Keep this in your incentive planning pocket: Terra Nova Expeditions will be launching Australia’s newest South Pole cruise venture in December 2026 with St. Helena, a former cargo liner serving the British overseas territory of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic.
Chimu co-founder Greg Carter launched Terra Nova Expeditions last fall after previously running Antarctica cruises with Intrepid using the Ocean Endeavour. After Nordic Hamburg invested in Chimu last year, partnering with U.S.-based Polar Latitudes, Chimu will operate the ice-strengthened Ocean Nova starting March 2026.
St. Helena: Rich in Character
Originally built to serve one of the most remote communities on Earth, the British-built St. Helena is a storied vessel with a legacy of resilience, reliability and global connection. Today, fresh from a recent US$10.8-million-dollar makeover, the small expedition ship now provides a more spacious experience, hosting just 98 travelers despite room for 150.
Terra Nova Expeditions is pioneering what they call a world’s-first opportunity—a chance to sail aboard the intimate 8-passenger Icebird yacht for a day, complete with private landings away from the main group.
Terra Nova is also rolling out cruise-and-sail combos, allowing guests to cross Drake Passage on St. Helena before spending six nights on a smaller, ice-strengthened sailing yacht.
The new value-driven option offers snowshoeing, kayaking, Zodiac cruises, camping and See-LEVEL VR headsets to combat seasickness. Drinks with meals and gratuities are included. The 10-day Ushuaia-Antarctica Peninsula roundtrip is expected to run from US$8,790 per person (December 2026) or US$9,290 (January 2027).
Expeditions Come First
As it states on the Terra Nova website: “We long for the return of true expedition travel—where the focus is on the destination, not the ship. On the purity of the places we visit, not ticking boxes. Our journeys are immersive, respectful, and deeply human, aboard our truly unique fleet.”
Once launched, itineraries will include the Polar Circle Quest; Classic Antarctica – Spirit of Terranova, and Kingdom of Kings – The Best of South Georgia, the Falklands and Antarctica.
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