The back story
Founded: 1984, by Rodney and Shirley Russ; still family-owned and run (heritage-expeditions.com, Oct 2026) · Fleet: Heritage Adventurer (140 guests), Heritage Discoverer (130), Heritage Explorer (18) (heritage-expeditions.com, Oct 2026) · Ice class: Heritage Adventurer: Lloyd’s 1AS; Heritage Discoverer: Lloyd’s 1A (heritage-expeditions.com) · What’s included: One pre-voyage hotel night, transfers, all meals, house beer, wine and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, all expedition shore excursions and lectures (heritage-expeditions.com, Oct 2026) · Sails to: The Ross Sea, Antarctic Peninsula and South Georgia, the Subantarctic Islands, New Zealand, the Kimberley, the South Pacific, Japan, the Arctic and Europe · Based in: Christchurch, New Zealand
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The back story
Heritage Expeditions·In depth
How a New Zealand wildlife biologist turned a belief in sharing wild places into a family expedition line that has sailed the Ross Sea for more than 35 years.
The fleet
Who it suits. On a budget: A five-day Fiordland voyage on the 18-guest Heritage Explorer, or a triple cabin on Heritage Adventurer in the Kimberley, gives you the line’s naturalist-led style on a shorter, simpler trip. Mid-range: A Superior cabin on Heritage Adventurer for the Subantarctic Islands of New Zealand and Australia, with house wine and beer at lunch and dinner and every landing included. Luxury: A Heritage Suite on Heritage Discoverer, with its 15 m² balcony, in-room dining and laundry, or on Heritage Adventurer for the 28-day voyage into the Ross Sea.
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140 guests
Heritage Expeditions·Expedition ship · Lloyd’s 1AS ice class·€€€€
The flagship, built at Rauma in 1991 for polar exploration and known for years as MS Hanseatic.
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130 guests
Heritage Expeditions·Expedition ship · Lloyd’s 1A ice class·€€€€
The former Silver Explorer, a 130-guest ship with 12 balcony suites, an observation lounge and two outdoor Jacuzzis.
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18 guests
Heritage Expeditions·Expedition yacht · New Zealand coast·€€€
A 30-metre, wood-finished expedition yacht built in Picton in 2004, sailing New Zealand’s fiords and sounds with 18 guests.
