Polar Regions (Arctic & Antarctica)
About Heritage Discoverer
The ship that will sail as Heritage Discoverer was built at Rauma-Repola in Finland in 1989 and has carried nine names since, among them World Discoverer, Prince Albert II and — from 2011 to 2023 — Silver Explorer. She currently operates as Exploris One. Heritage Expeditions announced in February 2026 that she joins their fleet in May 2027 under the Heritage Discoverer name. Her hull is built to Finnish-Swedish ice class 1A.
Highlights
- Joins Heritage Expeditions in May 2027; currently sails as Exploris One
- Built 1989 at Rauma-Repola, Finland
- Finnish-Swedish ice class 1A hull
- 144 guests and 118 crew
Specifications
| Cruise line | Heritage Expeditions |
|---|---|
| Year built | 1989 |
| Shipyard | Rauma-Repola, Rauma, Finland |
| Gross tonnage | 6,158 GT |
| Guest capacity | 144 guests |
| Crew | 118 crew |
| Length | 108 m |
| Region | Polar Regions (Arctic & Antarctica) |
| Status | In service |
Specifications from Wikipedia: Exploris One. Checked September 29, 2026.
At a glance
Derived from the specification table below.
- Space ratio: 42.8 GT per guest
- Gross tonnage divided by guest capacity — the standard measure of how much enclosed room each passenger has. Mainstream ships sit near 35; above roughly 50 is premium or luxury territory.
- Guest-to-crew ratio: 1.2 guests per crew member
- Fewer guests per crew member generally means more attentive service; mainstream ships are typically around 2.5 to 3.
- Age: 37 years since delivery
- Counted from the 1989 delivery year in the specification table below.
- Length: 108 m (354 ft)
- Overall length, which is what determines the berths and locks a ship can physically use.
How Heritage Discoverer compares with the other ships profiled here
Measured against the six ships profiled on this site, Heritage Discoverer is the smallest of them, at 6,158 GT; the lowest-capacity of them, at 144 guests; the most generously crewed of them, at 1.2 guests per crew member. Those six are the vessels this site keeps a profile on, not a survey of the industry, so the placings describe this table and nothing wider.
The closest comparable here by size is World Traveller, at 9,934 GT, against 6,158 GT for Heritage Discoverer.
| Ship | Gross tonnage | Guest capacity | GT per guest | Guests per crew | Year built |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carnival Vista | 133,596 GT | 3,934 | 34.0 | 2.7 | 2016 |
| Marella Discovery | 69,130 GT | 1,830 | 37.8 | 2.5 | 1996 |
| Sirena | 30,277 GT | 688 | 44.0 | 1.8 | 1999 |
| Azamara Quest | 30,277 GT | 686 | 44.1 | 1.7 | 2000 |
| World Traveller | 9,934 GT | 200 | 49.7 | 1.5 | 2022 |
| Heritage Discoverer | 6,158 GT | 144 | 42.8 | 1.2 | 1989 |
Every figure is taken from the specification table on each ship's own profile, and each profile names its source. GT per guest and guests per crew are calculated from those figures.
Heritage Discoverer: frequently asked questions
How big is Heritage Discoverer?
Heritage Discoverer measures 6,158 gross tons, is 108 metres (354 feet) long, and carries up to 144 guests.
How many passengers does Heritage Discoverer carry?
Heritage Discoverer has a guest capacity of 144. A crew of 118 looks after them, about 1.2 guests per crew member.
Which cruise line operates Heritage Discoverer?
Heritage Discoverer is operated by Heritage Expeditions.
When was Heritage Discoverer built?
Heritage Discoverer was delivered in 1989 by Rauma-Repola, Rauma, Finland, making it 37 years old.
Where does Heritage Discoverer sail?
Heritage Discoverer is deployed in the Polar Regions (Arctic & Antarctica) region.