A Settler Ship is a ship that is loaded with a Settler piece. They are the primary means of expanding beyond the starting island in Explorers & Pirates.

The terminology was originally introduced with the initial release of Explorers & Pirates as part of the English 4th edition, but was removed in the English 6th edition.

Gameplay

• Settler ships do not confer any additional movement or other privileges compared to empty ships or ships loaded with other cargo.
• Settlement: If a Settler Ship is located on a path adjacent to land, a player may build a Settlement on either of the intersections on either end of the path. To do so, both the Settler and Ship pieces are returned to the player’s supply.
  • A player must still abide by the Distance Rule when placing the Settlement.