MV Stella Australis

The 2010-built MV Stella Australis cruise ship is owned and operated by the Chilean travel company Australis Cruises Patagonia. The polar expedition vessel was ordered by and specifically built for the Chile-based Australis cruise company. From the same design is the sistership and fleetmate MV Ventus Australis (2018-built).

The vessel (IMO number 9534676) is currently Chile-flagged (MMSI 725017800) and registered in Punta Arenas.

The ship is luxurious, with yacht-like design and able to navigate the Chilean Fjords and Patagonia's shallow bays and narrow fjords at the tip of South America. This region is the only zone of operations of the cruise line (September through April). Stella Australis cruises either on one-way or roundtrip 3- to 7-night itineraries leaving out of Ushuaia (Argentina) or Punta Arenas (Chile).

The Australis cruise line is owned by the Patagonia-based Menendez family. During the late-1800s, their business was focused on seal hunting and sheep breeding. Currently, the company owns and operates two expedition cruise ships (Stella Australis and Ventus Australis (launched 2018). Its ship Via Australis was sold in 2016 to Lindblad and renamed Nat Geo Endeavour 2. The Australis company's current business is run by 3 brothers. They acquired the first ship, "Terra Australis" (formerly Savannah), in 1990, and ran weekly cruises roundtrip from Punta Arenas. In 2002, the company built Mare Australis. About that time, Murray Channel was opened to commercial traffic, which opened the door for itineraries to Cape Horn via a direct route.

The Chilean cruise line Australis specializes exclusively in the archipelago making up the most remote Patagonia's part - Tierra del Fuego. The fleet operates on five itinerary routes between Ushuaia and Punta Arenas, including Beagle Channel and Strait of Magellan.

Australis is among the few travel brands to offer the opportunity to go ashore at the World Biosphere Reserve "Cape Horn National Park" (often called "the end of the earth").

Decks and Cabins

For an expedition ship, Stella Australis staterooms (100 total) are relatively larger and with either a double bed or two twin beds. The contemporary decor is in white and nautical blues. En-suite bathrooms are shower-only (with WC and sink vanity).

Though there are 6 cabin categories (2 grades on each of the 3 cabin decks), actually there are just 2 layouts. Standard Cabins are sized 16 m2 (175 ft2), while the 4 Superior Cabins (located midship) are sized 20 m2 (220 ft2) and have larger double beds. All cabins are with picture windows. Cabo de Hornos deck rooms are with floor-ceiling windows, which cover nearly the room's entire outside wall.

The boat has 5 passenger decks, of which 3 are with cabins.

Shipboard facilities

Patagonia Dining Room (on ship's lowest deck) also has picture windows. Breakfast and lunch are buffet-style. Dinner, which is a mix of international and local fare, is always served. Entree selections usually include fish, chicken, beef or lamb. Wines from Chile and Argentina are included in the Australis cruise fares.

Public rooms consist of 3 lounges for lectures, socializing and relaxing. The smallest (Yamana Lounge) is a bow-facing observation lounge. The aft (Sky Lounge) is where lectures about Patagonia's history, sights and wildlife take place, given in two official languages (English and Spanish). Darwin Lounge (on the upper deck) is the largest, with a bar, cocktail tables and armchairs.

On Magallanes Deck (2nd floor) is the Lobby where are located the Reception, Shop and Library. The Reception provides 24-hour guest services (information, cashier). The Gift Shop sells brand merchandise (T-shirts, caps, fleeces, jewelry), also sports gear (including waterproof clothes and boots). The Library (opposite to the Reception) has all 4 shelves with books (mainly polar travel guides).

On the top-deck is the Darwin Lounge/Observation Lounge served by its own bar. Darwin Lounge is the ship's largest public room, furnished with comfortable armchairs and cocktail tables and featuring large picture windows. The lounge also serves Australis Cruises' onboard enrichment program with daily lectures and media presentattions / documentary screenings (themed on Antarctica, wildlife, history, glaciology, geology, native peoples) and also daily trivia games.

At Darwin Bar are always available complimentary chips and cookies. There is a self-serve refrigerator with soft drinks and beers.

The crew is generally made up of locals.

The Wheelhouse/Navigation Bridge is open to passengers at most times.

Room service is not available. available.

The onboard currency is USD.

The vessel has 6x Zodiacs (large-capacity inflatable motorized speedboats) used for passenger tendering and landings.

The ship has no dress code and the company doesn't recommend bringing cocktail dresses/tuxedos/suit jackets on the cruise. The suggested clothes (for outdoor activities) include a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, a sweater, and waterproof clothing (gloves, pants, hiking shoes/boots).

There are no formal onboard events that require dressing up - like Captain's Gala Dinner.

Australis Cruises itineraries

The Australis cruise line operates a set of three one-way polar itineraries ("Patagonian Explorer" expeditions) with departures from homeports Ushuaia and Punta Arenas.

For season 2024-2025, Australis Cruises scheduled the following two itineraries:

4-night/5-day "Fjords of Tierra del Fuego" (for both ships) starts in Punta Arenas, visits Ainsworth Bay/Tuckers Islets (in September and April replaced with Brookes Glacier), Glacier Alley/Pia Glacier (scenic navigation), Cape Horn/Wulaia Bay, and ends in Ushuaia.

4-night/5-day "Patagonian Explorer" (both ships) starts in Ushuaia, visits Cape Horn/Wulaia Bay, Porter Glacier/Pia Glacier, Condor Glacier/Aguila Glacier, Magdalena Island (in September and April replaced with Marta Island) and ends in Punta Arenas.

These one-way routes can be combined in 8-night/9-day B2Bs/back-to-back cruises departing roundtrip from Ushuaia or Punta Arenas.

In previous years, the company offered the following itineraries:

• 3-night/4-day from Ushuaia to Punta Arenas (with Stella Australis) - Day 1 (Ushuaia), Day 2 (Cape Horn - Wulaia Bay), Day 3 (De Agostini Sound - Aguila Glacier), and Day 4 (Magdalena Island (in September and April replaced with Marta Island) and Punta Arenas.
• 4-night/5-day from Ushuaia to Punta Arenas (with Ventus Australis) - Day 1 (Ushuaia), Day 2 (Cape Horn - Wulaia Bay), Day 3 (Pia Glacier - Garibaldi Glacier), Day 4 (De Agostini Sound - Aguila Glacier - Condor Glacier), and Day 5 (Magdalena Island (in September and April replaced with Marta Island) and Punta Arenas.
• 4-night/5-day from Punta Arenas to Ushuaia (with Stella Australis and Ventus Australis) - Day 1 (Punta Arenas), Day 2 (Ainsworth Bay - Tuckers Islets / in September and April replaced with Brookes Glacier), Day 3 (Pia Glacier - Glacier Alley / in September and April replaced with Brookes Glacier), Day 4 (Cape Horn - Wulaia Bay), and Day 5 (Ushuaia / no excursion day).

These 3x one-way routes were combinable as 7-day or 8-day B2Bs (roundtrips from Ushuaia or Punta Arenas).

Prices (season 2023-2024) ranged between US$1500-6500 per person (with double occupancy).

Australis cruise fares are inclusive of all shore excursions (guided Zodiac boat landings / 1 or 2 per day, each with a duration of around half a day), onboard enrichment program (lectures, media presentations), onboard meals and drinks (including coffee, tea and juices, plus wines at lunch and dinner). Gratuities are not price-included. Suggested discretionary tipping is USD 15 pp per day (tips envelope is left in the stateroom on the last cruise night / optional credit card payment).