Terra Nova Expeditions recently revealed plans to turn the former RMS St. Helena into an expedition cruise ship.

According to its website, the startup company intends to offer “authentic small-ship adventures” in Antarctica.

With the RMS St. Helena serving as the fleet’s flagship, the company plans to start operations in late 2026.

Terra Nova is described as a “group of like-minded people who believe in doing tourism differently.”

“What unites us is our passion for sustainable, ethical travel and a shared vision for the future of Antarctica,” the company’s website reads.

Greg Carter, who co-founded Chimu Adventures, is Terra Nova’s founder and CEO.

“At Terra Nova, we long for the return of true expedition travel—where the focus is on the destination, not the ship; on the purity of the places we visit, not ticking boxes,” he is quoted as saying.

“Our journeys are immersive, respectful, and deeply human, aboard our truly unique fleet. Antarctica is what we do, day in and day out. This is our passion and our sole focus.”

With a background that also includes a stint as CCO at Albatros Expeditions, Carter leads a team that also includes Beth Mercier.

Joining the company as Chief Commercial Officer, Mercier is said to have over 15 years of experience in the cruise industry, having held positions at Quark Expeditions and Hurtigruten North America.

In addition to the former ship that linked the St. Helena archipelago with South Africa in the past, Terra Nova plans to operate a tall ship named the Icebird.

The company said that the six-guest vessel will be the first sailing expedition vessel, featuring an ice-enforced aluminum hull.

The St. Helena is described as “a storied vessel with a legacy of resilience, reliability, and global connection.”

The ship is said to have undergone an extensive refurbishment and renovation in 2022, which saw an investment of eight million pounds.

According to AIS information, the St. Helena is currently anchored off Khor Fakkan in the United Arab Emirates.

Originally built in 1989, the vessel served the British overseas territory of Saint Helena for nearly three decades before being retired in 2018.

The former Royal Mail Ship then briefly served as a floating armory in the Gulf of Oman before being sold to St. Helena LLC and converted into a transportation hub for a circuit of SUV races.

As built, the 98-guest vessel was designed to transport guests and goods.

Terra Nova’s inaugural sailing is currently scheduled for December 2026, with the St. Helena embarking on an expedition cruise from Ushuaia, Argentina.

HX Expeditions announced its new Director of Expedition Operations, Kelvin Murray, who will report directly to Chief Operations Officer Iain McNeill and join the Operations Leadership Team.

In this role, Murray will work across both operations and commercial teams to elevate and ensure a consistent and outstanding guest expedition experience.

“Murray is a world-class expedition leader and operational strategist with an instinct for people, place, and purpose,” said Iain McNeill, COO of HX.

“At this moment, 130 years into our history, Murray’s vision and experience will be instrumental in raising the bar for our guests and our expedition teams. He joins us with an impeccable record and a passion for excellence that matches HX’s legacy,” added McNeill.

Murray said: “I’m thrilled to join HX and help build upon its successful and extensive expedition heritage.”

“These trips are as much about people as they are places, and I’m looking forward to working with the team to continue HX being a safe, sustainable, mindful and cool way to explore the world, Murray added.

The company said in a press release that Murray brings a global reputation and deep operational expertise to HX, honed over decades of leadership in the field.

Most recently, he served as head of expeditions at EYOS Expeditions, where he led trips across every continent and ocean. He has also worked with other expedition cruise companies, including Oceanwide Expeditions and Lindblad.

Murray was also involved in some groundbreaking activities, including taking the largest passenger ship to date through the Northwest Passage, producing the first live 4K broadcast from Antarctica, and guiding record-setting submersible explorations of the deep ocean.

He served on AECO’s Executive Committee and several IAATO committees and held roles with conservation societies and the British Antarctic Survey. He is also known for his TEDx talk on Expedition Resilience.

As preparations for its official debut continue, the Star of the Seas recently arrived at the port of Ponce for a technical call.

After crossing the Atlantic for the first time, the Royal Caribbean International vessel docked at the Puerto Rican port on August 4, 2025.

According to local media, the Star of the Seas will spend three days in Ponce.

Before arriving in Puerto Rico, the LNG-powered vessel also made a technical visit to the Spanish port of Cadiz.

Delivered by the Meyer Turky shipyard in July, the new ship is scheduled to welcome its first paying guests on August 16, 2025.

On that day, the Star of the Seas kicks off a series of preview cruises sailing from its homeport of Port Canaveral.

The three- and four-night itineraries feature visits to Royal Caribbean’s private island destination in the Bahamas, Perfect Day at CocoCay.

The vessel is then set to be christened by its godmother, singer and actress Diana Ross, before embarking on its maiden cruise on August 31, 2025.

As the second ship in Royal Caribbean’s Icon-class series, the Star of the Seas is set to offer weeklong cruises to the Caribbean from Port Canaveral.

The itineraries visit destinations in both the Western and the Eastern Caribbean, including San Juan in Puerto Rico, St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Other ports of call set to be visited include Philipsburg in St. Maarten, Cozumel in Mexico and Basseterre in St. Kitts, as well as Perfect Day at CocoCay, which will be featured in all cruises.

Following the Star of the Seas, Royal Caribbean is set to take delivery of two additional Icon class ships in the near future.

The first to debut will be the new Legend of the Seas, which is scheduled to enter service in the Mediterranean in 2026. A fourth, still-unnamed vessel follows suit in 2027.