Please note that 50 Years of Victory is not actively sailing any cruises listed with AdventureSmith Explorations. Contact us for current information on this ship and comparable North Pole cruise options, or browse all of our small Arctic cruise ships to filter by ship size and ship type.

Twenty years in the making, 50 Years of Victory is the first Arktika-class icebreaker to have a spoon-shaped bow. Boosting the efficiency is the all-new automated digital control system. The ship, designed with a stainless-steel ice belt 18 feet wide, breaks through ice up to nine feet thick. She carries the highest ice class rating possible and is driven by two nuclear reactors that produce 75,000 horsepower. In open water, top speed can be as much as 18 knots. Equipped with an onboard helicopter for spectacular aerial sightseeing, she is a true polar expedition vessel.  

This version of 50 Years of Victory: Poseidon’s cabin configurations and amenities is for her charter by Quark Expeditions. The 50 Years of Victory also sails with a slightly altered configuration for other polar itineraries.

AdventureSmith Explorations’ 50 Years of Victory review includes a detailed description of the small ship including deck plans and a photo gallery. Our experts have been aboard nearly every small expedition ship in the polar regions. Please read our 50 Years of Victory review below then contact our small ship cruise experts to compare the 50 Years of Victory with other small cruise ships sailing North Pole expeditions and Arctic cruises

Choose 50 Years of Victory for a ship unlike any other, with the ability to go where other ships cannot. She is one of the world’s largest, most-powerful nuclear icebreakers.

Common Areas Aboard 50 Years of Victory

50 Years of Victory carries 128 passengers and features an elevator available between the Bow Deck and Bridge Decks 1-3. The vessel provides ample public space, including an Aft Saloon, forward Lounge, bar, library and single-seating dining room. The library features polar books in multiple languages, field guides, picture books, reference materials and games. The lounge provides guests with a space to relax and enjoy 24-hour coffee and tea. The Bow Deck provides sweeping views from which to watch the ship break through Arctic ice, as well as the open bridge. The Aft Saloon converts from a presentation room during the day to a place to dance and socialize in the evening. 

A polar boutique and massage services provide diversions on long expeditions. The polar boutique offers gifts and souvenirs and a selection of expedition gear, including base layer clothing, waterproof pants, gloves and more. A medical clinic with a 24-hour, on-call, English-speaking doctor, common prescription medicines and basic first aid equipment is available should any health needs arise.

Dining Aboard 50 Years of Victory

The dining room on the Bow Deck features daily delicious meals in an informal setting that accommodates all guests in one unassigned seating. Breakfasts and lunches are normally served buffet style while dinners are elegant, plated affairs. Vegetarian and gluten-free dishes are available and most special dietary needs can be met with advance notice. Fresh-baked cookies and/or pastries are offered each afternoon, and each cocktail hour features a selection of hot and cold snacks in the lounge. Both the dining room and the well-stocked bar offer guests soft drinks, juices, water, a selection of beer and wine, non-premium liquors and spirits in the late morning, afternoon and evening.

Activities Aboard 50 Years of Victory

The ship is equipped with a helicopter and a fleet of Zodiacs for shore transfers and landings, both extending the vessel’s ability to reach ice-locked, remote Arctic islands en route from the North Pole. Weather depending, the ship’s hot air balloon will be launched to commemorate reaching the North Pole. For relaxing, there is an indoor, heated saltwater plunge pool flanked by men’s and women’s saunas. Massage is available. The basketball/volleyball court create unique opportunities to recreate aboard and the gym’s windows ensure guests won’t miss a moment of passing scenery while exercising.

50 Years of Victory 4 floor deck plan
AdventureSmith Olivia Williams standing against a wooden fence next to some pine trees smiling on a cloudy day
Portrait of Kiel Sprague in a plaid shirt with snowy background and a fence
A portrait of AdventureSmith founder Todd Smith smiling looking at camera in a plaid shirt with fence behind him

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