Aurora Expedition Launches Its Second Ship, The Sylvia Earle

The Sylvia Earle, Aurora Expedition’s newest small ship, will make her maiden voyage from Ushuaia, Argentina, to Antarctica on 10 December 2022.

This cutting-edge expedition ship will serve as a mobile advocate for environmental protection and bears the name of Dr. Sylvia Earle, a famous marine biologist, oceanographer, explorer, and conservationist.

When asked about the launch of Aurora’s newest ship, CEO Michael Heath said, “We are beyond happy to report our newest ship, Sylvia Earle, is in the sea and on her way to Antarctica.”

We are so excited to share her with our devoted trade and consumer partners worldwide and, of course, the next generation of global expeditioners on the hunt for adventure, discovery, and remarkable life-altering events.

The vessel can carry up to 132 passengers on any given trip, and the atmosphere on board is casual, entertaining, and friendly.

The ship has luxurious and modern staterooms and suites, most of which have private balconies. It is equipped with the innovative Ulstein X-BOWâ, an inverted bow designed for smoother and speedier ocean passages that minimise fuel usage.

It is the perfect “base camp for exploring,” with numerous restaurants and bars, social relaxation and wellness areas, an outdoor heated swimming pool and Jacuzzis, a fitness centre, spa, and sauna, a library lounge, and a lecture theatre, all of which offer breathtaking views of the surrounding wilderness and wildlife.

Passengers may get ready for their Time off the ship and on land in the ship’s Zodiac docks, changing rooms. Mudrooms and a dedicated Science Centre serve as the nerve centre for the ship’s many engaging and informative Citizen Science programmes.

Zodiac cruises, walks and treks, sea kayaking, scuba diving, snorkelling, paddling, skiing, photography, and birdwatching are just a few of the thrilling activities that the ship’s highly trained expedition team will lead small groups of passengers on throughout their excursions by water and land.

Chief Marketing Officer Hayley Peacock-Gower stated, “our goal is to immerse our expeditioners in some of the world’s most distant and interesting areas and, in doing so, develop lifetime ambassadors for the planet.”

For almost 30 years, Aurora Expeditions has been leading the way in exploration, and we’ve made it a point to make responsible tourism fundamental to our mission.

A sister ship to the Greg Mortimer launched in 2019, Sylvia Earle is named after one of the world’s leading ocean conservationists, the first female chief scientist of the US National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration.

Dr. Earle was named Time’s inaugural “Hero of the Planet” in 1998 and has been a National Geographic adventurer ever since. Her organisation, Mission Blue, is working to safeguard marine life by designating sanctuaries all around the world.

Dr. Earle is honoured alongside six other trailblazing female conservationists by having a deck on the new ship named after them: Jo Ruxton (MBE), Dr. Carden Wallace (AM), Sharon Kwok, Bernadette Demientieff, Dr. Asha de Vos, and Hanli Prinsloo.

In conjunction with Ocean Geographic, Dr. Earle plans to launch a pioneering “Antarctic Climate Expedition” aboard the new ship in February 2023 to increase recognition of the Antarctic’s significance in environmental protection. From an oceanic vantage point, this expedition is meant to inspire resolves that will lead to radical changes in achieving global net-zero emissions by 2035.

According to Peacock-Gower, “female scientists are leading the way in worldwide conservation activities,” The award is meant to recognise the “amazing women” behind these efforts.

She adds, “We encourage you to kindle your curiosity, love, and care for the natural environment by joining us on board the new Sylvia Earle for a true Aurora experience of a lifetime – and travel for good.”