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Ortelius, Antarctica
Home Our Vessels Ortelius

Ortelius

  • Antarctic Ships
  • Ice Rating: 1A
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Originally built in Poland in 1989 as an ice-strengthened passenger vessel, the 298-foot-long Ortelius spent many years plying the frozen waters of the Arctic and Northern Pacific before being totally refurbished in 2005.

Sleeping a total of 108 passengers, the vessel provides comfortable (but not luxurious) cabins that range from quads to suites, each with a private bathroom. She carries a fleet of zodiacs for landings, and on some Antarctic departures helicopters are even used.

Onboard experiences

  • Camping
  • Kayaking
  • Zodiac Cruising
  • Snowshoeing
  • Mountaineering

Ship Information

Passengers:108
Length:298 ft.
Ice Class:UL1 equivalent to 1A
Download Deck Plan

Explore what's below deck

Quadruple Porthole cabin (Quadruple Porthole cabin)

Ortelius, Quadruple Porthole Cabin, Greenland, Antarctica, Spitsbergen

Quadruple Porthole cabins are located on Deck 3. They have two portholes and two upper and lower berths.

Triple Porthole cabin (Triple Porthole cabin)

Ortelius Triple Porthole, Cabin, Greenland, Antarctica, Spitsbergen

Triple Porthole cabins are located on Deck 3. They have two portholes and one upper and two lower berths.

Twin Porthole cabin (Twin Porthole cabin)

Ortelius, Twin Porthole Cabin, Greenland, Antarctica, Spitsbergen

Twin Porthole cabins are located on Decks 3 & 4. They have two portholes and two lower berths.

Twin Window cabin (Twin Window cabin)

Ortelius, Twin Window cabin, Greenland, Antarctica, Spitsbergen

Twin Window cabins are located on Deck 5. They have two windows, two lower berths and a small sofa.

Twin Deluxe cabin (Twin Deluxe cabin)

Ortelius, Twin Deluxe Cabin, Greenland, Antarctica, Spitsbergen

Twin Deluxe cabins are located on Deck 5. They have three windows, two lower berths and a small sofa along with a flatscreen TV, refrigerator, coffee and tea maker.

Superior cabin (Superior cabin)

Ortelius, Superior Deluxe Cabin, Greenland, Antarctica, Spitsbergen

Superior cabins are located on Deck 5. They have a minimum of two windows, one double bed, one single (sofa) bed, a flatscreen TV, refrigerator, coffee and tea maker.

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Cruise Suggestions

Group tour
South Georgia and Antarctica Fly-cruise
If you have a love of wildlife and…
Departing 17th November 2021
17 Days from £13,250pp
King Penguins, South Georgia
View Cruise
Group tour
Antarctica
Ross Sea with the Friends of the Scott Polar Research Institute
Follow in the wake of the early explorers,…
Departing 16th February 2020
32 Days from £28,350pp
Map of the South Pole
View Cruise
Idea
Antarctica
South Pole: Private Jets & Expedition Camps
Our journeys to the southernmost point on Earth…
5 days from £43,800pp
Camp set up in Antarctica
View Holiday Idea
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Antarctica
Antarctica’s Floating Basecamp
Designed to appeal to those who want to…
12 days from £7,550pp
Gentoo Gentoo Penguins, Antarcticaaon the coastline
View Cruise
Idea
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Antarctica by Sailing Boat
Designed to appeal to those who wish to…
17 days from £18,900pp
Yacht and whales, Sailing in Antarctica, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica
View Cruise
Idea
Antarctica
Sail South Georgia & the Falkland Islands
Welcome to “the most staggering wildlife show on…
from £8,450pp
King Penguins and Elephant Seals, South Georgia
View Cruise
Idea
Antarctica
Cruise & Helicopter: In Search of the Emperor Penguin
An extraordinary expedition cruise to the ice-chocked Weddell…
11 days from £10,550pp
Emperor penguins and their chicks, Antarctica
View Cruise
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Air-Cruise Antarctica
Travel to the Antarctic Peninsula in style, cutting…
8 days from £11,500pp
Flight landing on South Shetland Islands
View Cruise
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Ultimate Antarctica, South Georgia & Falkland Islands
For those with time to spare, this cruise…
21 days from £11,900pp
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We were blown away by Sue’s in-depth knowledge of everything from endemic species to the history of Shackleton and his men. No question we had went unanswered, and no little detail was missed.

Destination: Antarctica
Travel Expert: Sue

Sue knew how important it was to me to spot polar bears and did everything she could to ensure we had the best chances possible. We were even lucky enough to see Arctic foxes and walruses.

Destination: Spitsbergen
Travel Expert: Sue

From the Northern Lights to meeting Innuits, Sue put together a trip that exceeded all our expectations. She was the most knowledgeable of anyone we spoke to about Greenland, and we could tell she knew things that only come from personal travels.

Destination: Greenland
Travel Expert: Sue

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Featured in the press

Vessel Ice Rating Comparison Chart.

We use the Llyod Register scale to signify the ice rating of our vessels but you can see how that scale aligns with other scales in the chart below.

Mame / Country of Register

Ice thickness (cm)

10 15 30 50

Ice thickness (cm)

lowest   highest
Finland / Sweden
Category II
IC
IB
IA
IA Super
Finland / Sweden
Category II
IC
IB
IA
IA Super
Finland / Sweden
Category II
IC
IB
IA
IA Super
Finland / Sweden
Category II
IC
IB
IA
IA Super
Finland / Sweden
Category II
IC
IB
IA
IA Super
Finland / Sweden
Category II
IC
IB
IA
IA Super
Finland / Sweden
Category II
IC
IB
IA
IA Super