What is the Sylvia Earle cruise ship and when does it visit Gibraltar?
Short answer
Sylvia Earle is a small Aurora Expeditions expedition ship built in 2022 for a maximum of 130 passengers. Its upcoming visits to Gibraltar, with times and expected passengers, are listed on this page.
Upcoming visits to Gibraltar
Sunday 23 May 2027, in port 07:00–18:00, about 131 passengers expected
Plan your shore day in Gibraltar
From the Port of Gibraltar schedule, last checked 6 November 2026.
Detailed answer
Sylvia Earle entered service in 2022 and is named after the marine biologist and explorer Dr Sylvia Earle; six other women in conservation are honoured on its public decks. Aurora gives a length of 104 metres, a cruising speed of 10 to 12 knots and a maximum of 130 passengers. CruiseMapper lists the builder as China Merchants Heavy Industry at Haimen in China, with a gross tonnage of 7,900 and a crew of 74. The ship has an Ulstein X-BOW, which Aurora says gives a smoother passage through waves and reduces fuel use. On board are a Glass Atrium Lounge in the bow, a lecture theatre, a Citizen Science Centre, a library and observation lounge, a gym, a sauna, a heated pool and two jacuzzis. It carries 15 Zodiacs, boarded through four dedicated doors. The port listing expects about 131 passengers on the Gibraltar call, one more than the maximum Aurora gives.
How busy will town be?
The upcoming visits listed on this page show the passengers expected on each call and any other ships in port the same day. Town is busiest when several ships are in at once or a large ship arrives at a weekend. A ship carrying a few hundred passengers makes little difference on its own.
Can you sail on it from nearby?
Yes. The call on Sunday 23 May 2027 is day 9 of The Sands of Time, a 13-night voyage that leaves Las Palmas de Gran Canaria on Saturday 15 May 2027 and ends in Lisbon on Friday 28 May 2027. Along the way it calls at Lanzarote, Agadir, Casablanca, Tangier, Malaga, Gibraltar, Seville, Cadiz and Portimao. After Lisbon the ship heads north for a voyage from Leith to Aberdeen starting on Monday 31 May 2027, followed by a summer of sailings in Norway and Iceland. Aurora takes bookings directly, with prices shown in sterling and other currencies, and through travel advisors.