WOW! This voyage exceeded my expectation. When my husband booked the expedition ship, I was concerned about the comfort of the cabins and common area, and even more nervous about the meals. I had no reason to be nervous - the ship is very modern, the cabins and common area swell appointed. The lounge was were we spent most of our free time mingling with fellow travels. (When we weren’t on deck or in the bridge). The small ship environment really fostered mingling with both staff and other guests. The food was plentiful, varied and of excellent quality and taste. The cruise staff couldn’t do enough for us - they accommodated my dietary restriction beyond what I expected. There was a nice BBQ on deck one evening (in snow flurries….but there was mulled wine to warm us up). Another afternoon there was hot chocolate spiked with rum. Every afternoon there was nice snack brought up. The best part of the trip was the expedition team. Led by expedition team leader Pippa and assistant leader George, the entire team entertained us with great lectures when they were not taking us on outings. We saw plenty of wildlife daily. Weather prevented us from flying to the emperor penguin colony,, but the team took our safety seriously and we appreciated that. We got to visit other penguin colonies, sometimes viewing from the zodiac, and on most days landings and a walk on ice.The small ship size allowed us to to off ship daily, including 2 scenic helicopter flights. The staff paid attention to details even for this - each flight every passenger had a window seat. The helicopter pilots were very friendly and made the flights very memorable. If you are considering an Antarctic trip, I highly recommend doing it on a small ship like the Ortellius.

Been on one of our voyages?

Leave your own review

Related cruises

Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctica
Up to $6100 OFF

Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctica

19 Jan - 6 Feb, 2026

Tripcode: PLA27-26

  • EN
  • DE
  • BI

This Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and Antarctic Peninsula cruise is an animal-lover’s dream come true. The expedition explores one of the last untamed areas on Earth – a land of ruggedly beautiful landscapes and amazingly varied wildlife.

Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctica
Up to $7350 OFF

Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctica

28 Jan - 16 Feb, 2026

Tripcode: HDS28-26

This Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and Antarctic Peninsula cruise is an animal-lover’s dream come true. The expedition explores one of the last untamed areas on Earth – a land of ruggedly beautiful landscapes and amazingly varied wildlife.

Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Elephant Island - Antarctica - Polar Circle
Up to $6800 OFF

Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Elephant Island - Antarctica - Polar Circle

16 Feb - 10 Mar, 2026

Tripcode: HDS29-26

  • EN
  • DE
  • LA

This Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and Antarctic Peninsula cruise is an animal-lover’s dream come true. The expedition explores one of the last untamed areas on Earth – a land of ruggedly beautiful landscapes and amazingly varied wildlife.

Antarctica – Uncharted islands of the Deep South
Up to $4500 OFF

Antarctica – Uncharted islands of the Deep South

18 Feb - 4 Mar, 2026

Tripcode: OTL30a26

On this extraordinary journey, we navigate the unexplored waters around Lazarev Bay and the mysterious Glinka Islands, a region where old aerial photographs (1939–1941) serve as reference for existing charts. Ice and daylight permitting, we will be aiming...

Deep South Basecamp experience
Up to $4150 OFF

Deep South Basecamp experience

4 Mar - 17 Mar, 2026

Tripcode: OTL30b26

The Deep South Basecamp experience offers you a myriad of ways to explore and enjoy the Antarctic region. This expedition allows you to (long) hike, snowshoe, kayak, and even camp out under the Southern Polar skies.

Loading