National Geographic Endurance in ice, photo courtesy Lindblad Expeditions.

Cruise

The ULSTEIN ship designs in the expedition cruising segment have been developed to satisfy the modern explorers and travellers. Our vessels have the highest seakeeping standards, and our designs can be customised for any customer specific wish.

Cruise designs
References
Statements

Travel in style and comfort

We offer a portfolio of designs and equipment packages for the exploration cruise segment. Our thorough marketing and design concept analyses make a solid foundation for developing outstanding adventures and performances in an increasingly competitive market.

An 'Ocean Victory' Zodiac excursion in South Georgia. Photo: Albatros Expeditions.

Cruise portfolio

The ULSTEIN expedition cruise ship designs have been developed to satisfy modern explorers and travellers. 

How we can help

When investing in a newbuild project, we know many uncertainties can slow down decision processes and cause delays. Through our experience, we can help reduce those uncertainties and ensure a smooth and successful project together.

Provide helpful analysis
Market, fleet and investments insights.
Proven ship design
Well-known Norwegian design and quality.
Design and equipment packages
Increase project economy through shorter newbuild delivery time.
Global shipbuilding experience
Partner yards worldwide.
Shipbuilding at our own yard
Compact and efficient in a world-leading maritime cluster. Delivery on time to the agreed price and quality.

Proven designs - see our references

Adventure: explore other vessel types

Cruise

Yacht and yacht support

Ropax

Every single trip has led to the absolute highest guest satisfaction. The possibilities these ships provide are truly beyond what I thought possible.

Martin Graser
Captain on the ‘National Geographic Resolution'

Customer stories

Learn more about the performance of our cruise vessel designs through customer stories and feature articles. 

National Geographic Resolution in the Lallemand Fjord on 1 February 2022 (Photo: Martin Graser)

National Geographic Resolution’ – «Eit fartøy som overgår det eg trudde var mogleg»

Den 1. februar 2022 skreiv kaptein Martin Graser følgjande refleksjon om bord på National Geographic Resolution:
«I går, i Lallemandfjorden, var iskanten tettpakka med is. Vi måtte gå langt inn for å gjere ei islanding. Det kjendest som ei ‘Shackleton-oppleving’, omgitt av is. Truleg ei av dei mest spektakulære isvandringane eg har opplevd. Etter middag vigde eg eit par under baugen på skipet.»

With observation wings for the passengers, it is possible to get views from an angle outside the ship’s side, here on the 'Greg Mortimer'. Photo by Kristian Yksnøy.

Kan skipsdesign kurere sjøsjuke?

I oktober 2019 la det første ekspedisjonscruiseskipet med ULSTEIN X-BOW®, 'Greg Mortimer', ut frå Ushuaia på jomfruturen sin. Skipet skulle gjennom den frykta Drake-passasjen for å nå den nordlege delen av Antarktis. Blant dei om bord var Peter Szyszka, ein dykkarinstruktør som “blir sjøsjuk berre av å sjå på vatn.”

Greg Mortimer, photo by Sergei Andronov.

Project updates

SunStone Ships has ordered a series of expedition cruise vessels designed by Ulstein for construction at CMHI. These are the first China-built cruise vessels and were the first cruise ships contracted with the ULSTEIN X-BOW® feature, which increases comfort for the crew and passengers. 

Get more details in our project updates. 

Cruise brochure padded 2

Cruise brochure

Read more about:

  • Why you should go for a one-stop-shop for your next project
  • How you can achieve smarter, safer and greener operations
  • What you get in a package solution and how it increases project economy
  • Our range of reference vessels
  • Customer feedback

See how we are turning visions into reality together with our customers

Douglas Mawson Sydney 1

Douglas Mawson døypt: Første X-BOW®-cruiseskip i australske farvatn

Aurora Expeditions sitt ekspedisjonscruiseskip Douglas Mawson blir døypt i Sydney  27. november 2025, før skipet legg ut på sin første tur til Tasmania. Skipet vert det første cruiseskipet med Ulstein sitt X-BOW®-design som skal operere i australske farvatn. Skrogforma er langt meir enn eit visuelt kjenneteikn, det er eit gjennombrot innan maritimt ingeniørarbeid.

Greg Mortimer's X-BOW cutting the seas, photo: Scott Portelli/Aurora Expeditions.
Artikkel

Aurora Expeditions: Set ein ny standard for ekspedisjonscruse med X-BOW-design

Aurora Expeditions tok i bruk sitt tredje ekspedisjonscruiseskip med X-BOW – Douglas Mawson – i september 2025. – Mange av gjestene våre har reist med andre ekspedisjonsskip før og merkar straks forskjellen. Anten det er betre søvn, mindre vibrasjonar når dei lyttar til foredrag, eller meir tid i områda ein besøker – designet forbetrar opplevinga, seier Katie Malone, marknadsdirektør i Aurora Expeditions når ho skal forklare X-BOW.

Launch expedition cruise ship Douglas Mawson IMG 2468
Oppdatering

Sjøsetting av Douglas Mawson

28. november 2024: Ekspedisjonscruiseskipet 'Douglas Mawson', eit ULSTEIN CX103-design, har vorte sjøsett ved CMHI-verftet i Kina. 

Douglas Mawson er eit X-BOW-skip som gir god komfort for passasjerane med ein romsleg salong i baugen og panoramautsiktsområde. Skipet oppfyller stabilitetskrava til Solas 2020, og har innreiing til 300 personar.