MV Ventus Australis

The 2018-built Ventus Australis cruise ship is owned and operated by the Chilean travel company Australis Cruceros Patagonia. Built to the same design as her sistership MV Stella Australis (2010), both polar expedition vessels were ordered and purpose-built for Australis Cruises.

The vessel (IMO number 9805403) is Chile-flagged (MMSI 725001586) and registered in Punta Arenas.

The ship features a luxurious, yacht-like design and is specifically engineered to navigate the Chilean Fjords and Patagonia’s shallow bays and narrow channels at the southern tip of South America. This is the company’s sole operating region (September through April). Ventus Australis cruises to Cape Horn on a selection of one-way and roundtrip itineraries of 4 to 7 nights, departing from Ushuaia (Argentina) or Punta Arenas (Chile).

The Australis cruise line is owned by the Patagonia-based Menendez family. In the late 1800s, their business focused on seal hunting and sheep breeding. Today, the company owns and operates two expedition cruise ships (Stella Australis and Ventus Australis /under construction at the time). Its previous ship, Via Australis, was sold to Lindblad Expeditions in 2016 and renamed Nat Geo Endeavour 2. The company is currently managed by three brothers. They acquired their first ship, Terra Australis (formerly Savannah), in 1990 and began operating weekly roundtrip cruises from Punta Arenas. In 2002, Australis built Mare Australis. Around that time, the Murray Channel opened to commercial navigation, enabling direct-route itineraries to Cape Horn.

Australis specializes exclusively in the archipelago forming the remote southernmost part of Patagonia—Tierra del Fuego. The fleet operates five itinerary routes between Ushuaia and Punta Arenas, including the Beagle Channel and the Strait of Magellan.

Australis is among the few travel brands offering landings at the Cape Horn National Park World Biosphere Reserve, often referred to as “the end of the earth.”

The name Ventus Australis (Latin for “Southern Wind”) reflects the distinctive weather of Tierra del Fuego, which has long influenced the cultural and social development of the region and impressed early mariners navigating Patagonia’s southern waterways.

Decks and Cabins

For an expedition vessel, Ventus Australis staterooms (100 total) are comparatively spacious, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows and either a double bed or two twins. En-suite bathrooms have a shower, WC, and sink vanity.

Although there are six cabin categories (two per deck across three decks), there are effectively two layouts. Standard Cabins measure 16 m² (175 ft²), while the four Superior Cabins (midship) measure 20 m² (220 ft²) and feature larger double beds. All cabins have picture windows; those on Cabo de Hornos Deck have floor-to-ceiling windows that span nearly the entire exterior wall.

The ship has five passenger decks, three of which contain cabins.

Shipboard Facilities

The Patagonia Dining Room (on the lowest deck) serves buffet-style breakfast and lunch. Dinner is always served and features a mix of international and regional dishes. Entrée selections typically include fish, chicken, beef, or lamb. Wines from Chile and Argentina are included in the cruise fare.

Public areas include three lounges for lectures, relaxation, and socializing. The smallest, Yamana Lounge, is a bow-facing observation lounge. The aft Sky Lounge hosts lectures on Patagonia’s history, wildlife, and geography, presented in both English and Spanish. Darwin Lounge, located on the upper deck, is the largest space and features a bar, cocktail tables, and armchairs.

Magallanes Deck (Deck 2) houses the Lobby with the Reception, Gift Shop, and Library. The Reception provides 24-hour guest services (information and cashier). The Gift Shop sells company merchandise (T-shirts, caps, fleeces, jewelry) and sports gear, including waterproof clothing and boots. The Library (opposite Reception) has four shelves of books, mainly polar travel guides.

The top deck features the Darwin Lounge/Observation Lounge with its own bar. Furnished with comfortable seating and large picture windows, it also hosts the Australis enrichment program, including daily lectures, media presentations, documentary screenings (focused on Antarctica, wildlife, history, glaciology, geology, and indigenous cultures), and daily trivia games.

Complimentary chips and cookies are always available at the Darwin Bar. A self-serve refrigerator offers soft drinks and beers.

The crew is predominantly composed of local staff.

The Wheelhouse/Navigation Bridge is open to passengers most of the time.

Room service is not available.

The onboard currency is USD.

The vessel carries six Zodiacs (large inflatable motorized boats) for passenger tendering and shore landings.

There is no dress code, and the company does not recommend bringing cocktail dresses, tuxedos, or suit jackets. Suggested clothing for outdoor activities includes a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, a sweater, and waterproof apparel (gloves, pants, hiking shoes/boots).

No formal onboard events are held, such as a Captain’s Gala Dinner.

Australis Cruises Itineraries

The Australis cruise line operates three one-way polar itineraries (“Patagonian Explorer” expeditions) departing from Ushuaia and Punta Arenas.

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

4-night/5-day “Fjords of Tierra del Fuego” (both ships), starting in Punta Arenas and visiting Ainsworth Bay/Tuckers Islets (replaced by Brookes Glacier in September and April), Glacier Alley/Pia Glacier (scenic cruising), Cape Horn/Wulaia Bay, and ending in Ushuaia.

4-night/5-day “Patagonian Explorer” (both ships), starting in Ushuaia and visiting Cape Horn/Wulaia Bay, Porter Glacier/Pia Glacier, Condor Glacier/Aguila Glacier, Magdalena Island (replaced by Marta Island in September and April), and ending in Punta Arenas.

These one-way routes can be combined into 8-night/9-day B2B/back-to-back cruises departing roundtrip from Ushuaia or Punta Arenas.

In previous years, the company also offered:

• 3-night Ushuaia–Punta Arenas (Stella Australis): Day 1 Ushuaia, Day 2 Cape Horn–Wulaia Bay, Day 3 De Agostini Sound–Aguila Glacier, Day 4 Magdalena Island (or Marta Island in September/April) and Punta Arenas.
• 4-night Ushuaia–Punta Arenas (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, Day 5 Magdalena Island (or Marta Island in September/April) and Punta Arenas.
• 4-night Punta Arenas–Ushuaia (both ships): Day 1 Punta Arenas, Day 2 Ainsworth Bay–Tuckers Islets (or Brookes Glacier in September/April), Day 3 Pia Glacier–Glacier Alley (or Brookes Glacier in September/April), Day 4 Cape Horn–Wulaia Bay, Day 5 Ushuaia (no excursion).

These one-way itineraries were combinable into 7-day or 8-day B2Bs (roundtrips from Ushuaia or Punta Arenas).

Prices for the 2023–2024 season ranged between USD 1500 and 6500 per person (double occupancy).

Australis cruise fares include all shore excursions (guided Zodiac landings, 1–2 per day, each lasting about half a day), the onboard enrichment program (lectures and media presentations), all meals, and beverages (coffee, tea, juices, and wines at lunch and dinner). Gratuities are not included. Suggested discretionary tipping is USD 15 per person per day (an envelope is placed in the stateroom on the final night; optional credit card payment is also available).

After a 20+ month operational pause due to the Coronavirus pandemic, Australis Patagonia resumed operations on December 30, 2021, with Ventus Australis. The restart program featured 5-night cruisetours (roundtrip Punta Arenas) visiting destinations in the Chilean Fjords and Tierra del Fuego.