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Best Price Guarantee
Best Price Guarantee
Length
12 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
-5% for children ≤ 10
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.
The official itinerary groups Days 5 to 9 as flexible Antarctic exploration.
Whales and other wildlife cannot be guaranteed.
The exact landing sequence remains open to weather and ice.
The source is the current Chimu Australia product page.
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.
Long-haul flights and the on-the-ground program generate 3.6 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.
Price
Upon Request
Explore five days among the South Shetlands and Peninsula.
Watch for whales in late-summer feeding waters.
Land near penguin colonies when conditions allow.
Cross the Drake Passage in both directions.
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.
Give Antarctica five full flexible exploration days on this 12-day classic voyage aboard Ocean Nova. After a hotel night in Ushuaia and the southbound Drake Passage, combine Zodiac cruises and landings across the South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula.
February conditions may bring active whales and busy penguin colonies, but nature remains unscripted. The expedition leader selects every site for current safety, ice and wildlife conditions.
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 pre-voyage hotel. Meet the local team and prepare for embarkation.
Sail south across the Drake Passage with lectures on Antarctic wildlife and history. Watch for albatrosses, petrels, dolphins and whales.
Cross the Antarctic Convergence and approach the South Shetland Islands. Icebergs and the first land views build anticipation.
Begin flexible exploration with a landing or Zodiac cruise chosen for current conditions. Volcanic scenery and penguin colonies may feature.
Enter the channels of the Antarctic Peninsula and explore among glaciers and icebergs by Zodiac, with a shore landing when safe.
Search late-summer waters for whales and visit a wildlife landing selected by the expedition team. Every encounter follows responsible distance rules.
Continue through sheltered bays where sculpted ice, seabirds and seals reward patient observation. Conditions determine the mix of cruising and walking.
Use the fifth and final exploration day for the strongest remaining landing or Zodiac opportunity before turning north.
Begin the return crossing. Lectures, photo reviews and time on deck help interpret the journey.
Continue north across the Drake Passage, watching for seabirds and whales before entering the Beagle Channel toward evening.
Disembark Ocean Nova after breakfast and join the included group transfer to selected airport services or downtown Ushuaia.