Ocean Alabatros

Frequently asked questions

• What can I expect when cruising with Albatros Expeditions?

  The program:  Our voyages are carefully designed to engage your heart, mind and spirit throughout the journey. For this reason, each program includes days full of activities such as Zodiac excursions and landings at various locations. We also offer activities such as kayaking, hiking, and snowshoeing as well as onboard activities while at sea, such as lectures, workshops, and wildlife spotting.

  The staff:  Our expedition cruise team consists of expedition leaders and staff, biologists, and professionals who have extensive knowledge of Polar Regions and a passion for exploration. The team speak several languages and are eager to assist you throughout the journey. We aim to include and support the local areas that we visit: you will often find that our onboard staff are from destinations visited on the itinerary.

  The ship:  Our small expedition ships have a distinct advantage over larger, traditional cruise ships. They can access narrow inlets and sail close to shore, in-between icebergs and in remote areas of the ocean. This allows us to disembark quickly via our fleet of Zodiac watercraft and access amazing sites with greater speed and efficiency.

  The route:  Please keep in mind that the itinerary and outdoor activities during each voyage are dependent on weather conditions, to ensure the safety of our guests. The route and shore landings are determined by the captain and expedition leader who will communicate this to guests through regularly scheduled briefings. Albatros Expeditions reserves the right to modify the landings and locations visited during a voyage based on the prevailing weather conditions to ensure a safe and comfortable experience for all our guests and staff.

• Is there a possibility of being allocated a shared cabin if I’m a single traveler?

  Albatros Expeditions offers solo travelers the option of occupying a cabin by themselves (in exchange for paying a single supplement) or, to share a cabin with other, same-gendered solo travelers - either in a Category C (Balcony Stateroom) or a Category F (Triple Porthole Stateroom). However, if, while onboard, a guest who is sharing a cabin, decides that they would like to move and enjoy the privacy of their own cabin, a single supplement will be applied. This supplement covers the additional cost of occupying a cabin alone.

• Are there any health requirements in place?

  Expeditions are intended for persons in reasonably good health. Although they do not have official requirements regarding personal fitness, you should be able to move around onboard and ashore without assistance. Passengers who are unable to make extended trips for any reason, including disability, heart, or other health conditions are advised not to join the tour, as this would entail an unreasonable risk to the health and safety of yourself and others on the expedition. All guests are required to sign a medical information declaration before boarding. This is to inform onboard medical personnel about any illnesses, allergies, or conditions to be aware of during the voyage

• Can I travel if disabled?

  Albatros Expeditions welcomes disabled guests; however, guests must realize that there are inherent risks associated with traveling onboard ships that are configured for expedition cruise travel. It is vital to notify us (in writing) at the time of booking! Guests needing assistance and those who are physically disabled must be accompanied by someone who assumes full responsibility for any assistance necessary during the cruise and in the event of an emergency. Guests requiring a wheelchair must provide their own collapsible wheelchair. Please be aware that some ports of call, shore excursions, docks, gangways and other requirements may prevent a wheelchair-bound guest from leaving the vessel; any decisions regarding this will be made by the Expedition Leader or ship’s captain.

• Can I travel with minors?

  Minors under the age of 18 must travel with a parent or legal guardian over the age of 21 in the same stateroom as well as onshore excursions, for the entire duration of the voyage. If the minor is not travelling with a parent, a Child Travel Consent Form must be signed by a parent or legal guardian and received by AE prior to the release of travel documents. As they travel in remote areas, for safety reasons AE cannot accommodate children under 8 years of age (weight of 29 kg and 1.2m tall). Although AE accepts children over 8 years of age, please note that there is no childcare or special television programming available onboard. Child-adapted safety harnesses and seating are not provided onboard any AE excursion or shuttle service. Guests may use their own approved child safety harnesses and seating, providing that the vehicles have compatible equipment to safely secure children. This equipment is not guaranteed, and AE reserves the right to refuse any child above the age of 8 and below 14 years of age on any shore excursion or shuttle due to safety concerns. Please note that for Antarctica voyages, AE recommends children be 12 years of age or older and must be accompanied by a responsible adult or legal guardian during all landings and while onboard.

• What should I pack for a trip with Albatros?

  An expedition cruise to Antarctica requires a relatively broad variety of clothing. Onshore, you can expect temperatures of -2°C to 4°C. When observing wildlife from the decks while at sea – temperatures will rarely be above 2 degrees. Throw in a strong, humid wind and the necessity of warm wind- and waterproof clothes, gloves, and hats becomes obvious. A pair of strong slip-resistant hiking shoes/boots are recommended for onboard use and dry landings. The dress code is casual onboard, the most important thing to bring is practical clothes to wear onboard and for landings/excursions. However, you are welcome but not expected to dress up formally for dinner. A cruise through the Arctic requires warm gloves and shorts – and everything in between! Inland temperatures may rise to 10-20°C, while at sea the temperature can be as low as 0°C. Wind and waterproof clothing, as well as a woolen cap and gloves are recommended. It is also recommended to bring clothes that can be combined into several layers as necessary. A pair of sturdy shoes are recommended onboard, while hiking boots are better for onshore visits and hikes. An important consideration is effective mosquito repellent and a mosquito net for your face. Mosquitoes will not be a problem at sea but Arctic flies and mosquitoes are common onshore in the summertime. Dressing appropriately for severe weather conditions and exercising caution during outdoor activities is recommended to all travelers. Our guests are expected to bring proper winter clothing for outings, but waterproof boots are loaned free of charge during excursions. Our shop is equipped with light jackets, t-shirts, and hats but please remember to pack all basic items you will be require during your voyage.

• What rules should I follow during landings and excursions?

  When ashore, it is very important to show deep respect for the unique nature and act according to the motto: leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but memories. We ask that you remain together with your group, as we must be extra vigilant of the wildlife and weather conditions around us. Walking around by yourself is strictly prohibited in Svalbard and Antarctica. It is essential to abide by the stipulated safety rules. Please inform the tour guide in case you wish to go ashore by yourself as this is possible in certain locations such as Greenland. Do not walk alone in uninhabited areas and always stay in sight of your group. Remember that the weather may change suddenly and visibility may be considerably reduced. Keep your distance from animals and birds (minimum 5 metres). Keep track of time and remember the departure time of the ship. Make sure that your watch matches the time of the ship’s clocks.

• Can we see the effects of global warming firsthand?

  There are few places where the consequences of global warming can be seen as clearly as the Arctic and Antarctic. In both Greenland and Svalbard, numerous glaciers have melted and retreated many kilometers back through recent years, and the ice surface lowers by many meters each year. The overall picture is still unclear as more snow remains embedded in the central areas of the Greenlandic Icecap. The glacier Eqip Sermia north of Ilulissat is one of the places where you can clearly see the retracting glacial front. Eqip Sermia is visited on all our West Greenland voyages. During the second half of the 20th century, the Antarctic Peninsula experienced the fastest rate of warming on Earth, closely followed by West Antarctica. Temperatures have risen less rapidly during the early 21st-century.

• Are activities offered all year round?

  Some activities are dependent on the season due to weather conditions such as the amount of snow. Camping and snowshoeing will be available in the early season of Antarctica (November through January). Kayaking will be available on all cruises depending on weather conditions. All Arctic land excursions should be prebooked, while all activities can be booked onboard during the Antarctic voyages. However, due to limited availability we advise you to prebook the 'Camping on the Antarctica Peninsula'. Please contact your local travel agent to reserve this experience.

• How should I dress onboard?

  The dress code onboard is casual, you can leave your ties, jackets and evening dresses at home. It is more important to wear the right clothes to handle the different weather conditions enroute. We recommend comfortable, breathable, waterproof, and windproof clothing. You should also have a pair of gloves, thermal underwear and sturdy footwear. For the welcome and farewell cocktail, we recommend a smart casual dress style.

• How should I dress during landings?

  An expedition cruise to Antarctica requires a relatively broad variety of clothing. Onshore, you can expect temperatures of -2°C to 4°C. When observing wildlife from the decks while at sea – temperatures will rarely be above 2 degrees. Throw in a strong, humid wind and the necessity of warm wind- and waterproof clothes, gloves, and hats becomes obvious. How can you keep warm during the Arctic summer? Layers! They insulate trapped air, and you can adjust them as needed depending how hot or cold you feel. Proper clothing is a necessity for the voyage. Choose lightweight technical fabrics engineered to keep moisture out, keeping you dry and warm. For example, this could be a wool base, a sweater or fleece as a middle layer, with a wind and waterproof jacket as the outer layer. For your legs, it could be a wool base layer, tightly woven leisure pants as the middle layer and wind- and water-resistant pants as the outer layer. A pair of strong slip-resistant hiking shoes/boots are ideal for onboard use and dry landings. Before your trip, you will receive a “Pre-departure guide - Important information” document that contains a checklist of must have items on board.

• Do I have a minibar in my cabin?

  Both on Ocean Victory and Albatros, a mini-Bar is available in all en-suite cabins and is replenished on a daily basis.

• Do I have to take shower gel and personal items onboard?

  On our vessels, you will find shampoo, body wash, and body lotion dispensers in all cabins. There are hairdryers, robes, and slippers in all cabins on both vessels. .

• Do you provide parkas and boots?

  For our Arctic and Antarctic voyages, we offer sturdy, high-quality boots free of charge throughout the duration of your trip. These boots will be yours to wear during landings and hikes for the entire voyage. Boots are available in sizes EU35 to EU47. In the case of an Antarctic Expedition, you will receive your complimentary Expedition Parka when boarding Ocean Victory or Ocean Albatros which is yours to keep after the voyage. (Different rules apply in the case of full charters) We offer parkas in sizes XS-4XL for men and women.

• Can I use mosquito repellent during my voyage?

  We recommend using an appropriate insect repellent to prevent against bug bites, ideally with a concentration of 20% or more DEET, Picaridin, OLE, PMD or IR3535. When visiting Arctic regions such as Greenland and Iceland, it is recommended to apply sunscreen first and mosquito repellent afterwards.

• Is mobile reception and WIFI available onboard?

  It is worth bearing in mind that we will be cruising in a very remote region of the world. Where accessible, internet access is available for an extra charge. You may purchase a 60-min internet package to use for your browsing needs. Mobile phone reception may be possible in select regions enroute, for further details please contact your mobile phone operator. Prices can be found in the information folder in your stateroom. Please ensure that your ‘Data Roaming’ function is switched off. Be aware that only one registered Wi-Fi account can be used per device at a time. Meaning that the registered account must be logged off first before you can use it to another device. In order to use two devices at the same time, a secondary account must be registered for the second device (e.g. laptop, tablet etc).