Terra Nova Adventurer
The Terra Nova Adventurer is an ice-strengthened expedition ship designed to carry up to 98 passengers, with a proven track record from over 600 polar voyages in the Antarctic and Arctic.
Spanning 105.5 meters, the ship features five passenger decks with 63 outside cabins, as well as a restaurant, lounges, a library, a spa with a sauna, and a scientific laboratory. The hull is rated Ice Class 1B; expedition gear hangs ready to go in the spacious mudroom; and 14 Zodiacs await on deck for the daily shore excursions.
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The number of passengers is deliberately kept low: IAATO guidelines allow a maximum of 100 people at a landing site at any one time. With a maximum of 98 passengers on board, everyone goes ashore together, so there are no groups waiting at the gangway.
All activities are included in the price of the trip: Zodiac cruises, guided shore excursions, kayaking tours, snowshoeing, and camping on the ice. The expedition team, consisting of polar guides and naturalists, leads each excursion and gives presentations on board.
Eleven cabins are single cabins and can be booked without a single supplement. They are located on Deck 2 and Deck 3 and are the same size as the Superior cabins.
The Adventurer isn’t a new ship, and that’s precisely her strength. Built in 1972 and completely converted into an expedition ship in 2009, she was fitted with new engines in 2015 and 2016 and received a fresh interior in 2019. A comprehensive renovation is scheduled for 2026, featuring refreshed cabins and common areas, along with new amenities such as a sauna and a whirlpool on deck.
Stephanie Gräf
Travel expert, inventia | Travel beyond the ordinary
Specialist in travel to the Arctic and Antarctic.
I am your contact person for questions and bookings relating to the Arctic and Antarctic, and I am delighted that you are one of the few people who are traveling to the ends of the earth.
You can reach me by phone or email:
+49 (0)201 858 90 960
welcome@inventia.de
Onboard amenities
- A restaurant with windows overlooking the ocean; all passengers eat during the same seating
- Birdie Bowers Bar with a lounge area
- Presentation Lounge for the expedition team's daily briefings
- Library with polar literature and a seating area
- Spa and Sauna
- Whirlpool on deck
- gym
- Scientific Laboratory
- Large mudroom for expedition gear, boots, and kayaks
- Front Desk and Onboard Shop
- Spacious outdoor decks for wildlife viewing
- 63 outside cabins with a window or porthole and a private bathroom
- 14 Zodiacs for landing and excursions
- Retractable stabilizers, bow thrusters, and positioning system
What we love about her
- A maximum of 98 passengers —structurally, 142 would be possible, but no more than 98 are on board at any given time.
- All activities are included —Zodiac trips, shore excursions, kayaking tours, snowshoeing, and camping on the ice are all part of the tour price.
- Eleven single cabins with no single supplement —solo travelers pay no extra charge on Deck 2 and Deck 3.
- 63 outside cabins —Each cabin has a window or a porthole and a private bathroom.
- Sauna and hot tub on deck – After disembarking, you head straight from the mudroom into the warmth, with a view of the ice.
- Over 600 polar voyages —The ship has been sailing in both polar regions since its refit in 2009.
ship data
Key data:
- Type: Ice-strengthened expedition ship
- Cruise area: Antarctica (Antarctic Peninsula and Antarctic Circle); in the future, also the Arctic
- Flag: Liberia
- Year of manufacture: 1972
- Refurbishment and Renovation: Complete refurbishment in 2009 , new engines in 2015–16, interior in 2019, renovation in 2026
- Length: 105 .5 m
- Width: 18 .6 m
- Draught: 4 .7 m
- Gross tonnage: 6 ,334
- Ice class: 1B
- Max. passengers: 98
- Cabins: 63 (in 6 categories)
- Passenger decks: 5
- Crew: 70 to 76
- Cruising speed: 12 .5 knots
- Stabilizers: retractable
- Zodiacs: 14
- Registration: Lloyd's Register
Good to Know on Board
Fewer passengers than possible.
The Terra Nova Adventurer is designed to accommodate 142 people. A maximum of 98 passengers are allowed on board at any given time to prevent overcrowding at the landing sites and allow more time for sightseeing.
Responsibility in Antarctica: The expeditions adhere to the IAATO’s mandatory guidelines for landings, minimum distances from wildlife, and visitor numbers. An onboard scientific laboratory involves passengers in ongoing research projects.
A ship's second life: Instead of building a new vessel, a tried-and-true hull was further developed and continuously modernized.
Cabins on board
Click on a cabin category for more details.
Discovery Four-Bed Cabin
Outside cabin with porthole, approx. 14 m², four single beds (two of which are bunk beds), desk area, private bathroom with shower, accommodates a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 4 people, Deck 2.
Discovery Triple Cabin
Outside cabin with porthole, approx. 14 m², three single beds (one of which is a Pullman bed), desk area, private bathroom with shower, accommodates a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 3 people, Deck 2.
Superior Cabin
Outside cabin with window, approx. 14 m², two single beds, desk area, private bathroom with shower, accommodates a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 2 people, Deck 3.
Superior Single Cabin
Outside cabin with a window on Deck 3 or a porthole on Deck 2, approx. 14 m², two single beds, desk area, private bathroom with shower, min. 1 and max. 1 person, no single supplement, Deck 2 and Deck 3.
Deluxe Cabin
Outside cabin with a large window, approx. 17 m², double bed or two single beds, desk area, private bathroom with shower, accommodates a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 2 people, Deck 4.
Premium Suite
Outside cabin with large windows, approx. 30 m², double bed or two single beds, separate lounge and seating area, desk, private bathroom with jet shower, min. 1 and max. 2 guests, Deck 4.
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Zodiac ride along the ship's side
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The day on board begins at the reception desk
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In the lecture lounge, the expedition team will discuss the day's schedule
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The Birdie Bowers Bar with a view of the outdoors
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The library houses a collection of polar literature and historical photographs
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All passengers are seated together in the restaurant
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From the sauna, you have a direct view of the ice
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In the mudroom, the gear is put on before each landing
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The Discovery Four-Bed Cabin with Two Bunk Beds
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The Discovery Triple Cabin with Pullman Bed
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The Superior Cabin on Deck 3 with a window
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The Superior Single Cabin is assigned without a single-occupancy surcharge
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The Deluxe Cabin on Deck 4 with a large window
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The Premium Suite with a double bed and a sitting area
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The bathroom in an outside cabin
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The bathroom in the Premium Suite with a jet shower
Frequently Asked Questions
How many passengers are on board the Terra Nova Adventurer?
The Terra Nova Adventurer is designed to accommodate 142 people, but carries a maximum of 98 passengers at any given time. There is a practical reason for this limit: IAATO guidelines allow a maximum of 100 people at a landing site at any one time—with 98 passengers, everyone goes ashore together, without having to form waiting groups on board. Each voyage is accompanied by an expedition team consisting of 12 to 14 guides and a crew of 70 to 76 members.
What types of cabins are available on board?
All 63 cabins are outside cabins with a window or porthole and a private bathroom. There are six categories: four Discovery quadruple cabins, four Discovery triple cabins, 32 Superior cabins, 11 Superior single cabins, eight Deluxe cabins, and four Premium Suites. They are located on Decks 2 through 4—details about each category can be found in the cabin section further up on this page.
What are the rules for solo travelers?
Eleven Superior Single Cabins are specifically designed for solo travelers and are assigned without a single supplement; they are located on Decks 2 and 3. Alternatively, solo travelers can share a Discovery triple or quadruple cabin with fellow travelers of the same gender, also without a supplement. We’d be happy to help you find the right cabin—please contact us.
What activities are included in the tour price?
All expedition activities are included in the tour price: Zodiac trips, guided shore excursions, kayaking tours, snowshoeing, camping on the ice, and the photography program. Also included are daily presentations by the expedition team, an expedition parka to keep, and rented rubber boots for the shore excursions. Only day sailing on the Icebird sailing yacht is an optional extra on select departures.
What is the journey through the Drake Passage like?
The crossing from Ushuaia to the Antarctic Peninsula takes about two to two and a half days each way. The Terra Nova Adventurer is equipped with retractable stabilizers and ballast systems that significantly dampen the ship’s motion. Most passengers get used to the swell within a day. The onboard clinic has seasickness remedies available; however, you should still pack your own medications or patches in your carry-on luggage.
What is the medical care like on board?
A ship’s doctor and a fully equipped onboard clinic accompany every voyage. Before the voyage, all passengers complete a medical questionnaire, which the doctor reviews. Since an evacuation from Antarctica can take several days, international health insurance that includes coverage for repatriation and evacuation is mandatory for all passengers, and proof of such coverage must be provided before boarding.
How well-proven is the ship?
Since its complete refit in 2009, the Terra Nova Adventurer has operated as an expedition ship and has completed over 600 polar voyages in Antarctica and the Arctic. In 2015 and 2016, it received new engines; in 2019, its interior was refurbished; and a comprehensive renovation is scheduled for 2026. The hull is Ice Class 1B and is classified by Lloyd’s Register.
What should I know about daily life on board?
The official language on board is English, and onboard charges are paid in U.S. dollars. The onboard electrical system provides 110 volts at 60 hertz with Type G outlets—be sure to pack a travel adapter; each cabin also has a power strip with USB ports. Basic Wi-Fi is included in the trip price; in Antarctic waters, the connection is naturally limited.
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