Ship for Our Arctic Adventure

In just one week, we’ll be flying from Toronto to Kangerlussuaq, Greenland, where we’ll board Aurora Expeditions’ Sylvia Earle. Aurora Expeditions, an Australian company, specializes in trips to the Arctic and Antarctica. The Sylvia Earle is a brand-new expedition ship, built in 2022, with a unique Ulstein X-Bow design—make sure to check out the shape of the bow! This polar-class ship has an ice-strengthened hull with a PC6 rating, meaning it can break through ice up to three feet thick. Instead of using a traditional anchor, the Sylvia Earle uses “virtual anchoring,” which combines GPS, steering technology, propellers, and thrusters to hold position, protecting the sea floor from the damage caused by traditional anchors. The ship has 71 staterooms and can accommodate up to 130 passengers.

Our ship is named after Sylvia Earle, a marine biologist, oceanographer, explorer, and author. She was the first woman to become the chief scientist at NOAA in the U.S. and is a National Geographic Society Explorer in Residence. The six decks of the Sylvia Earle are named after pioneering women in conservation. This “base camp” for our 30-day Arctic adventure is equipped with a gym, sauna, jacuzzis, a mud room with individual lockers, and a launching platform with four dedicated doors for the 15 zodiacs and kayaks that we’ll have on board. Plus, there are state-of-the-art lecture facilities, a Science Center, and a lounge where naturalists leading our expedition will be sharing their knowledge. Now, it’s time to start getting serious about the type of clothing we’ll need for this incredible adventure!