Noorderlicht Arctic Cruises

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.

Ortelius

Ortelius is a rugged, no-nonsense polar ship built for true exploration. Originally launched in 1989 as the Marina Tsvetaeva for the Russian Academy of Sciences, she carries the spirit of scientific discovery in every voyage. Now sailing under the Dutch flag and classed by Lloyd’s Register in London, she offers travelers a genuine expedition experience in some of the most remote corners of the world. With the highest ice class for passenger ships (UL1, equivalent to 1A), Ortelius is built to push deep into the pack ice—reaching regions and wildlife colonies inaccessible to most vessels. She accommodates a maximum of just 108 guests, ensuring an intimate experience with more time ashore and more personal landings. Her wide, open deck spaces make wildlife viewing effortless, whether it’s spotting whales, seabirds, or distant icebergs. Ortelius is crewed by a passionate team of 22 maritime professionals, 19 hotel staff, and 8 experienced expedition guides specializing in polar wildlife, geology, history, and more. A doctor is always onboard for peace of mind. Designed for adventure but equipped with all the comforts of a standard hotel, Ortelius also features a cozy bar, lecture room, and 10 fast Zodiacs for landings. Select voyages even include helicopter operations from her helideck, opening up truly rare opportunities—like visits to emperor penguin colonies in the Weddell Sea.

Polar Pioneer

The well-known MV Polar Pioneer is a durable, capable veteran expedition ship (19 seasons strong) loved by guests and expedition leaders for its capability to explore remote polar regions with ease despite its small size. Its new Scandinavian owners have done an extensive refit upgrading it to today’s standards and is ready for the 2022 Arctic season. The Polar Pioneer benefits from holsting maximum 48 guests on an authentic expedition adventure free from the crowds of larger vessels. All guests can fit in the Zodiacs at once ensuring there is no waiting to go ashore and everyone can explore the surroundings at the same time. Originally an ice-strengthened research vessel, The MV Polar Pioneer was built in Finland in 1982 and navigates with an ice class 1A super. This is really convenient for the polar regions with heavy sea ice. The Polar Pioneer can transit open water crossings with ease and comfort due to the integrated dynamic water ballast system, which guarantees a great reduction of rolling in heavy seas. The game-changing stability system onboard works marvellously and makes the zodiac’s loading/unloading operations flow with ease. As a result, the Polar Pioneer is one of the most stable vessels currently in operations in the Polar regions. The Polar Pioneer has a large deck space with raised areas making it great for photography. It features a large guest saloon with a bar, and an onboard sauna to warm up in after a day in the cold. The ship is crewed by a team of experts with decades of experience navigating polar waters and is an ideal vessel for guests looking to go on a real expedition with an authentic polar vessel. There is accommodation for 48 guests across twins, triple cabins, and suites. The ship is equipped with Zodiacs that can accommodate all guests for shore landings and exploring.