Antarctica Liveaboards
Plancius is a 267-foot oceanographic research ship fully rebuilt and ice-strengthened in 2010 for use for polar expeditions. Originally built in 1976 for the Royal Dutch Navy, it has been converted to a spacious and comfortable vessel for exploring both the Arctic and Antarctic areas. Onboard the ship you will find a panoramic observation lounge with a bar and a library, an airy restaurant, and large open deck spaces with excellent opportunities to enjoy the scenery and spot wildlife. Both observation lounge and restaurant will host frequent lectures by onboard naturalist guides. Tasty meals are prepared by international chefs and feature a variety of cuisines.
Plancius has 53 cabins for a maximum of 110 passengers. Ten superior cabins are the largest and offer one queen-size bed each. 39 twin cabins have either a queen-size bed or two lower single beds. Four triple cabins have a bunk bed and a lower single. All cabins have private bathrooms and plenty of storage space. Due to the remote expedition areas, there’s an infirmary and a doctor onboard. Ten zodiacs will whisk you to the many land excursions and wildlife sightings.
Professors Molchanov and Multanovskiy
Professor Molchanov and Professor Multanovskiy are modern and comfortable oceanographic research vessels built 1983 in Finland. The 236-foot vessels have been converted to passenger use and are ideally suited for expedition cruising with a good anti-roll system and an ice-strengthened hull. Captains onboard are experts in polar navigation and expedition leaders knowledgeable, helpful and dedicated environmentalists. Due to the remote expedition areas, there is an infirmary and a doctor onboard. A complement of zodiac crafts are used for land excursions and wildlife viewing. Delectable meals are prepared by international chefs.
There are 26 cabins onboard for a maximum of 53 passengers. The large suite has a private bathroom, a double bed and a single sofa bed, and a spacious lounge area with television and video player, a small refrigerator and coffee and tea making facilities. Two superior cabins are similarly equipped but a smaller. Twelve twin cabins with private bathrooms have either upper and lower berth or two lower berths, a desk, a window and ample storage space. The remaining nine twin cabins and two triple cabins share four toilets and three showers on the lower deck. All these have washbasins, plenty of storage and portholes. Onboard you will find a spacious lounge with a bar, a restaurant which doubles as a lecture space, small library and a sauna which is always warm. The expansive deck areas get plenty of use during the voyages lit by the midnight sun!
Polar Pioneer is a 235-foot stabilized ship built in Finland in 1985 as an ice-strengthened research vessel. In 2000 it was converted to passenger use and is now perfectly suited for exploring the polar areas. It complies with highest international safety and environmental regulations. The combined bar and lounge with a library has comfortable seating and hosts a collection of polar books. You will enjoy great meals prepared by internationally trained chefs, and on occasion a barbecue on deck with the whole crew. The onboard small sauna is heated throughout the day; hop inside if you got a bit chilled during diving. There’s an infirmary with a doctor, medical supplies and equipment for emergencies.
All cabins have outside portholes that open, a desk with a chair and ample storage space. The captain’s suite cabin has a private bathroom, a double bed, a sofa, a television, a refrigerator and a coffee maker. Two mini suites have are equipped the same but are smaller. There are twelve twin cabins on the upper deck with private bathrooms, ten of them with two lower bunks and two with an upper and a lower. Twelve twin cabins on the lower deck share bathrooms and two lower bunks each. Also on the lower deck, two triple cabins have two lower bunks and one upper bunk each. Zodiacs onboard will take you diving and to the shore for hiking and wildlife trekking. Waterproof Expeditions has a specially designed container that is brought onboard during dive departures. A specially designed container is brought onboard during the dive voyages to store your dive gear, have heating for drying and be a warm and comfortable chancing space.
Hanse Explorer is a 158-foot expedition vessel built in 1996 and certified as ice breaker yacht with permission to navigate the polar areas. It is an elegant modern small ship with the latest technology and spacious cabins. Your comfort and safety is the main goal: the contemporary interior is clean and streamlined yet extremely cozy and inviting, there’s an excellent stabilization system, and many technical details which you will never even notice: two independent fresh water systems, ecosensitive waste water control, an electric stand-by “bring-me-home” motor for emergencies, two independent air-conditioning systems – this yacht is ready for almost anything!
The main deck has six double or twin cabins onboard, all with private bathrooms. The light and airy cabins have picture windows and flat-screen television for the central audio visual entertainment system. Satcom will let you communicate with the rest of the world. Enjoy the breathtaking scenery from the deck – where you can also have lunch during warm days – lounge around in the bar and living room area, or visit the bridge where a comfortable couch with an extra radar screen lets you see what the captain sees. Two zodiacs with twin engines, a self-contained dive compressor and a dive equipment station make diving easy, and video and photo equipment is available so you can work with your art. Great meals anchor the days of fun, and if you feel cold after diving the icy waters, warm up in the Scandinavian style sauna and you will soon be toasty again. For arctic journeys where fishing is allowed, a salmon smoker will cook your catch right onboard.