Terra Nova Expeditions will launch its Antarctica operation with the Terra Nova Adventurer, the expedition vessel previously known as the MS Expedition and the G Expedition, after the St. Helena was unable to reach the region in time for the 2026-27 season.
The company said the St. Helena cannot reposition from the Persian Gulf safely or on schedule because of the ongoing situation in the Middle East.
Terra Nova said it finalized the charter after several months of work to secure an alternative vessel, and that the ship will remain with the company for at least three Antarctic seasons beginning in 2026-27.
“Securing Terra Nova Adventurer for not just one, but three Antarctic seasons gives us the opportunity to turn an unexpected challenge into an exciting new chapter for Terra Nova,” said Greg Carter, founder and CEO of Terra Nova Expeditions.
“She is a vessel with an extraordinary amount of polar experience behind her and one that many expedition travellers already know and love,” he added.
The ship entered service in 1972 as the Kattegat, a Danish ferry, and was rebuilt as an expedition vessel in 2008. It went on to spend well over a decade in Antarctica, the Arctic and other remote regions for G Adventures.
A series of upgrades is planned before the vessel’s first season with the company. In addition to new soft furnishings and decor throughout the ship, the work will include remodeling the bar and lounge areas and adding a Jacuzzi and a new sauna on Deck 5, the company said.
The company said its Antarctic itineraries and expedition program will proceed as planned, with guests whose bookings require further changes being contacted directly.
“The vessel may be changing, but the reason people travel with us is not,” Carter said. “Antarctica, the expedition experience and the team behind it remain at the heart of what we do.”
Terra Nova was founded by Carter, who co-founded Chimu Adventures and previously served as chief commercial officer at Albatros Expeditions. The startup announced its long-term charter of the St. Helena in 2025, positioning the ship as its entry into small-ship Antarctic cruising.
