MV Ortelius

MV Ortelius is an ice-strengthened vessel operated for expedition-style polar cruises by Oceanwide Expeditions. Built in Gdynia, Poland, in 1989 as a special-purpose vessel, she was originally named Marina Svetaeva and spent her first decades in the Russian Far East, serving as a passenger and supply vessel, and later as accommodation and supply support to oil fields in the northern Pacific.

Oceanwide Expeditions purchased her in 2011 and, following refurbishment, renamed her Ortelius. She spans 7 decks, with 4 accessible to passengers and 3 housing accommodations, totalling 53 staterooms, and carries up to 108 passengers across itineraries in the Antarctic and Arctic.

Like her fleetmates, Ortelius carries rigid-hulled Zodiacs for landings in remote areas, and also features a helipad, capable of accommodating two helicopters onboard. Her ice-strengthened hull lets her reach waters few commercial ships can access. In early February 2026, she set a new benchmark for the southernmost latitude reached by a non-icebreaker passenger ship in Antarctica's Weddell Sea.

Onboard, an expedition guide team of experts in biology, glaciology, history, and photography works under an expedition leader, supported by additional activity focused guides specialising in hiking, kayaking, diving, and mountaineering.

One memorable highlight saw passengers transported by helicopter to a colony of emperor penguins and their chicks at Snow Hill Island. More recently, the ship facilitated further helicopter landings there, allowing guests to observe the colony firsthand, marking Ortelius as the first expedition vessel to access the Weddell Sea that season despite challenging ice conditions.

Oceanwide Expeditions has completed major technical projects aboard Ortelius aimed at improving propulsion efficiency and operational performance, part of the company's continued investment in its fleet and broader environmental sustainability goals.

MV Ortelius suits travellers after exploring polar regions with experienced guides and solid facilities, in a smaller, more intimate setting than larger cruise vessels offer.

Log this expedition voyage aboard MV Ortelius on your account at The Cruise Globe to add it to your Passport and see your actual route!