The M/V Polar Star
General Information
The ice-ship MV Polar Star is the flagship of our charter company, Polar Star Expeditions. To make our in-depth itinerary possible, we are chartering the entire ship for this expedition. The MV Polar Star is 86.5 meters (268 feet) in length with a maximum speed of 14 knots. She can carry sufficient fuel and provisions for up to 70 days and can make enough fresh water throughout the voyage that we do not have to restock. She was built in Finland in 1969, and joined the Swedish Maritime Administration’s fleet of icebreakers with the name of NJORD. She went through major rebuilding and modernization in 1988, and again in 2000. Karlsen Shipping Norway A/S now owns her. The Polar Star is the first icebreaker to be fully converted for expedition cruising, with an extensive stabilization system. She will carry ten Zodiacs, allowing faster landings and with fewer than 100 passengers, everyone can go ashore at once – more time in the field!
Crew: The Polar Star is staffed with a Canadian, European and Philippine crew. The staff includes a Hotel Manager, Assistant Hotel Manager, Head Chef and Sous-chefs and Bartender. The chef will prepare varied cuisine with three choices at dinner, including a vegetarian option. The ship’s doctor is hired by Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris and there is a small infirmary onboard to treat minor injuries and illnesses if necessary.
Services: Excellent laundry service is available through the cabin stewardesses (no coin operated machinces are available). The MV Polar Star has a large dining room, lecture hall, bar, library, lounge, and a small shop. A "chit" system will be used for onboard payments.
Email: You can set up an email account when you arrive on the ship. There are two computers on the ship that you can use for email (it is not possible to use your own computer). There is a small fee for each email that is sent and received. Please do not send or recevie email attachments.
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Electrical Voltage and Outlets
Background: There are two concerns with electrical systems: the supply voltage and the physical outlet shape. A voltage converter will transform either 220 volts into 110 volts, or 110 volts into 220 volts. A plug adapter will allow you plug into the wall, for example, your electronics will plug into a small plug adapter which will then plug into the outlet.
 Electric Plug Adapters |
 Electric Voltage Converters |
Many electronics such as computers and battery chargers can run on 110 or 220 volts, that means you do not have to use a voltage converter and can use either 110 or 220 volts. Check the labels on your electonic gear for the voltage it can use.
North America, parts of South America, and Japan are about the only places to use 110 volts, so all those outlets tend to be Type A, two-pin slot plugs.
There are many types of physical shapes for outlets of 220 volts. These may require you to use a small plug adapter that you will plug your electronics into and then plug into the wall.
The bottom line - depending on the voltage and outlet shape, you may need to use both a plug adapter and a voltage converter or just one of them.
Caution! Plugging electronics that run only on 110 volts into a 220 volt system will damage your equipment.
Voltage on the Polar Star: All cabins have both 220 and 110 volts, except for cabins 324-330 and 501. These few cabins only have 220 volts, and for these you can request a voltage converter when you come aboard or bring your own. The lounge area has many 110 volt outlets with North American style two-pin slot plugs that you can use.
Outlets on the Polar Star: All 220-volt outlets use the Type C, European 2-pin round plugs. All 110-volt outlets use the Type A, North American two-pin slot plugs.
Deckplan
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| Cabin (call for availability) | Cabin size (sq. feet) |
Diagram Color | Cabin Numbers |
| Triple cabins with shared bath, windows do not open | 100 | Purple | 328, 330 |
| Double cabins with semi-private1 bath, windows do not open | 100 | Purple | 320, 322, 324, 326 |
| Double cabins with shared bath in hall | 100 | White | 404, 504-506 |
| Double cabins with private bath | 115 | Green | 333-334, 339-342, 423-432 |
| Double cabins with private bath, windows do not open | 115 | Brown | 335-338, 411-417, 419-422 |
| Superior double with private bath | 140 | Blue | 343-344, 433-434 |
| Mini-suites with private bath | 180 | Orange | 331-332, 409-410, 418, 507-508 |
| Drake suite with private bath | 250 | Yellow | 401, 501 |
| 1Semi-private bath cabins share one bathroom between two cabins. | |||
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