St Helena + the Icebird

• 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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.