Crew Reviews, Ratings & Info for Ocean-Nova

A group of 65 tourists, primarily from Sweden, found themselves stranded on King George Island in Antarctica due to an unexpected weather disturbance. The situation unfolded on the evening of November 24, 2025, during an expedition onboard the cruise ship 'Ocean Nova'. This adventure took the tourists on a scenic journey to King George Island, located within the remote South Shetland Islands. During their exploration, they ventured out in rubber boats, but abruptly faced a sudden and severe change in weather conditions, preventing both the guests and their guides, alongside the ship's doctor, from safely navigating back to the vessel. In light of the hazardous weather, authorities deemed it safer for the group to remain on the island until conditions improved. Fortunately, the stranded group was well-equipped with emergency supplies and provisions, ensuring their safety, and as of now, no injuries have been reported.

In a groundbreaking development for maritime communications, Inmarsat, in collaboration with Global Marine Networks and Network Innovations, has successfully conducted trials of Fleet Xpress in the extreme conditions of Antarctic waters. The service was deployed on the adventure cruise ship Ocean Nova, proving its capability to maintain robust communication links in one of the world's most challenging environments. Following this successful trial, a significant commercial order for Fleet Xpress has been placed, reflecting confidence in its performance. Fleet Xpress, which combines the strengths of Ka and L-band technologies through Inmarsat’s Global Xpress network, provides the first-ever globally available high-speed broadband service from a single network operator. This innovative solution sets a new standard for connectivity in remote maritime regions.