Terra Nova Expeditions has been launched by Chimu Adventures co-founder, Greg Carter, to take budget-conscious adventure seekers to the Polar regions.
Its flagship vessel, ’St Helena’, was a former cargo/passenger ship, which was refurbished into a 98 pax expedition ship.
She was originally built to serve the remote Atlantic island of St Helena in 1990. Her first expeditions to the Antarctic will be in December 2026, an 11 day visit.
Withdrawn in 2018, due to the completion of an airport on the island, she was later sold to the car racing group, Extreme E, which used her to transport materials and cars.
She underwent a $10.8 mill rebuild into a comfortable expedition ship with spacious cabins and public spaces, retrofitted engines, while her systems were also upgraded.
‘St Helena’ is fitted with an on board science laboratory and will have special VR headsets designed to reduce seasickness.
“We long for the return of true expedition travel, where the focus is on the destination, not the ship. This isn’t travel from a distance – it’s an authentic connection. Expedition first. Comfort always. Hidden costs never,” Carter said on the company’s website.
Her itineraries have been designed for travellers looking to spend longer time on the ice. Other expeditions include to South Georgia and the Falkland Islands.
There will also be a range of activities on offer, including snowshoeing, kayaking, hiking and camping.
