Vestland Adventurer

The 1972-built Vestland Adventurer cruise ship (fka MS Expedition) is an ice-strengthened polar vessel owned and operated by Vestland Classic (Veavagen, Norway-based cruise agency and travel brand). Until 2025, MS Expedition was owned 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 (1972-launched) as a Ro-Pax vessel (car and passenger ferry) named "MS Kattegat" for Jydsk Færgefart. It later operated under several names: "NF Tiger" (P&O Normandy Ferries), "Tiger" (Townsend Thoresen), and "Alandsfarjan" (VIKING LINE). In 2008, the ferryboat 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).

In December 2025, the ship was docked in Port Gdynia (Poland).

The current shipowner (Vestland Classic Cruises) is a Norwegian small-ship cruise company and travel brand (Vestland Classic) specializing in intimate expedition travel. The company, a subsidiary of Vestland Marine, operates a fleet of small-capacity ships. The itineraries are based on classic routes with less-visited ports, scenic coastal cruising and voyages in the polar regions.

Vestland Classic’s fleet consists of Vestland Adventurer (fka MS Expeditions for G Adventures Canada), MS Nordstjernen (previously chartered by Hurtigruten), and MS Quest (fka Sea Endurance).

Itineraries

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 (May through September). It featured 12 new itineraries to the Norwegian Fjords and Arctic territories. The schedule included 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.

Decks and Cabins

Completely refurbished in drydock in 2009, MS Expedition features all outside cabins.

Each of the 67 passenger staterooms 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.

The boat has 5 decks, of which 3 have cabins.

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.