Ocean Adventurer

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

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.

IMPORTANT: In June 2025, SunStone Ships Inc (shipowner) announced that following the charter of Quark Expeditions, Ocean Adventurer (starting in October 2025) will be chartered to G Adventures and renamed "MS Expedition".

History - construction and ownership

The vessel is owned by the Copenhagen-based Albatros Travel company (via Adventurer Partners Unipessoal Lda) specializing in polar expedition cruises and tours. The ship management company is SunStone Maritime Group (via Sunstone Ships Inc).

Quark Expeditions (USA-based polar cruise company) operates the vessel under a charter. The list of other Albatros Travel-owned ships also includes Ocean Atlantic, Ocean Diamond, Ocean Endeavour, Sea Endurance.

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 Oct 2024, Ocean Adventurer will be available for charter or sale.

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.

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

Shipboard facilities

MS 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 daily cruise schedule of Ocean Adventurer 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, snowshoeing. At extra cost (optional) are sea kayaking and camping (high-quality REI equipment).

During 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 Canadian Hydrographic Service. On September 18 the ship was towed into Cambridge Bay (Victoria Island, Nunavut Canada).

During the ship's 2016 refurbishment, on Bridge Deck 5 (aft) two of the Zodiacs (11x total) were relocated to make space for all 3 new Owner's Suite accommodations. On Captain's Deck 4, the fore-located Observation Deck area was redesigned into all six Deluxe cabins.

Quark cruise deals

Quark Expeditions cruise deals are 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.