Exploris One
Product brand
UnclaimedAn ice-strengthened expedition cruise ship launched in Finland in 1989 and operated under several names before becoming Exploris One.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Exploris One is the name adopted in late 2023 by a Finnish-built expedition cruise ship with a career spanning several operators and identities. The vessel was constructed by Rauma-Repola at the Rauma shipyard in Finland and delivered to Delfin Cruises on 1 June 1989 as MS Delfin Clipper. It was the first luxury cruise vessel built at that shipyard. Designed as a relatively small, ice-strengthened passenger ship, it combined conventional cruise amenities with the capabilities required for remote and polar itineraries. During its early career the ship was chartered by Sally Cruise and renamed Sally Clipper in 1990. It subsequently operated under additional names before entering the Society Expeditions network in the early 2000s as World Adventurer and World Discoverer. The Society Expeditions period was financially difficult. The vessel was seized by a mortgage bank in 2003, later purchased by Society Expeditions International for approximately US$30 million, and seized again by creditors in 2004. Society Expeditions then filed for bankruptcy. Silversea Cruises acquired the vessel in 2007 and sent it to Fincantieri in Trieste for a major refit. The refurbishment reduced passenger accommodation from roughly 175 to 132 and repositioned the ship for luxury expedition cruising. In June 2008 it was renamed Prince Albert II at a ceremony in Monte Carlo attended by Prince Albert II of Monaco. In April 2011 the vessel was renamed Silver Explorer. Under Silversea, it operated long-form adventure voyages, commonly lasting 10 to 27 days, in the Arctic, the Northeast Passage, South America and Antarctica. Its small size, reinforced hull, expedition boats and specialist operating profile allowed it to reach destinations beyond the normal routes of larger cruise ships. A further refurbishment in 2017 changed the accommodation arrangement. Eight large suites were converted into 16 smaller connecting suites, producing a configuration of up to 144 passengers in 72 cabins. The ship operated with a fleet of 14 Zodiacs by 2019. Notable Silversea voyages included a 2018 Pacific Northwest golf charter, a 2019 Northwest Passage voyage accompanied by a Russian icebreaker, and a December 2019 visit to Sokcho, South Korea, described as the first Silversea call at that port. After 15 years with Silversea, the vessel was sold in January 2022 to the French expedition company Exploris Cruises and Expeditions. It was transferred in September 2023, completed its final Silversea cruise on 19 November 2023, and began operating under the Exploris One name from Valparaiso on 23 December 2023. Exploris was liquidated in November 2025, after which the ship was sold at auction for €4.5 million to the Hamburg-based Nordic Group. In February 2026, Heritage Expeditions announced plans to add the vessel to its Christchurch-based expedition fleet, rename it Heritage Discoverer, and begin voyages in May 2027. The ship's eventual operational status under that future name is not independently established here.
History
Exploris One began life as MS Delfin Clipper, delivered by the Rauma shipyard in Finland in 1989. Its construction was significant because it was the first luxury cruise vessel produced at that yard. The ship was designed with ice-strengthening and a compact configuration suited to smaller-scale cruising. At commissioning it had 178 cabins, including eight suites with private Jacuzzis, and facilities such as a conference room, casino, nightclub, beauty salon, medical unit, sauna, Jacuzzi and swimming pool. The early operating history was marked by changes of charterer and name. In 1990, Sally Cruise chartered the vessel as a replacement after another ship was destroyed in a shipyard fire, and it became Sally Clipper. Further names were used between 1992 and 2002. Society Expeditions later operated it as World Adventurer and World Discoverer. That period included creditor disputes and seizures. A mortgage bank seized the ship in 2003, after which Society Expeditions International bought it for approximately US$30 million. Creditors seized it again in 2004, and Society Expeditions subsequently entered bankruptcy proceedings. Silversea Cruises purchased the ship in autumn 2007 and commissioned an extensive refit at Fincantieri in Trieste. The work repositioned the ship as a luxury expedition vessel and reduced its passenger capacity from approximately 175 to 132. It was renamed Prince Albert II in June 2008 at Monte Carlo, then changed to Silver Explorer in April 2011. Silversea used the vessel for 10- to 27-day polar and adventure cruises. Arctic and Northeast Passage routes included Svalbard, Iceland and Greenland, while southern-season itineraries focused on South America and Antarctica. The ship received another major interior refurbishment in 2017. Eight large suites were converted into 16 smaller suites with connecting doors, creating a layout of up to 144 passengers in 72 cabins. By 2019, its expedition equipment included 14 Zodiacs. Its Silversea career also included unusual charter and destination activity: a 2018 golf charter in the Pacific Northwest, the first Northwest Passage voyage by a Silversea vessel in 2019, and a maiden Silversea call at Sokcho, South Korea, in December 2019. Operational incidents included propeller damage after the ship became entangled in a fishing net in the Bering Sea in June 2019. In March 2020 it docked in Castro, Chile, after a passenger tested positive for COVID-19 during the early cruise-industry disruption caused by the pandemic. The vessel was sold to Exploris Cruises and Expeditions in January 2022 and transferred in September 2023. Its last Silversea cruise ended on 19 November 2023, and it began sailing as Exploris One from Valparaiso on 23 December. Exploris was liquidated in November 2025, leading to a sale at auction for €4.5 million to Nordic Group. Heritage Expeditions announced in February 2026 that it intended to operate the ship as Heritage Discoverer from May 2027, with planned capacity of 130 passengers, an expedition crew of 15 and 14 Zodiacs. The ship was also chartered to Polar Latitudes Expeditions before its anticipated Heritage Expeditions deployment.
- 2026
Planned Heritage Expeditions deployment
[1]Heritage Expeditions announced a planned rename to Heritage Discoverer and a May 2027 expedition-cruise start.
- 2025
Exploris liquidation and auction sale
[1]Exploris was liquidated and the ship was auctioned to Nordic Group for €4.5 million.
- 2023
Entered service as Exploris One
[1]The ship began its Exploris-era service with a departure from Valparaiso on 23 December.
- 2022
Sold to Exploris
[1]Silversea sold the ship to Exploris Cruises and Expeditions after 15 years in its fleet.
- 2019
Northwest Passage voyage
[1]Silver Explorer completed the first Northwest Passage voyage by a Silversea vessel, with icebreaker support.
- 2017
Interior refurbishment
[1]The accommodation layout was redesigned, increasing the stated capacity to as many as 144 passengers in 72 cabins.
- 2011
Renamed Silver Explorer
[1]The vessel adopted the Silver Explorer name in April and continued polar expedition operations under Silversea.
- 2008
Renamed Prince Albert II
[1]The refitted ship was renamed Prince Albert II at a Monte Carlo ceremony.
- 2007
Acquired by Silversea Cruises
[1]Silversea purchased the vessel and sent it to Fincantieri in Trieste for a major expedition-cruise refit.
- 2004
Second seizure and Society Expeditions bankruptcy
[1]Creditors again seized the vessel, and Society Expeditions filed for bankruptcy.
Products and positioning
A small, ice-strengthened expedition vessel positioned for high-latitude adventure travel, remote destination access and intimate cruise experiences rather than mass-market cruising.
Expedition cruise ship · 1989
Exploris One
An Ice Class 1A passenger vessel measuring 108.11 metres long, with a 15.83-metre beam and five decks. It uses Wärtsilä engines and variable-pitch propellers and is equipped for remote expedition cruising. Its accommodation has changed over time; the post-2017 configuration provided up to 144 passengers in 72 cabins, supported by 14 Zodiacs.
Brand decisions
2026
Planned transfer to Heritage ExpeditionsStrategyBackground
Following Exploris's liquidation and the auction sale to Nordic Group, Heritage Expeditions announced plans to add the vessel to its fleet.
Action taken
Heritage Expeditions plans to rename the vessel Heritage Discoverer and operate it with approximately 130 passengers, 15 expedition crew members and 14 Zodiacs from May 2027.
Aftermath
The announced plan would create another operating phase for the vessel, but its final status and commencement are not confirmed in the supplied material.
Auction purchase price. €4.5 million (2025)
2022
Sale from Silversea to ExplorisM&ABackground
After 15 years in the Silversea fleet, the vessel was sold to Exploris Cruises and Expeditions.
Action taken
Ownership transferred in 2022, followed by physical transfer to Exploris in September 2023.
Aftermath
The ship left the Silversea fleet and began operating under the Exploris One name in December 2023.
2007
Silversea repositioned the vessel for luxury expedition cruisingStrategyBackground
Silversea acquired the ship after its Society Expeditions period and commissioned a major refit.
Action taken
The company refurbished the vessel at Fincantieri, reduced accommodation capacity and introduced it to the Silversea expedition fleet as Prince Albert II.
Aftermath
The ship became the first expedition cruise vessel in the Silversea line and later operated as Silver Explorer.
Sources1 sources
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