Our Ship
About the MV Explorer
The MV Explorer may look like a cruise ship, but it’s really a state-of-the-art floating campus aboard which travelers enjoy the learning experience of a lifetime.
Benefits of sailing on the MV Explorer
- Built in 2002 by the well-respected Blohm & Voss shipbuilders of Germany
- Described by Maritime Telecommunications Network “as one of the safest ships afloat”
- U.S. and international health and safety ratings in the 99th percentile
- One of the fastest passenger ships of its kind in the world
Tour the Ship
Take a tour of the MV Explorer, presented by the Fall 2011 Semester at Sea voyage.
Facts at a Glance
| Tonnage | 25,000 tons |
| Length | 590 ft. (180 m) |
| Beam | 84 ft. (26 m) |
| Draft | 24 ft. (7 m) |
| Maximum Cruising Speed | 28 knots |
| Stabilizers | yes |
| Air Conditioning Throughout | yes |
| Outside Deck Space | 30,000 ft.2 (2.800 m2) |
| Passenger Decks | 6 |
| Pool Area | 7,500 ft.2 (700 m2) |
| Swimming Pool | 1 |
| Union Lounge | 380 seats |
| Aqua Marine Dining Room, Deck 5 | 470 seats |
| Garden Lounge, Deck 6 | 210 seats |
| Garden Terrace, Deck 6 | 110 seats |
| Glazer Lounge | 138 seats |
| Classrooms | 9 |
| Piano Bar | 104 seats |
| Passenger Capacity (double-occupancy) | 836 |
Special Considerations
Traveling on a ship can pose many challenges for those individuals with physical impairments, including moving and uneven surfaces and steep gangway steps or special dietary needs. ISE remains committed to providing travel, work and study opportunities for everyone. We will evaluate each situation individually and make every possible effort to accommodate the special needs of each participant.