Ortelius Antarctic and Arctic Cruises
A polar expedition ship filled with character
A polar cruise on board the Ortelius
3 Reviews
Ortelius has a fascinating history of polar exploration. Originally launched as the “Marina Tsvetaeva” in 1989, she served as a special purpose vessel for the Russian Academy of Science. Later re-flagged and renamed, *Ortelius” is now classed by Lloyd’s Register in London and flies the Dutch flag.
Ortelius is first and foremost a true Antarctic exploration vessel. She has the highest Ice-Class specification (UL1, equivalent to 1A) and is certified to navigate through solid annual sea ice as well as loose multi-year pack ice. In this ship, you can discover the true Antarctic, reaching places others simply can’t.
She can accommodate a maximum of only 108 passengers, and her design means she enjoys an abundance of open-deck spaces, perfect for bird and whale watching at sea, as well as iceberg spotting.
She is crewed by 22 highly experienced maritime staff, 19 hotel staff, and 8 expedition crew with a variety of expertise areas involving Antarctic exploration, wildlife, geography, and human history. She also carries a permanent doctor onboard.
As befits a true Antarctic explorer, Ortelius’ voyages are primarily meant to offer you an intense exploratory wildlife program with as much time ashore as possible. Yet she also offers all the comforts of a standard hotel ― along with a bar and lecture room. Flexibility of operation assures you of the maximum Antarctic wildlife opportunities, and to take advantage of weather and wildlife windows she carries 10 Zodiacs with powerful 60hp outboard engines.
What we love about the Ortelius
The "Basecamp" expeditions on board the Ortelius offer a number of free optional activities that are included in the cruise package.
The ship welcomes children from 3 years old on board.
Pictures and Deck Plans of the Ortelius
Dates & Prices of Ortelius
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Book now, pay later: You can easily place your booking online. We will then hold the spaces for you, and you can confirm with a payment later. Prices are per person, based on double occupancy, include taxes, and can be subject to fluctuation and change. The routes are fixed, but can be changed due to weather or breeding behavior of the animals. Could not find your preferred date?
Cabin Categories on board the Ortelius
All expedition cruises on board the Ortelius
Amenities on board the Ortelius
Bar
Lecture Theater
Observation Deck
Zodiac Fleet
Observation Lounge
Medical Services
Ortelius's take on sustainable traveling
Foremost among our sustainability goals are actively reducing the impact and emission of our vessels, investing in new technology, and continuously improving our existing resources. We have also installed a new low-emission engine in our veteran vessel, Ortelius. This engine complies with all the latest environmental legislation. Another of our important commitments to sustainability is our use of low-sulfur marine gas oil (LSMGO), which has a sulfur content of less than 0.1 percent.\n\nWe limit onboard waste production by recycling as often as we can as well as banning single-use plastics. This ship does not use straws, plastic cups, or any individually wrapped butter, yogurt, and jam. This vessel has a water treatment system and desalination system that uses reverse osmosis, allowing us to eliminate the use of plastic water bottles on board. Rather, guests receive a reusable water bottle they can refill on the vessel. Bathrooms are equipped with biodegradable shampoo and soap in recycled packing, further limiting our use of plastics.
More info about the Ortelius
Category
Classic
Type
Small Ship (<121 Guests)
Class
Ice Class 1A
Length
90.95m
Crew members
52
Gross tonnage
4090 Tons
Cruising speed
10.5 knots
Beam
Draft
5.4 m
Capacity
108
Year built
1989
Reviews of Ortelius
Ian & Julie Grover
5/5
Despite not managing the full circumnavigation, we had a a wonderful and memorable trip. Great to see the Polar bears and Walrus, and all the wildlife and amazing scenery. Kayaking amongst the sea ice was amazing, and seeing the glacier calving incredible. We loved the ship and met some great people. The guides were all great too!! (Oceanwide Expeditions)
Henk Vogel
5/5
The trip with the Ortelius was planned almost one year ago and we have been looking forward to what we called the Expedition Polar Bear with high expectations. We is the male part of a family of three generations out of the “OPA” dynasty, two 13 year old boys, two 50 year old fathers and one 77 year young granddad called OPA. Each generation with his involvement and interest of the environmental changes at Svalbard. We all enjoyed each minute and each activity of the trip. We liked to sail in the zodiac, to hike on the tundra and to climbe the mountain, to swim between the seals and polar bears , we even liked the experience to cruise during foggy and stormy weather. The expedition was extremely well organized with a first class crew and equipment with much attention to safety. Especially the expedition leader, Ali with her staff, deserves a big compliment by creating a once-in-a-lifetime feeling and an atmosphere of adventure and companionship for all participants in the age from 13 till 77. The trip exceeded our already high expectations. (Copied from Oceanwide Expeditions)
Maurice O'Leary
5/5
Having previously travelled to the Antarctic Peninsula, my wife and I wanted to return to more distant parts of this gorgeous and fascinating place. The Ross Sea tour, with its abundance of natural wonders and great historical significance, had the ideal itinerary. I can say that all of our high expectations were met, and often even exceeded. With fortunate weather (especially some well-timed sea-ice breakups) and the diligent efforts of both ship and expedition crews, we had one rare and unforgettable experience after another: the rich wildlife of the Southern Ocean, the huts of the great explorers, a tour of McMurdo Station, and the otherworldly beauty of the continent, especially the shimmering blue of the ice. In our trip planning, we evaluated several tours, and the fact that the Ortelius had helicopters emerged as a compelling argument in its favor. This proved out, especially with a landing in the Taylor Dry Valley, an awe-inspiring experience that is otherwise almost impossible. We can't say enough about the crews. They were genuinely committed to providing the best experience. We immediately came look upon them as friends, colleagues, and mentors. (Copied from Oceanwide Expeditions)
