MS Expedition

The 1972-built MS Expedition cruise ship is an ice-strengthened polar vessel owned and operated by the Canada-based travel company G Adventures (formerly Gap Adventures).

The vessel (IMO number 7211074) is currently Liberia-flagged (MMSI 636013956) and registered in Monrovia.

History – construction and ownership

MS Expedition was originally built in 1972 as a Ro-Pax vessel (car and passenger ferry) named "MS Kattegat" for Jydsk Færgefart. She later operated under several names: "NF Tiger" (P&O Normandy Ferries), "Tiger" (Townsend Thoresen), and "Alandsfärjan" (VIKING LINE). In 2008, she was converted into a cruise ship. The vessel’s hull is ice-strengthened and ice-classed 1B—only two higher ice classes exist, 1A Super and 1A.

The ship is equipped with a forward-looking sonar system that enhances safety by reducing the risk of groundings or collisions with uncharted rocks and reefs. She also carries four covered lifeboats (total capacity 220 people) and six liferafts (total capacity 150 people).

Cruise itinerary program

MS Expedition’s Arctic season usually features three types of land tours. The first starts in Edinburgh (Scotland’s capital), visits the Orkney Islands, follows the Norwegian coast, and ends at Longyearbyen on Spitsbergen Island. The next itineraries circumnavigate Norway’s Svalbard Islands, starting and ending in Longyearbyen. The season’s final voyage visits Greenland, sailing from Longyearbyen to Reykjavik, Iceland.

Antarctic expeditions on MS Expedition depart from either Montevideo, Uruguay or Ushuaia, Argentina. Voyages cross the Drake Passage and explore the Antarctic Peninsula, visiting the South Shetland Islands, Falkland Islands, Weddell Sea, and South Georgia Island. Each Antarctic cruise is staffed by 69 crew members, including 14 expedition specialists.

In mid-July 2020, G Adventures announced MS Expedition’s Arctic 2022 program, featuring 12 new itineraries (May through September) to the Norwegian Fjords and Arctic territories. The schedule includes the new 22-day voyage “Norwegian Fjords and Realm of the Polar Bear” (Edinburgh to Longyearbyen), priced from approximately EUR 8080 (USD 9240) per person.

Cabins

Completely refurbished in drydock in 2009, MS Expedition features all-outside cabins. Each stateroom has ocean-facing windows (or portholes) and a private bathroom. There are four standard cabin categories (1 through 4) plus Category 5 Suites, which feature floor-to-ceiling windows.

Shipboard dining options – Food and Drinks

The main dining venue, Albatross, seats all guests at once and offers starboard, port, and forward-facing views. Breakfast and lunch are served buffet-style, while dinner is a four-course, sit-down meal. Vegetarian options are available, and whenever possible, locally sourced regional ingredients are used.

The ship’s vast outdoor observation deck (Deck 6) and other open-air spaces, including the forward Observation Deck on Deck 4, provide excellent panoramic views. The large aft Sun Deck (Deck 5) has BBQ facilities for alfresco dining, served with drinks from the Polar Bear Bar.

Shipboard entertainment options – Fun and Sport

With a maximum passenger capacity of 134, MS Expedition sails in both polar regions (Arctic and Antarctica) carrying professional guides and scientific experts. Numerous shore excursions allow guests to explore the region’s geology, flora, fauna, and landscapes using Zodiacs (large rigid-hulled inflatable boats powered by diesel engines). In the Arctic, guides are trained in the use of flare guns and rifles due to the risk of polar bear encounters. A heated Mudroom is available for storing boots and outerwear after excursions, and complimentary Wellington boots (Bogs neoprene) are provided for the duration of the voyage.

Onboard facilities include several viewing platforms, the Polar Bear Pub, and the Discovery Lounge (which doubles as a lecture hall for daily presentations and briefings). Evening entertainment is hosted in the Polar Bear Bar. Additional amenities include a library (Lonely Planet collection), computer room with internet stations, gift shop, gym, sauna, and medical clinic. Passengers can stay connected through the satellite-linked internet system.