The historic Royal Mail Ship RMS St. Helena has been refurbished and will launch Antarctic itineraries under the Australian cruise operator Terra Nova Expeditions.
The RMS St. Helena was known as the sole mode of transportation for cargo and passengers to travel between Cape Town and Saint Helena and Ascension Island.
RMS St Helena was retired in 2018 following the opening of Saint Helena’s airport. Australian cruise operator, Terra Nova Expeditions, acquired the vessel following its retrofitting, to operate it as a rugged, small-scale Antarctic expedition cruise vessel.
The ship can now accommodate 98 passengers across 51 cabins, served by a crew of 81.
From December 2026, the ship will embark on 10-day voyages from Ushuaia, Argentina, to the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands across the Drake Passage. Expeditions will offer activities such as kayaking, snowshoeing, trekking, and the famed polar plunge.
