Cruise Ships in Antarctica : MV Ortelius

The Ortelius harks from the old breed of expedition vessels and is somewhat eclectic in style. Functional and robust, she’s well suited to expedition cruising. The cabins are surprisingly large, and a 2014 refurbishment has brought the decor up to date while retaining an expedition feel.

Spending as much time as possible ashore on exploratory wildlife activities is the emphasis with the Ortelius. Her powerful engines and on-board helicopter enable you to reach more remote areas, particularly in the Polar Regions, which no other ship can manage. She can take you to Snow Hill for the emperor penguins, or complete the semi-circumnavigation from Argentina to New Zealand. Choosing the Ortelius is as much about the itinerary as the vessel.

Cabins

The good range of cabins on the Ortelius goes from four-person berths to the superior option with a double bed, all of them en suite. The ship has a wonderful Russian feel, but that does translate into fairly simple cabins. However, over the years, they’ve been updated from the dark Russian style to a light, airy feel. The superior cabins on deck five are our preference, for the space and light they offer.

Routes

• Antarctic Peninsula, the Falklands and South Georgia.
• Antarctic Circle.
• Whale watching in Antarctica.
• Weddell Sea in search of emperor penguins (with helicopter).
• Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands.