All Ships

The Island Sky is a small expedition vessel with touches of elegance throughout. An all-suite ship, it carries a maximum of 108 passengers and provides an abundance of public space for wildlife viewing, relaxation and taking in lectures and briefings. Every suite has private bathroom facilities and an exterior view, while some suites include a private balcony. All suites have flat screen televisions and DVD players. Is one a sister vessel to the MS Caledonian Sky and MS Hebridean Sky. All three vessels were built in the same ship yard in Italy at similar times and share the same excellent attributes that make them three of the finest small ships in the world.

She is an all-suite yacht accommodating up to 108 guests. Built in 1992 and refurbished and redecorated in 2005, each suite features:

•  Sea view
•  Queen-sized bed separable into two twin-sized beds
•  Sitting area
•  Telephone
•  Mini-refrigerator
•  Marble-appointed bathroom with fine toiletries
•  225 square feet or more

Built in the style of superb mega yachts, Le Lyrial offers a unique and subtle blend of luxury, intimacy and wellbeing as you travel to the most remote places on the planet.

Designed in France and built in Italy, each ship has its own color palette and motif, but all share in an elegantly understated aesthetic and European sensibility and craftsmanship. The staterooms and suites feature panoramic sea views, and 95% have a balcony. Your comfort and well-being are the special responsibility of the impeccably trained staff, whose discreet yet attentive service has become legendary among discriminating travelers. Life aboard is relaxed and refined, capturing the best of the French art of living well, and an air of quiet sophistication enhances the unique experience of feeling you are aboard your own yacht.

These ships feature an all French crew who welcomes you aboard and ensures your well-being. The highly-approachable officers and crew are bilingual.

Every day, French chefs will take you on an aromatic voyage of discovery, accompanied by selections of fine cheeses carefully chosen by our master cheesemongers, delicious artisan breads and rich pastries, all accompanied by a selection of fine wines and completed by a superb à la carte selection of grands crus.

Butler service is provided for passengers traveling in the suites on Deck 6.

Restaurants:
Gastronomic Restaurant
Elegant main dining room for breakfast, lunch and dinner serving French and international cuisine. Fine wine cellar.

Grill Restaurant
Casual eating venue for breakfast, buffet lunch and themed dinner

Public Areas:
Main Lounge
Afternoon tea, lounge, live music, dance floor and cocktail bar. Access to the outside terrace.

Panorama Lounge
Library, internet desk, cocktail bar, live entertainment on selected evenings. Direct access to the panorama terrace.

Open-air Bar
Overlooking the pool deck.

• Theater • Library • Fitness Center • Spa / Sauna • Massage • Relaxation Room • Pool • Beauty Salon • Leisure / Game Area • Image & Photo Corner • Internet Station • Medical Center • Shop •

MS Midnatsol has a strong environmental profile and modern design. The interior’s bright, colourful décor is inspired by Norway´s sunny warm days during summer, a motif reflected in many of the pieces of Norwegian modern art on board. The ship is also a TV star, having been featured in the award-winning Norwegian television documentary, `Hurtigruten 365´. The vessel´s sun deck and Jacuzzi are on deck 9. Key features on MS Midnatsol include the large, two-storey panorama lounge above the bow. Its wall-to-wall windows bathe the lounge in natural light and provide extraordinary views.

MS Midnatsol is an ice class 1C ship, equipped with advanced technology that makes her exceptionally well suited for expedition voyages in Antarctica. The ship started taking explorers on adventures to Patagonia and Antarctica in 2016.

Ship facilities:

• Expedition Team
• Two-storey panorama lounge
• Bars
• Wi-Fi
• Café
• Library
• Restaurant
• Separate à la carte restaurant
• Playroom
• Shop
• Jacuzzis
• Fitness room and sauna
• Amfi theatre for educational lectures and conference facilities
• Lift
• Car deck

Carrying a maximum of 112 passengers, this outstanding vessel combines luxury with expedition cruising. All cabins have facilities en suite, king-size beds and exterior views. She boasts all the amenities of a fine hotel, including an open bar, balconies in the suites and a hot tub on level 5. The Sea Spirit is a luxurious expedition vessel that seamlessly dispatches zodiacs and kayaks for excursions and exploration.

At just 340 feet (104 meters) long, the Greg Mortimer carries a maximum of 120 expeditioners to the polar regions. As one of the smallest ships in the polar expedition cruising fleet, its size and modern ice-strengthened hull (Class 1A, one category below a full ice-breaker) give you the ability to explore those places that larger ships can’t reach.

Exclusively designed for expedition cruising, the Greg Mortimer provides an authentic, small-ship experience. Thanks to its unique, patented X-Bow®, it is capable of fast, comfortable transit speeds with less fuel consumption and reduced emissions.

Designed to the latest Polar Code for non-intrusive, low-impact voyages, the Greg Mortimer features:
• Fuel-efficient Ulstein X-Bow®
• Reduced air emissions and light pollution
• Virtual anchoring for protection of the sea floor
• Reduced onboard plastic use
• Onboard water production
• Strict, onboard waste management

The all-new Hondius, set to launch in 2019, is designed from the ground up for rapid response to polar weather and wildlife conditions that exist nowhere else in the world. Hondius sets a standard as a structurally and technologically advanced polar cruise ship that not only meets the challenges of the polar regions but optimizes their opportunities for adventure.

As a Hondius passenger, you will enjoy cuisine, surroundings, and service that starkly contrast the rugged world just outside your window. An entire deck is dedicated to (multi-language) lectures and presentations in the presentation theater or the sizable observation lounge, and in combination with a fully provisioned bar and separate library room, provide ample opportunities to socialize and guarantee that what time you spend on board will be spent comfortably entertained. Take your pick of numerous cabins and suites, all custom-designed and impeccably outfitted in stylish mid-century modern décor.

Hondius is one of the first civilian vessels in the world to receive a Polar Class 6 notation, the most advanced category of polar cruise ship to date. When you set foot on Hondius, you are indeed choosing the best of modern marine science. Furthermore, Hondius exceeds the latest green requirements imposed by the International Maritime Organization, using only bio-degradable paints, LED lighting, steam heat, and flexible power management systems to keep fuel consumption and CO2 emission at the absolute minimum.

Highlights:
• Flexible, fast, and fortified. Capable of swift and safe response to fluctuating polar conditions.
• Ideal for land-based excursions. Sheltered Zodiac boarding zone for easier entry into the boats that will shuttle you to shore.
• Elegant, cozy, and surprising. Public areas, passenger lodgings, and cuisine that will fuel your exploration and stimulate your senses.
• Interactive, experiential, and informal. Activities that will engage and entertain you on the ship and off.
• Environmentally friendly technology to help ensure your cruise is higher impact for you, and lower impact for nature

Built for polar research, the Akademik Ioffe is a modern, comfortable and safe vessel that carries a maximum of 96 passengers. The ship underwent extensive renovation of cabins and the bar in 2011, giving it a new feel.

She has public spaces ideally suited for small group lectures to full ship briefings. The bar or the lounge are great places to have a drink and take in the scenery, and the library provides a spot to relax or catch up on some reading. The Ioffe and her sister ship, the Akademik Vavilov are two of the most stable, advanced vessels in the expedition cruise business.

The Kapitan Khlebnikov is a polar-class icebreaker combing power and technology with comfort. No passenger ship has transited the Northwest Passage more often than the renowned Kapitan Khlebnikov. Originally designed to take on the rigors of northern Siberia, the 24,000 horsepower engine and advanced ice-breaking technology take you places no other ship can.

The ship offers 52 outside cabins and suites, all featuring private facilities, large windows, desk, hair dryer, robes, and large closets.

Ocean Atlantic is the perfect vessel for expedition cruising in Antarctic waters! Newly renovated in 2016 and with an international ice class rating of 1B, she is one of the strongest ships operating in Antarctica. Her high maneuverability, shallow draft and strong engines allow for extended voyages
into isolated fjords, creating exciting adventures for any Antarctica traveler. Ocean Atlantic is newly renovated with elegant common areas and accommodation for 198 passengers.

The Ocean Diamond is a modern, stable super-yacht, excellent for experiencing Antarctica. The ship carries a maximum of 189 passengers and features onboard amenities such as a massage and wellness program, a heated swimming pool and a well-stocked polar library. The Ocean Diamond is staffed with outstanding officers, expedition leaders, and guides.

The Ocean Nova is one of the most fuel-efficient vessels operating in the Polar Regions, carrying 67 passengers in 34 cabins, each with a sea view and private facilities. The ship was completely refurbished in 2006, and it is extremely quiet and highly maneuverable.  The Ocean Nova has a spectacular observation lounge with full view windows, the latest lecture and presentation equipment, and a complete bar. The aft library/lounge has wrap-around windows, comfortable chairs and a complete Polar library. The Ocean Nova operates Fly-Cruise expeditions along with the BAE-146 Airplane, which carries passengers over the Drake Passage. The BAE 146 was manufactured in the United Kingdom by British Aerospace.  It is a high-wing aircraft with very short runway requirements which makes it particularly suited for these kind of destinations. It is operated by Aerovías DAP, which has more than 20 years of experience of flying in Patagonia and Antarctica.

The ice-strengthened vessel Ortelius is an excellent vessel for Polar expedition cruises in the Arctic and Antarctica, capable of visiting  remote locations such as the Ross Sea and Franz Josef Land in the Arctic. Ortelius was built in Poland in 1989 and worked as a special purpose vessel for the Russian Academy of Science.

The vessel has the highest ice-class notation (UL1 equivalent to 1A) and is therefore very suitable to navigate in solid one-year sea ice and loose multi-year pack ice. Ortelius is a great expedition vessel for 100 passengers with lots of open-deck spaces and a very large bridge which is accessible to the passengers. Ortelius offers a comfortable hotel standard, with two restaurants, a bar, lecture room and a sauna.

Though our voyages are primarily meant to offer our passengers an exploratory wildlife program with as much time ashore as possible, Ortelius offers all the comforts of a standard hotel ― along with a bar and lecture room. Flexibility assures maximum wildlife opportunities. As such, Ortelius carries 10 Zodiacs with 60hp Yamaha engines.

Polar Pioneer was built in Finland in 1982 as an ice-strengthened research ship, and for many years she plied the treacherous waters of the USSR’s northern coast. In 2000 she was refurbished in St Petersburg to provide comfortable accommodation for 54 passengers.A combined bar/lounge/library area (stocked with a good collection of polar books) was also created by simple internal restructuring.

This class of vessel has a fine reputation for polar expedition cruising, due to its strength, manoeuvrability and small number of cabins. All cabins have outside portholes plus ample storage space. The Russian captain and crew are among the most experienced ice-navigators in the world and their enthusiasm is legendary.

The spacious bridge is always open to us and the decks are ideal for viewing. The chefs are European, and the dining room is attended by Russian stewardesses.

Polar Pioneer is not a luxury vessel as such, but the accommodation is simple yet comfortable, and the meals are wholesome and uncomplicated. A small fleet of inflatable Zodiacs with outboard motors enable us to travel from ship to shore.

Originally built for the United States agency NOAA (National Oceanographic & Atmospheric Administration), the ice-strengthened vessel Ushuaia is designed for polar travel and Antarctica expeditions. This small cruise ship was refurbished in 2014 to accommodate a maximum of 88 passengers in 44 comfortable cabins and suites. Ushuaia is very well laid out and provides ample deck space and an open bridge policy. The full complement of inflatable landing craft ensures superb landings and wildlife viewing opportunities on the otherwise inaccessible coastline. All cabins include a desk and ample storage space. Public areas feature a large dining room (one sitting), an observation lounge and bar, a conference room with modern multimedia equipment, a well-stocked library, a changing room and a small infirmary.

The ‘Noorderlicht’, a well-balanced two-masted schooner rig is capable of sailing the seven seas, and is therefore well suited for expedition cruising among small islands and offers good open deck viewing areas, also when under sail.

The 2 inflatable rubber crafts (zodiacs) enable landing and wildlife viewing opportunities in otherwise inaccessible areas. The qualified captains have a great experience of the oceans. Together with the rest of the crew, they will do everything possible to ensure that you have a wonderful and unforgettable journey. Willingness to compromise on comfort is a basic requirement on board of a historic traditional sailing vessel.

Ocean Tramp is a 66 feet ketch rigged sailboat, with 5 cabins. She very comfortably can carry 8/10 guest plus two crew members. She is a very fast sailboat thanks to her long length, making for a short passage the sailing across the Drake. She is ideal for photographers, hikers, divers, scientists and all sort of expeditions that need a large capacity vessel with plenty of storage as well as the needed comfort when living on a sailboat for longer periods of time.

Spirit of Sydney was designed by Ben Lexcen and launched by then-Prime Minister of Australia, Bob Hawke in the euphoric era following Australia’s history breaking win of the America’s Cup with the Ben Lexcen designed Australia 2 and its famous winged keel. Ian Kiernan sailed Spirit solo around the world in the 1986 BOC Challenge and to his credit achieved 4^th place against much lighter high tech yachts, probably aided by the fact that his “landrover of the sea” suffered no structural failures and is a well balanced ‘sweet’ yacht that handles well under auto pilot.

Spirit was built in an era when good racing performance was tempered by respect for the power of the mighty southern ocean. Therefore, she is a strong and powerful yacht with excellent all round sailing ability and her tough aluminium construction and watertight bulkheads have given her a useful second life as an Antarctic Expedition yacht. She is an ocean greyhound with long clean lines and flared bow sections for surfing the big rollers of the southern ocean, offering an exhilarating experience for guests and crew alike.

Primary safety is paramount and exemplified in excellent sailing ability, like the capacity to sail off a lee shore in a gale, or surf under control when the waves build.  Primary safety is also covered by an over-built southern ocean sailing rig, powerful 130 hp turbo diesel engine and large feathering prop, 6 watertight compartments and redundancy in most systems and equipment.

Spirit of Sydney offers comfort with heated insulated interior, antarctic specified water maker, and hot fresh water showers. We emphasize safety, adventure, and hands-on experience. The pleasant raised saloon with windows at eye level has a diesel drip heater in-set in the saloon table and offers a cosy social environment, while the aluminium and plexiglass ‘ bomber style’ dodger over the cockpit keeps the crew relatively warm and dry whilst on watch. The large sugar scoop or stern platform is an ideal platform for kayaking, diving or just boarding the zodiac.

Spirit has been meticulously maintained and refitted, so that she has evolved on a yearly basis. The ongoing maintenance schedule covers many items from new sails, forestays and headsail furlers to zodiacs imported from France.

Tailor-made for exploring the remote southern tip of South America, all aspects of the 210-passenger ship — including size, length, draft and engine power — are designed to give Ventus Australis the extreme maneuverability necessary to navigate narrow fjords and channels where no other cruise ships can venture.

Ventus Australis features the latest regulations regarding safety at sea and protecting the marine environment.