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Best Price Guarantee
Best Price Guarantee
Length
11 Days
Ship category
Classic
Ship type
Small Ships
Capacity
72 Passengers
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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, … Read more about Ocean Nova
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Fitness Center
Bar
Lecture Theater
Zodiac Fleet
Observation Lounge
Private Flight to Antarctica
Medical Services
Library
When booking online, you can choose the option to "Upgrade to single occupancy". This will guarantee you the whole cabin to yourself, for an additional fee. If you don't select this option, then another traveler of the same sex might be placed into the same cabin with you. Exceptions may apply.
One pre-voyage hotel night in Ushuaia with breakfast.
Group arrival transfer from Ushuaia Airport to the pre-voyage hotel on Day One.
Transfer from the hotel to Ocean Nova for embarkation on Day Two.
Nine nights aboard Ocean Nova.
All meals aboard, snacks and 24-hour tea and coffee.
Lectures and briefings led by the expedition team.
All scheduled shore excursions and Zodiac cruises, subject to conditions.
Expedition jacket arrangement and loan rubber boots as confirmed for your departure.
Group transfer after disembarkation to Ushuaia Airport at selected times or downtown Ushuaia.
Access to the onboard gym.
500 MB complimentary internet allowance.
All port taxes.
International and domestic flights unless expressly specified.
Airport transfers, taxes and excess baggage charges unless specified.
Meals other than those listed as included.
Passport and visa costs.
Mandatory travel insurance, including the required emergency medical and evacuation cover.
Any fuel surcharge applied by the operator.
Optional paid activities such as day paddling, camping or snowshoeing.
Alcoholic and selected other beverages.
Internet beyond the complimentary allowance, laundry and communication services.
Gratuities for the expedition team and crew.
Personal expenses.
Days Five to Eight are deliberately flexible. The expedition leader and captain choose landing sites and Zodiac routes according to weather, sea ice, wildlife, permits and safety.
The Drake Passage is unpredictable and may be calm or rough. Ask your doctor about suitable motion-sickness medication before traveling.
Optional day paddling, camping and snowshoeing must be requested in advance and remain subject to availability, local regulations and conditions; extra charges apply.
A hotel night and the specified group transfers in Ushuaia are included. If you fly on disembarkation day, book a departure after midday.
Comprehensive travel insurance with the operator's required emergency medical and evacuation cover is mandatory.
After completing your booking, you will receive an invoice from your travel specialist by email. A deposit of 30% of the trip price is required to secure your booking. Payment can be made through bank transfer or by credit card through a secure payment link.
Full payment is expected 30 days before your trip. Payment can be made in installments.
Long-haul flights and the on-the-ground program generate 3.3 t CO₂e on this trip. Polartours regularly measures and monitors the carbon footprint of its journeys and actively reduces emissions through sustainable travel design: no unnecessary flights, fewer feeder flights, integration of rail and public transport, and promoting longer stays for a more balanced relationship between travel distance and impact.
From 2018 to 2024, we supported carbon reduction projects equivalent to the emissions generated. Recognizing the limits of traditional offsetting, we now focus on active environmental protection through our own rainforest project, Forest Guardians.
More information on our climate and environmental responsibility: https://www.venturatravel.org/impact
All cruises in the polar regions operate to itineraries that are more-or-less fixed. We say "more or less", because wildlife (breeding, seasonality) and weather always play an important role in routing. Most cruises will offer a range of land-based and water-based activities that you will enjoy at various points in your cruise, including:
All boats carry English speaking, scientifically trained guides. They will lead you on your excursions, allowing you to learn as much as possible about the unique wildlife and habitats of the Polar Regions.
Choosing the right ship for a cruise to Antarctica or the Arctic seems difficult, but it doesn't have to be. Our fleet is over 30 vessels, we are sure that there is the perfect one for you. Please, follow these simple steps, and you will be able to find your ideal ship:
In addition: We work with responsible partners who provide a great experience for their passengers. All of our providers are committed to sustainability and to preserving the beauty of the polar regions. You don’t need to worry about the impact of your cruise, because we’ve already taken care of it.
We love to help people find their dream vacation to the Arctic and Antarctic. Whether you give us a call, contact us via email, or use our website inquiry form, one of our Polar travel experts will be more than happy to answer any questions, recommend ships and itineraries, and walk you through the whole process!
Step 1: Find your perfect trip. If you have already started looking for Polar Cruises, you will have quickly noticed that the sheer amount of options can be quite overwhelming. To help you navigate the countless departures and itineraries that our fleet offers, we have put together a great filter page for Antarctic and Arctic Expedition Cruises. Use this page to filter all trips by price, date, ship category, and even destinations you wish to visit. We update all dates, prices, and availabilities daily, and are proud to host what is doubtlessly the world's most complete collection of information.
Step 2: Found something you love? We'll hold your spaces, free of charge! If you find a cruise you like, you can either inquire directly with us or make an unbinding booking online. We will then reach out to the shipowners to put a hold on your spaces for a limited time, free of charge. Once we have confirmed your block with the ship, we will send you a written confirmation of your reservation and include full payment details in an invoice. Typically, we are able to hold unpaid reservations for up to 1 week*. This gives us time to clarify all your remaining questions, and also ensures that no other passengers can book your spaces, while we continue our conversation.
Step 3: Confirm your booking. In order to confirm your booking, we ask for a deposit payment. You can pay via bank transfer or credit card. Keep in mind, that we can only hold your spaces for a limited amount of time. If we don't receive your payment after this time, we can no longer guarantee that the places will be available or that the price won't increase. To prevent disappointment, we will automatically cancel your reservation if we don't receive your deposit by the due date stated on your booking reservation.
Step 4: Booking confirmation & Payment. As soon as we have received your deposit and a completed passenger information form, we will be pleased to send your booking confirmation and updated invoice, along with your trip itinerary, important information, and other great tips for your cruise.
Step 5: Final payment. In your initial invoice, we will define a final payment date by when you need to pay us the remaining amount of your trip. Once we have received your final payment we'll send you your cruise documents and voucher. As your trip approaches, we make sure to pass along all necessary information, so you feel super prepared and stress-free.
*For last-minute bookings, we might not be able to hold your spaces for so long. We will also require the full payment of your cruise upon booking.
An expedition cruise to Antarctica or the Arctic is a big deal! Most people plan for this type of trip at least 8 months in advance. This means the earlier you book, the better chance you'll have to reserve your prefered cabins. Early bird discounts are also popular and a great way to get 10-30% off your cruise.
Most expedition cruises offer optional activities like camping and kayaking, but the spaces are limited. A cruise with 120 passengers can have only 10-15 spaces for kayaking. These are reserved on a first come first served basis. The earlier you book, the higher your chance of grabbing a spot.
Even though last minute deals do occur, keep in mind that the airline prices will be much higher if you purchase them last minute. You may save a few hundred on your cruise, but you may end up paying the most for airfare.
4.9
(17)
Price
Upon Request
17 Reviews
Zodiac cruises among icebergs and glacier-lined bays.
Penguin colonies and chances to spot seals, whales and albatrosses.
Shore landings chosen daily for the best safe conditions and wildlife opportunities.
A small-ship expedition with 80 guests and a ten-guide team.
Best Price Guarantee: Find a better price elsewhere, and we’ll match it.
Polar Expedition Specialists: We focus exclusively on polar voyages, with advice rooted in real, firsthand expertise.
Travel that gives back: Every booking directly funds our mission to protect and restore global rainforests.
Antarctica begins before the first landing. It begins in Ushuaia, with the mountains behind the harbor, and gathers momentum as Ocean Nova leaves the Beagle Channel for the Drake Passage. Albatrosses follow the ship, the expedition team turns the crossing into a moving classroom, and the first iceberg changes the view from anticipation to something wonderfully real.
Four flexible expedition days around the South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula form the heart of this journey. Weather permitting, mornings and afternoons are spent away from the ship: cruising by Zodiac below glacier fronts, stepping ashore near penguin colonies, walking across snow or watching seals and whales from the water. The exact landing sites are chosen as the voyage unfolds, so the team can follow the safest conditions and the strongest wildlife opportunities rather than a rigid checklist.
Ocean Nova keeps the experience intimate. With 80 guests and a ten-guide expedition team, the ship is small enough for everyone to take part in shore operations together. This is a strong first expedition for travelers who want the classic peninsula journey, active days in the field and the freedom to let ice, weather and wildlife shape the story.
Keep in mind this is an expedition cruise, so your itinerary will depend greatly on the weather, amount of ice and wildlife breeding behavior.
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Arrive in Ushuaia, where an included group transfer takes you from the airport to the pre-voyage hotel. The evening icebreaker brings the journey into focus: meet fellow travelers and the local team, hear the practical details for embarkation, and look south from the city that has long served as Antarctica's gateway. Breakfast at the hotel is included the next morning.
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The Drake Passage is more than time at sea. Join lectures on wildlife, glaciology and polar history, learn how landings and Zodiac operations work, and spend time on deck with albatrosses and petrels riding the wind around the ship. The sea can be calm or lively; either way, the crossing gives the expedition team time to prepare you for the landscape ahead.
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Continue south through the Southern Ocean, watching for whales, seabirds and the first iceberg. Ocean Nova's open bridge offers a close look at navigation and one of the best vantage points on the ship. If sea and weather conditions cooperate, the first snow-covered islands may appear by evening, turning a day of anticipation into the unmistakable feeling of arrival.
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Expedition operations begin around the South Shetland Islands or nearby peninsula waters. Weather permitting, the team aims for a morning and afternoon outing: perhaps a Zodiac cruise through brash ice, a first shore landing near a penguin colony, or a walk beneath volcanic ridges and glaciers. The exact site is chosen on the day, when the team can judge ice, wildlife and safety properly.
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Set out again by Zodiac and on foot, using Ocean Nova's small size to reach sheltered bays and landing beaches. Gentoo, chinstrap and Adélie penguins may be busy along the shore, while leopard, crabeater or Weddell seals rest on ice and rocks. Between excursions, the expedition team adds context to what you have seen and keeps watch for new wildlife activity.
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Another flexible day allows the captain and expedition leader to follow the strongest opportunity in the peninsula region. One outing may bring a glacier front and sculpted icebergs; another may slow down for a whale encounter or lead to a viewpoint above a penguin rookery. Conditions decide the order, but the aim remains clear: meaningful time outside, supported by guides who can read this changing environment.
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Make the most of the final expedition day with the best safe landing or Zodiac route available. There may be time for a shore walk, a quiet cruise below ice cliffs or the invigorating polar plunge. Pre-booked day paddling, camping or snowshoeing may also be offered when the departure and conditions allow. By evening, Ocean Nova turns north toward the Drake Passage.
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The return crossing creates space to absorb what has just happened. Watch for albatrosses and whales from the outer decks, join further lectures or citizen-science sessions, compare photographs and revisit the landings with the expedition team. The ship is heading home, but the Southern Ocean remains part of the journey rather than an empty day between destinations.
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Continue north with a final day of seabird watching, expedition presentations and time with the people who shared the voyage. A photographic slideshow brings together the wildlife, ice and small moments from shore. Ocean Nova is scheduled to reach the calmer waters of the Beagle Channel by evening, followed by a farewell dinner on board.
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After breakfast, disembark Ocean Nova in Ushuaia. An included group transfer takes you either to the airport at selected times or to downtown Ushuaia, where luggage storage is available. If you fly today, choose a departure after midday so the schedule has room for weather or port delays at the end of the expedition.