Ocean Albatros

The 2022-built/2023-inaugurated MS Ocean Albatros cruise ship is an ice-strengthened (polar class 1A-Super / PC6) expedition vessel owned by the Danish company SunStone Maritime Group (via its USA-based subsidiary SunStone Ships Inc) and operated under a long-term charter by Albatros Expeditions (travel brand owned by Albatros Travel Group/Copenhagen Denmark-based company specializing in Arctic and Antarctic cruise tours).

The vessel (IMO number 9880661) is currently Portugal/Madeira-flagged (MMSI 255915656) and registered in Funchal. Previously, it was Bahamas-flagged (MMSI 311000950) and registered in Nassau.

Albatros Expeditions itineraries are in Arctic Europe (Svalbard Norway, Faroe Islands, Scotland), Arctic Canada (with Greenland-Iceland) and Antarctica (with Patagonia/Chilean Fjords and SGSSI-South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands).

Ocean Albatros was chartered to replace Ocean Atlantic (1986-built, also owned by SunStone Ships).

Ship technology

Ocean Albatros is the sixth in a series of ten "Ulstein CX103" design (Infinity-Class) expedition vessels, with sisterships Greg Mortimer (2019-Aug), Ocean Victory (2021-March), Ocean Explorer (2021-Jan), Sylvia Earle (2022-Oct), Ocean Odyssey (2022-Oct), Douglas Mawson (2025). Four more units were intended but eventually canceled and replaced by the new BOUNDLESS Class boats.

The patented ULSTEIN X-BOW design is one of the unusual for expedition ships features, The vessel also utilizes the latest technologies in naval engineering. The ship is technically managed by Cruise Management International (Miami-based passenger vessel/fleet management company). CMI Leisure Miami handles hotel operations.

For the interior designs of this entire series of SunStone-owned ships was contracted the Weston Florida-based company Tomas Tillberg Design.

With the highest for passenger vessel ice-class 1A (Polar Class 6 / PC6), MS Ocean Albatros has icebreaking capacity 1 m (3 ft) and complies with maritime industry's latest polar code requirements and specifications. The boat offers unprecedented levels of safety and environmental protection.

The major advantage of the patented "ULSTEIN X-BOW" design is the ship's ability to navigate with improved stability in comparison to traditional bow-design vessels. X-BOW vessels are less subject to vertical motions (induced by waves), continuing on course smoothly while maintaining high speeds. The ship's engines use less fuel, which results in reduced air emissions and fuel consumption.

The ship is equipped with maritime industry's latest propulsion and return-to-port systems, as well as dynamic positioning technology. These computer-controlled systems allow automatic maintenance of the ship's position via propulsion units (thrusters and propellers). This allows stable floating while maintaining the necessary stability for launching watercraft - and without using anchors.

Shipboard facilities

The newbuild expedition vessel features dedicated outdoor observation areas (including fore-located Observation Deck with two Hydraulic Platforms and two Viewing Platforms), stern marina (watersports platform serving company's sea kayaking, snorkeling and scuba diving programs), a fleet of 20x Zodiacs (large-capacity motorized boats used for passenger transportation - tendering and landings). The aft-located Zodiac loading platform is a new design and allows easier and faster boarding. Sun Deck (top-deck forward) is furnished with premium garden furniture (sofas, armchairs, sun loungers) and used for both relaxation and wildlife viewing. The top-deck bow is the Observation Lounge (served by its own Bar) and midship is the funnel (with four stacks/engine exhaust pipes).

Other facilities include Medical Centre (Infirmary), Change Room (Mudroom), Bar Lounge (lecture theater forward on Deck 5), Dining Room Restaurant, Ship Shop, Lobby area (Reception Desk), Library, Art Room, Wellness Centre (Fitness, Spa, Sauna Room, Treatment Rooms for Massages), Lower Sun Deck (Deck 7 aft, with lifeboats and liferafts), Upper Sun Deck (Deck 8 midship, with sunbathing area and two whirlpool hot tubs).

Four Zodiac Docks (2 on each side, hull access at sea-level) serve as boat launching platforms.

When chartered by Albatros Expeditions, Ocean Albatros provides some exclusive amenities via the company's partnerships with brands like Gerard Bertrand (organic wines from southern France, wine-tasting menus) and Julius Meinl (organic coffees and teas). Albatros also introduces Polar Spa (providing exotic treatments and massages), all-inclusive Suite cabins (with dedicated butler service, complimentary minibar, free laundry and pressing, in-cabin dining / daily served Canapes, Espresso machine / Julius Meinl, unlimited specialty restaurant access).

Decks and Cabins

Ocean Albatros staterooms (95 total) allow max capacity 190 passengers. Cabins include 68x Balcony, 9x French Balcony and 16x with Porthole Windows. The vessel is served by 100 crew/staff accommodated in 57 crew cabins. Most cabins (80% of all, excepting only Deck 3 cabins with Portholes) are with private, step-out balconies accessible from the living area via sliding, floor-ceiling glass door. Each balcony is furnished with a small table and two deck chairs. 60% of all cabins can be booked with triple occupancy (accommodate a 3rd person on pull-out couch/sofabed).

• Hotel beds (King-size or two twin, size 200 x 160 cm, ample under-bed storage space for suitcases), sleeping couch (sofabed), bedside cabinets, mirrored vanity (writing desk / dressing table) with chair, built-in dressers with drawers, mini-bar / refrigerator, 42-inch smart HDTV (local and satellite reception), phone (onboard communication only), digital clock / alarm, seating area (small table with 1 or 2 armchairs), spacious wardrobe (closet with hangers, drawers, electronic safe), individual climate control, medical emergency button.
• Each stateroom has a private, full-size bathroom with shower / WC, hairdryer, premium bath amenities.
• Suites are in 3 categories - CS-Captain's, JS-Junior and BS-Balcony. These are the largest staterooms, with double-size balconies and offering extra amenities, such as in-room dining service (continental breakfast served on the balcony).

The ship has a total of 20 pairs of connecting rooms (balconied cabins) that can be booked as one "family stateroom" for up to 6 persons. There are no wheelchair-accessible cabins (suitable for passengers with disabilities).

Unlike the sisterships, Ocean Albatros has a Double-Bedroom Family Suite (two interconnecting French Balcony Suites on Deck 7) that accommodates up to 5 people.

The boat has 8 decks, of which 6 are passenger-accessible and 4 with cabins.

Itineraries

In early-December 2021, Albatros Expeditions announced that due to delayed construction, Ocean Albatros' inaugural cruise season will be postponed. The company's previously announced 2022-2023 program was canceled.

The vessel's construction was delayed due to the COVID crisis-related issues (global supply chain problems and quarantined employees) experienced by the Chinese shipbuilder.

The chartered from SunStone Ships Ocean Albatros operates voyages in the Arctic (Norway's Svalbard, Iceland and Greenland) and to the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands, as well as expeditions in the Weddell Sea and the Southern Ocean visiting the British overseas territories/dependencies South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands and the Falkland Islands.

Ocean Albatros' 2023 itinerary program started with the 8-day Maiden Voyage on June 15th (2023) out of Longyearbyen (Spitsbergen Island in Svalbard). The spring-summer Arctic deployment was in Arctic Europe (Norway's Svalbard Archipelago and Jan Mayen Island), voyages to Greenland and Iceland, as well as in North America (Arctic Canada and the USA) via the Northwest Passage/Canadian Arctic.

The inaugural Antarctic voyage (roundtrip from Ushuaia Argentina) was scheduled for October 30th, 2023.