Explorer yacht OCTOPUS offers once-in-a-lifetime adventures in Antarctica

By Nina Done 26 April 2022

Considered the first ‘true’ expedition yacht, the iconic 126m (414ft) Lurssen yacht OCTOPUS is now offering her remaining availability for once-in-a-lifetime yacht charters in the breathtaking region of Antarctica commencing in December 2022.

Originally commissioned for the late Paul Allen – co-founder of Microsoft – the striking Espen Øino-designed explorer yacht has been supporting scientists and ocean research since her delivery in 2003.

Sold last year, she joined the charter fleet in January 2022 where she commenced her epic two-year global navigation in Costa Rica before transiting through the Panama Canal towards Cocos islands and the Galapagos.

Awarded the highest category of ice classification, OCTOPUS’s ice-class 1A steel hull is tailor-made for polar exploration, and cruising Antarctica will herald a raft of truly extraordinary experiences for charter guests with a passion for adventure. Lucky guests will be given the opportunity to take part in research projects and marine conservation alongside adrenaline-fuelled activities such as polar plunges, venturing into live volcano craters, heliskiing and deep sea exploration on the yacht’s 10-seater submarine à la Jules Verne.

As well as an impressive autonomous range of 12,500nm, she also comes furnished with a huge array of toys, gadgets and state-of-the-art technology, including a DJ booth and on-water dance floor, helicopters, medical suite, remotely-controlled submarine (ROV) capable of depths of up to 2,700 meters and dive center complete with its own hyperbaric chamber.

Helicopter and landing pad on board charter yacht OCTOPUS

She's the perfect yacht to undertake such a voyage
Jacqui Lockhart, Head of Charter Marketing Europe for Camper & Nicholsons

And there’s no need to compromise on luxury as guests can enjoy morning laps in her vast aft deck swimming pool, indulge in heavenly treatments in her wellness spa, take in a movie in her lavish 12-seater 4D cinema suite or simply grab a book from her well-stocked library and find a secluded alcove somewhere in the yacht's sprawling deck spaces.

Aft deck swimming pool on board charter yacht OCTOPUS

Cinema suite on board charter yacht OCTOPUS

She also offers guests unparalleled views in both her glass-bottomed underwater lounge and forward-facing observation platform, which also houses a dining set up. A further private observation lounge is located on the Owner's deck, which also features an intimate terrace and spa pool, along with its own lift.

In fact, everything about this impressive explorer yacht has been designed for guests' entertainment and ultimate comfort and safety whilst at sea.

Yacht charters in Antarctica

Antarctica is a remote wilderness where the concentration of wildlife is off the scale. Visitors will get the chance to spot king penguins, humpback whales and huge elephant seals in a cacophonous symphony like nowhere else on earth, with free-wheeling seabirds overhead adding to the orchestral melee.

Steeped in human history, this tundra region is characterised by majestic blue-tinged glacial peaks, fjords and waterfalls, as well as mesmerising underwater kelp forests, promising a truly magical yacht charter experience, tailored around individual desires, that guests will treasure for a lifetime.