Arrive in Longyearbyen, the main town of Spitsbergen. Explore this former mining town with its church and museum. In the evening, the ship leaves Isfjorden, where you might see a minke whale.
Exploring West Spitsbergen
Krossfjorden and Ny Alesund
Travel north along the west coast to Krossfjorden, with views of glaciers. Visit Ny Alesund, the northernmost settlement, now a research center. Nearby, see geese and Arctic terns. Learn about Arctic exploration history.
Monaco Glacier
Weather permitting, sail into Liefdefjorden to see the Monaco Glacier. The area is a feeding spot for kittiwakes and a hunting ground for polar bears. If ice blocks the way, an alternate route along the west coast is possible.
Sorgfjord
Visit Sorgfjord, where sunken ships lie. Spot walruses and explore the area, home to ptarmigans. Heclahamna offers a semi-desert landscape for excursions.
Seven Islands
Reach the northernmost point at the Seven Islands, near the North Pole. Polar bears and walruses live here. Sail through pack ice, following the path of the 1928 Nobile Expedition rescue attempt.
Europe's Largest Ice Cap
Sail by Austfonna on Nordaustlandet, stopping at Isis Island. Pass Kapp Mohn, part of Europe's largest ice cap, known for its waterfalls. Sail near Kong Karls Land, a polar bear denning area.
Storfjorden
Sail through Heleysundet, seeing glaciers like Negribreen. Possible landings include Skjolddalen and Diskobukta, home to bird colonies and glacier fronts.
Pointed Mountains
Cruise Hornsund's fjords, with peaks like Hornsundtind. Spot seals, beluga whales, and polar bears. Land in Samarinvaagen and Birgerbukta for walks.
Bell Sund
Explore Bell Sund, warmer than other areas. Visit Ahlstrandhalvøya to see beluga skeletons, a reminder of past hunting. Spot belugas and explore tundra and bird breeding areas.
Return to Longyearbyen
Your adventure ends as you return to Longyearbyen, taking home unforgettable memories.






m/v Ortelius
The ice-strengthened Ortelius is fully equipped for polar exploration and can accommodate helicopter flights when necessary.
Specifications
| Passengers: | 108 passengers in 50 cabins |
| Staff & crew: | Crew 44 | Guides 8 | Doctor 1 |
| Length: | 90.95 meters |
| Breadth: | 17.20 meters |
| Draft: | 5.4 meters |
| Ice class: | UL1 (Equivalent to 1A) |
| Displacement: | 4090 tonnes |
| Propulsion: | 6 ZL 40/48 SULZER |
| Speed: | 10.5 knots average cruising speed |
Cabins Gallery
Ship Interior Gallery
Ship Exterior Gallery
Ortelius was originally the Marina Svetaeva. Built in Gdynia, Poland in 1989, it served as a special-purpose vessel for the Russian Academy of Science. Later it was re-flagged and renamed after the Dutch/Flemish cartographer Abraham Ortelius (1527 – 1598), who in 1570 published the first modern world atlas: Theatrum Orbis Terrarum or Theater of the World. At that time his atlas was the most expensive book ever printed. Ortelius is classed by Lloyd’s Register in London and flies the Dutch flag.
Perfect for Any Expedition
The vessel has the highest ice-class notation (UL1, equivalent to 1A) and is therefore suitable to navigate in solid one-year sea ice as well as loose multi-year pack ice. Ortelius can accommodate up to 108 passengers and has an abundance of open-deck spaces. It is manned by 24 highly experienced nautical crew members, 20 hotel staff, eight expedition specialists (one expedition leader, one assistant, and six lecturer-guides), and one doctor.
Ortelius: a Vessel with Comfort and Character
Please be aware that a small number of cabins may have a partially obstructed view due to the size of the windows and the design requirements of the ship. For example, some windows may be partly obstructed in the lower half by a gangway. The best view is always on the outer deck or the bridge. Though our voyages are primarily meant to offer our passengers an exploratory wildlife program with as much time ashore as possible, Ortelius offers all the comforts of a standard hotel ― along with a bar and lecture room. Flexibility assures maximum wildlife opportunities. As such, Ortelius carries 10 Zodiacs with 60hp Yamaha engines.
What to Wear
In keeping with the spirit of expedition, dress on board is informal. Bring casual and comfortable clothing for all activities, and keep in mind that much of the scenery can be appreciated from deck ― which can be slippery. Bring sturdy shoes with no-slip soles, and make sure your parka is never far away in case one of our crew shouts “Whales!” over the loudspeaker and you have to dash outside in a moment’s notice. Opt for layers, as it is comfortably warm aboard the ship though often cold on deck.
How to Pay
Refreshments and souvenirs will be charged to your cabin. The day before departure you can settle your bill with the hotel manager, paying by credit card (Visa or MasterCard) or cash (euro, or in some cases dollar). We cannot, however, accept checks. Though the prices and standard currency on board is in the euro, other currencies may be accepted at the discretion of the hotel manager, at prevailing rates.
Electric Current
The electrical supply aboard ship is 220v, 60Hz. Electrical outlets are standard European with two thick round pins, so some passengers may need a 220v/110v converter.
Gratuities
The customary gratuity to the ship’s service personnel is made as a blanket contribution at the end of the voyage and is divided among the crew. Tipping is a personal matter, and the amount you wish to give is at your sole discretion. As a generally accepted guideline, we suggest 8 ― 15 euros per passenger per day. It is better for the crew if you give cash.
Non-Smoking Policy
We have a non-smoking policy inside all our vessels, though you can smoke in certain designated areas. We ask that you please respect the wishes of non-smokers.
Your Physical Condition
You must be in good overall health and be able to walk several hours per day. The expedition is ship-based and physically not very demanding, but we spend as much time as possible on shore. You are, however, welcome to remain aboard the ship if you prefer. To join most excursions you must be able to get up and down the steep gangway ― from the ship to the water level ― to board the Zodiacs. Staff will assist you in and out of the boats, and boarding will become progressively easier with practice, but conditions on shore can be slippery and rocky. Remember, you will be traveling in remote areas without access to sophisticated medical facilities, so you must not join this expedition if you have a life-threatening condition or need daily medical treatment.
- Yes, we offer an app called PressReader that gives you access to a number of magazines and periodicals while you're on board. Simply connect to the ship's Wi-Fi, use the QR code or link to access the app, and enjoy reading.
- The currency on board our vessels is the Euro, but it is also possible to pay with USD on board.
- When you make a confirmed reservation, we require a 40% deposit. But if the reservation is made within two months prior to departure, the full price of the voyage is due at the time of booking.
- Aboard Hondius, Ortelius, Plancius, and Rembrandt van Rijn, refreshments and souvenirs will be charged to your cabin. The day before disembarking, you can settle your bill with the hotel manager and pay by Visa or MasterCard, Diners Club/Discover, Union Pay, or cash (Euro or USD). The prices and standard currency on board all of our vessels is the Euro.
- As polar bears can travel great distances in a day, it is impossible to say where and when we will spot them. Sea ice is the best place to look, so we tend to focus our efforts there. Though you will have a good chance of seeing polar bears in Svalbard, nature makes the decisions. Sightings cannot be guaranteed.
- Svalbard's diverse list of wildlife is one of its most compelling features, especially for photographers and wildlife enthusiasts. Svalbard cruises also offers an intriguing landscape with many different types of geological features from high mountains to ice capped ancient sea floor. Glaciers and fjords are multifold and the sea ice is a major attraction.
- There are in total 50 cabins at the Ortelius. 4 quadruple cabins with bunk beds. 26 twin porthole cabin with 2 single berths. 12 twin cabins with windows and 2 lower berths. 2 twin deluxe cabins with windows and 2 single lower berths. 6 superior cabins with double beds. All cabins are spacious outside cabins with a minimum of two portholes or windows per cabin and all cabins have a private shower and toilet.
- The number of passengers is limited to approximately 116 on the Ortelius. Furthermore the vessel is manned by 20 highly experienced international nautical crew, 19 international hotel crew, including stewardesses, 7 expedition staff in Antarctica (1 expedition leader and 6 guides/lecturers) and 1 doctor.
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