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US DOLLARS ($)

+44 207 384 2332 Plan Your Trip

+44 207 384 2332 Plan your trip

Expedition Ship

St Helena
+ the Icebird

HIGHLIGHTS
GALLERY
FEATURES
GOOD TO KNOW
ENQUIRE
DESTINATIONS

Highlights

A true expedition atmosphere – St Helena feels closer to a traditional polar expedition than a cruise ship, with a strong focus on exploration, flexibility and time ashore.
Historic working-ship heritage – Unlike purpose-built luxury expedition ships, St Helena spent decades operating as a Royal Mail Ship, giving her genuine character and maritime history.
The Icebird experience – Few Antarctic voyages offer the chance to explore aboard a separate expedition yacht, where Icebird allows silent sailing among icebergs and glaciers. This experience can be included as a day trip from the main expedition, allowing you access to tiny coves or to sail silently between icebergs. Alternatively, you can board the icebird at the end of your cruise and spend six nights onboard for the ultimate private Antarctic experience.
Exceptionally small guest numbers – Carrying just 98 guests creates a far more personal experience onboard and allows quicker, less crowded landings throughout the expedition.
More adventurous spirit – Kayaking, camping, trekking and Zodiac exploration are central to the experience, appealing to travellers seeking something more active and immersive.
Less polished, more authentic – St Helena prioritises atmosphere, wildlife and exploration over ultra-luxury styling, attracting travellers who value substance and expedition pedigree.
A rare sense of remoteness – The combination of a small ship, yacht-based exploration and expedition-led itineraries allows access to quieter corners of Antarctica that larger vessels often miss.

Features of the St. Helena

Constructed: Originally launched in 1989 as the Royal Mail Ship St Helena, the vessel has been extensively refurbished for polar expedition cruising while retaining much of her historic maritime character.
Capacity: Accommodates just 98 guests, creating a far more intimate onboard atmosphere and allowing quicker Zodiac operations and more efficient landings ashore.
Guides: Expeditions are led by an experienced team of polar specialists, naturalists and expedition leaders, providing in-depth insight into Antarctica’s wildlife, history and landscapes.
Crew: Operated by an experienced expedition crew focused on safety, flexibility and personalised service throughout each voyage.
Speed: Cruises at approximately 14 knots, balancing comfortable Southern Ocean crossings with the flexibility needed for expedition travel.
Ice Class: Ice-strengthened for polar operations, allowing navigation through Antarctic waters and access to remote expedition landing sites.
Size: Measures approximately 105 metres in length, offering a stable platform for expedition cruising while remaining small enough to access narrower channels and remote bays.
Dining: Features a relaxed onboard restaurant and bar serving freshly prepared meals in an informal expedition atmosphere rather than a traditional luxury cruise setting.
Leisure facilities: Includes observation decks, lecture spaces, comfortable lounges, jacuzzis and dedicated expedition preparation areas designed around exploration and wildlife viewing.
Expedition style: St Helena places greater emphasis on authentic exploration and time ashore than many modern expedition ships, appealing to travellers seeking a more adventurous experience.
Cabins: Offers a range of comfortable cabins and suites with ensuite bathrooms and ocean views, maintaining the ship’s classic maritime feel rather than ultra-modern styling.

Features of the Icebird

Constructed: Built in 1986 at the renowned Trintella Shipyard in the Netherlands, Icebird was purpose-built for expedition sailing in polar waters rather than adapted from a standard cruising yacht.
Capacity: Accommodates just eight guests for day sails and six for overnights, creating one of the most exclusive and personal Antarctic experiences available.
Guides: Voyages are led by an experienced skipper and polar expedition team, offering highly tailored exploration shaped around weather, wildlife and guest interests.
Crew: Operated by a small specialist crew focused on hands-on sailing, flexible exploration and close guest interaction throughout the journey.
Speed: Travels under both sail and engine power, allowing a slower, quieter and more immersive style of Antarctic exploration.
Ice capability: Features a heavily reinforced aluminium hull with six watertight compartments, designed specifically for operation in Antarctic and Arctic waters.
Size: Measuring approximately 61 feet in length, Icebird can navigate narrow channels, shallow anchorages and remote bays inaccessible to most expedition ships.
Dining: Meals are freshly prepared onboard and served communally, creating a relaxed atmosphere that feels closer to a private yacht expedition than a cruise.
Leisure facilities: Features Zodiac access, kayaking equipment, open observation areas and expedition gear designed for active, close-up exploration of Antarctica.
Expedition style: Icebird delivers a far more adventurous and stripped-back experience than traditional expedition vessels, with sailing and direct engagement central to the journey.
Cabins: Simple but comfortable ensuite cabins designed around practicality, warmth and extended time exploring remote polar regions.

Gallery

Good to know

What are the cabin options on the St Helena?

Discovery Quad Cabin – Shared four-guest cabin option designed for travellers prioritising expedition value and time ashore.
Discovery Triple Cabin – Triple-share cabin option offering a sociable and cost-effective way to experience Antarctica.
Odyssey Twin Cabin – Comfortable twin cabin with a compact layout, suited to travellers focused primarily on the expedition experience itself.
Odyssey Single Cabin – Dedicated single cabins with no supplement, relatively unusual within Antarctic expedition cruising.
Superior Cabin – Larger and better positioned than Odyssey cabins, offering additional comfort and improved deck locations.
Deluxe Cabin – More spacious cabins with enhanced views and upgraded positioning onboard the vessel.
Premium Cabin – Larger premium accommodation with additional living space and more desirable locations onboard.
Owner’s Suite – The ship’s largest accommodation category, featuring separate living space and the most spacious layout onboard.

Are children welcome?

Terra Nova Expeditions Child Policy

Terra Nova Expeditions welcomes passengers as young as 8 years old on board.

Children between the ages of 8-10 can participate in the following activities with adult supervision:

All on board activities including educational lectures, photography courses, and yoga

Off ship excursions including Zodiac boat cruising, landings/wildlife viewing, snowshoeing and hiking/trekking (we ask that any passenger, including children, self-assess and ensure they are capable to participate in the longer hiking/trekking activities)

They are not permitted to participate in the kayaking, polar plunge, camping, or day sail program

Children between 11-17 can participate in all activities with adult supervision, including Day Sail Program.

Children’s life vests will be provided by the yacht for the sailing program. It is recommended parents bring children’s life vests for a more accurate and snug fit.

Children 18+ are considered adults and can participate in all activities unsupervised by a parent.

Sustainable travel

Terra Nova Expeditions places a strong emphasis on low-impact expedition travel, with sustainability built around the principles of ‘protect, conserve and educate’. The company focuses on small-ship operations, believing lower guest numbers create less environmental impact while also allowing more meaningful experiences in Antarctica.

Their policy includes eliminating single-use plastics, reducing waste, using sustainable packaging and offering digital materials wherever possible. A jacket reuse programme is also in place to minimise unnecessary consumption.

Operationally, the company highlights the use of low-emission Marine Gas Oil (MGO), fuel optimisation measures and ongoing exploration of alternative fuels and carbon offset initiatives.

There is also a strong educational element to their sustainability approach. Expeditions incorporate citizen science, onboard lectures and wildlife education designed to encourage guests to become active stewards of the polar environment rather than passive visitors.

Terra Nova also states that it follows strict wildlife interaction guidelines and supports marine conservation, biodiversity research and partnerships linked to ocean protection and pollution reduction.

Citizen science

Citizen science is a central part of the Terra Nova Expeditions experience onboard St Helena. Rather than simply observing Antarctica, guests are encouraged to contribute directly to ongoing scientific and conservation projects during their voyage.

Programmes can include wildlife monitoring, seabird identification, whale sightings, water sampling and recording environmental observations that are shared with research organisations and conservation initiatives. Guests may also assist with photographic records and behavioural observations that help scientists better understand changes in Antarctic ecosystems.

The onboard expedition team and specialists guide guests through the process, explaining both the scientific purpose and the wider conservation importance of the data being collected. Lectures, workshops and informal discussions help provide greater context around climate change, marine ecosystems and polar biodiversity.

The aim is not only to support active research but also to deepen guests’ understanding of Antarctica as one of the world’s most fragile environments. It creates a far more participatory expedition experience, where travellers leave feeling they have contributed something meaningful rather than simply visited the region.

What adventure options are included?

Adventure activities are a major part of the St Helena experience, with a stronger focus on active exploration than many traditional expedition cruises. Depending on the voyage and conditions, included activities can feature kayaking, snowshoeing, guided trekking and extended Zodiac exploration among icebergs, glaciers and wildlife colonies.

Polar camping is also offered on selected departures, giving guests the opportunity to spend a night ashore in Antarctica. Photography workshops and specialist guiding are often integrated into the expedition programme as well.

Because of the ship’s small guest numbers, activities tend to feel more flexible and less crowded, with greater opportunity to spend extended time exploring ashore rather than waiting for scheduled landing slots. The exact range of activities varies by itinerary, weather and ice conditions.

What's the history of the St Helena?

Originally launched in 1989, St Helena was built as the Royal Mail Ship serving the remote British Overseas Territory of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic. For decades, she acted as the island’s primary lifeline, transporting passengers, cargo and mail between Saint Helena, Ascension Island and Cape Town long before the island had an airport.

Unlike most modern expedition vessels, St Helena was designed as a working ship capable of operating in isolated and demanding ocean conditions. This practical heritage still shapes much of the atmosphere onboard today, giving the vessel a far more authentic maritime feel than purpose-built luxury expedition ships.

Following the opening of Saint Helena Airport in 2017, the ship was retired from her mail service role and later extensively refurbished for polar expedition cruising. Her transition into Antarctic exploration allowed the vessel to begin a second life, now carrying travellers to some of the world’s most remote regions.

Today, St Helena combines historic character with small-ship expedition travel, offering a more adventurous and traditional style of Antarctic exploration centred around discovery, flexibility and time spent ashore.

Why we love the St Helena and Icebird

There are many things to love about this combination, but it is very hard to see past the passenger numbers as one of the most exciting features. Under 100 passengers means that everyone can land at the same time and that means you see more of Antarctica. The ethos onboard is very much focussed on the expedition making this a true adventure and the vast deck space makes for one of the best viewing platforms amongst the ice.