Oceanwide's 108-guest ice-strengthened workhorse and the only ship in the fleet configured for onboard helicopter operations — purpose-suited to the Ross Sea, the Weddell Sea, and emperor penguin colonies the ships alone can't reach.
- Guests
- 108 guests
- 50 cabins
- Ice class
- UL1
- 1A Super equivalent
- Length
- 90.95 meters
- 298 feet
- Construction
- Built 1989
- Refit expedition ship
- Starting price
- $7,000
- per person
Style Pure expedition · Basic comfort
- Wildlife Encounters
- Ice-Strengthened Hull
- Helicopter Access
- Family-Friendly
MV Ortelius is Oceanwide’s specialist. Built in 1989 for the Russian Academy of Sciences as a research vessel and later reborn as an expedition ship, she carries a rare trick for a vessel this size: onboard helicopters. That capability is what lets her reach places most ships can only point at — the Ross Sea, deep into the Weddell Sea (where she set a record for the most southerly position ever reached by a passenger vessel), and the inland emperor penguin colonies at Snow Hill Island.
At 108 guests she runs intimate, which on an expedition means faster Zodiac rotations and less standing in line for your turn on the ice. Her ice-strengthened UL1 hull (equivalent to 1A Super) handles serious pack ice, and she carries the full Oceanwide program of naturalist lectures, kayaking, camping, and diving. Fair warning that comes with the territory: she’s older, refit hardware, and many cabins are porthole or window rather than balcony — you’re paying for where she can take you, not for marble.
Our vantage point, honestly stated: this read leans on her specs, her deep-ice track record, and Oceanwide’s expertise rather than our own boots on her decks. But for the Ross Sea and emperor penguins, there are very few ships in her league. Worth weighing against the rest of the fleet.
On board + on site
What makes MV Ortelius the ship
Restaurant + Dining
Hearty expedition dining, informal
A comfortable dining room serving hearty, expedition-style meals in Oceanwide’s signature cozy, informal style. Substance over white-tablecloth show — exactly the point on a ship like this.
Observation Lounge + Bar
Panoramic lounge with full bar
The social heart of every Oceanwide ship — a spacious observation lounge with a bar and big windows for full-panorama views. Where the day’s sightings get rehashed over a drink between landings.
Expedition Zodiac Fleet
Fast Zodiacs, swift shore ops
A fleet of fast Zodiacs (10 per ship) with two gangways for swift, efficient shore operations — the workhorses that turn ship time into boots-on-the-ground time. The whole point of an Oceanwide voyage.
Lecture Room
Naturalist briefings + workshops
A dedicated lecture room for the naturalist program — glaciology, polar history, wildlife behavior, and photography workshops between landings. The classroom for your expedition.
Onboard Helicopter Operations
The fleet's only heli-capable ship
Ortelius is the only ship in the Oceanwide fleet configured for onboard helicopters — the capability that unlocks the Ross Sea, the deep Weddell Sea, and inland emperor penguin colonies at Snow Hill Island. Where the Zodiacs can’t reach, the helicopters can.
Onboard Activities Program
Kayaking, camping, diving + more
Oceanwide’s deep bench of hands-on add-ons — sea kayaking, Antarctic camping, snowshoeing, ski mountaineering, and polar diving — led by an expert expedition team. Choose your own adventure on the ice.
Cabins + suites
Where you'll sleep.
Twin Deluxe
~13–17 m² (135–183 sq ft) / Window / Sleeps 2
A window twin with a touch more room than the standard cabins and two single lower berths. A bright, comfortable mid-tier pick without stepping up to Superior pricing.
Superior
~21 m² (226 sq ft) / Window / Sleeps 2
The top cabin category on Ortelius and Plancius — the most floor space aboard, a queen-size bed, and larger windows for taking in the passing ice. The comfortable choice for couples on longer polar voyages.
Twin Porthole
~12.5 m² (135 sq ft) / Porthole / Sleeps 2
A classic expedition twin with portholes and two single lower berths, at a friendlier price than the window categories. Same private bathroom and efficient layout, with that old-school polar character.
Twin Window
~12.5 m² (135 sq ft) / Window / Sleeps 2
An efficient twin with a proper window for natural light and wildlife-watching, and two single lower berths. Straightforward comfort — you’ll spend your waking hours on deck anyway.
Quadruple Porthole
~12.5 m² (135 sq ft) / Porthole / Sleeps 4
The most economical way aboard — four berths in two upper-and-lower bunk pairs, with portholes and a private bathroom. Built for families or budget-minded explorers focused on shore time.
Triple Porthole
~12.5 m² (135 sq ft) / Porthole / Sleeps 3
A porthole cabin for three, with one bunk bed and one lower berth. Good value for small groups or families who’d rather put the savings toward the ice.
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