Our Expedition Vessels

"Antarctica"

How to choose your vessel

Keep in mind that the smaller the ship is and the less passengers it carries, the more interesting the cruise will be.
- When you are between 40-60 people, social areas are usually wide enough to accommodate everybody, while on larger ships you may have to wait your turn to enter the restaurant, or the conference room may not have enough seats for all.
- During landing, normally a maximum of 100 people is a rule. If you are more people, two groups will disembark consecutively, thus shortening the length of excursions for all. Besides, weather and ice conditions changing fast in Antarctica, one group may disembark and enjoy a wonderful experience, whereas the others may not be able to do anything. Besides, the bigger cruise ships usually do not organise landings.
- During excursions, smaller groups gets more freedom.
- If you spot some Humpback Whales, Orcas or lost Emperor Penguins far away, you will probably expect the captain to order the ship to move towards them and organise a zodiac excursion around the whales? Well, small ships with friendly atmosphere such as the Grigoriy Mikheev, are much very flexible and quick to react, whereas massive ships just do not or cannot.
- We make landing in zodiac, each of them with room for 8-10 people. Huge groups means longer queuing time to board the zodiac (on a 50 passengers ship, the disembarking is carried out in 10-15 minutes)
- Huge cruise ships are not as safe as they seem to be. Captains are usually not polar experts unlike expedition ships captains. As most ships sailing around the Antarctica Peninsula are small ones accommodating around 40 to 70 people, in the eventuality a huge cruise ship has to be evacuated, there are probably not enough ships around to rescue all passengers in a short time ..... and the first town is more than 2 days away. At the moment, some local experts deem impossible to rescue 800 passengers cruise ships and fear such an accident produces a catastrophe.

Our expedition vessels

Our vessels were either built in Finland or Russia and designed for polar and oceanographic research. They are all World Class Ships designed for polar navigation with comfortable accommodations (but not luxurious). The ships have been continuously refurbished since their conversion for passenger use and are ideally suited for expedition cruising. The ships are staffed by Russian officers and crew, all highly experienced in ice navigation. Russian captains are recognised experts in polar operations.
Unlike the huge cruise ships, the atmosphere onboard is relaxed and informal, more like a private expedition than a cruise. To explore such a region with just a small number of fellow passengers is a real luxury, and will help make your Antarctic voyage of discovery and adventure a truly unforgettable experience.
Our team of naturalists and lecturers from all over the world will offer a unique educational program for passengers onboard covering subjects such as natural history, ornithology, marine biology, geography, geology, history and the environment.
We maintain an 'open bridge' policy which means that you are almost always welcome to visit the Bridge with its sophisticated communication and navigation equipment at any time (subject to weather conditions).

Remarks:
- The Grigoriy Mikheev is the ship accommodating the less passengers.
- The three ships Professor Multanovskiy, Professor Molchanov and Akademik Shokalskiy are almost identical ships.

  The Professor Multanovskiy was built in Finland for polar and oceanographic research and carries a maximum of 49 travelers in comfortable triple, twin and superior cabins, and suites. All cabins are outside, with a desk, ample storage space and windows.
Cabins on Decks 4 and 5 have private facilities with upper and lower berths. There are a few exceptions on Deck 4 where some of the cabins with private facilities have two lower berths. The cabins on Deck 3 have two lower berths and convenient shared facilities.

Specifications of Professor Multanovskiy Length 69.7m Cruising Speed 9 knots Breadth 12.8m Bunker Capacity 320 tons Draft 4.5m Crew 23 GRT 1753 tons Passengers 49 Engines 2 Russian Diesels Registry Russia Ice Class A1A Super

 
The 69.7 meters Professor Molchanov was built in Finland in 1983 for polar and oceanographic research. Continuously refurbished since its conversion for passenger use, the vessel is ideally suited for expedition cruising, carrying a maximum of just 52 passengers in comfortable twin and triple cabins, all outside and each with a desk and ample storage space.
Public areas include a lounge and bar, small library, infirmary (there is a doctor on board) and a sauna. Views are excellent from the large, open decks and the navigation bridge, where we are almost always welcome. The European chefs produce a varied menu and the comfortable bar is stocked with a good selection of wine.
Cabins with private facilities have upper and lower berths. There are a few exceptions where some of the cabins with private facilities have two lower berths.

Specifications of Profesor Molchanov Length 69.7 m Ice Class A1A Super Breadth 12.80m Cruising Speed 9 knots Draft 4.50m Crew 23 GRT 1753 tons Passengers 49 2 Russian Diesel Registry Russia

 
The 71.6 metre Akademik Shokalskiy vessel was built in 1983 and refurbished in Lyttelton in 1998 to bring it up to western accomodation standards. It provides comfortable (but not luxurious) accommodation for 46 passengers, an ideal number for an expedition cruise. It is fitted with stabilisers and is fully ice-strengthened.
On board are a combined bar/lounge and a dedicated lecture room/library (stocked with a good collection of reference books and videos). All cabins have outside portholes, plus ample storage space. The spacious bridge (always open to passengers) and the decks are ideal for viewing.

Cabins with private facilities have upper and lower berths. There are a few exceptions where some of the cabins with private facilities have two lower berths.

Specifications of Akademik Shokalskiy Length 71.6 m Ice Class Beam 12.80m Cruising Speed 10-11 knots Draft 4.50m Crew 23 Displacement 2140 tons Passengers 49 - Registry Russia

 
Built in Yugoslavia in 1976 and refurbished in 1999, the M/V Orlova is a 90 meter ice-strengthened passenger ship. Ship features include a fully equipped lecture hall and theatre, attractive bar and lounge, and also a well stocked Antarctic library. Further upgrades are planned over the next year including the creation of a gymnasium with panoramic views.
Accommodation onboard ranges from triple and twin cabins to superiors and suites. All cabins have two lower berths and private facilities with either a porthole or window. They also feature a writing desk, sitting space and ample storage.
Our European chefs serve delicious international cuisine and the comfortable bar is stocked with a good selection of wine and spirits.

Specifications of M/V ORLOVA Length 90.9 m Ice Class A2 Canadian Type B Breadth 16.20m Cruising Speed 14 knots Draft 7m Crew 53 GRT 4251 tons Passengers 124 2 Russian Diesel Registry Malta

 
 

The Grigoriy Mikheev and Aleksey Maryshev carry a maximum of 46 travelers in comfortable, twin and superior cabins. (both vessels are almost identical)
Type A Cabins have two berths on top of each other. Passengers of these cabins will use showers and toilets outside the cabins. These cabins have wash basins and windows.
Type B Cabins have two berths on top of each other as well as their own shower/toilet unit and windows.
Type C Superior cabin have windows, double berth and single berth on the same level. This cabin has its own shower-toilet unit.
The "Grigoriy Mikheev" is well suited for expedition cruising, and has a large bridge and good open deck-viewing areas. A dining room, serving international cuisine from European chefs, also serves as a lecture room. The ship has a lounge with bar, sauna, laundry and a small hospital with a doctor.

Specifications of Grigoriy Mikheev Length 70m Cruising Speed 14 knots Breadth 12.8m Draft 3.5m Displacement 20000 tons Crew 20 Passengers 36 Engines 2 Diesels Registry Russia

 

The Kapitan Khlebnikov was constructed in 1981 by the Wartsila Company, Finland - the world's leading builder of icebreakers. Not simply an ice-reinforced ship, the Kapitan Khlebnikov is a hard working icebreaker designed for the challenging conditions in the seas of northern Siberia. Russian icebreakers are considered to be among the best and most powerful in the world. The Kapitan Khlebnikov has sailed to extremely remote corners of the globe with adventurous travelers since 1992 - no other expedition vessel has navigated more polar waters. It was the first ship ever to circumnavigate Antarctica with passengers in 1997.
Refurbished to accommodate passengers in 54 first class outside cabins and suites, our ship is thoroughly comfortable. All cabins feature private facilities, two lower berths (one fixed berth and one convertible sofa bed), a desk, and large closets. Public areas include two dining rooms, a lounge and bar, well-equipped auditorium, indoor swimming pool, gymnasium and sauna. Views are excellent from the navigation bridge (where we are almost always welcome) and large open decks on several levels. Our ship also has a library of polar books and videos, a shop, a passenger elevator

Specifications of Kapitan Khlebinov Length 132.4m Cruising Speed 15 knots Breadth 26.75m Draft 8.5m Ice Class KM*LL3 A2 Crew 60 GRT 12,288 tons Passengers 112 Engines 6 Diesels Registry Russia

Antarctica Selections