Our Expedition Vessel


Built by polar adventure expert Lars Eric Lindblad in 1966, the "Explorer" was purpose built for expedition cruising in Antarctica. Also well known as "The Little Red Ship", the vessel was the world's first expedition cruise ship, and is designed with such challenging destinations as the Polar Regions and the Amazon River in mind. Explorer is 75 meters (250 ft.) in length and carries 108 adventurous passengers, a large crew and one of the most experienced expedition teams in the world. Public space onboard includes a dining room, a theatre for lectures and presentations, a lounge, and a top deck that provides a 360 degree view of the surrounding wilderness. Explorer is also equipped with Zodiac launch boats. Zodiacs provide practically unlimited mobility and allow exploration of even the most remote and inaccessible shores. Explorer was completely refurbished in 2004.
Technical Information:

Registry: Monrovia, Liberia
Built: 1966, Nystad, Finland
Length: 72.86m (240 ft)
Breadth: 14.02 m
Gross Tonnage: 2398 grt
Max Speed: 13.0 knots
Cruising Speed: 10.5 knots;
Maximum Cruising Range: 5,300 nautical miles.
Capacity: 108 passengers
Crew & Staff: 53 officers, crew and expedition staff
Auxiliary Craft: 4 Motor Lifeboats, capacity 196 persons total; 4 Life Rafts, capacity 66.
Communication: Telex, telephone, fax, e-mail, GMDSS, Satellites B, C & M.

On all Students on Ice expeditions we have our own doctor, a nurse and a hospital on board the ship, available 24 hours each day during the expedition. In the case of any emergency, a Medical Emergency Contingency Plan is in place. The safety and well being of each participating student is the number one priority during the expedition. Our extremely experienced expedition team are with the students at all times. The student-staff ratio is an exceptional three to one.

We also employ a fleet of Zodiacs (inflatable boats designed by Jacques Cousteau). During our daily shore excursions in the Arctic and the Antarctic, we utilize the Zodiac boats, the safest and most practical boats of their kind in the world, designed by Jacques Cousteau.