Arctic and Antarctic Cruises on the M/S Expedition

M/S Expedition Deck Plan

Cabins

View cabin photos and interactive deckplan

To ensure that you have an extraordinary experience, we have limited the maximum number of guests to 124. The brand new top-of-the-line cabins provide a variety of affordable doubles and triples, higher end double cabins and luxurious suites. Singles are also available in all cabin categories. All rooms provide outside cabins with views (window or porthole) and full private en-suite bathrooms.

Unlike many expedition ships, where public space is at a premium, the M/S Expedition has multiple large public areas to enjoy during sea crossings and in between land excursions.

Polar Bear Pub
Discovery Lounge / Albatross Bar
A barbecue deck
Top 360° view observation deck
Fitness center/sauna
A fine dining room serving international cuisine and large enough to accommodate all passengers in one sitting

Deck Plan for M/S Expedition

M/S Expedition - Technical Specifications

Built: Helsingor Skibsvaerft, Denmark 1972

Ice class: Swedish/ Finnish 1B

Length: 105.23 metres (345 feet)

Breadth: 18.63 meters

Max Draft: 4.71 metres

Gross Tonnage: 6334 grt

Cruising Speed: 16 knots

Stabilizers: Fins, Type Brown/AEG

Passenger Capacity: 124 passengers max

Current Life saving & Rescue equipment: Covered motor lifeboats 4 pcs capacity of 192 people. Life rafts total capacity 260 people

About Expedition Travel

How can you prepare yourself?

Every evening, usually before dinner, the Expedition Leader will give you a briefing on the plan for the next day. This will include details about where we are planning to visit, who or what we will be likely to see and how to prepare for the elements. The areas that we visit are generally remote and wild and it is important to remain flexible as everything we do is dependent on the local conditions.

What happens on an excursion?

There really are no hard or fast rules about excursions!! But, generally, you'll get on the Zodiacs and go on shore to see a particular point of interest. You could be on shore for an afternoon (such as at the fasinating ex-whaling station at Grytviken on South Georgia Island), or spend a couple of hours wat the vast, remote bird colony (such as the black-browed albatross colony at Steeple Jason in the Faulklands), or even a Zodiac cruise in and around grounded icebergs (in Iceberg Alley off the Antarctic Peninsula). On trips to inhabited areas (such as Norway or the Azores), you will probably discover the town on a guided tour, then have free time to stretch your legs and explore on your own.

What should I bring on an excursion?

Your Expedition Leader will let you know if you need any special gear (and the dossier provides a great packing list) but here are a few extra things that are handy:

Binoculars - Some of the most unique wildlife are some of the most reclusive, so a good pair of binoculars is essential.

A waterproof Daypack or a dry bag - Sometimes you can keep your bag dry on the Zodiac rides, but there are no guarantees!

Memory Cards and batteries - Chances are you are only going to be there once and you will take more pictures than you can imagine.

Zip lock bags - These are lifesavers to keep your camera gear dry when the elements pick up.

Fingerless gloves - These are handy to have inside your mittens, so that you can take pictures even when it's cold outside.

Sunglasses - The reflection from the sun on the snow or the water can be pretty bright!

Destinations

The Arctic

Polar Expedition travel is where the M/S Expedition feels most at home. For Arctic adventures we visit a collection of destinations that can vary each season. The Northern Hemisphere season runs from roughly June to September and during this season our ship visits:

Norway
Spitsbergen and the Svalbard Archipelago
Iceland
Greenland
Newfoundland

The Arctic voyages are highlighted by landings at historic sites and plenty of wildlife encounters with majestic animals like the Polar Bear, Walrus and Puffin! Massive icebergs and fjords typify the landscapes in this scenic part of the world.

The Antarctic

The most remote landmass on the planet, Antarctica is visited by few, but dreamed about by many. From November to March this icy realm opens up for visitors. Our voyage to Antarctica range from just over 1-week in length to almost a full month in duration. Starting from Ushuaia, Argentina these trips with the M/S Expedition visit places like:

The Falkland Islands
South Georgia
South Shetland Islands
The Antarctic Peninsula

Highlights of any voyage this far south include a variety of Penguin species, as well as plenty of whales and seals and seabirds, not to mention the stunning icebergs and glaciers.

The Atlantic

Atlantic voyages offer access to remote coastlines and islands while enjoying the comfort of your own cabin on our expedition vessel, the M/S Expedition. Each season, when the polar destinations are too icy for exploration, we discover exciting new places throughout this impressive ocean. Possible destinations include:

The Azores
The coast of Brazil

Expect plety of sunshine as well as sealife such as dolphins and whales on these voyages of leisure and exploration. Always guided by our expert crew, they are a unique way to experience some more accessible (and warmer!) parts of the world.

Our Blog

The Expedition blog is online!

Each season our Expedition crew and Marien staff post photos and stories form recent adventures on the water. Since every voyage is different, you never know what we'll write about! To check out the latest posts head over to:

gapadventures.blogspot.com

Trip Logs

Again, we thank you for having travelled with Gap Adventures on a recent expedition. Your trip log and expedition details are waiting for you and can be accessed through this page. Please enter your username and password below. If you have any problems accessing the files, send us a message via our contact us page and we'll be in touch.

www.gapadventures.com/marine/triplog-login

Safety

Captain William Bennett, Director, Marine Operations
David Ainsworth, Vessel Operations Manager
Julian Wong, Expedition Operations Coordinator

Name of Vessel: M/S Expedition
Destinations Serviced: Antarctic, Arctic, Azores, Norwegian Fjords and British Isles.
Capacity on Board (passengers and crew): 210

General Vessel

With a focus on safety, comfort and the unique demands of polar travel, the crew of the M/S Expedition is committed to the ship’s continued safe operation. Our ship and its crew members comply with all International Maritime Organization (IMO) standards governing the operation of expedition vessels in addition to the many guidelines and recommendations from Flag State and International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators. These international standards govern the operation of all ships and are regulated by the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) convention. Gap Adventures cooperates with maritime regulators to ensure the safe passage of all of its passengers. In compliance with SOLAS, the crew reviews the ship regularly and examines fire safety and life-saving equipment. An onboard binder is available which details the ship’s certifications. These documents include certifications for the ship’s lifeboats, radio, onboard machinery, etc.

Safety Briefing

Prior to each departure, a full orientation and safety briefing is held with our passengers. This safety briefing is a critical part of the pre-departure routine—a good safety orientation can save valuable minutes during a true emergency. This briefing points out the locations of important safety equipment and how to use it. It includes crew introductions, evacuation procedures and reviews the use of lifejackets, man-overboard procedures, sinking procedures and fire management. Following each briefing, the crew conducts fire and lifeboat drills. Crew members are always on hand to provide additional information to interested passengers throughout the voyage.

Safety Equipment

The M/S Expedition employs forward-looking Sonar, which reduces the chances of the ship grounding on uncharted reefs or rocks. Furthermore, all safety equipment, including lifeboats, liferafts, lifejackets, buoyancy aids and firefighting equipment is checked monthly and any faulty equipment is replaced immediately. All lifesaving equipment is tracked by a computerized onboard maintenance system.

Lifeboats

The M/S Expedition has four partially enclosed lifeboats (with capacity for all passengers and crew) as well as six liferafts (with a capacity of 150 persons). Liferafts have the ability to float free in the event they are immersed in water without being released. Lifeboats are tested and deployed every month and each lifeboat is serviced regularly. The ship also includes life rings to rescue people from the water. These are easily released and accessible at all times. In addition to lifeboats, the M/S Expedition has full immersion cold weather survival suits for all passengers and crew. These suits are designed to significantly increase the odds for survival in the event of immersion in freezing waters.

Lifejackets

Lifejackets are located in cabins and in storage areas on deck. Lifejackets are adjustable and have both a light and a whistle for attracting attention in an emergency. At least one lifejacket will be provided per person (including all crew members and passengers) and will be accessible at all times.

Fire Safety

An onboard computerized maintenance scheduling program ensures that firefighting equipment is in good order and that the crew is trained in its use. Prior to each departure, a full briefing is given by the ship’s crew of procedures in case of fire (including meeting points) and the crew conducts a fire and lifeboat drill. Firefighting equipment and its location are outlined in the ship’s fire control plan. All cabins and spaces onboard are constantly monitored and data is fed to a monitoring panel on the bridge, which is under the supervision of the bridge officers.

Crew

All M/S Expedition crew members are trained in evacuation, safety and emergency procedures as required by local and international conventions. Onboard training drills are held once per week, lifeboats must be launched once per month and passenger safety drills are held prior to each departure.

Injury

The M/S Expedition boasts a number of facilities to assist injured passengers and also employs a full-time Expedition Doctor. The Expedition Doctor is onboard at all times and accompanies all land excursions. During the pre-departure safety briefing, crew members outline potential onboard hazards and how to avoid them, ie open hatches, steps, and ropes.

Communications

Radio and satellite systems provide the means to contact rescue and emergency services. In addition, the M/S Expedition has a GMDSS (Global Marine Distress and Safety System) radio installation. Flares for use in emergency are located on the bridge, in lifeboats and zodiacs. These are all checked before each trip and monthly as per the ship’s onboard maintenance software. In order to attract attention in visually limited situations, the ship employs a variety of radios, automatic alarms, satellite phones, Search and Rescue transponders, flares and a foghorn.

Propulsion

The M/S Expedition is powered by two MAN Diesel engines, maintained continuously by the ship’s engineering department. Zodiacs are powered by 50HP outboard motors; oars are provided as an alternate method of propulsion.

Weather/Charts

Charts of the areas to which the M/S Expedition travels are continuously updated. The crew of the M/S Expedition subscribes to the Marine Press, which supplies weekly chart corrections to the ship electronically. Thereafter, the navigation system is updated by the ship’s crew. Weather forecasts are provided via the Internet and through a dedicated satellite tracker. While the ship may encounter adverse weather conditions, the safety of the ship’s passengers will not be compromised.

Waste

Waste aboard the M/S Expedition is treated onboard and discharged as per international regulations. Furthermore, the ship complies with the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) guidelines on waste management in the Antarctic, which is more stringent than anywhere else in the world. The M/S Expedition boasts a comprehensive recycling program and a large onboard trash compactor is employed for the disposal of other waste products, ie bottles, packaging, leftover food etc.