The 2021-built MS Ocean Explorer cruise ship is an ice-strengthened (polar class 1A / PC6) expedition vessel owned by the Danish company SunStone Maritime Group (via its USA-based subsidiary SunStone Ships Inc) and until May 2023 was operated under charter by Vantage Cruise Line (subsidiary and brand owned by the Boston-based company Vantage Travel Service Inc/brand name "Vantage Deluxe World Travel").
Since July 2023, Ocean Explorer is chartered by Aurora Expeditions (fleet/1991-founded Australian company specializing in Arctic and Antarctic cruisetours). In summer 2023, Ocean Explorer took over the Arctic schedule Svalbard Norway) of Greg Mortimer (drydocked after suffering propeller damage in East Greenland). Ocean Explorer's operations for Aurora Expeditions started on July 24th, with roundtrips from Longyearbyen on Spitsbergen Island (Svalbard Norway).
The vessel (IMO number 9883194) is currently Bahamas-flagged (MMSI 311000869) and registered in Nassau.
In January 2024, SunStone confirmed that in October 2024 ends the charter agreement with Quark Expeditions for Ocean Adventurer, being replaced with Ocean Explorer. The statement also mentioned that after Oct 2024, Ocean Adventurer will be available for charter or sale.
Quark Expeditions signed with SunStone a multi-year seasonal charter agreement for Ocean Explorer to operate voyages to Antarctica and the European Arctic. Following the announcement, Quark opened for bookings Ocean Explorer's cruises to Antarctica (2024-2025 and 2025-2026/winter), and Arctic (2025 summer) seasons.
Vantage Travel Service Inc's bankruptcy (2023)
In May 2023, the two Vantage Travel-chartered ships Ocean Explorer (May 29th) and Ocean Odyssey (May 31st) arrived and were permanently moored/docked in Caen (France). Reportedly, the laid-up (by SunStone Ships Inc) was for 3 months and was requested by the charterer experiencing financial difficulties. All scheduled voyages for both ships were canceled by Vantage Travel Service Inc.
On June 8th, Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office (run by Michelle Henry) filed a lawsuit against Vantage Travel for “deceptive and unfair business practices” also citing holding older residents' refunds hostage.
On June 20th, Vantage Travel laid off all its employees, after quietly postponing all its voyages through August 28th. Reportedly, since January 1st, 2020, the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office (run by Andrea Joy Campbell) received a total of 1120 consumer complaints about the cruise company, including 478 (2023-filed) and 108 (from Massachusetts residents).
On June 29th, Vantage Travel Service Inc filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and signed with United Travel Pte Ltd (owner of the companies Nordic Hamburg Shipmanagement GmbH and the cruise line brand Heritage Expeditions New Zealand) a deal to sell its entire business.
Vantage Travel received approval to promptly complete the sale through a court-supervised process. Vantage Travel's legal advisor was Casner & Edwards LLP while Argus Management served as the financial advisor.
On July 5th, during the preliminary court hearing in Boston (for the company's bankruptcy filing) were revealed two potential bidders for Vantage - Pacific Travel Partners Inc (Aurora Expeditions Australia's subsidiary) and United Travel Pte Ltd. Both bidders offered DIP financing (Debtor in Possession).
On Aug 4th, Pacific Travel Partners submitted its bid (US$1,5 million cash offer) for Vantage Travel's assets (not the entire business) and on Aug 9th it won the auction. On Aug 22nd, Pacific Travel Partners officially acquired Vantage Travel's assets (intellectual property, customer list and prospecting). Pacific Travel Partners also committed to honoring the obligations to unsecured creditors, including Vantage's clients who had paid for not-yet-received travel services. These clients were provided with credits to be used towards future voyages with Pacific Travel Partners.
Note: Ocean Explorer left Caen on July 13th (without passengers) and arrived in Stavanger Norway on July 16th. On July 19th was announced that the ship is being chartered by Aurora Expeditions Australia.
Ship technology
As one of ULSTEIN's INFINITY CX103 class boats, Ocean Explorer has max draft 5,1 m (17 ft), volume 8228 GT-tons, max capacity 162 passengers plus 99 crew/staff, 77 passenger cabins (including 15 single staterooms and 10 with Portholes/without balconies), 53 crew cabins. The crew have their own Messhall (bar lounge/dining room), gym, and laundry room.
The vessel is fitted with 2x rescue boats, 2x lifeboats (150-seats each/300 total), 4x liferafts (50-seats each/200 total), 1x passenger lift, 1x service lift.
Ocean Explorer is the third in a series of ten "Ulstein CX103" design (INFINITY-Class) expedition vessels, with sisterships Greg Mortimer (2019-Aug), Ocean Victory (2021-March), Sylvia Earle (2022-Oct), Ocean Odyssey (2022-Oct), Ocean Albatros (2022-Oct), Ocean Discoverer (2025-August). Four more units were intended but eventually canceled and replaced by the new BOUNDLESS Class boats.
The patented ULSTEIN X-BOW design is one of the unusual for expedition ships features, The vessel also utilizes the latest technologies in naval engineering. The ship is technically managed by Cruise Management International (Miami-based passenger vessel/fleet management company). CMI Leisure Miami handles hotel operations.
For the interior designs of this entire series of SunStone-owned ships was contracted the Weston Florida-based company Tomas Tillberg Design.
With the highest for passenger vessel ice-class 1A (Polar Class 6 / PC6), MS Ocean Explorer has icebreaking capacity 1 m (3 ft) and complies with the maritime industry's latest polar code requirements and specifications. The boat offers unprecedented levels of safety and environmental protection.
The major advantage of the patented "ULSTEIN X-BOW" design is the ship's ability to navigate with improved stability in comparison to traditional bow-design vessels. X-BOW vessels are less subject to vertical motions (induced by waves), continuing on course smoothly while maintaining high speeds. The ship's engines use less fuel, which results in reduced air emissions and fuel consumption.
The ship is equipped with the maritime industry's latest propulsion and return-to-port systems, as well as dynamic positioning technology (by Kongsberg Maritime). These computer-controlled systems allow automatic maintenance of the position via 3x propulsion units - 1x Brunvoll bow thruster (output 880 kW) and 2x Scania FPPs (fixed-pitch propellers), plus 2x zero-speed retractable stabilizers (Rolls-Royce Aquarius). This allows stable floating while maintaining the necessary stability for launching watercraft - and without using anchors. The powerplant consists of 4x Wartsila diesel engines (output 1,08 MW each/total 4,32 MW), and 4x auxiliary engines (Ingeteam).
Shipboard facilities and amenities
The newbuild expedition vessel features 3x bars, dedicated outdoor observation areas (including fore-located Observation Deck with two Hydraulic Platforms and two Viewing Platforms), stern/aft Marina (watersports platform serving company's sea kayaking, snorkeling and scuba diving programs), a fleet of 20x Zodiacs (large-capacity motorized RIB speedboats used for coastal cruising and passenger transportation/tendering and landings). The aft-located Zodiac loading platform is a new design and allows easier and faster boarding.
Sun Deck (top-deck forward) is furnished with premium garden furniture (sofas, armchairs, sun loungers) and is used for both relaxation and wildlife viewing. At top-deck's bow is the Observation Lounge & Bar (also serves as a meeting room, lecture hall, show lounge/with live performances), midship is the Funnel (with four smokestacks/engine exhaust pipes).
Other facilities include Medical Centre (Infirmary), Change Room (Mudroom), Bar Lounge (lecture theater and cinema, forward on Deck 5), Dining Room Restaurant (with hot rock-cooking station), Ship Shop, Lobby area (Reception Desk), Library (200+ books), Art Room, Wellness Centre (Fitness, Spa, Sauna Room, Treatment Rooms for Massages, Hair Studio), Lower Sun Deck (Deck 7 aft, with lifeboats and liferafts), Upper Sun Deck (Deck 8 midship, with sunbathing area, swimming pool/Infiniti Pool, two Jacuzzies/whirlpool hot tubs).
Four Zodiac Docks (2 on each side, hull access at sea level) serve as boat launching platforms.
WiFi is provided complimentary and unlimited. The onboard expedition team (5-17 persons) are certified experts who curate themed lectures during the voyage. Live music performances, cultural events and alcoholic beverages during dinner (beers and wine by the glass) are also complimentary.
Decks and Cabins
Ocean Explorer staterooms (a total of 77/including 15x single occupancy cabins and 10x without balconies) allow max passenger capacity 162. Most cabins (80% of all, excepting only Deck 3 cabins with Portholes) are with private, step-out balconies accessible from the living area via sliding, floor-ceiling glass door. Each balcony is furnished with a small table and two deck chairs. 60% of all cabins can be booked with triple occupancy (accommodate a 3rd person on pull-out couch/sofabed).
The boat has 8 decks, of which 6 are passenger-accessible and 4 with cabins.
Suites are in 3 categories - CS-Captain's, JS-Junior and BS-Balcony. These are the largest staterooms, with double-size balconies and offering extra amenities, such as in-room dining service (continental breakfast served on the balcony).
Each stateroom has a private, full-size bathroom with shower / WC, hairdryer, premium bath amenities. There are a total of 20 pairs of connecting rooms (balconied cabins) that can be booked as one "family stateroom" for up to 6 persons. There are no wheelchair-accessible cabins (suitable for passengers with disabilities).
Standard cabin amenities include hotel beds (King-size or two twins, size 200 x 160 cm, ample underbed storage for suitcases), sleeping couch (sofabed), bedside cabinets, mirrored vanity (writing desk / dressing table) with chair, built-in dressers with drawers, mini-bar / refrigerator, 42-inch smart HDTV (local and satellite reception), phone (onboard communication only), digital clock / alarm, seating area (small table with 1 or 2 armchairs), spacious wardrobe (closet with hangers, drawers, electronic safe box), individual climate control, medical emergency button.
Itineraries
Next, are listed Ocean Explorer ship's inaugural cruise itineraries 2021 as themes. These voyages were officially announced in May 2019.
- Across the Indian Ocean: India and the Best of the Emirates
- Around the Arabian Peninsula: Dubai, Oman, Egypt, Jordan and Israel
- The Beauty of the British Isles
- East Asia Adventure: Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Beyond
- Eastern Mediterranean Crossing: The Holy Land, Greek Islands, Cyprus, Turkey, Egypt and Suez Canal
- Essential Asia: Hong Kong to Singapore
- Jewels of Scandinavia and the Baltics
- Lisbon to London: A Coastal Odyssey
- Mediterranean Delights: Greece, Italy, France, Monaco and Spain
- Pearls of Northern Europe and the North Sea
- Spain and the Portuguese Coast: A Cruise Around Iberia
For season 2021-2022 Vantage Travel offered 15 different itineraries, of which 4 include Flynn Cruiseport Boston (Massachusetts USA).
- "Autumn in New England and Canada" from Montreal (Quebec Canada) to Boston MA
- "Charting the Eastern Seaboard: Colonial America and Cultural Capitals" from Boston to Nassau (Bahamas)
- "Canada's Spring Awakening" from Boston to Montreal
- "From the Amazon to the Americas" - repositioning from Callao-Lima (Peru) to Boston
- "Final Frontiers: Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falkland Islands"
- "Deep into the Amazon: Brazil, Colombia and Peru"
- "Arctic Adventure: Iceland, Greenland, and Beyond"
