Cape Horn & Patagonia: M/V Ventus Australis

Ventus Australis is the name announced for the new state-of-the-art ship being built for Australis Expedition cruise line. The name – Latin for “Southern Wind” – reflects Tierra del Fuego’s distinctive weather, a factor that has long determined the region’s socio-cultural development and that so impressed the early mariners who endeavored to explore Patagonia’s southernmost waterways. Tailor-made for exploring the remote southern tip of South America, all aspects of the 210-passenger ship — including size, length, draft and engine power — are designed to give Ventus Australis the extreme maneuverability necessary to navigate narrow fjords and channels where no other cruise ships can venture. Asenav, the internationally acclaimed Chilean shipyard, is creating our latest masterpiece, just as they did with the three other expedition ships for Australis. Ventus Australis will feature the latest regulations regarding safety at sea and protecting the marine environment, as all of our fleet does. When it goes into service in early 2018, Ventus Australis will give travelers a chance to experience the remoteness of Patagonia and step ashore at fabled Cape Horn .