Ship review: Ocean Albatros

Discover the ins and outs of Ocean Victory's sister ship

The boutique 175-passenger Ocean Albatros, sister ship to Ocean Victory, joined the Albatros Expeditions' fleet in June 2023. Here's everything you need to know about the latest addition to family-owned line's new vessel. 

Overview: With nomadic Nordic heritage, Albatros Expeditions – the latest line to join Clia – operates premium small-ship adventures on sustainable vessels with an 8:1 guest-to-guide ratio. Remote regions such as Antarctica, the Arctic and South Georgia are the norm. There are also pre- and post-cruise programmes designed to enhance guests’ expedition experience.

Cabins: All 94 contemporary-styled staterooms and suites offer unobstructed sea views, and most have a balcony. Minimalist yet functional Scandi style with a touch of hygge ensures a cosy and welcoming ambience. 

There are nine cabin categories, from a 14-square-metre single stateroom with a porthole, to the 50-square-metre family suite featuring a double bedroom, interconnecting French balcony suite and sofa bed. All staterooms have a safe, TV, fridge, bathrobes and slippers. 

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Food and drink: Options include the Jens Munk main dining room, serving soups, cold cuts and salads plus meat, fish and vegetarian dishes every evening, while the Fridtjof Nansen speciality restaurant offers a curated menu, with dishes prepared on hot lava stones and panoramic views from the top-deck venue. 

Several bars offer a range of drinks, plus wine-tasting menus developed in partnership with French winemaker Gerard Bertrand, a leader in bio-dynamically farmed wines. 

There’s also a barbecue deck for alfresco dining

Facilities: Ocean Albatros is all about the views: there are well-located observation decks guaranteeing unbeatable vantage points, and two retractable hydraulic platforms on deck five that bring guests closer to the water level to see birds, whales and other marine life up close.

Plus there’s a mud room and Zodiacs for shuttling guests to and from landings. For wellness fans, the Polar Spa offers exclusive treatments such as the Midnight Sun massage, a panoramic sauna, heated pool, gym and two whirlpool baths. 

Additional facilities include a sun deck, activity platform, boutique, library, photography and art room, and lecture lounge hosting talks, screenings and activities.

USP: As well as being one of the more competitively priced expedition lines, this Ice Class 1A ship features an X-bow design for a smoother sailing and unobstructed views. It’s also one of the most environmentally friendly, with a carbon footprint more than 50% lower than that of traditional expedition vessels. 

Plus, there are dedicated solo travel cabins without a single supplement, a huge advantage given the price of most expedition voyages

Book it: A 10-day South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula cruise departing on 11 March, 2026, starts from US$8,095 based on a triple-share cabin or from US$9,495 for a twin-share porthole cabin.

For more information, visit albatros-expeditions.com

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