Greg Mortimer vs Sylvia Earle

The bow

The Sylvia Earle's bow is solid glass — a two-storey lounge and library with views directly forward. Somewhere to sit with a coffee and watch the ice when the weather is bad. The Greg Mortimer instead has hydraulic platforms that fold out from the hull, putting you close to the water with nothing between you and the wildlife.

Greg Mortimer: bring me closer. Sylvia Earle: give me the best view from inside.

The aft deck

This is a straight trade. The Greg Mortimer has glass igloos at the top aft — sheltered outdoor seating where you can be outside without being in the wind. The Sylvia Earle uses that space for a pool instead. Neither ship has both.

Both ships carry two hot tubs, so warm water is not the deciding factor. Which you prefer depends on where you are sailing and how you like to spend the hours between landings.

The second restaurant

Both have two dining venues, but they do different jobs. The Greg Mortimer's Tuscan Grill is a specialty experience, booked ahead. The Sylvia Earle's upstairs restaurant by the hot tubs is quick service — the place you go after kayaking when you want something fast rather than a menu.

The personality

Not hardware, but it shapes the voyage. The Sylvia Earle is named for the marine biologist and honours women in conservation, with that story built into the public spaces. The Greg Mortimer carries a mountaineering and adventure heritage from Aurora's founding. Both ships do everything; the emphasis differs.