Aurora Expeditions’ Sylvia Earle offers a purpose-built experience blending cutting-edge design with environmental consciousness. This small ship, accommodating up to 132 passengers, combines functional reception areas, quality dining, educational entertainment, comfortable accommodations, and attentive hospitality. Tailored for exploration, Sylvia Earle delivers a holiday that balances rugged adventure with onboard comfort.
Guests aboard Sylvia Earle can anticipate a holiday centred on off-ship exploration and education. Expect twice-daily Zodiac excursions, weather permitting, with opportunities for shore landings or optional activities like kayaking. Onboard, days include informative lectures, wildlife spotting from observation decks, or relaxing in the heated pool or sauna. Dining offers hearty, social meals, and evenings feature drinks in the lounge or quiet time in the library. The ship’s small size allows access to remote polar destinations, with embarkation from ports like Ushuaia. The expedition focus means limited traditional entertainment, but the crew’s attentiveness ensures English-speaking guests feel included in the international mix.
The guest experience on Sylvia Earle is defined by its focus on exploration and community. Passengers appreciate the spacious balcony cabins and expert-led excursions, though some note minor wear in public areas like carpets or bathrooms. The Ulstein X-BOW design ensures smoother transits, reducing seasickness, and the ship’s ice-class rating enables access to rugged polar regions. Guests enjoy the balance of active landings and onboard relaxation, with the library and Glass Atrium Lounge offering quiet retreats. The all-inclusive dining and drinks, along with 80% balcony cabins, add value, though some suggest more thorough cleaning in public spaces. The international passenger mix fosters a sense of shared adventure.
Reception Areas: A Functional Hub
The reception area, located in the central lounge on Deck 5, accommodates guests with a practical, open design featuring floor-to-ceiling windows and a neutral palette of blues and earthy tones. The space is efficient and inviting, with a desk staffed by approachable crew members ready to assist with expedition planning, bookings, or queries. Adjacent, the Elephant Island Bar and Lounge offers a relaxed spot for coffee or cocktails, with comfortable seating and panoramic views. The area doubles as a social hub, with occasional presentations by expedition staff creating an engaging atmosphere. A small gift shop provides essentials and souvenirs.
Dining: Hearty and Inclusive
Sylvia Earle’s dining options cater to adventurers with two venues, both included in the fare. The Gentoo Restaurant on Deck 5, seating all guests in a single sitting, offers buffet-style breakfast and lunch with dishes like fresh salads and grilled meats, and à la carte dinners with house wines, beers, and soft drinks included. The Rockhopper Restaurant on Deck 8, a reservations-required steakhouse, serves Italian-inspired dishes like pasta and seafood for a more intimate experience. Complimentary 24-hour coffee, tea, and snacks are available in the lecture lounge. Vegetarian and plant-based diets are accommodated with advance notice, with guests praising the quality and variety. A farewell four-course dinner with cocktails adds a celebratory touch.
Entertainment: Education and Exploration
The entertainment programme on Sylvia Earle focuses on learning rather than traditional performances. The lecture theatre on Deck 5 hosts daily presentations by naturalists and scientists, covering topics like polar ecology, history, and climate change, with a 1:8 expedition team-to-passenger ratio ensuring personalised guidance. Off-ship activities, such as Zodiac cruises, shore hikes, and optional extras like kayaking or scuba diving (for a fee), form the core of the experience. Onboard, the library on Deck 6 offers non-fiction books, wildlife guides, and board games, while the Glass Atrium Lounge on Decks 4 and 5 provides panoramic views for wildlife spotting. Two hot tubs, a heated saltwater pool, and an ocean-view sauna on Deck 8 offer relaxation, with occasional movie screenings on a big screen.
Accommodation: Comfort with Scenic Views
Sylvia Earle’s 71 cabins, spread across Decks 3 to 7, range from 16–23-square-metre Aurora Staterooms with portholes to the 44.5-square-metre Captain’s Suite with a private balcony. All cabins feature ocean views, en-suite bathrooms, 42-inch flat-screen TVs, safes, international power outlets, and daily servicing, with 80% offering private balconies. The four Junior Suites on Deck 7 include separate lounge areas, while Balcony Stateroom Superiors (28–37.7 square metres) on Decks 4 and 6 provide extra space for gear. Twenty interconnecting cabins suit families, and some offer wheelchair-accessible bathrooms. Guests receive a 3-in-1 polar jacket, with suites including perks like a complimentary minibar and spa treatment. A 2023 refurbishment updated cabin furnishings.
Hospitality: Attentive and Expert-Led
The crew of approximately 80 delivers friendly, professional service, fostering a tight-knit atmosphere. Cabin stewards provide twice-daily cleaning and turndown, with complimentary 24-hour room service. Restaurant and bar staff cater to guest preferences, though some note occasional delays at bars during peak times. The expedition team, including naturalists and specialists, offers expert guidance during landings and lectures, enhancing the experience. The Wellness Centre on Deck 8 provides massages, a sauna, and a gym for a fee. A medical clinic, staffed by an onboard doctor, offers services for a fee. Wi-Fi is available for a fee, with connectivity varying by location. A $15 USD per person per day gratuity is included for suites, adjustable at Guest Services.
Standout Features
Sylvia Earle’s standout features include its Ulstein X-BOW hull, ensuring smoother, eco-friendly transits, and its ice-class 1A rating, enabling access to remote polar regions. The Glass Atrium Lounge offers panoramic views, while 15 Zodiacs with four dedicated boarding platforms ensure efficient excursions. The Rockhopper Restaurant provides a refined dining option, and the Wellness Centre’s sauna and heated pool offer relaxation. The lecture theatre’s educational focus, led by expert naturalists, enhances the expedition experience. The ship’s dedication to female conservationists, with decks named after pioneers like Dr. Sylvia Earle, adds a unique cultural touch. The eco-friendly design, with virtual anchoring, minimises environmental impact.
