G Adventures’ new Expedition is celebrating 50 years of service, having been delivered to its original owners on December 30, 1975.

Built as a cruise ferry in the former Yugoslavia, the ice-strengthened vessel first debuted as the Alla Tarasova for the Murmansk Shipping Company in the Soviet Union.

As the third in a series of eight sister ships, the vessel continued to sail as a ferry until 1997, when it was sold to Clipper Cruise Line.

The Alla Tarasova was then subjected to a major refurbishment project in Denmark to become a full-time cruise ship.

Renamed Clipper Adventurer, the 130-guest vessel embarked on its first sailing for its new owners in Lisbon on April 8, 1998.

After sailing for other operators over the years, including Albatros Travel, Noble Caledonia and Adventure Canada, the ship joined Quark Expeditions’ fleet in 2009 before being renamed the Sea Adventurer.

Deployed on polar expeditions in both the Arctic and Antarctica, the vessel underwent another major refit ahead of the summer season of 2017.

The project included the replacement of the ship’s engines, in addition to updates to passenger cabins and common areas. Other technical equipment was also modernized, including gears and generators.

Later renamed the Ocean Adventurer, the vessel continued to sail for the expedition operator through 2024, when it was replaced by a larger and more modern ship.

G Adventures then announced a deal to charter the vessel, which was renamed Expedition for further service in polar regions.

Replacing the former Expedition, the 4,376-ton ship debuted for its new operator in Antarctica during the 2025-26 season.

In 2026, the Expedition will also mark G Adventures’ return to the Arctic with expeditions to Svalbard, Iceland, Greenland, and more.

The ship’s career is also marked by a major grounding incident that took place in Nunavut in late August 2010.

While sailing as Clipper Adventurer, the ship was carrying 128 guests and 69 crew members, all of whom had to be evacuated.

Damaged and unable to move under its own power, the vessel had to be salvaged before being towed to Poland for further repairs.