to ships

There are hundreds of expedition and small adventure ships operating throughout the world's oceans and rivers. These specialised vessels are designed for exploring remote and often inaccessible regions of the world, such as the polar regions, Galapagos Islands, Alaska, the Amazon River, and other isolated wilderness areas. These ships combine rugged design and advanced technology to provide safe and comfortable travel while allowing passengers to experience unique and pristine environments.

Many expedition ships, especially those designed for polar exploration, have reinforced hulls to navigate through ice-covered waters. They also have a shallow draft that enables the vessel to navigate in shallow waters, allowing access to areas the traditional larger passenger vessels cannot reach.

Modern expedition ships incorporate technologies to reduce their environmental impact, such as hybrid propulsion systems, shore power, waste treatment facilities, energy-efficient bow designs, and virtual anchoring.

We have categorised the ships featured on ExplorEarth in both sizes and sustainably to enable you to choose a ship based on how you want to travel and with the impact of its footprint in mind.

Billy Heaney

Micro Expedition Ships

Micro-expedition ship the Hjalmar Bjørge carries just 12 passengers, visits the Scottish Islands, and also offers private charters. Her cruises focus on wildlife viewing. This size category has a maximum of 36 passengers.

Mark Stratton

Midsize ships

A midsize ship carries between 100 and 200 passengers.

Burnham Arlidge

Midsize ships

A midsize ship at anchor near a glacier and in a Fjord in Greenland.

Scenic (Widgety api)

Luxury yachts

Many people want to adventure in comfort, and new ships with focused sustainability credentials and high-end product and service offerings are now increasingly popular. These ships are sleek in design and combine exploration with the onboard experience of private yachting.

Istock.com/Javi Parejo

Istock 1370736052 Javi Parejo Antarctica Sail Ship 389

Sailing ships

Sailing ships in the polar regions utilise wind power to reduce emissions and enhance the outdoor experience of nature's charge.

Mike louagie

Icebreakers

Icebreakers can take you the furthest of all ships, to remote areas in Antarctica to see Emperor penguin colonies and even to the North Pole.

Ship types and size class

Quick guide!

Class of Ship	Passenger Berths (Beds)

Micro Expedition	36 or less
Small Expedition	37-100
Midsize Expedition	101-200
Large Expedition	201+

Expedition ships vary greatly, and each size category offers distinct advantages, from intimate and flexible exploration options to a broader range of onboard amenities and activities. Choosing the right size of expedition ship depends on personal preferences, desired destinations, and the type of experience sought.

We have created size categories across the site to help our users identify the right style of expedition and small-ship adventure for them.

Below, we see a medium-sized expedition ship with an X-BOW navigating sea ice in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica. Sound on!

Play Video

Billy Heaney

Micro-Expedition Ships

With 36 passengers berths or less, micro expedition ships offer a very different experience. They can, in effect, disembark everyone everywhere with few restrictions. Even if that means launching a zodiac at 3 am to see something you don't want to miss (Polar Bear? Narwhal, Blue Whale? Their small passenger numbers also create a unique opportunity to bond with fellow passengers. Facilities will be limited, and sharing is often a part of the experience, but opportunities to explore further and get closer are enhanced. This category is also open to private charter and will most likely operate specialised wildlife and birding expeditions. They are often ideal for special interest groups and enthusiasts.

Istock.com/Alexey_Seafarer

Small Expedition Ships

Small expedition ships have over 36 passenger berths but no more than 100. This can be seen as an optimum size for polar expedition cruises due to the restrictions on passenger numbers in landings onshore by IAATO. They will have fewer facilities than larger ships, and cabins tend to be smaller and have fewer balconies.

Jamie Lafferty

Midsize Expedition Ships

ExplorEarth class midsize ships have 100 to 200 berths, typically equating to around 100 designated passenger cabins. This may seem very small, but these ships will feel quite large inside, with excellent facilities and public areas such as lecture theatres, often multiple restaurants, and ample outdoor wildlife and landscape viewing space on deck.

Hapag Lloyd Hanseatic Ships HanseAtrium 1

Large Expedition Ships

We class large expeditions as ships with over 200 passenger berths. Although these ships will still benefit from sustainable features and engineering, they will also have more facilities and space. Typically, these ships will have multiple dining options and increased deck space for wildlife viewing and photography, and cabins are more likely to have balconies. They usually feature well-equipped science centres for citizen science and onboard research and may even have submarines, helicopters and further enrichment options for deeper exploration.

Istock.com/Javi Parejo

Sailing Ships

Sailing expedition yachts or tall ships blend traditional sailing with modern exploration capabilities. These vessels are designed to harness the wind for propulsion while being equipped for long voyages and remote destinations. They feature conventional sailing rigs such as schooners, brigantines, or barques, which allow them to sail using wind power with an option for hybrid propulsion if wind conditions are unfavourable. Passengers often have the opportunity to participate in sailing activities, such as hoisting sails and navigating, and there is a greater connection to maritime history that usually underpins the storytelling on polar expedition cruises.

Scenic (Widgety api)

Luxury Expedition Yachts

Luxury expedition yachts are specialised ships for long-range voyages to remote or less accessible areas. These ships combine the ruggedness and autonomy required for exploration with the comfort and luxury found in modern and private yachts. These ships have high guest-to-crew ratios and often feature all-suite accommodations, balconies, and a full range of adventure activities, with bespoke equipment to enhance them, such as submersibles and helicopters.

Mike louagie

Icebreakers

An icebreaker expedition ship is a specialised vessel designed to carry passengers beyond standard voyages through icy and polar regions, primarily the Arctic and Antarctic. These ships are equipped with reinforced hulls designed and strengthened to withstand the pressure and impact of breaking through the ice and powerful engines that allow them to navigate and break through the ice, enabling them to reach remote and often inaccessible areas such as the North Pole or Snow Hill in Antarctica.

Mark Stratton

River Ships

River expedition cruising offers a unique blend of adventure, wildlife and cultural immersion. These purpose-built ships allow travellers to access remote and less-visited areas while enjoying the comfort of an equipped and often quite luxurious ship. They feature open-air decks for unobstructed views of the surroundings and wildlife spotting. They usually have Zodiacs, kayaks, and other equipment for shore excursions and water-based activities. These ships will typically carry up to 50 passengers.

Ships & Sustainability

It's not perfect. Ships create emissions, which, of course, are a problem. Sustainability has become a minefield for travel seekers looking for responsible ways to visit places often considered too precious.

We firmly believe in the net-positive effect of responsible travel on expedition cruises. We believe that the only way to care is to be there, learn, and return as an ambassador for that place.

The challenge is to do it with a lighter footprint and, in some ways, make this decision easier by highlighting ship operators' eco-certifications for that added peace of mind. These are highlighted in our sections below and will be developed and improved as this sector progresses.

The video below, shot using a drone by Pro photographer Nigel Danson and used with his permission, shows the B-CORP-accredited Sylvia Earle ship berthed beneath the icy waterfalls of Svalbard.

B-CORP Accredited Expedition Ship in Svalbard

Play Video

Hybrid Expedition Ships

Hybrid expedition ships combine traditional marine propulsion systems with eco-friendly technologies to minimize their environmental impact and reduce emissions while maximizing efficiency and passenger comfort. Many hybrid ships use a combination of diesel engines and electric propulsion. This allows for efficient fuel use and reduces emissions. Some ships now incorporate large battery packs that can power the vessel for short periods, enabling silent and emission-free cruising, particularly useful in sensitive environments like polar regions. More hybrid ships will be launched in the coming polar seasons.

Burnham Arlidge

Climate Neutral

Our climate-neutral operators have already achieved a net-zero carbon footprint by balancing the company's greenhouse gas emissions with equivalent reductions or offsets. This involves reducing emissions to the greatest extent possible and offsetting any remaining emissions through various means. Companies invest in carbon offset projects as cruise ship emissions cannot yet be eliminated. These projects can include reforestation, renewable energy projects, methane capture, and other initiatives that reduce or remove GHGs from the atmosphere. Ensuring that the offsets are certified and verifiable is crucial to guarantee they provide accurate, additional, and permanent emissions reductions. ExplorEarth is confident in our approved partners on this measure.

Mark Stratton

B Corp Certified

B Corp ships are operated by companies accredited as B Corp. B Corp is a certification that reflects a dedication to meeting high standards of transparency, accountability, and sustainability in business practices. B Corp is a global community of businesses that uses its influence to drive positive change and balance business commerce with purpose.

Le Boreal Ushuaia ©Studio PONANT Laurence FISCHER

Green Marine Certified

Green Marine is a voluntary environmental certification program that aims to improve participants' environmental performance through a rigorous, transparent, and inclusive process. The program measures ecological performance based on various indicators, including air emissions (NOx, SOx, and particulate matter), greenhouse gases, aquatic invasive species, cargo residues, oily water, and waste management. Operators are required to demonstrate year-over-year improvements in these performance indicators.

Mark Stratton

Shore Power Ships

A shore power ship is an expedition ship that can connect to shore power when docked at a port. Shore power, also known as "cold ironing" or "alternative maritime power (AMP)," allows ships to turn off their diesel engines and connect to the local electrical grid to power the ship's systems when berthed. This practice can significantly reduce emissions and noise pollution while the vessel is docked.

Mike louagie

LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas)

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is natural gas that has been reduced to a liquid state through a cooling process and is used in some modern ships. LNG is created by transforming natural gas into a liquid state by cooling it, reducing it to 1/600th of its original liquefied volume and half the water weight. Clear, odourless and colourless, LNG produces 40% less carbon dioxide than coal and 30% less than oil, making it the cleanest fossil fuel. It emits significantly less soot, dust, or particulates than coal or oil and produces insignificant amounts of sulphur dioxide, mercury, and other compounds considered harmful to the earth’s atmosphere. As the cleanest shipping fuel, LNG is seen as a key opportunity in the race to net zero.

Mark Stratton

Onboard Science Centres

On larger expedition ships, science centres are important because they support direct scientific research, enhance educational experiences, contribute to conservation efforts, promote citizen science, and facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration. Their presence can transform a typical expedition into a dynamic and interactive learning journey for passengers. Many ships offer research tools and lectures onboard, but newer and larger ships may now have dedicated research centres.

Silversea Cruises

Dynamic positioning (DP)

Dynamic positioning (DP) is a sophisticated computer-controlled system used on expedition ships and other vessels to maintain a precise position and heading without anchors or mooring lines. It uses thrusters and propellers that are automatically adjusted based on inputs from various sensors and positioning systems, such as GPS, gyroscopes, and wind sensors. In the context of an expedition ship, dynamic positioning is especially useful because it allows the vessel to remain stationary in challenging environments like open water or near delicate ecosystems, such as coral reefs or ice fields, where anchoring would be impractical or damaging. It also ensures the vessel can hold its position for activities like scientific research, underwater exploration, or launching smaller boats or submersibles for close-up observation, even in adverse weather or ocean conditions. The only caveat being, it does require engine power (emissions) for operation.

Ice Class Ratings

Ice class and polar class ratings on expedition ships refer to classifications that indicate the ship’s ability to operate safely in icy waters, such as those found in polar regions like the Arctic and Antarctic. These ratings are critical for ships that venture into extreme environments where ice, low temperatures, and remoteness create unique challenges. They are often seen when researching your travel options but can be confusing and are rarely explained.

Ice class ratings are assigned to ships based on their structural strength and ice-breaking capability. The rating determines how much ice the ship can safely navigate through or break without damage. This classification is given by various maritime classification societies such as DNV GL or Lloyd’s Register.

Polar class ratings are more recent, developed specifically to assess ships operating in polar regions, which pose additional challenges beyond just ice, such as extreme cold, harsh weather, and long periods of isolation.

AE Expeditions, Passengers use hydraulic viewing platforms onboard Greg Mortimer, Antarctica; Scott Portelli (1)

Ice Class Ratings

1A Super: Ships with this rating can operate in very thick ice conditions, typically up to about 1 meter (3 feet) of first-year ice.

1A, 1B, 1C: These ratings indicate progressively lower levels of ice strength, with 1A being stronger than 1B and 1C. These ships are suited for lighter ice conditions, often first-year ice, which is thinner and easier to break.

Silversea

Polar Class

PC 1: Ships can operate year-round in all polar waters, including thick multi-year ice.

PC 2 to PC 4: Ships can operate in multi-year ice, though the thickness they can handle decreases with each level.

PC 5 to PC 7: Ships are suited for first-year ice, with PC 7 generally limited to lighter ice conditions during summer or autumn.

Ship Budget Categories

Sticky Note! These cruises are life-changing and life-affirming experiences you will share with true experts in their field; they are not cheap. The price reflects the expertise and the cost of operating in these extraordinary destinations.

We don't show specific pricing on ExplorEarth. Why? Price is becoming the leading tool for promoting expedition and small-ship adventure cruises, and we strongly believe that it should be about the product, experience, and destination, followed by the price.

Our platform is designed to showcase products and inspire travel seekers to make decisions. It is not a price comparison site. However, we provide useful budget categories to ensure that your search can remove ships and cruises that are outside your budget expectations.

The categories displayed in our platform's search filters are shown below and are designed to be a guide based on typical budget and pricing policies for these cruises.

Budget Categories

†
under $5,000k	Just get me there
$5-7,500k	Small budget
$7.5-10,000k	Standard budget
$10-15,000k	Medium budget
$15-25,000k	Premium Budget
$25-35,000k	Large Budget
POA	Private Charter
† Guideline Fare (US$ Per Person)