Ocean Victory

Is Ocean Victory a good ship for Antarctica?

Yes, if you want a short trip or a holiday sailing on a modern ship. Ocean Victory, delivered in 2021, is the X-Bow sister of Ocean Albatros and takes up to 175 guests for Polar Latitudes Expeditions (PLX); most of its cabins have private balconies.⁵¹² Its 2026-27 Antarctic season is small: six departures from Ushuaia between November 13 and February 24, among them the shortest Antarctic trip on PLX's calendar, at 10 days, and its Christmas and New Year sailings.¹⁴

On October 15, 2026, the cheapest fare was $10,595 per person for two sharing a Porthole Stateroom on Antarctica Springs to Life, November 13, 2026, or $11,795 with a balcony.¹⁵¹⁷ That is about $1,060 a day, against about $900 a day on Ocean Albatros's cheapest trip (our arithmetic).¹⁵

Who operates Ocean Victory, and who owns it?

Polar Latitudes Expeditions operates it and sells every 2026-27 Antarctic and 2027 Arctic departure we found. Intrepid Travel resells some of them as Polar Latitudes voyages, at the same $14,295 triple fare on the February 12, 2027 Antarctic Circle crossing.¹⁴¹⁵³⁷ Albatros Expeditions sailed the ship in Antarctica from its first season and merged into PLX in 2025; on October 15, 2026, albatros-expeditions.com redirected to polar-latitudes.com.⁶⁸¹¹

Sources disagree on the owner. SunStone's vessel page, read October 15, 2026, still describes Ocean Victory as on long-term charter, to Alma Cruceros in northern summers and Albatros in southern ones, as PLX's own April 2025 announcement did; Cruise Industry News reported on July 23, 2026 that buying Albatros gave PLX principal ownership of the ship.⁴⁷⁹ Either way, PLX runs every voyage you can book.

IAATO's April 2026 estimate also lists 13 Ocean Victory voyages for 2026-27 under Polar Latitudes, seven more than PLX's public calendar showed on October 15.¹²¹⁴ If another company offers you an Ocean Victory voyage, ask who operates it.

How the ship got here:

What are Ocean Victory's specs?

Ocean Victory is 104.4 m (343 ft) long, with a 1A ice class and a Polar Class 6 rating, and PLX carries no more than 175 guests.²¹ Other counts differ:

Ulstein says the ship differs from Greg Mortimer, the first X-Bow cruise ship: it has an infinity pool on the aft deck and two observation platforms in place of bridge wings. Ulstein's lead naval architect says the X-Bow softens movement in head seas and reduces slamming, which matters on the Drake; we found no independent test.⁵ See Drake Passage seasickness. PLX lists two outdoor hot tubs, a wellness center with spa and gym, two hydraulic platforms that lower toward the water, and a heated mudroom with four exterior doors.¹

How is Ocean Victory different from Ocean Albatros?

Not in hull or class: both are SunStone Infinity-class ships built to Ulstein's CX103 X-Bow design, 104.4 m long and limited by PLX to 175 guests, and PLX calls Ocean Victory the sister of Ocean Albatros.⁶³⁹⁵¹² The differences are in the fit-out, the ownership and the schedule:

In practice, pick Ocean Victory for its dates (the 10-day trip and the holidays) and Ocean Albatros for a family suite, a sauna or Svalbard.¹⁴³⁶

Which Ocean Victory cabin should you book?

For most couples in Antarctica, the plain Balcony Stateroom: on November 13 it cost only $1,200 more per person than a porthole, the smallest step up to a balcony that day (our arithmetic).¹⁵ Every category in the 2027 deck plan, with fares on the 10-day Antarctica Springs to Life and a 7-day Greenland trip, read October 15, 2026:³¹⁵

Fares are per person for two sharing unless marked, and a few twin cabins may be sold to one guest at 1.7 times the twin rate.¹⁷ The Disko Bay sale fares were 25% below the regular ones, with no end date shown; the Triple was not discounted, so it cost more than a porthole (our arithmetic).¹⁵ Add the $1,300 flight package for that trip.¹⁴

The nine French Balcony cabins, six doubles and three singles, are 14 m² rooms on Deck 7 with floor-to-ceiling windows, not a balcony you can step onto.³¹ The top cabin is the one 42 m² Premium Suite on Deck 4, with a separate bedroom and a sofa bed; on the New Year's crossing it was the only cabin left.¹¹⁶ Whether a balcony is worth paying for is covered in our balcony guide.

How much does an Ocean Victory Antarctic cruise cost in 2026-27?

The lowest fare for sale ranged from $10,595 per person for 10 days to $27,095 on the New Year's crossing, where only one suite was left. All six trips are Ushuaia round trips that cross the Drake Passage both ways and include a hotel night in Ushuaia:^14151623

None of the five Ocean Victory Antarctic booking forms we read showed a sale price, although PLX advertises up to 30% off selected Antarctic trips with no end date.¹⁵¹⁶³⁴ A booking needs a 20% non-refundable deposit.³³

On the February 12 Antarctic Circle crossing, Ocean Victory's $14,295 triple berth compares with $18,086 for a triple berth on Aurora's 13-day Across the Antarctic Circle aboard Greg Mortimer, February 28, 2027, after up to 10% off.¹⁵³⁵ Inclusions differ, so compare what each fare covers. Our Antarctica trip cost guide adds flights and extras.

What is included on Ocean Victory, and which activities cost extra?

The fare covers a hotel night with breakfast in Ushuaia, transfers, meals, 1GB of Wi-Fi, an expedition jacket and a puffer to keep, loaner boots and port fees; flights, insurance and tips do not come with it.²³ Ocean Victory's ship page lists house drinks with dinner only, while PLX's inclusions page for all ships adds beer and soft drinks at lunch.¹²³ The paid activities run on only some departures. Places left on October 15, 2026:¹⁴

Camping, Discover Kayaking and snowshoeing are paid on board; Immersive Kayaking and the photography program, $495 on Peninsula trips and $995 with South Georgia, need a 20% non-refundable deposit.¹⁴ See kayaking and camping in Antarctica.

Is Ocean Victory a good choice for Christmas or New Year in Antarctica?

Yes, but book now. Christmas Season in Antarctica runs December 18 to 28, with days 5 to 7 on the Antarctic Peninsula and day 8 in the South Shetland Islands, and it offers camping, with 23 places left on October 15.¹⁸¹⁴ The cheapest places then were two women's berths in a triple at $11,895 and two-person Porthole cabins at $13,895.¹⁵

The New Year's Antarctic Circle Crossing, December 27 to January 8, sets aside days 5 to 9 for the Antarctic Circle, then day 10 for the South Shetlands.¹⁹ Only its Premium Suite was still for sale, at $27,095 per person, and its camping places were gone.¹⁶¹⁴ For other holiday options, see the best time to visit Antarctica.

Where does Ocean Victory sail in the Arctic in 2027?

Greenland in June and July, after spring trips around Ireland, Scotland, the North Atlantic islands and Iceland that start at $4,127; after July 20, PLX lists nothing on the ship until November 3, 2027.¹⁴ Its three Greenland trips each carry a compulsory flight package:

The Disko Bay trip calls at Sisimiut, Qeqertarsuaq on Disko Island and the Eqip Sermia glacier, and at Ilulissat for its UNESCO-listed Icefjord.²⁷ With the flight package from Copenhagen, the June 21 porthole fare comes to $8,647 per person for seven days (our arithmetic).¹⁴¹⁵ The same departures are on Intrepid's site with the Copenhagen flights included: its June 21 porthole fare was $8,876, $229 more than booking direct, while its $9,695 triple matched PLX's $8,395 plus the package.³⁸¹⁵ Greenland Explorer follows the Norse route from Reykjavik to Tasiilaq in the east, Prins Christian Sund, Qassiarsuk and Nuuk.²⁵ Before that, Highlights of Iceland circles Iceland from June 3, from $9,516 on sale.³⁰³¹

In Greenland the fare includes an expedition jacket to keep, arrival transfers for guests on the selected flight and, from 2027, house drinks at lunch and dinner; tips (PLX suggests $20 per person per day) and travel insurance are on you.²⁴ Compare other ships in our guides to Greenland cruises and Arctic cruises.

How many guests go ashore at once on Ocean Victory?

At most 100 at one landing site, so a full ship lands in at least two groups; IAATO's limit excludes guides and landing crew.¹³ Expect a full ship: in 2025-26 Ocean Victory carried 2,448 passengers on 14 Antarctic voyages, about 175 each, and IAATO's 2026-27 estimate is 2,210 on 13 voyages, about 170 (our arithmetic).¹² See small vs large expedition ships.

Is Ocean Victory good for solo travelers?

Not in Antarctica this season. Across the five Antarctic departures still on sale on October 15, the only single cabin left was on the January 16 Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica trip, at $37,695.¹⁵¹⁶ The ship has eight single cabins in its 2027 plan, five with portholes and three with French balconies.³ A double cabin alone costs a 70% supplement, and in the balcony categories PLX will match you with a same-gender roommate at no extra cost.¹

Greenland is easier: on the June 21 Disko Bay trip, a Single Stateroom was $9,447 on sale and a French Balcony single $12,597.¹⁵ Our Polar Latitudes review covers the booking and cancellation terms.

Who should book Ocean Victory?

• Short on time: the 10-day Antarctica Springs to Life on November 13, from $10,595.¹⁵
• Holiday travelers: Christmas Season from December 18, if a triple berth or porthole suits you.¹⁵
• Greenland first-timers: the 7-day Disko Bay trips in late June and early July.¹⁴
• Not for: solo travelers wanting a single in Antarctica, families who need a family suite (book Ocean Albatros), or anyone who wants to fly over the Drake.¹⁵³⁶

Still choosing? Read how to choose an Antarctica cruise.