MV Magellan Explorer

The Magellan Explorer is a polar-class expedition vessel owned and operated by Antarctica21, the Chilean Antarctica air-cruise company. Built in 2019, she was constructed by ASENAV Shipyard in Valdivia, Chile. The ship carries a total of 50 staterooms across five categories, including single-occupancy cabins, making her a small vessel by cruise ship standards. All cabins except those on Deck 3's forward sections feature private step-out balconies, offering comfortable accommodation suited to expedition travel and long days spent in the field.

She was purpose-built for Antarctica21's distinctive fly-cruise model, combining brief air journeys with ship-based exploration. In 2019, the Anytime Fitness franchise began providing passengers aboard Magellan Explorer with a gym to use while traveling to and from Antarctica, a small but thoughtful touch for active travelers.

The ship uses a waste-heat recovery system to reduce fuel consumption and minimize her carbon footprint, with all waste compacted and stored for safe disposal, and a desalination plant producing over 24 tons of freshwater per day. She is ice-strengthened and purpose-built for polar exploration, with her hull and systems engineered to handle Antarctic conditions.

Grand Suites feature two balconies with outdoor seating, two large bathrooms, a separate lounge room with armchairs and a convertible sofabed, and a daily-restocked minibar. Other suites and cabins range from comfortable doubles to porthole rooms, each offering the essentials for expedition-style cruising, where time ashore matters more than onboard amenities.

The Magellan Explorer suits experienced travelers and expedition enthusiasts who want to explore Antarctica's ice, wildlife, and remote islands aboard a small, nimble ship, with the added convenience of a fly-in option that skips the roughest open-water crossing entirely.

Have you already cruised on MV Magellan Explorer? Log your expedition voyage on your account at The Cruise Globe to add it to your Passport stats and see your actual route!