Ocean Albatros Arctic and Antarctic Cruises

Genesis Alberto Guerrero Martinez

Ocean Albatros Arctic and Antarctic Cruises

Premium

From start to finish, their organization was impeccable, ensuring every moment aboard our sturdy ship, with its exceptional hotel team, was filled with excitement and wonder. My favorite moment was witnessing polar bears and walruses against the backdrop of breathtaking landscapes. I have to highlight, the expedition team's deep insights into the region's history and culture enriched our journey profoundly. Their passion for adventure, respect for wildlife, and commitment to climate awareness made the experience unforgettable. I can't wait to embark on another adventure with them. Highly recommended for anyone craving an enriching Arctic experience aboard a ship that felt like home.

Lisa M from Apopka

Ocean Albatros Arctic and Antarctic Cruises

Premium

This was a trip of a lifetime and Ocean Albatros was the perfect company to cruise with. Their ship was spotless and the decor was very pleasing. Staff were exceptional and knowledgeable, as well as the Expedition Team. Daily activities included 2 Zodiac and or landings per day and informative lectures. My favorite activity was camping on Antarctica! Food was also varied and delicious.

Julien Augis

Ocean Albatros Arctic and Antarctic Cruises

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First of all special thanks to Bruna from PolarTours, she provided a great support during the booking process and before the cruise. The trip itself was amazing from the begining to the end. The ship was so nice, I particularly enjoyed the jacuzzis, sauna and gym. Our room was very comfortable. All crew members were so nice and dedicated (expedition guides, waiters, security, captain...). I higly appreciated the wide variety of food and the quality. We managed (thanks to the wonderful weather) to complete 10 expeditions on 6 days. My favourite location was the andvord bay where we climbed a hill with snowshoes, the view up there was just incredible. We saw so many animals... pingouins of course but also whales, orcas, seals, birds... everyday!

Natalia Ł

Ocean Albatros Arctic and Antarctic Cruises

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The trip was absolutely amazing! Starting with great support and immediate responses from Bruna for all my doubts. The ship was great, with many nice public spots to relax and enjoy the views, so I didn’t spend a lot of time in the room. The expedition team together with whole hospitality team took excellent care of each participant. 12 days trip was also just enough time to get to Antarctica and enjoy many nice spots. I would suggest to take some postcards with you as you can send it from one of the Antarctica post office for 2USD (cash only) but the shop on the ship doesn’t have postcard.

ZOLTAN G

Ocean Albatros Arctic and Antarctic Cruises

Premium

March 2025

My recent expedition to Antarctica exceeded all my expectations, showcasing nature's stunning beauty. The unique emerald glaciers and towering mountains, rising 2,000 to 3,000 meters from the ocean, were breathtaking. The contrast of warm sunlight against the icy backdrop created a surreal atmosphere. The wildlife was extraordinary. I was enchanted by playful penguins, humbled by the majesty of whales, and calmed by seals lounging on glaciers. Watching penguins swim alongside our zodiac was exhilarating, and witnessing the experts' dedication to preserving this pristine environment was truly inspiring. Antarctica is a land of peace and science. Each day at the peninsula included six hours of exploration on land and by zodiac. I learned from passionate experts—naturalists, photographers, marine scientists, and more—who enriched our journey with their insights. Their openness made every moment engaging. Our vessel, OCEAN ALBATROS, was impressive, featuring a sauna, gym, and BBQ, along with karaoke nights and cultural activities like tango dancing and dumpling-making. The ship's library offered a wealth of information about Antarctica’s history. This trip was not just about sightseeing; it was about learning and forging new friendships. I returned home with invaluable knowledge and cherished memories. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Bruna Garcia, Travel Specialist at Polartours, for her outstanding guidance in planning my trip. Her support throughout the entire process, from the initial booking to the final preparations for our Antarctic expedition, made everything smooth and enjoyable.

Caecilius V

Ocean Albatros Arctic and Antarctic Cruises

Premium

March 2025

We booked with Polartours and our ship was the Ocean Albatross. We left for a 12 day trip in mid February. The trip was amazing, for all trips to the south-pole there is a itinerary, but this can change due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances. The second day the weather on the drake passage was so bad (huge waves and cyclone winds) we had to wait in de Beagle channel, i believe every ship at that moment did the same. After that our expedition leader changed our trip so that we immediately went for the crossing of antarctic circle and worked our way up the peninsula from there. And after the every moment was one of amazement. The first iceberg you see (1200 meters), the first seal, the first penguin the first whale, everything takes your breath away. After that we did 2 trips a day (weather permitting) with zodiacs and landings and saw some amazing and beautiful scenery and wildlife. Large colonies of penguins (Adelie, chinstrap but mostly Gentoo), resting seals (furseals, weddelseals, leopard seals) and whales passing by (Fin Whale, Seiwhale and lot of humpbacks showing there flukes). Some of the beautiful locations we visited: Thorne Point, Detaille island, Petermann Island, Plenau island, Lemaire Channel, Stony Point, Port Lockroy, Neko Harbor, Cuverville island, Deception Island and Halfmoon island. The zodiac cruises where very nice and well organized, the crew was helpful and knowledgeable, you are put in different color groups, that will be called one after a other to change in the mudroom and take place in the zodiacs, the first 2 groups will do a landing the second 2 groups will do a zodiac tour, and after 1 hour to 1,5 hour the group switches (you can only have a maximum amount of persons on a landing at any given time). This happens twice a day, one in the morning around 8, and one during the day. I really enjoyed the zodiac trips, you can see the wildlife and beautiful Blue icebergs from a different perspective. The temperature outside was about 0 degrees Celsius, around 32 Fahrenheit, however it can get cold when the wind starts to blow or comes from the glaciers. The ship: Its a really modern ship from 2023, and feels luxurious, we had a room with a balcony, and it was spacious, it had a king sized bed, a desk a small 2 person couch, large television, nice bathroom with shower and plenty of closet space. The ship has 2 restaurants, the main one, where most people will eat (mostly buffet for breakfast and lunch, diner a la carte if the weather isn't choppy), the other restaurant was stone grill, you need to make a reservation, but it's a nice experience. There is a small gym, and sauna a very nice viewing platform on the topdeck and off course the large lecture hall, where you will get briefings, lectures and sometimes a game or show. The crew: Very nice an knowledgeable, most of them look in there early 30's but they are very qualified, they have masters, Phd's (sometimes multiple) and some are professors at universities, there knowledge differs, some know a lot about birds,some about whales, some about plate tectonics or weather. A very divers group of people (also from every place around the globe) who are very helpful. The teamleader Simon did al the briefings and the wake up calls was very helpfull, told us about weather changes, changes in the program and the reasons why. (weather can change drastically very rapid) It was really helpful and I'm going to miss the wake up calls. The booking operator: Polartours, the site was very helpful, and found one of the best prices around (I did a lot of searching for this trip, because it isn't cheap) and this was one of the best options i could find. Bruna Garcia was the one helping us with the booking process and the rest of the trip, and she was very helpful, even do she was across the ocean, i could ask questions per mail and would get a quick reply, but could also call her and she would be very informative on the phone. She also reminded us that we needed to fill out some forms (sometimes a bit much, but i actually find that very helpful). As you can see Bruna I remembered i just like to take my time. In all, it was a trip of a lifetime, It's hard to describe what to expect and what you will see, but it exceeded my expectations and was worth every penny.