The New Zealand-based small-ship expedition cruise company and travel brand Heritage Expeditions/fleet, has taken delivery of its newest and most luxurious vessel, to be named Heritage Discoverer.
Scheduled for inauguration in May 2027, the ship, previously known as Silver Explorer and Exploris One, was acquired at auction earlier this year and aligns with the company’s existing expedition ethos.
The vessel’s fleetmates are Heritage Adventurer and Heritage Explorer, reinforcing the company's commitment to authentic expedition itineraries.
Featuring an ice-class hull, the Heritage Discoverer is equipped to operate in polar (Arctic and Antarctic) regions while also capable of accessing secluded coastal environments that larger ships cannot approach.
Ownership expressed that the vessel’s operational pedigree corresponds with the company’s legacy of immersive travel and extends its ability to resume polar voyages that had been a hallmark of its programme, while facilitating expansion into European, African, and South American coastal itineraries as part of a broad global schedule.
The ship’s dimensions and layout support a complement of up to 130 tourists, backed by a specialist team and a fleet of Zodiac craft to maximise shore landings and exploration opportunities in remote destinations.
Recent refits completed in 2023 and 2026 have modernised passenger accommodations and public spaces, including all the 72 passenger staterooms, dining facilities, lounges, observation areas, and the medical centre, consistent with the standards expected aboard contemporary expedition ships of this class.
Maiden voyage details for the Heritage Discoverer are expected to be released in due course, with Arctic and Antarctic departures already charted through charter arrangements for the vessel’s initial season under its new operator.