G Adventures MS Expedition

The 1975-built MS Expedition cruise ship (fka Ocean Adventurer) is an ice-strengthened expedition vessel for commercial cruise shipping operations in both polar regions (Arctic and Antarctica).

(news ID 15270) Since 2025, the vessel (under the name MS Expedition) is chartered to G-Adventures. Previously, it was seasonally chartered by Quark Expeditions and Albatros Travel.

The vessel (IMO number 7391422) is currently Portugal Madeira-flagged (MMSI 255806402) and registered in Funchal. Previously (changed in 2024), it was Bahamas-flagged (MMS 309997000) and registered in Nassau.

History - construction and ownership

The vessel is currently owned by SunStone Maritime Group via the subsidiary Sunstone Ships Inc.

It was initially chartered by the Copenhagen-based travel brand company Albatros Travel(via Adventurer Partners Unipessoal Lda). The last charterer was Quark Expeditions (USA-based polar cruise travel company).

In January 2024, SunStone confirmed that in October 2024 ends the charter agreement with Quark Expeditions for Ocean Adventurer, as in Quark's fleet the ship will be replaced with Ocean Explorer (2021-built). The statement also mentioned that after October 2024, Ocean Adventurer will be available for charter or sale.

In June 2025, the shipowner announced that, following the charter of Quark Expeditions, the 50-year-old Ocean Adventurer will be chartered to G Adventures (starting in October 2025) and renamed "MS Expedition".

In the period 2012-2017, the cruise ship was named "Sea Adventurer". Before October 1, 2012, its name was "Clipper Adventurer". The vessel was built in the former Yugoslavia (Croatia today) under the name "Alla Tarasova". In 1998, it underwent a USD 13 million drydock refit and refurbishment.

The new name "Ocean Adventurer" followed the multi-million-dollar refurbishment in 2017, done at Ulstein Verft (Ulsteinvik Norway) and Orskov Yard (Frederikshavn Denmark). During the 2017 refit, all auxiliary equipment and marine diesel engines were replaced. The vessel's passenger capacity was increased from 110 to 132. All cruise cabins were upgraded, and all public areas were rebuilt, redesigned and modernized.

As part of Quark Expeditions fleet, Ocean Adventurer cruises to some of the world's most remote places: polar regions (Arctic Canada, Antarctica, Svalbard /Arctic Norway), also to Greenland and Iceland. Currently, the ship offers Arctic and Antarctic itineraries leaving out of Chile and Argentina (Ushuaia, Punta Arenas, fly-cruise deals from Buenos Aires) and Longyearbyen (Svalbard, Norway).

In May 2025 was announced that Ocean Adventurer would be chartered by the Canada-based travel company G Adventures (fka Gap Adventures) for the Antarctic 2025-2026 season. Before starting operations for G Adventures (October 2025), the ship was extensively drydock-refurbished and upgraded with new diesel engines. Ocean Adventurer's schedule included 5x itineraries (all roundtrips from Ushuaia), including the 11-day "Antarctica Classic", the 21-day "Spirit of Shackleton", and the 22-day "Falklands, South Georgia, and Antarctica".

Decks and Cabins

The ship has a total of 63 staterooms - all of which are Oceanview cabins with en-suite bathrooms and LCD TVs.

During the ship's 2016 refurbishment, on Bridge Deck 5 (aft), two of the Zodiacs (11x total) were relocated to make space for the three Owner's Suites. On Captain's Deck 4, the fore-located Observation Deck area was redesigned into six Deluxe cabins.

The boat has 6 decks, all of which are passenger-accessible and 5 with cabins.

Shipboard facilities

MS Expedition/Ocean Adventurer is less luxurious and older in comparison to the other Quark Expeditions ships. Nevertheless, the onboard staff is fully dedicated to helping passengers to experience the itinerary's destinations. A team of naturalist guides and an expedition leader are in charge of all tours - from hiking through wildlife viewing to Zodiac boat cruising along icy beaches.

When spotting animals, the guides are usually on deck, helping passengers with binoculars and adjusting telescopes to provide everyone with a better look. They also give nightly talks and in-depth information on seabirds, land and marine animals, historical sights and landscapes encountered during the shore excursions.

The ship's daily cruise schedule is well structured but flexible. Usually, there is one Zodiac tour or landing in the morning and another in the afternoon. The activity program is clearly announced via ship's onboard program, with updates over the PA system. However, everything is subject to change and the cruise ship might take a detour to follow whales or bypass unexpectedly icy fjords.

The vessel's draft is only 15 ft (4,5 m), allowing access to remote islands and unique coastal destinations. The ship is powered by two MAN marine diesel engines (total power output 5400 HP). The hull is ice class 1A. The ship has all 4 lifeboats, which are partially enclosed. Ship-to-shore communications are via Inmarsat Capsat Fleet 77 (satellite phone and Internet).

Among the ship's features are a dining room restaurant (unreserved seating), Bar (run by a professional bartender), Polar Boutique (shop), Lounge (multi-purpose and presentation room), Polar Library, Gym, Wi-Fi. Complimentary tour equipment includes Zodiac (cruising, landings), hiking, and snowshoeing.

At extra cost (optional) are sea kayaking and camping (high-quality REI equipment).

During the 2009 summer, the travel agency Adventure Canada (Mississauga, Ontario Canada) booked the Clipper Adventurer ship for an itinerary through the Northwest Passage (Canadian Arctic). On August 27, 2010, Clipper Adventurer ran aground on an uncharted rock in Coronation Gulf (Nunavut, Canada). Later was found the rock was well known and had been properly reported by the Canadian Hydrographic Service. On September 18 the ship was towed into Cambridge Bay (Victoria Island, Nunavut Canada).

G Adventures polar itineraries (Arctic and Antarctic)

In June 2025, G Adventures announced the brand's resumption of Arctic cruises in 2026, following a 7-year hiatus (paused since 2019). The season was based on four itineraries, totaling 10 departures of the renamed Ocean Adventurer (MS Expedition).

MS Expedition's deployment was scheduled to start in Antarctica (October 2025), followed by a transition to the Arctic in the spring of 2026. The Arctic routes encompass popular regions such as Svalbard, Iceland, and Greenland. The inaugural season's schedule also included five more relocation voyages, visiting destinations in Scotland, the Faroes, and Labrador.

Each G Adventures polar expedition is attended by expert specialists in marine biology, ornithology, geology, and history. The planned daily events feature educational experiences and shore excursions, subject to weather conditions.

A highlighted itinerary is the 8-day "Realm of the Polar Bear", in Norway's Svalbard archipelago, themed on fjord landscapes and wildlife watching/polar bears in their natural habitat. The 15-day "Arctic Highlights Southbound" itinerary visits the Northwest Spitsbergen NP, the Greenland Sea, and Northeast Greenland NP.

Quark cruise deals

MS Ocean Adventurer's Quark Expeditions deals were inclusive of:

• 1-night pre-cruise hotel stay, group transfers (airport-hotel on the day prior departure, and hotel-ship on embarkation day)
• onboard accommodation (daily housekeeping service)
• all onboard meals (breakfasts, lunches, dinners) - know that the ship's galley/kitchen can't prepare kosher meals
• all Zodiac landings (daily, weather permitting) and Zodiac transfers and cruising (daily)
• media presentations by Expedition Team members and special guest lecturers
• waterproof expedition boots (onshore landings)
• complimentary Quark Expeditions logoed parka
• lifejackets and immersion suits
• complimentary coffee, tea and cocoa (24 / 7)
• hairdryer and bathrobe (in all cabins)
• pre-departure materials (including maps)
• all service taxes and port fees
• all onboard luggage handling
• emergency evacuation (medevac) insurance to a max benefit USD 100,000 pp
• Fly-cruise deals are inclusive of complimentary house wines (by the glass), beers and spirits on the ship, also of all gratuities (staff and crew) and all domestic flights (prior to embarkation).
• Shipboard laundry and Ironing services are available at additional cost.
• Ship-to-shore communications are via Inmarsat Capsat Fleet 77 (satellite phone and Internet) and cost extra.