Exploris One Put Up for Court-Supervised Online Auction in France

The expedition cruise ship Exploris One has been put up for sale in an online auction as court-supervised liquidation proceedings continue for French operator Exploris Expeditions & Cruises, also known as Exploris Croisières & Expeditions.

Bidding is being handled on the Interencheres auction marketplace and is set to close at 7:00 AM (France time) on January 30, 2026. The ship is currently docked in Caen, in northern France, and prospective buyers can arrange onboard visits, according to the listing.

How the court-supervised auction will work

Interencheres is hosting the listing for Exploris One through the Nantes-based auction house Ouest Enchères Publiques. The sale is part of a liquidation process intended to direct proceeds toward settling debts and repaying creditors tied to the failed operator.

• Platform: Interencheres, a France-based online auction marketplace, is hosting the sale.
• Auction house: The listing is being run via Ouest Enchères Publiques, based in Nantes.
• Deadline: Bids are accepted until 7:00 AM (France time) on January 30, 2026.
• Pricing: No minimum reserve price has been disclosed in the available listing details.
• Additional cost: A 14 percent premium is expected to be applied to the winning bid as part of the court-related process described for the liquidation.

French authorities previously attempted to sell the vessel through a court-supervised bidding procedure that was expected to conclude in late November 2025, but that effort did not result in a completed transaction, leading to the current online auction.

Ship location in Caen and inspection access

Exploris One remains laid up at the port of Caen. Interencheres notes that interested parties can arrange onboard visits while the ship is in port, ahead of the bidding deadline.

The ship has been out of service since late 2025, following the operator’s collapse.

Why Exploris entered liquidation

Exploris began operating the vessel in 2023 but later entered court administration in late September or early October 2025, with the Nantes Commercial Court subsequently ordering the company into liquidation.

Reports tied the company’s failure to cash-flow pressure and weak commercial performance, including operations that ran at about 50 percent occupancy during its brief lifespan. The company’s founder told French media that Exploris had carried more than 2,000 passengers and that 500 advance bookings were canceled in September as the financial situation worsened.

More broadly, over 500 pre-booked expedition cruises were canceled shortly before Exploris was placed into liquidation. Coverage also pointed to the cancellation of a planned charter partnership with Adventure Canada as a significant blow to cash flow, with the founder saying Exploris sought refinancing as the situation deteriorated.

A 1989-built expedition ship with multiple prior identities

Built in 1989 at the Rauma-Repola shipyard in Finland, Exploris One has close to 35 years of service and has sailed under roughly 10 names across different operators. Among its better-known chapters, Silversea Cruises relaunched the ship as Prince Albert in 2008 as the company’s first ice-class luxury ship, then renamed it Silver Explorer in 2011. The vessel later left the brand as Silversea introduced newer ships, and it was sold in 2022.

Over its career, the ship has also sailed for operators including Society Expeditions and Sally Line. Exploris acquired the vessel in 2023 from Royal Caribbean Group’s Silversea Cruises, registered it in France, and extensively refurbished it, marketing it as a “global benchmark in exploration cruising.”

Specifications and capacity, as marketed

Exploris One is described as a small expedition ship purpose-built for remote-region cruising, with an ice-class hull and advanced navigation and safety systems. It is reported at 6,130 gross tons (also described in coverage as approximately 6,100 gross tons) and has been marketed in configurations ranging from 132 guests to a maximum of 144 passengers, depending on accommodation setup.

Planned itineraries and disrupted operations

Exploris positioned the ship for expedition itineraries that included Antarctica, Iceland, and the Chilean fjords. Before operations ceased, the vessel was scheduled to undergo maintenance at a shipyard in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, but the work did not proceed as planned after the company’s finances deteriorated; the ship was able to return to France ahead of the formal liquidation.

The operator had published plans for the 2025-26 season that included Antarctica voyages from Ushuaia to the Antarctic Peninsula and to the Chilean fjords. Its forward schedule also called for a return to Europe and, for summer 2026, a mix of voyages from Iceland and charter operations for Adventure Canada.

Expedition cruising demand, and pressure from newer ships

The sale comes as expedition cruising draws strong interest from travelers seeking remote and higher-end experiences, while competition intensifies as new luxury ships enter the market and raise expectations. In that environment, Exploris struggled to achieve viability, leaving its refurbished vessel to be sold under court oversight.

Bidding for Exploris One closes on January 30, 2026, and the ship remains available for inspection in Caen ahead of the deadline. Any return to service, and whether the vessel continues in expedition cruising or takes on a different role, will depend on the buyer and how quickly a new owner can redeploy the ship.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

When and where does bidding close for Exploris One?

The auction is being conducted online on the Interencheres platform, with bids accepted until 7:00 AM (France time) on January 30, 2026.

Who is handling the sale, and are there added fees?

The listing is hosted by Interencheres through the Nantes-based auction house Ouest Enchères Publiques. The process described for the liquidation includes a 14 percent premium that would be added to the winning bid during the court-supervised proceedings.

What are Exploris One’s key specifications and passenger capacity?

The ship is reported at 6,130 gross tons (also described as approximately 6,100 gross tons in coverage) and is equipped with an ice-class hull along with advanced navigation and safety systems. It has been marketed for 132 guests, with capacity up to 144 passengers depending on the accommodation configuration.

Can prospective buyers visit the ship before placing a bid?

Yes. The vessel is docked at the port of Caen in northern France, and the Interencheres listing indicates that interested parties can arrange onboard visits while the ship remains in port.

Why is the ship being sold through liquidation proceedings?

Exploris Expeditions & Cruises entered court administration in late September or early October 2025, and the Nantes Commercial Court later ordered the company into liquidation. The sale is intended to direct proceeds toward paying creditors, after a prior court-supervised sale effort in late 2025 did not result in a completed transaction.