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Best Price Guarantee
Best Price Guarantee
Length
24 Days
Ship category
Classic
Ship type
Small Ships
Capacity
72 Passengers
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Ocean Nova is the ship we put on the shortlist for travellers who want expedition life to feel close to the water, social and unvarnished. Built in Denmark in 1992 for Greenland's ice, this compact 73-metre vessel has spent decades in polar service. She is not a new-generation luxury ship—and that is part of her appeal. Choose her if you care more about an agile daily rhythm, easy access to outside decks and a small group than private balconies or a spa.
Most guests naturally gravitate to the glass-enclosed panorama lounge. Its broad forward view and adjoining deck make it easy to move from a … 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
-5% for children ≤ 10
Meals are served in one open-seating dining room, which suits Ocean Nova's sociable small-ship character: expedition staff and travellers can share the same tables and the day's stories. Current ship material describes buffet-style breakfasts and lunches, followed by globally inspired à la carte dinners with fish and vegetarian choices; freshly made desserts are a recurring favourite in recent guest feedback. Meal times flex around landings and wildlife opportunities, so the expedition day takes priority over a rigid restaurant schedule. Exact menus vary by charter, and dietary requirements should always be shared in advance.
From
Until
Info
Availability
Price
4
Jan
2027
• 24 days
• Great discounts on all Cabins
From
USD 28,975
4
Jan
2027
27
Jan
2027
•
Great discounts on all Cabins
USD 28,975
Preferred date unavailable?
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.
All meals aboard Ocean Nova, including snacks and 24-hour tea and coffee.
Lectures and guiding by the expedition team.
All included shore excursions and Zodiac cruises; paid adventure options are excluded.
A puffer jacket and waterproof expedition parka to keep.
Use of rubber Muck boots during the expedition, subject to the operator's size conditions.
Full access to the onboard gym.
500 MB of complimentary internet usage, subject to remote connectivity.
All port taxes.
Group arrival transfer from Ushuaia Airport to the pre-voyage hotel on Day 1.
One pre-voyage hotel night in Ushuaia with breakfast, based on cabin configuration.
Transfer from the pre-voyage hotel to Ocean Nova for embarkation on Day 2.
Group transfer after disembarkation to selected Ushuaia Airport services or downtown Ushuaia.
International or domestic flights unless specifically listed as included.
Airport transfers, taxes and excess baggage charges unless specifically listed as included.
Meals not specified in the final travel documents.
Passport and visa fees.
Mandatory comprehensive travel insurance, including the operator's required minimum coverage.
Any applicable fuel surcharge.
Optional paid adventure activities.
Alcoholic and other selected beverages.
Laundry and communication services beyond the complimentary internet allowance.
Gratuities for the expedition team and crew.
Personal expenses and other items not expressly included.
Crossing the Antarctic Circle is an objective, not a guarantee.
Days 8 to 11 and 14 to 21 are flexible expedition programs.
South Georgia landings require strict biosecurity procedures.
Long open-ocean passages are integral to this route.
The voyage begins and ends in Ushuaia.
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.
This trip generates 7.2 t CO₂e. 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
From
USD 28,975
No dates selected
From
17 Reviews
Walk among the Falklands' diverse penguin colonies.
Experience South Georgia's king penguins and seals.
Explore the Antarctic Peninsula by Zodiac and on foot.
Attempt to cross the Antarctic Circle when conditions permit.
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.
Link the South Atlantic's great wildlife regions on a 24-day expedition aboard Ocean Nova. Explore the Falklands, spend four days along South Georgia, then continue through the South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula toward the Antarctic Circle.
This is an ambitious expedition, not a fixed sightseeing schedule. Weather and ice may change landings and determine whether the ship can cross the Antarctic Circle.
Keep in mind this is an expedition cruise, so your itinerary will depend greatly on the weather, amount of ice and wildlife breeding behavior.
Arrive in Ushuaia and transfer to the included hotel. An evening icebreaker introduces the expedition team and the ambitious route linking the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the Antarctic Circle.
Spend the first day at sea learning from the expedition team and watching for seabirds from the outer decks or open bridge. The programme adapts to conditions as Ocean Nova approaches the Falkland Islands.
Explore a West Falklands landing chosen for wildlife and conditions. Gentoo, king, Magellanic, macaroni and rockhopper penguins are among the species present across the islands.
Continue in the Falklands with a morning excursion and possible time around Stanley, subject to the final landing plan. Sail toward South Georgia in the afternoon.
Leave the Falkland Islands and set a course across the Southern Ocean for South Georgia. Lectures explore the region's wildlife and history while albatrosses and petrels may follow the ship.
Continue towards South Georgia with further presentations and wildlife watches. The crossing provides time to prepare for the island's strict biosecurity procedures and the weather-dependent landings ahead.
Begin exploring South Georgia, where glaciers, steep valleys and major wildlife concentrations shape each day. The expedition team chooses landing sites according to swell, weather and wildlife activity.
Seek another perspective on South Georgia through Zodiac cruising or a shore visit, conditions permitting. King penguins, fur seals and elephant seals are among the possible encounters, with responsible distances maintained.
Continue along South Georgia's coast, using the ship and Zodiacs to reach the best available site. The day's plan may combine wildlife, glacial scenery and a walk suited to local conditions.
A visit in the Grytviken area may reveal the island's whaling history and its connection with Ernest Shackleton, subject to access. Wildlife and weather determine the final South Georgia programme.
Ocean Nova sails south-west across the Scotia Sea towards Antarctica. Expert talks and deck watches continue, with the first distant icebergs possible as the ship approaches colder waters.
Continue the Scotia Sea crossing and prepare for the Antarctic Peninsula. The expedition team briefs passengers on safe landings, wildlife guidelines and the flexible choices shaped by ice and weather.
Begin the Antarctic phase among the South Shetland Islands or northern Peninsula, conditions permitting. Zodiac cruising and shore visits may reveal penguins, seals, sculpted ice and historic or scientific sites.
Follow the best available route through Antarctic channels and bays. The expedition leader may schedule up to two excursions when conditions permit, but exact sites and timings cannot be guaranteed.
Continue exploring by Zodiac and on foot, with the day's plan guided by sea ice, wind and wildlife reports. Optional activities run only when available and do not replace the main expedition programme.
Look for another landing or Zodiac-cruise opportunity along the Peninsula or nearby islands. Penguins, seals and whales are possible, while the expedition team adjusts plans to protect wildlife and passenger safety.
Spend a final flexible day in the central Peninsula region before turning south. A polar plunge may be offered if conditions and the expedition team's safety assessment allow.
Ocean Nova attempts to continue south towards the Antarctic Circle at 66°33′S. Ice and weather decide how far the ship can travel, with Weddell seals and expansive sea-ice scenery among the possibilities.
If conditions allow, explore the remote waters around or south of the Antarctic Circle by Zodiac or on foot; otherwise pursue the best safe alternative farther north.
Turn north for further Antarctic exploration, using the best available landing or Zodiac site on the return route. The day's details remain deliberately flexible to respond to weather, ice and wildlife.
Enter the Drake Passage for the voyage back to South America. Presentations and time on deck offer further chances to see seabirds and whales while reflecting on the expedition's three distinct regions.
Complete the return crossing with a photographic recap and final gatherings aboard Ocean Nova. The ship aims for the Beagle Channel, but timing remains dependent on the sea state.
After breakfast, disembark Ocean Nova in Ushuaia and transfer to the airport or town centre. Book onward travel after midday to allow for possible changes during the Drake Passage crossing.