Cruise Ship Details
Built in Poland in 1989, the MV Ortelius ex “Marina Svetaeva” is a 298ft expedition ship purpose designed for polar research by the Russian Academy of Science.
Strong and manoeuvrable, her Russian heritage is visible throughout from the functional clean spaces to the class A1 ice-strengthened hull, the highest classification of its kind – perfect for navigating the glacier choked channels of Antarctica. She carries a maximum of 106 passengers in 48 unfussy cabins across 3 decks all featuring private facilities and either a porthole or a window. Categories start from quadruple cabins with portholes and lead up through wood-beamed twins with windows to comfortable superior cabins and one spacious suite which have an additional sitting room attached. There is plenty of space inside and out from the 2 restaurants and bar/lecture room to the outside decks and bridge. The Ortelius offers a range of 9-22 night cruises which cover shorter peninsula trips as well as polar circle and longer South Georgia and Falkland Island adventures. Expeditions are led by highly experienced staff and ever cater to the most adventurous with exciting “Basecamp” departures which offer hiking, snowshoeing, kayaking, camping and even diving.
The MV Ortelius is no beauty yet subsequent overhauls have softened the original, stark Russian design. Yet perhaps this is why we like her so much! Stripped bare of frills, she is equipped for serious expeditions whose main aim is for passengers to spend as much time away from the vessel as possible immersed in the pristine splendour of the Antarctic.
Cruises in Brief
Classic Antarctica Cruise
Day 1: Embark on your Antarctic cruise in Ushuaia
Day 2-3: Crossing the Drake Passage.
Day 4-7: Antarctic Peninsula: Danco Harbour, Neko Harbour, Paradise Bay, Port Lockroy
Day 8: South Shetland Islands
Day 9-10: Return journey across the Drake Passage
Day 11: Arrive in Ushuaia
Please contact us for dates and departures
Antarctica Basecamp Adventure Cruise
Day 1: Embark on your Antarctic cruise in Ushuaia
Day 2-3: Crossing the Drake Passage.
Day 4-10: Antarctic Peninsula: Neumayer Channel, Neko Harbour, Paradise Bay, Errera Channel
Day 11-12: Return journey across the Drake Passage
Day 13: Arrive in Ushuaia
Please contact us for dates and departures
Weddell Sea – In search of the Emperor Penguin, incl. helicopters
Day 1: Embark on your Antarctic cruise in Ushuaia
Day 2-3: Crossing the Drake Passage.
Day 4-7: Weddell Sea: Duse Bay, Seymour Island, Devil Island, Brown Bluff
Day 8: Deception Island in the South Shetlands
Day 9-10: Return journey across the Drake Passage
Day 11: Arrive in Ushuaia
Please contact us for dates and departures
Antarctica Polar Circle Cruise
Day 1: Embark on your Antarctic cruise in Ushuaia
Day 2-3: Crossing the Drake Passage.
Day 4-9: Antarctic Peninsula & the Polar Circle
Day 10-11: Return journey across the Drake Passage
Day 12: Arrive in Ushuaia
Please contact us for dates and departures
Ultimate Antarctica: Antarctica, South Georgia & the Falklands
Day 1: Embark on your Antarctic cruise in Ushuaia or Puerto Madryn
Day 2-3: Crossing the South Atlantic
Day 4-5: The Falkland Islands, Saunders & Carcass Islands
Day 6-7: Crossing the Antarctic Convergence
Day 8-11: South Georgia – Fortuna Bay, Salisbury Plain, Grytviken
Day 12: Southward Bound
Day 13: South Orkney Island
Day 14-15: Entering Antarctic Waters
Day 16-18: The Antarctic Peninsula
Day 19-20: Return journey across the Drake Passage
Day 21: Arrive in Ushuaia
Please contact us for dates and departures
Start planning your Antarctica Cruise today
Speak to one of our travel specialists and we’ll create your personalised itinerary just for you.
