The Akademik Sergey Vavilov was built in Finland in 1988-89 by the Russian Academy of Science to partner the Akademik Ioffe in sensitive hydro-acoustic research. The ship is exceptionally stable, maneuverable, fast and quiet.

She has a sophisticated stabilization and trimming system built into their ice-strengthened hulls, which makes her passage smooth even in a gale!

The combination of speed, maneuverability and stability make for a perfect platform to travel into Polar regions. This combination also maximize time at our destination and not at sea. Expert and experienced Russian crew and expert and knowledgeable expedition staff combine to provide the you with the very best experience!

Arctic and Antarctica : Antarctica

The Akademik Ioffe operates two Antarctic cruises, Antarctic Explorer Cruise and Crossing the Circle Cruise, which depart from Ushuaia, Argentina.

The exciting schedule of onshore excursions, zodiac cruises and ship-board activities, are guaranteed to work up a serious appetite. Although we are operating at the bottom of the world, you will be amazed at the exceptional variety of healthy, tasty meals our team of professional Canadian and European chefs prepare in the galley. Breakfasts, typically, are buffet style and as healthy or as unhealthy as you like! Lunches offer a great choice of light meals - as well as more substantial options for those who are hungry - and each evening there is a delicious three-course meal offering great variety and choice. There’s also an excellent wine list featuring a range of Argentine, Chilean and international wines. Then there are fresh cookies and cake, along with tea and coffee, served each day as an afternoon snack. In fact, it’s fair to say that our kitchen delivers some of the finest food in Antarctica. Guests with dietary restrictions or special requirements are also well catered for.

Lounge/Bar

Located aft of the lobby on the main deck and with a seating capacity of about 25 and/or sufficient standing room for many more, the bar becomes one of the activity hubs on the ship. With outside views through portholes and a door out onto the main deck, the bar is a comfortable place to enjoy a fresh fruit smoothie before breakfast, grab a bottle of water before an excursion or enjoy a cocktail before dinner. A stereo with MP3 player dock and a monitor showing live video footage of the view forward from the bridge at all times can be found in the bar. Adjacent to the bar on the main deck, the lounge has a piano, television, board games and puzzles. It seats about 25 and has direct access out to the outer deck, where a small seating area is located. Be sure to take a blanket with you from the lounge while you go out to sit and enjoy the view from the starboard side of the ship. A 24-hour coffee and tea station can be found in the lounge, which also serves as an overflow area for the bar during Happy Hour and for after dinner card games. Of course, what lounge would be complete without a fireplace?

Library

The library is located with forward viewing windows on Deck 5. A quiet part of the ship containing a large conference table, seating for about 18 and numerous polar reference books, the library is a great place to relax and learn about the region being visited. Just outside the library, there is additional seating in wingback chairs, another great place to sit and read. The library has a slide screen and whiteboard and is often used for small group focus sessions and discussions.

Digital Photography and Multimedia Room

Our multimedia room contains a Macintosh computer with the latest software for photo management and manipulation. External hard drives, a battery recharging station (110 V and 220 V powerbars for plugging in your charger), multi-card readers and a selection of cables for connecting various cameras to the computer can be found here. Manage your rapidly expanding polar image library, burn DVD’s or prepare slide shows to entertain fellow passengers or family at home. In addition we have available a portable 4”x6” photo printer to print out copies of some of your favourite photos. We do recommend that you bring your own recharger cables and download cables, as well as spare memory cards for your camera.

Communications

While we believe that being removed from the "real world" is one of the great allures of the Polar Regions, we do understand that being in touch with the folks back home is vital in some cases. We carry onboard the most modern communication equipment if you need it. The ship is outfitted with the latest satellite communication as well as an Immarsat phone and fax system. We also have e-mail and Internet capability onboard. A ship-wide PA system will keep passengers informed of our daily progress as well as any sightings you will not want to miss.

Small Boat Operations

All our Polar excursions off the ship are made possible via the 12 inflatable Zodiac boats we carry onboard our vessel. We are able to comfortably transport all our passengers to and from the ship at once. It also means we can cruise the waters at the same time, exploring beautiful coves and catching exciting wildlife sightings together.

The Bridge

The bridge on Akademik Ioffe is located on Deck 6 and is open to passengers virtually 24-hours a day. The officer on watch and a helmsman can always be found on duty on the bridge and it is also the best place to meet the master of the vessel. The chart room is a fascinating place to visit and expedition staff or ship’s crew are often available to answer questions about the equipment and instruments found on the bridge. In addition, the bridge is an excellent place to sightsee and view wildlife from. Binoculars and wildlife identification guidebooks can be found on the bridge and during much of the day, an expedition guide will be watching for wildlife from the bridge.

Sea Kayaking

Gliding smoothly across a glassy sea, the silence broken only by the splash of a paddle dipping rhythmically into the crystal depths of a quiet bay. Sea kayaking can be a fantastic way to experience Antarctica. If you choose this option you will join a relatively small number of people who have paddled in Antarctica. With our guides and safety zodiac as backup, we offer you a safe, fun and unique experience. Top quality kayaks, paddles, dry suits and lifejackets are included as well as the services of a qualified kayak guide. It’s useful to have some prior paddling experience and this option must be pre-booked prior to travel; it cannot be arranged on board.