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Your journey begins in Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world, set along the Beagle Channel. From there, you sail south across the legendary Drake Passage, entering the remote and icy realm of Antarctica, where vast white landscapes and wildlife define the experience. The voyage continues through the rugged South Shetland Islands, before reaching King George Island, a key Antarctic gateway. From here, you fly north over the Drake Passage to Punta Arenas in Chilean Patagonia, where the expedition concludes amid windswept landscapes at the edge of South America.
Arrive in Ushuaia, Argentina, check in, and relax at the Hotel Albatros, located in the heart of this fascinating Patagonian city. Ushuaia is the main hub for global visitors to Antarctica, situated on the Beagle Channel at the edge of the infamous Drake Passage. Meet your fellow explorers and prepare yourself for adventure!
Spend your morning relaxing at the hotel, visiting a museum, or exploring the shops in Ushuaia before our mid-afternoon escort to the ship. Our Expedition Team and onboard crew will welcome you as you board and get you settled in, followed by a safety and orientation briefing and the Captain’s welcome dinner. We’re on our way to Antarctica!
Join our Polar Experts as they share their extensive knowledge of Antarctica, from its enchanting wildlife to its bold history. Participate in our pioneering Citizen Science program, or sit back and take in this fabled journey while catching glimpses of rarely seen wildlife. Keep your binoculars handy to identify the many seabirds that escort our ship as we cross the Antarctic Convergence into Antarctica’s waters and noticeably cooler temperatures.
It’s time to slow our ship down, allowing you to fully explore the dreamlike world around us and let the power of this extraordinary place sink in. This is your opportunity to become more intimately acquainted with Antarctica by Zodiac, kayak, snowshoe, or while spending unhurried time ashore, taking in the silence and scale of the landscape. For those engaged in our Citizen Science program, the important work of understanding and documenting this fragile environment continues. Be sure to keep your camera handy, as penguins, seals, and whale sightings are all part of this incredible experience. And a passing iceberg, towering high above, its magical blue light seeming to glow from within, is something you’ll want to share with friends back home.
Over time, the volcanic activity of the South Shetland Islands has created a geology unlike any other. Here, you can expect a spectacular display of mountains, glaciers, and wildlife, including Chinstrap and Gentoo penguins. It’s also not uncommon to share the water’s edge with elephant and fur seals, while whales are often spotted as well. We’ll settle into our Zodiacs and spend our final day exploring Antarctica.
On the final day aboard Ocean Nova, we arrive at King George Island, Antarctica’s most populous island (scientists only, please). After a fond farewell to the Expedition Team, crew, and officers of Ocean Nova, you’ll disembark by Zodiac to the small Chilean station on King George Island, where your chartered aircraft awaits. Board your aircraft and watch the White Continent recede as we fly smoothly across the Drake Passage. Upon arrival in Punta Arenas, Chile, a gala dinner and comfortable rest await you at the beautifully appointed Hotel Cabo de Hornos.
Spend the day exploring the best of Chilean Patagonia on an excursion to the famous Estancia Olga Teresa, a local ranch that embodies Patagonian hospitality. Learn about life at the bottom of the world and keep a close eye out for wildlife, including guanacos, rhea, and Andean condors. In the evening, relax in exceptional comfort back at your hotel or explore the vibrant city of Punta Arenas.
After bidding farewell to your fellow explorers, continue exploring the surroundings of Punta Arenas, head off for more adventure in Patagonia, or travel to the airport for your return journey home and a well-earned rest.
An initial deposit (20% of trip cost pp) is required within 7 days of your reservation to confirm the booking.
A non-refundable 20% deposit is required to confirm space on paid adventure options such as camping and kayaking.
Final payment for all voyages is due in full 120 days prior to departure. For bookings within 120 days of departure, full payment is required at time of booking.
All cancellations must be received in writing. Reservations cancelled 181 days or more prior to departure are subject to a $1250 per person cancellation fee. Cancellations 180 days to 121 days prior to departure are full loss of deposit. Reservations cancelled 120 days or less prior to departure are subject to full fare forfeiture.
Rates per person
2
8 m²
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10 m²
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10 m² / 106 sq ft
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14 m²
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8 m²
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8 m²
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10 m²
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2
10 m² / 106 sq ft
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1
14 m²
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8 m²
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This program is designed for those guests who just want a taste of the Polar kayaking experience. Each participant kayaks once per voyage in a group of 14 with a dedicated guide team and safety Zodiac. Total number of available kayaking spots on each departure will vary by itinerary length and weather, but we aim to get groups on the water at every opportunity.
*Advanced booking is recommended. Additional outings can be purchased on board, space permitting.
Smaller vessels offer greater flexibility and personalization, facilitating quick transfers, boardings, and disembarkations. Low passenger capacity and high guide-to-guest ratio enable spontaneous itinerary adjustments and unique wildlife encounters, ensuring a dynamic and tailored voyage that larger ships cannot match. If we know a pod of whales is nearby, we can change our route, adjusting our plans with ease.
The Antarctic Treaty limits the number of guests ashore to a maximum of 100. Larger ships must therefore organize shore visits in groups, with guests taking turns. On the other hand, all guests on our small ships can disembark at once, maximizing their time ashore.
Having a Citizen Science program on every voyage is an effort we pioneered, as the very first Antarctic operator to officially collaborate with The Polar Citizen Science Collective. We continue to team up with them on several projects, giving our passengers the chance to play a meaningful role in recording and better understanding the Arctic and Antarctic ecosystems and the impact of climate change. This is particularly helpful in the polar regions, where we support long-term academic observation teams that would find it nearly impossible to be as ever-present on their own.
The projects offered may vary slightly by voyage and scientific need. Everyone is welcome to participate. If interested, please see the onboard daily bulletin and join the scheduled Citizen Science Introduction Meeting at the start of your voyage. There is no additional cost.
Our photography coaches are always on hand to give advice on Zodiac cruises, on-shore landings, or on deck. In addition, they will share ongoing presentations to help you best address the challenges of shooting in the unique and unpredictable polar regions. Your onboard coach will also be documenting your expedition, which will be presented to you in a USB flash drive keepsake to share with friends and family back home.
Free for all guests!
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Ocean Nova is a sturdy and nimble expedition vessel, built to sail the ice-choked waters of Polar Regions.
The ship was built in 1992 and fully renovated in 2006, and has benefitted from annual upgrades and improvements since then. It has an ice-strengthened hull that is ideally suited for expedition travel in Antarctica.
With a maximum of just 80 passengers, Ocean Nova offers the best advantages of a small ship adventure – a small enough size to maneuver into the most intimate and pristine landscapes, and a superior guide-to-passenger ratio, ensuring a highly personalized experience for everyone both onboard and off. Our unique Panorama Lounge, at the heart of Ocean Nova, and its accompanying outside deck offer unparalleled wildlife viewing.
Polar Latitudes is all about small-ship immersive adventures. And that very much defines the Ocean Nova experience. One of the smaller, more nimble ships in Antarctic waters, Ocean Nova is fully prepared to escort you into Antarctica’s more elusive bays and coves, where you’ll bear witness to some of Antarctica’s greatest secrets.
Our 80-passenger max and highly attentive team of guides will keep you in “front row center” for all that Antarctica has to offer. Our smaller passenger count means no waiting for meals or zodiac boarding, and will ensure that everyone on board can participate in every landing together and all at once. By journey’s end, you’ll likely be on a first-name basis with many of your fellow passengers and guides.
Polar Latitudes Expeditions is a growing company. As we grow, so does our responsibility to both the communities that support us, and the environments we love and depend upon. We take those responsibilities seriously. Below are some of the programs we initiated and/or support in our committed effort to be a positive force, and a good citizen, in every way we can, everywhere we go.
Or expanded fleet, comprised of four polar-engineered vessels, features some of the most modern and fuel-efficient ships in Antarctic or Arctic waters. Collectively, we now have one of the lowest per-passenger carbon footprints of any polar cruise company. The sleek, future-forward Ocean Albatros and Ocean Victory, for example, produce 60% less carbon emissions when compared to other ships in the same class.
Our Green Initiative Program puts an all-encompassing emphasis on environmental responsibility throughout the ship. Initiatives include the almost total elimination of onboard plastic, using only biodegradable products in bathrooms and laundry practices, placing an emphasis on multi-use products, installing recycling stations, and providing all our guests with reusable water bottles. Even our Expedition jackets are made with 50% recycled materials. Our “Local First” initiative prioritizes local suppliers and supply chain resources – emphasizing those that demonstrate responsible practices, to minimize carbon impact and support the local communities that serve us so well.
The cornerstone of our community interaction in the Arctic is gaining the consent of the native communities we visit well before arriving, to ensure that our visit doesn’t have a negative impact on local life. Arctic residents are the experts in their homeland, which is why we never use destination management companies, but instead work directly with local providers in-community for guided walks or community engagement. This way we ensure communities and their residents benefit directly from our visit. And by building enduring and lasting relationships with our valued local friends and partners in the Arctic, we can guarantee an authentic experience for our guests,
We provide ongoing logistical support for global non-profits like Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute and Oceanites, contributing to the critical work of these environmental and wildlife-focused organizations, while also enriching our passenger Citizen Science program and the experience of all on board. On a local level, we enthusiastically support NGOs like La Fundación El Rinconcito del Fin del Mundo de Ayuda y Contención through fundraising and by donating polos, boots, and jackets.
We offer a range of education and scholarship programs in our Antarctica Embarkation port town of Ushuaia, Argentina, providing local high school and university students with a number of opportunities to learn about jobs within the cruise industry, compete in environmental research challenges, attend onboard science lectures and even earn internships.
Inspired passengers often ask how they, too, can get involved. Our Citizen Science program is a great place to start. We also encourage our guests to attend any or all of our onboard presentations from experts in environmental science, wildlife conservation, and Antarctica’s incredible history. Feel free to join us in supporting any of the organizations represented here; or to look for organizations in your own communities that are doing the good, hard work of caring for planet earth.
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Yes!!! Once we arrive in Antarctica it will be the ultimate goal of the Captain, Expedition Leader, and the Expedition Team to make sure we get off the ship as much as possible. You’ll participate in landings, zodiac cruises, and any additional activities you’ve signed up for. Check the “Detailed trip itinerary” below for more details on each outing.
The price shown is the “”all-in” price after all taxes, fees, port fees, and permits required; which are handled by the tour operator. The only main additional costs will be mandatory travel insurance, optional gratuity, and additional activities.
Not necessarily, no! Our group trips are usually made up of around 50% solo travelers! Prices are always per person, per bed. If you’re a solo traveler, we will match you with a same-gender roommate from our group to share your cabin with. There is also the option for solo cabin availability on certain trips. Please send us a message about solo cabins if that’s your preference.
In Antarctica, postal opportunities are very limited, and can typically only be offered in the Falkland Islands and at Grytviken in South Georgia. You can always send postcards once we disembark in Ushuaia, however!
While you may find the batteries or flash cards you need in stock in our Gift Shop, we strongly recommend that you bring extra supplies of everything, (including an extra charger) as availability of these items is very limited, and cannot be guaranteed.
During Antarctic voyages, it is highly unlikely that you will have cellular service once we leave Argentina. There is a telephone in your cabin, and Reception can arrange outside calls for a moderate charge; however, there may be times when phone service is limited or unavailable due to limited connection in Antarctica.
All cabins across all vessels across our fleet have abundant electrical outlets. These are mostly European 220V sockets, although Ocean Albatros and Ocean Victory also feature universal sockets that can accept most global plugs. Remember to bring adaptors, should your devices require a different voltage or socket. See the information pages for our individual vessels for further information.
Please do not bring any small appliances such as hairdryers, irons, coffee makers, curling tongs, or steam pots. These items can present a fire risk and damage the ship’s electrical system and are therefore strictly forbidden on board. There is a small hairdryer provided in your cabin.
Yes! Our ship features a Starlink wireless network accessible from your personal computer or smartphone from virtually anywhere on board. There are also public computers available in the ship Library which may be used for email and Internet (but not for uploading photos.) 500 free MB of data is included in the cost of your voyage. Additional data packages can be purchased from the hotel manager on board. Please note, due to weather and location, there may be times when Internet service is very slow or disrupted.
We can accommodate most dietary requests, such as low salt, gluten-free, and low cholesterol, and we include Vegetarian, Meat, and Fish options on all of our menus. Please enter any dietary limitations, from preferences to severe food allergies, when completing your medical information form. Please note that we are unable to offer Kosher meals. Should you have further information as to how we can best accommodate your needs, please speak to our friendly onboard Hotel Directors.
Yes! All vessels in our fleet offer a Fitness Center with cardio equipment, resistance machines, and free weights available for all guests to use at their leisure.
Yes. A complete laundry service is available on board all of our vessels; please note, however, our vessels do not have dry cleaning facilities. There is no self-service laundry facility on board the ship and no irons for passenger use – our Laundry Team will be happy to press garments if required.
There is absolutely no smoking permitted anywhere inside the ship (including the balcony areas), on Zodiacs, or on landings – this includes e-cigarettes and vapes. International maritime law dictates that smoking on commercial vessels is permitted only in the designated smoking area; this location will be clearly identified during the Safety Briefing at the beginning of your voyage. Repeated non-compliance with our smoking policy will result in a $1000 penalty being added to your shipboard account. The Expedition Leader and Captain also reserve the right to disallow participation in off-ship activities for repeated non-compliance.
Not cold at all (unless you would like it to be)! All vessels across our fleet are climate-controlled for your comfort, and all cabins feature individual temperature controls.
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