Ortelius Antarctic and Arctic Cruises

St Helena

The St Helena is a truly one-of-a-kind expedition ship with a storied legacy of resilience, reliability, and global connection. Originally built to serve one of the most remote communities on Earth, she was extensively refurbished in 2022 with an £8 million renovation, blending heritage and modern comfort. With a guest capacity of just 98, the St Helena offers intimate, adventure-focused voyages to Antarctica and beyond, complete with expert-led excursions, spacious cabins, and inviting social spaces.

Kapitan Khlebnikov

Welcome aboard the Kapitan Khlebnikov! The Kapitan Khlebnikov was constructed in 1981 by the Warstsila Company, Finland, the world’s leading builder of icebreakers. Not simply an ice-reinforced ship, the Khlebnikov is a powerful working icebreaker designed for the challenging conditions of frozen polar seas. The Khlebnikov was refurbished to accommodate passengers in 54 outside cabins and suites, all with en suite facilities. Cabins are spacious and comfortable. Public areas include a lounge, two dining rooms, a digitally equipped lecture room, a small heated indoor pool and gymnasium, library, and sauna. Views are excellent from the bridge and large open decks. In addition to its fleet of Zodiacs, the Khlebnikov uses two helicopters for ice reconnaissance and passenger excursions.

Quest

The MS Quest was built in Denmark in 1992 to serve as a ferry on Greenland’s west coast. In 2004/2005 she was completely refurbished into a comfortable expedition ship and in 2018 she underwent a renovation of the passenger areas. M/S Quest takes 50 passengers and all 24 cabins are outside cabins with private facilities. The triple cabins have upper and lower berths. All other cabins have two lower berths or a double bed. In your cabin you find a desk with a chair and a cupboard for storage. The superior cabins are spacious and have arm-chairs and TV. The owner’s cabin has a double bed, two large picture windows, a separate seating area and TV. In the dining room you are treated to delicious meals in between landings and in the panorama lounge you can enjoy breath-taking views of the surrounding landscape. Here you can listen to entertaining talks on the area’s flora, fauna and history. In the lounge you also find a bar and a small library. The ship has spacious observation decks, where you can enjoy the beautiful vistas. Passengers are welcome on the bridge around the clock and there is always something to see or search for. You are welcomed by an international crew and the atmosphere is relaxed and very friendly. There are five Zodiacs and five guides on board M/S Quest.

Ocean Nova

The *Ocean Nova* is a sturdy but nimble expedition vessel, originally built in Denmark to sail through the ice-packed waters off Greenland. With its ice-strengthened hull, and after a full refit in 2006, she was converted to become the perfect Antarctic cruise ship. Since then, she has been upgraded and improved every year to maintain her excellent reputation. For our air-cruises, *Ocean Nova* has capacity for only 67 passengers who will find themselves in comfortable outside cabins. The ship offers three categories of accommodation for Antarctic cruises: dedicated Single Cabins, Twin Cabins, and Triple Cabins. All cabins feature picture windows, a writing desk and chair, a substantial wardrobe, individually controlled heating, and a private bathroom with a shower. In addition to a panoramic glass-enclosed observation lounge and presentation room, *Ocean Nova* also has a spacious dining room, a bar, a well-stocked library, a small fitness gym, and an infirmary. The ship has a fleet of 7 Zodiac boats that are well suited for shore excursions and for wildlife watching and getting up close to towering icebergs and glaciers.