Ortelius

Polar Tracks Expeditions

Ortelius

seasoned & refurbished

About the Ship

This much-beloved little expedition ship began as the Marina Svetaeva, built in Poland in 1989 as a special-purpose vessel for the Russian Academy of Science

Carrying just 108 passengers, Ortelius is one of the smallest expedition vessels in the fleet. Comfortable and nicely decorated, but not luxurious, it is made for explorers. Full of small ship character and charm, she attracts active, adventure and wildlife-minded modern explorers.

  • Passenger Capacity: 108
  • En suites in all cabins
  • Lecture/bar area
  • Two restaurants
  • Low-cost Quad Porthole cabins
  • Large open deck spaces
  • No expedition parka
  • Rubber boots to borrow
  • Ice Class: UL1 (equivalent to 1A)

Why We Like Ortelius

  • INTREPID

    High ice-class – Ortelius has an ice-class of UL1 (equivalent to 1A) which means she can easily navigate through solid one-year sea ice as well as loose multi-year pack ice, getting you to spots that other ships might not be able to.

  • SPACE

    Lots of open-deck space – the best place to spot wildlife is out on deck, and Ortelius offers great outdoor space on different levels of the ship.

  • RELAXED

    Informal atmosphere – a comfortable ship with an easygoing atmosphere, you never have to worry about whether you’ve got the right dinner wear.

  • SPECIALIST

    Ortelius spends almost her entire northern summer in Svalbard so when it comes to experience of the bridge and expedition team, they are unparalleled in the realm of the polar bear.

Photos of Ortelius

Cabin Categories

Insider Advice

We’re a different kind of agency. We work on the ships, with the teams, and are currently active in the polar regions. Our insider advice is truly that – straight from the field – and it’s updated in real time if things change.