Ship information Ocean Nova

Ocean Nova was built in Denmark in 1992 and started her career as a ferry on Greenland’s west coast. In 2006 she was completely refurbished and is now a small and comfortable expedition ship with room for 78 passenger in comfortable cabins, all with ocean view and private facilities, ideal for this kind of expedition cruises.

Length: 73 Metres
Width: 11 Metres
Draft: 4,50 Metres
Gross Tonage: 2.118 GT
Zodiacs: 8
Passenger Capacity: 78
Crew: 33, led by an experienced Captain

ON BOARD

BAR AND LOUNGE AREA

The Panorama Lounge is a beautiful glass enclosed public area located on deck 5 that can easily accommodate the entire complement of passengers. It is open at all times for guests’ enjoyment. Lectures, presentations and movies will be offered in this lounge throughout the voyage. The Panorama Lounge houses Ocean Nova’s bar. Here you can also find coffee and tea around the clock!

LIBRARY

The Library located on deck 4 aft you will find a comprehensive collection of Antarctic and other polar literature. The Library is reserved as a “Quiet Area” and it is open 24 hours a day.

BRIDGE VISIT

The Bridge is an important working area on the ship. During your voyage you are welcome to visit the Bridge to watch the Captain and the officers sailing the ship. The Bridge may be closed at arrival and departure from ports and during times of complicated navigation. For safety reasons, please always keep your voice down and beware of not standing in the way of the officers. Bridge etiquette also includes “no eating and no drinking”.

GRATUITIES

Tipping is highly personal and voluntary for those who want to give something for good service on board, approximately USD 10-20 per passenger per day is just a general guideline.

ELECTRICITY

The electrical supply aboard the ship is 220 volts using Scandinavian two-prong plugs (F-type). We recommend that you bring an international adapter if you have devices that need to charge. There are outlets in every cabin.

GYM

On deck 4 you will find a small gym available. No appointment is needed. It is available on a first-come, firstserved basis. Please do not bring any glass bottles or drinking glasses into the gym and remember always to sanitize your hands.

THE CABINS

All cabins on board are all outside cabins with windows and all have private WC and shower. Each cabin has a fitted wardrobe with hangers, a mirror, desk and chair, hairdryer, electrical socket and bin. Your cabin will be cleaned daily and new towels are available upon request. You will find shower gel and shampoo, soap, shower cap, slippers and a bathrobe will be available for your comfort. Safe boxes are available at the Hotel Manager’s office.

NOTE! A cabin card will be required to access your cabin and will be issued upon embarkation.

DRESS CODE

Since we are embarking on an expedition, the dress code on board is informal. We recommend that you bring comfortable, casual clothes that can be layered according to the temperature. The average temperature on board are about 20°- 22°C. We recommend wearing sturdy shoes with rubber or other non-slip soles when moving around both inside the ship and on deck.

COMMUNICATION

The vessel is equipped with a satellite system allowing communication by telephone and internet with the rest of the world.

Internet

First 1GB Wi-Fi card free
Additional: 10GB for USD$50 / 20GB for USD$85
1 GB will allow you to browse the internet for about 12 hours, to stream 200 songs, or to watch 2 hours of standard-definition video. We strongly suggest to limit Internet usage to basic functions and avoid browsing heavy pages or applications.

Phone

Approx. USD$3 per minute (using the ship’s satellite system).
In the remote regions where we operate, satellite coverage is a bit unreliable, and it is not uncommon for a call not to go through on the first try. You may need to call again a bit later, or even the next day.

Internet and phone charges can be settled via your ship onboard account.

MEDICAL

There is a physician and a first aid station on board the Ocean Nova. Passengers who are under regular treatment or who use special medication must carry a sufficient amount for the entire journey. Also bring a written description of the medications you are taking.

Medical Considerations
Although a licensed English-speaking physician is on board, medical facility is a basic infirmary, and full medical care may be days away. For your safety, you must be in good health and have taken all necessary precautions.
Please complete the medical form honestly. It helps determine whether your health is suitable for the voyage.
Ensure you have all required medications and are prepared for the physical demands of the expedition.

Mobility Considerations
Our ships are not fully barrier-free:

Doors to decks are heavy and narrow, with high sills.
Decks can be slippery and may contain hazards such as pipes, drains, and equipment.
Requiring the use of stairs for meals, presentations, and activities.

If you have mobility challenges or use walking aids, carefully consider your participation:

Boarding and disembarking Zodiacs and walking on rocky or icy terrain can be challenging.
Expedition team members can assist you into the Zodiac and onto shore, but cannot escort you once ashore due to other duties.

RESTAURANT & MEALS

The dining room is located on deck 3 seats and fit all passengers in one single sitting. Tables are unassigned and there is open seating at all meals. If you have special dietary needs, these must be clearly indicated prior to your departure. The following dining options will be served during the expedition cruise:

Early bird breakfast (starts 06:00 AM)
Breakfast buffét
Lunch buffét
Afternoon tea
Set menu dinner

The daily menu is posted in front of the Dining Room and a vegetarian option is always available.

SMOKING

“Ocean Nova” is a non-smoking ship. Inside the ship all passenger areas, including cabins, are designated as non-smoking. Smoking is permitted in designated areas on the exterior decks, where cigarette butt containers are located. Please be aware that smoking is not permitted during shore excursions in Antarctica.

SOUVENIRS

A selection of souvenirs, such as Antarctica-related handicrafts, items of ladies’, men’ and children’s clothing, jewellery, postcards is available at the on board Gift-Shop located on deck 2. Opening times are announced in the daily program or through the PA system. Your purchases are recorded and can be paid for together with other shipboard accounts at the end of the cruise

LANGUAGE

The language on board are English and Swedish. The crew are English speaking.

LAUNDRY SERVICE

In your cabin you will find a laundry bag and the laundry price list. Laundry is returned within 48 hours. Please note, that your selected clothes will be washed at 40 degrees and tumble dried. There are no services for tumble drying or dry-cleaning on board.

PAYMENTS ON BOARD

Life on board is designed to be simple and cash-free. All purchases, including bar drinks, laundry, internet access, and other incidental expenses, will be charged to your personal onboard account, so there is no need to carry cash around the ship. At the end of your expedition, you will receive a final statement summarising all charges.
You may settle your onboard account using:

Cash in USD
Major credit cards, including Visa and MasterCard

Please note:

Please bring a physical credit card, as Apple Pay and Google Pay may not always work onboard.
American Express, Diners Club, and Visa/MasterCard debit cards may not be accepted.
Personal checks/cheques are not accepted.

Using Your Credit Card
Many banks apply security measures to international transactions, which may result in your card being declined if overseas use has not been activated in advance.
To help ensure smooth payment onboard, please contact your credit card provider before departure and:

Let them know you will be traveling internationally.
Inform them of the countries you will visit during your trip.
Advise them that the ship’s onboard payment system may be registered in Austria for Ocean Nova
Request international activation for the full duration of your journey.
This helps prevent declined transactions or delays when settling your onboard account.

WATER

You can drink the tap water on board.