What is the Sylvia Earle like?
The Sylvia Earle is Aurora Expeditions' sister ship to the Greg Mortimer, which we have sailed. The cabin range is the same — solo, double and triple occupancy — and the interiors are close, but her bow is a two-storey glass lounge and library and she carries a second, quick-service restaurant by the hot tubs.
Ship at a glance
Specifications, as published by the operator
- Operator
- Aurora Expeditions
- Guests
- 130
- Cabins
- 71
- Year built
- 2022
- Length
- 104 m
What we observed on our visit
- Where we toured her
- Longyearbyen, Svalbard, July 2025
- Mudroom
- A proper mudroom in the Aurora pattern, with boots and jackets kept there and kayak storage alongside
- Bow space
- Two-storey glass front housing a lounge and library
- Dining
- Main à la carte restaurant plus a quick-service restaurant upstairs by the hot tubs
- Pool and hot tubs
- Hot tubs upstairs beside the second restaurant; no igloos aft
- Stands out for
- The two-storey glass bow, and a cabin range that includes triples
We have toured this ship but not sailed her. A full review will follow when we do.
What are the cabins like?
The cabin range matches the Greg Mortimer: solo occupancy, doubles and triples. Triples matter more than people realise — a family travelling with a small child can sleep three, and a solo traveller happy to share has a triple-share option rather than paying a supplement.
We saw those categories and several of the suites. The decor is very close to the Greg Mortimer: modern, well kept, with good open space.
How does she differ from the Greg Mortimer?
Two differences stood out. The bow of the Sylvia Earle is solid glass — a two-storey lounge and library with an enormous amount of light, the place you would sit with a hot chocolate and watch the scenery when the weather is bad outside. And she has no igloos at the top aft the way the Greg Mortimer does.
She also has an additional restaurant open daily, upstairs by the hot tubs. Quick service, and a better option than the main dining room when you want a lighter or faster lunch — the main restaurant is à la carte and takes longer.
How does the expedition operation work?
She has a proper mudroom where guests keep boots and jackets, laid out in the Aurora pattern, and Zodiacs for landings and cruising. We also got a look at the kayak storage.
Three ships, one hull
The Sylvia Earle, Ocean Albatros and Ocean Explorer come from the same shipbuilder and share a hull, dimensions and much of their cabin layout. What differs is the decor and how each operator chose to arrange the common areas. Touring all three in forty-eight hours made those choices unusually easy to compare.
Related reading
Written by your expedition advisor
Erika Commisso · Travel Experience Architect
CLIA Elite Cruise Counselor · ASTA Verified Travel Advisor · Signature Travel Expert
Chris and Erika have sailed ten expedition voyages and toured seven more expedition ships. Favorite explorations so far: Antarctica, Svalbard, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Alaska, the Galápagos, the Scottish Hebrides, Churchill and French Polynesia.
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