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Cruises to Antarctica on the Ortelius
The ice-strengthened vessel “Ortelius”  has the highest ice-class notation (UL1 equivalent to 1A) and is therefore very suitable to navigate in solid one-year sea ice and loose multi-year pack ice. “Ortelius” is a great expedition vessel for 100 passengers with lots of open-deck spaces and a very large bridge which is accessible to the passengers. It is an excellent vessel for Polar expedition cruises in the Antarctica, providing us with possibilities to adventure to  remote locations such as the Ross Sea and Franz Josef Land.
The vessel is manned by 34 highly experienced Russian nautical crew, 15 international catering staff, including stewardesses, 6 expedition staff (1 expedition leader and 5 guides/lecturers) and 1 doctor.
”Ortelius” offers a comfortable hotel standard, with two restaurants, a bar/lecture room and a sauna. Voyages are primarily developed to offer passengers a quality exploratory wildlife program, trying to spend as much time ashore as possible. As the number of passengers is limited to approximately 100 on the “Ortelius”, flexibility assures maximum wildlife opportunities. "Ortelius" carries 11 zodiacs of which 9 are in use and 2 on reserve. The zodiac engines are 60hp Yamaha.
A considerable number of quadruple and twin cabins with shared facilities (toilet and showers to be shared in the corridors) offer attractive lower starting prices for our Polar voyages. The vessel offers basic but comfortable cabins and public spaces. The cabin lay-out is as follows: 5 quadruple cabins with bunk beds and shared facilities (these can also be used as triple or twin cabins); 14 twin cabins with 2 lower single berths and shared facilities; 9 twin cabins with portholes, private toilet and shower and 2 single lower berths; 10 twin cabins with windows, private toilet and shower and 2 single lower berths; 6 superior cabins with double beds, private toilet and shower and a separate day room, and 1 suite with a double bed, private toilet and shower and a separate day room. All cabins are spacious outside cabins with a minimum of two portholes or windows per cabin.

Deck Plan                     Cabin Photos

 Ortelius is the strongest ice-strengthened vessel in its category, however there is still a chance that, due to heavy ice-conditions, we cannot reach the scheduled landing sites in the Ross Sea. We therefore have decided to include helicopter operations for these programs. The use of helicopters can give a great advantage to succeed in visiting the highlights such as the huts of the British Polar explorers Robert Falcon Scott (Cape Evans) and Ernest Shackleton (Cape Royds) and the American Mc Murdo station. Places that are almost exclusively accessible by air are the immersive Ross Ice-shelf and the Dry Valleys. The Dry Valleys are one of the most extraordinary places on earth, an ice free Polar desert with unique geological formations. We intend to offer helicopter landings on the Ross ice-shelf and the Dry valleys. We also intend to visit the Emperor Penguin rookeries south of Snow Hill Island. The use of helicopters has a great advantage and can support us in our goal to have a rendezvous with those “Super Stars” of Antarctica, living in a place that otherwise remain inaccessible for tourists. 
The trips to the Weddell Sea and Ross Sea are true expedition voyages in the remotest places of our planet. As with all of our voyages, but for these to a much greater extent, the itineraries are influenced by weather, ice and navigational conditions. The helicopter operation is a fantastic offer in itself, but also highly dependent on those conditions. Providing the conditions are suitable, the captain of the vessel will position the vessel at a safe and (for the helicopters and helicopter pilots) feasible distance from the intended landing sites. Ship-to-shore helicopter transfers will enable us to offer the scheduled shore excursions, but every passenger who participates in those mentioned voyages, understands and accepts that no guarantees can be given, including a specific amount of helicopter time.
The Weddell Sea and Ross Sea Expeditions bring us to places with very limited or non-existent infrastructure. During this voyage we become true “solo-explorers” and due to the remoteness, medical evacuations are extremely difficult or simply impossible. The vessel is equipped with an infirmary and a doctor is on board, but the capabilities of onboard medical care are limited. It is therefore absolutely necessary that every participant enjoys a good physical condition, to be explicitly confirmed by the participant’s (family) doctor.
CHILDREN - Upon request (some voyages may be excluded), children under 16 with parents may receive 40 % discount in Superior, Triple (sharing with 2 parents / adults) and Quadruple Cabins (sharing with 3 parents / adults).
SINGLE TRAVELLER - Single travellers can choose between "single occupancy" at a supplement of 1,7 x the Twin or Superior cabin rate , or "sharing basis" in Twin, Triple or Quadruple category at no additional cost.
FARES INCLUDE:
- Voyage aboard the indicated vessel as indicated in the itinerary.
- All meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee and tea.
- All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac.
- Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff.
- Free use of rubber boots on Plancius and Ortelius, and snowshoes on Plancius.
- Luggage transfer from pick-up point to the vessel on the day of embarkation, in Ushuaia.
- Pre-scheduled group transfer from the vessel to the airport in Ushuaia (directly after disembarkation).
- During voyages OTL23, OTL27 and OTL28: ship-to-shore helicopter transfers (with no specific amount of helicopter time guaranteed). 
- Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff.
- All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program.
- Comprehensive pre-departure material.
* HELICOPTERS: Helicopter will be on board during voyage  OTL22A-17. Providing the conditions, such as but not limited to ice and weather conditions, are suitable, the captain of the vessel will position the vessel at a safe and (for the helicopters and helicopter pilots) feasible distance from the intended landing site. Ship-to-shore helicopter transfers will enable us to offer the scheduled shore excursions, but every passenger who participates in those mentioned voyages, understands and accepts that no guarantees can be given, including a specific amount of helicopter time. 
NOT INCLUDED
Any airfare whether on scheduled or charter flights; pre- and post-land arrangements; transfers to the vessel in Ushuaia and Ascension and from the vessel in Ascension and Praia; passport and visa expenses; Government arrival and departure taxes; meals ashore; baggage, cancellation and personal insurance (which is strongly recommended); excess baggage charges and all items of a personal nature such as laundry, bar, beverage charges and telecommunication charges; and the customary gratuity at the end of the voyages for stewards and other service personnel aboard (guidelines will be provided).
                          Basecamp Departures

On some departures, in essence, you use the vessel as the Basecamp from which to launch activities that are only selectively offer on other voyages. This allows you to focus on a few particular areas, going deep with activities that will bring you into close contact with the surreal polar environment.

The vessel stays for two or three days at certain locations to serve as a comfortable hub for activities. 
1. Hiking and snowshoeing for an expanded version of our  walks
2. Kayaking and Zodiac cruises, to explore  away from the ship
3. Photo workshops  led by professional photographers
4. Mountaineering , which provide soft climbs of nearby ranges
5. Camping  for a night spent under the open polar sky

Basecamp voyages let you choose your own adventure - If you prefer a less physically active day, you can simply enjoy the regular Zodiac excursions and shore program, which includes easy to moderate walks and wildlife hikes. Assuming safe local conditions, the choice is yours how you wish to enjoy your polar expedition.
ICON EXPLANATION
C = Camping: Group size: minimum 8, maximum 30 campers. Camping is free of charge during “Basecamp” voyages.USD 180 pp
D = Diving. Group size: minimum 8, maximum 24 divers. USD 530 pp
H = Hiking. Hikes of approx. 2-3 hours or longer. The activity is free of charge.
K = Kayaking. Group size: min. 4, max. 14 kayakers. Kayaking is free of charge during ‘Basecamp’ voyages. USD 465 pp
P = LEICA photo workshop on OTL29 supplemented with group size : min. 4, max. 14 participants. USD 500 pp
S= Snowshoeing. The activity is free of charge incl. snowshoes.
A deposit of 20 % of the total price is required to confirm. The remainder of the price must have been received 60 days before departure date. If the travel contract has been agreed within 60 days of departure, the full price must be paid immediately.
After full payment has been received, the travel documents will be sent to the contracting party.
The contracting party may cancel the travel contract (exclusively in writing) at any time before the beginning of the trip. In the case of cancellation by the contracting party, operator is entitled to charge the following cancellation fees to the contracting party:
- up to and including 90 days prior to departure: 20 % of the total price;
- from 89 days up to and including 60 days prior to departure: 50 % of the total price;
- from 59 days up to and including the day of departure: 100 % of the total price .
Operator reserves the right to cancel any trip prior to or during the departure for compelling reasons, in which case the payment will be paid  back to the contracting party and operator does not accept any claims, that may be related to such a cancellation, such as but not limited to loss of joy, loss of opportunities, etc. Operator is also not liable for and does not accept any claims for any costs made by the contracting party, such as but not limited to other travel elements such as but not limited to flights, hotels, connecting programs, (travel) insurance’s etc.
Operator has the right to cancel the scheduled trip up to 30 days before departure, if the minimum number of participants has not been achieved. Any payment already achieved from the contracting party will be paid back by operator if the contracting party is not in agreement with an alternative offered by operator.
Operator has the right in the case of force majeure (such as but not limited to war, uprising, natural disasters, abnormal / exceptional weather and ice conditions, legal stipulations of the local/regional authorities and other events and situations that are beyond the control of operator) to cancel the trip and may not be held liable for force majeure. If situations of force majeure occur before departure date and operator should cancel the trip, payments made in advance will be paid back to the contracting party. If situations of force majeure occur during the trip, operator will try to offer an alternative program. If this is not possible, either operator or the contracting party is entitled to cancel the trip. In such a case, operator may not be held financially liable. Operator is obliged to assist the contracting party in obtaining a return trip/flight. The contracting party him/herself is responsible for the costs of this. 
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