The Kapitan Khlebnikov is the only working icebreaker that carries tourists to the Antarctic. While there are other icebreakers, they aren't for charter by tour operators in Antarctica, and while there are other ships that visit Antarctica, they aren't icebreakers, and so are limited in how far south they can venture. Which makes the Kapitan Khlebnikov truly unique.
Does the Kapitan Khlebnikov Really Have Luxury Accommodation?
That really depends on the definition of luxury. It is a working Russian icebreaker with passenger cabins and not a city chic 5-star hotel. But that said, the price tag of even the most basic 3-person cabin puts it within the luxury category by cost. And although a standard twin cabin is tiny at roughly 5m by 3m, with one of the beds doubling up as a daytime sofa, it is comfortable and roomy enough given the views outside.
Triples add a third "bunk" above the fixed bed, with no additional floorspace. But all rooms are serviced twice a day, with all beds being made up at night and converted to seating for daytime. There's even a wafer-thin mint on the pillow every night, but the cabins should really be viewed as just for sleeping, washing and for some level of private space while travelling through an awesome environment.
For greater luxury (and more importantly, significantly more space) the suites are rather higher specced, but also come with a more spacious price tag!
Is the Restaurant on the Kapitan Khlebnikov Top Quality?
Most passengers travel on boats like this to get to awesome locations, and food and accommodation is far lower down the priority list – as long as its clean and comfortable or palatable enough. But for many passengers the food is a highlight on the Kapitan Khlebnikov, with a surprisingly large team of chefs and kitchen staff, and an amazing ability to keep salad items including lettuce and other other awkward ingredients fresh for over 30 days without resupply.
There is a choice of three seating areas – the "officers mess" is more luxurious than the "crew" restaurant, although the swivel chairs there require a bit of a knack for getting in and out of when everyone's sat down! A third option is the lounge area which is also used for dining – this probably has the best views and most spacious seating but requires a trip downstairs to get the hot starter/side-dish, and has the least number of seats. Like the cabins, the eating areas are not the most elegant of designs, but they are all comfortable and functional, and the food is excellent.
What is a Typical Breakfast Like on the Kapitan Khlebnikov?
A typical breakfast will offer as good a variety as a 5* hotel, with cooked fare such as bacon, sausages and eggs, cereals and yoghurt, various forms of bread and spreads, and several types of melon/fruit – even towards the end of a month at sea (without restocking!).
What is a Typical Lunch/Dinner Like on the Kapitan Khlebnikov?
A typical lunch/dinner will offer three to four courses of high quality, sometimes gourmet-style dishes, (black pasta coloured with squid ink came as a definite surprise to some passengers). There is always a choice of three main dishes – usually one meat option, one fish option and one vegetarian option. There is also a buffet of mixed salad, and different types of bread, cheese and crackers, and usually a hot side dish/starter. To drink there is iced tea or water, alternatively (at additional cost) something from the well-stocked bar.
Are There Any Other Meals Outside Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner on the Kapitan Khlebnikov?
Aside from the main meals, there's the mid-afternoon tea and cakes which rarely survive passenger's eyes and hands for long, and the mid-morning coffee and snacks which can be nearly as good. Before long, many passengers on the Kapitan Khlebnikov end up realising that there is far more excellent quality food on offer than they want to eat!
The price tag attached to a journey on the Kapitan Khlebnikov has far more to do with the awesome locations it visits, than the level of luxury in its accommodation or restaurant on board. But it is much cleaner and more comfortable than should be expected on a working icebreaker, and some of the food is top-notch. But beware – the Kapitan Khlebnikov is reaching the end of an era – the Russians are reclaiming it for full-time service as an industrial icebreaker in 2012, and its passenger journeys are numbered.
Chiz Dakin - A keen mountain walker, scrambler, cyclist and occasional climber and sea kayaker for several years, Chiz Dakin has carried a camera with ...
