Skip to main content
Tracking 380+ ships170+ ports

Ship comparison

Silver Explorer vs Sylvia Earle

Side-by-side cruise ship comparison. Silver Explorer wins 4 of 7 scored categories.

At a glance

Quick Compare

Category
Silver Explorer
Sylvia Earle
Size
6,072 GT
8,000 GT
Passengers
132
132
Year built
1989
2022
Crew ratio
1.1 guests per crew
1.6 guests per crew
Space ratio
46.0 GT per guest
60.6 GT per guest
Decks
No data
No data
Length
108 m
104 m

The verdict

Comparison Verdict

Sylvia Earle is the significantly larger vessel at 8,000 GT, 32% more than Silver Explorer's 6,072 GT. Sylvia Earle offers more personal space with a space ratio of 60.6 GT per passenger versus 46.0. Built in 2022, Sylvia Earle is 33 years newer, an advantage for travelers seeking modern amenities and design.

CategoryWinner
SizeSilver Explorer
CapacitySilver Explorer
ModernitySylvia Earle
ServiceSilver Explorer
SpaciousnessSylvia Earle
DecksNo data
LengthSilver Explorer
Fleet PowerSylvia Earle

Bottom line: Silver Explorer leads 4–3 across our categories, strongest in Size. Choose Silver Explorer for overall superiority; pick Sylvia Earle if its strengths matter more to you.

Decide

Which Ship Is Right for You?

Choose Silver Explorer if

  • More crew per guest (1.1 guests per crew)
Book Silver Explorer

Choose Sylvia Earle if

  • You want the newer ship (built 2022, 33 years newer)
  • Size matters to you (8,000 GT)
  • More space per guest (60.6 GT per guest)
Book Sylvia Earle

Prices

See Current Prices

You have compared the ships. Now see what they cost.

Silver Explorer

Check prices on Cruisebound

Book Silver Explorer

Sylvia Earle

Check prices on Cruisebound

Book Sylvia Earle
Cruise and flight packages

We may earn a commission from partner bookings at no extra cost to you.

Go deeper

Deep Dive

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the comparison score calculated?

We score 8 categories from spec data: size, capacity, modernity, service, spaciousness, decks, length and fleet power. Each category awards one point to the winning ship. A category where either ship has no data is marked No data and left out of the score.

What is the space ratio and why does it matter?

Space ratio is gross tonnage divided by passenger capacity. A higher number means more space per guest. Luxury lines typically score above 40, and mass-market ships often fall between 30 and 40.

What does the passenger-to-crew ratio mean?

It is the number of guests for each crew member, shown as "3.0 guests per crew". Lower is better: more staff per guest usually means more attentive service. Luxury lines aim for fewer than 2 guests per crew, and large mainstream ships often carry 3 to 4.

Are the prices shown accurate?

Prices come from Cruisebound and are per person for the sailing shown. They change with cabin type, date and demand, so open the sailing to see the current fare.

Can I compare more than two ships?

Yes, up to four ships. Use the search tool on the compare hub page to add additional ships.

How current is the ship data?

Specifications come from our database of 380+ ships, and this page refreshes daily. An "Updated" date appears at the top when either ship's record changed in the last 30 days.