ALBATROS Expeditions

Albatros Expeditions is a well-established Danish firm specializing in Nordic travel and more recently to many other parts of the world. Notice the Danish spelling of albatros with a single “s” — the bird is a globe-trotter with a big wingspan.

Expedition-style small ship cruising now includes the familiar nearby Arctic and far afield into the Southern Hemisphere — Antarctica, Falkland Islands and South Georgia. One ship has now become two — one traditional vessel and the other representing the latest in expedition design and technology. Hence itineraries have expanded in number and diversity.

In 2022, the line will add a second Infinity class expedition ship — Ocean Albatros. Both have zero speed stabilizers, hence rolling may be reduced by up to 80-85% when the ship is not underway.

186-passenger Ocean Victory. * Rendering: Albatros Expeditions

Ships, Year Delivered & Passengers

Ocean Victory delivered Oct. 2021, 93 cabins and 186 passengers. Highest Code 6, Highest Ice Class 1A, X-bow for cutting through the heavy seas.

Ocean Alabtros (sister to Ocean Victory, to be delivered Nov. 2022)

Ocean Atlantic delivered 1985, rebuilt 2010, and last renovated 2016. 198 passengers. Ice classification 1B.

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Ocean Atlantic undertakes circumnavigations of Iceland. * Photo: Albatros Expeditions

Passenger Decks

Ocean Victory 6 decks, elevator to all; Ocean Atlantic 6 decks and lowest three connected by elevator.

Top deck provides a 360-degree viewing platform. * Photo: Albatros Expeditions

Passenger Profile

Europeans mostly; English-speaking passengers will have no problem. Some full Chinese charters.

Price

$$ & $$$ — the newest ship Ocean Victory commands higher rates. Compare if a careful shopper.

Itineraries

A sampling as so many variations.

Note: Ocean Victory will sail in Antarctica for the winter season and be chartered to Victory Cruise Lines (American Queen Voyages) for summer Alaska cruises.

ARCTIC

14-day Western Greenland with many calls along Baffin Island as far as the entrance to the Northwest Passage and return; 13-day Northern Lights and Greenland; 12-day Iceland and both coasts of Greenland; 11-day Iceland and Svalbard; 8-day Jewels of the North Atlantic: Orkney, Shetland and the Faroes.

Waterfall in Iceland seen on an circumnavigation. * Photo: Albatros Expeditions

ANTARCTICA

13-day Antarctic Peninsula and Polar Circle; 18-Day Antarctica, South Georgia and Falklands.

Gentoo penguin in Antarctica. * Photo: Albatros Expeditions

One-Off Itineraries

Solar Eclipse (Dec 4, 2021) aboard Ocean Atlantic departs Nov. 23, 2021 — 20 Days from Ushuaia to the Falklands, South Georgia, Antarctica, South Shetlands, and return to Ushuaia.

Solar Eclipse (Dec 6, 2021) aboard Ocean Victory departs Nov 26, 2021 — 15 days from Ushuaia, South Georgia, Antarctic Peninsula, South Shetland Islands, and Ushuaia. A 17-day positioning voyage April 23, 2021, from Valparaiso Chile, northward to Peru, Ecuador and Costa Rica, preceded by a Patagonia fjords cruise.

The 198-passenger Ocean Atlantic. * Photo: Albatros Expeditions

Included Features

All excursions, photo workshop, tea and coffee, Welcome and Farewell Cocktails, and digital visual journal.

Why Go?

Arctic: Wild, scenic landscapes, dramatic effects of a warming earth; fjords, some with glaciers, bird and sea life; polar bears; local indigenous people living in remote communities.

Antarctic: Crystal clear days show off the fantastic colors and shapes of icebergs; birds seen nowhere else; flightless birds (penguins) of several types strutting about and diving into sea; a chance to hike on the ice shield; kayak in quiet coves, snowshoeing; visit to a research station.

The Falklands: Several islands; charming rock hopper penguins; Port Stanley’s semi-isolated inhabitants; and South Georgia where more birds are seen than anywhere else, and you will learn about the Shackleton Expedition.

Ocean Atlantic sails through a rugged Antarctic setting. * Photo: Albatros Expeditions

When to Go?

Arctic — Northern Hemisphere summers

Antarctic — Southern Hemisphere summers

Cabins

Ocean Victory: 93 staterooms, 68 s0-called private observation decks (balconies) and 9 with French step-out balconies; single cabins.

Ocean Atlantic: Cabins have windows or portholes, and 6 inside, 4 triples and 7 singles.

A cross section of the Ocean Atlantic showing locations cabins and public rooms. * Photo: Albatros Expeditions

Public Rooms

Ocean Victory: Main lounge bar, observation lounge, lecture room, and bird-watching platform on the highest deck.

Ocean Atlantic: Main lounge and a theater for lectures, viewing lounge high up on the ship with port and starboard verandas, outdoor café and bistro, and main restaurant on lowest deck forward.

Albatros Expeditions Ocean Victory lounge

The Shackleton Lecture lounge on new Ocean Victory. * Rendering: Albatros Expeditions

Dining

Ocean Victory: Main dining room, specialty restaurant, deck BBQ.

Ocean Atlantic: Main restaurant on lowest deck forward and a bistro.

Activities & Entertainment

Ocean Victory: Swimming pool with pool bar, 2 Jacuzzis, spa, gym, wellness area, aft activity deck.

Ocean Atlantic: Pool and sauna, gym, wellness room.

The rear platform provides access to waterborne activities as well as excursions ashore. * Photo: Alba Expeditions

Special Notes

Two very different styles of ship but quality of expedition staff the same; consider your price point then decide.

Along the Same Lines

There are many competing lines in both the Arctic and Antarctic regions, including some covered in this article: Quirky-Sized Oceangoing New Ships of 2020 by Anne Kalosh.