FAQ

What are the passport rules? 
The passport is the only valid proof of identity accepted for trips with Albatros Expeditions. An ID card is not sufficient.  

Your passport must be valid for a minimum of 6 months from the date you arrive home from your destination. Although some countries may require shorter validity periods, we implement this 6-month rule/requirement to avoid situations where a country’s validity requirements may be amended between the time of your booking and departure. The name in your passport must be identical to the name stated in all travel documentation. Costs incurred due to insufficient/incorrect travel documents are the sole responsibility of the passenger. 

Please note that passports will be collected for the purpose of clearing formalities at the beginning of the voyage. Passports will be stored securely by the crew during the whole voyage and will be returned on the last day. We therefore recommend preparing photocopies/copies of all documents before the tour commences. 

What are the rules for visas?  
Each passenger is responsible for ensuring that he/she meets the passport and visa requirements applicable for the duration of the trip.  

By joining our cruise, passengers declare that they are qualified to enter and exit countries visited within the confirmed travel program and cruise itinerary and/or have obtained necessary visas, if necessary. 

Why do you need my passport information?  
All information is stored in a confidential and secure manner and is only used in connection with the specific trip and travel period. Therefore, you must register your passport information each time you book. 

Antarctica:

Embarkation: 2-4 p.m. on the first day
Disembarkation: 8-10 a.m. on the final day
(Please refer to your Embarkation Letter for the most up-to-date information)

For Antarctic journeys, we suggest arriving in Ushuaia a day ahead of departure. The vessel won't delay departure for late arrivals.
As for departing flights from Ushuaia, For flights out of Ushuaia, we strongly advise against scheduling anything prior to noon (12 p.m.).
 

Arctic:

Embarkation: 2-4 p.m. on the first day
Disembarkation: 8-10 a.m. on the final day
(Please refer to your Embarkation Letter for the most up-to-date information)

For Arctic expeditions, most passengers arrive on the day of embarkation. In select cases, we may provide charter flights to/from your embarkation and disembarkation ports. If you travel on a commercial flight, be aware that the vessel won't delay departure for late arrivals.
For departing flights from your disembarkation port, we strongly advise against scheduling anything prior to noon (12 p.m.)

Furthermore, as travel in polar regions can be highly unpredictable, we strongly recommend obtaining trip interruption insurance.

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. 

Can I pay with a credit card on my trip? 

During check-in on board, you will receive your personal cruise card, which you should carry with you at all times, as it also serves as your identification card. All purchases made on board, including those from the bar, telephone, and laundry, will be charged to your shipboard account.

After check-in, our reception will pre-authorize your credit card. In some cases, 100 USD might be reserved, which guarantees that the credit card is open and there are funds available to pay for any charges. The initial pre-authorization will be removed after a few days and the amount will not be charged.

At the end of the voyage, you will be asked to visit reception and settle your shipboard account. On board, we accept Visa, MasterCard, and American Express. Please note that for cash payments, only USD is accepted and there is no currency exchange office on board the vessel.

Before and after the cruise in Ushuaia, most shops and restaurants accept credit cards. There are also several ATMs around Ushuaia if you wish to withdraw local currency. Please note that taxis do not accept credit cards, but payment in USD is normally possible if agreed upon in advance.

Most credit cards are secured with automatic geographic control. As a starting point, your card is only active for purchases in your country of residence and online until you use it in another country. When you are on a voyage, it can sometimes occur that a transaction is declined by the bank due to this geographic control. To avoid this, we recommend activating your card in advance not just for the locations you’ll be visiting during your trip, but also for Miami, USA, where the payment system of Ocean Victory/Albatros is registered. You can do this by contacting your credit card provider regarding the use of your credit cards abroad and informing them of your voyage, activating the locations you’re visiting as well as the US, and the duration of this overseas activation until your return home.

Are gratuities included in the price of the trip? 

Gratuities are voluntary, but it is customary to show appreciation to the hardworking crew and leave a gratuity for the ship’s crew at the end of the voyage. All gratuities are divided amongst the crew, and not just to the staff whom guests have direct contact with. This is why we recommend adding the gratuities to the guests’ accounts. A letter will be sent out a few days before disembarkation stating that unless there are any questions or objections, we will automatically charge the gratuities to your onboard account at a rate of USD 16 per person per day. Should a guest not wish to add a gratuity - or alter the amount provided – please contact the reception and this will be amended according to your wishes. 

Are the vessels wheel-chair accessible? 
Albatros Expeditions presently operates two expedition vessels, the Ocean Victory and the Ocean Albatros. Our newest vessel, the Ocean Victory has two cabins available to guests requiring wheelchair access. In 2023 Albatros Expeditions will launch the Ocean Albatros, sister-ship to the Ocean Victory. This new vessel will have the same features, enabling disabled guests to participate in polar cruising. 

Please read more on our requirements under “General info - Physical Requirements - Can I travel while disabled?” 

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 and robes in all cabins on both vessels. Slippers are also provided to guests in Cabin Type B and above.

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).

Is there a laundry service on board? 
If you need some laundry done while aboard, our laundry service is available for an additional fee. Please contact the reception for prices and availability. 

Is there a rental service on board?
We offer waterproof pants, gloves, and dry bags onboard in our boutique for rent for the duration of your voyage. 

Is there a safety box in the staterooms?
We do have a safety box in all of our staterooms, with the dimensions of 20.5cm (H) * 43cm (W) * 35cm (L).
 

Do I need to bring an adapter on my trip? 
Both Ocean Victory and Albatros have a 220v / 50 Hz cycle system. Please check your appliances are suitable before using them. 110-volt appliances require an adapter prior to use aboard the ship. The electrical outlets onboard the vessels are the so-called ‘F-type sockets’, round 2-pin, 220-240 V, grounded, used in continental Europe and Russia. They can accommodate C, E, and F-type 2-pin plugs.