HIGHLIGHTS
- Passing the Antarctic Convergence – Antarctica's
natural boundary, formed when north-flowing cold waters collide with
warmer sub-Antarctic seas – you are in the circum-Antarctic
upwelling zone. Not only does the marine life change, the avian life
changes too. Wandering albatrosses, grey-headed albatrosses,
black-browed albatrosses, light-mantled sooty albatrosses, cape
pigeons, southern fulmars, Wilson's storm petrels, blue petrels, and
Antarctic petrels are a few of the birds you might see.
- Visit Danco Island – Activities here may focus on
the gentoo penguins nesting on the island, in addition to the Weddell
and crabeater seals that can be found nearby.
- Visit Neko Harbour – An epic landscape of mammoth
glaciers and endless wind-carved snow, Neko Harbour offers
opportunities for a Zodiac cruise and landing that afford the closest
views of the surrounding alpine peaks.
- Visit Paradise Bay – You may be able to take a
Zodiac cruise in these sprawling, ice-flecked waters, where there's a
good chance you'll encounter humpback and minke whales.
- Visit Pléneau & Petermann Islands
– If the ice allows it, you could sail through the Lemaire
Channel in search of Adélie penguins and blue-eyed shags.
There is also a possibility you'll encounter humpback and minke whales
here, as well as leopard seals.
- Visit Port Lockroy – After sailing through the
Neumayer Channel, you may get a chance to visit the former British
research station – now a museum and post office –
of Port Lockroy on Goudier Island. You may also be able to partake in
activities around Jougla Point, meeting gentoo penguins and blue-eyed
shags.
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person in USD
|
| Start Date | End Date | Quadruple Porthole | Triple Porthole | Twin Porthole | Twin Window | Twin Deluxe | Superior | Junior Suite | Grand Suite |
|---|
Rates are listed per person in USD
|
| Start Date | End Date | (Starting from)
Quadruple Porthole | (Mid-range)
Twin Deluxe | (High-end)
Grand Suite |
|---|
Day
1: End of the world, start of a journey
Your
voyage begins where the world drops off. Ushuaia, Argentina, reputed to
be the southernmost city on the planet, is located on the far southern
tip of South America. Starting in the afternoon, you embark from this
small resort town on Tierra del Fuego, nicknamed “The End of
the World,” and sail the mountain-fringed Beagle Channel for
the remainder of the evening.
Day
2 – 3: Path of the polar explorers
Over
the next two days on the Drake Passage, you enjoy some of the same
experiences encountered by the great polar explorers who first charted
these regions: cool salt breezes, rolling seas, maybe even a fin whale
spouting up sea spray. After passing the Antarctic Convergence
– Antarctica’s natural boundary, formed when
north-flowing cold waters collide with warmer sub-Antarctic seas
– you are in the circum-Antarctic upwelling zone. Not only
does the marine life change, the avian life changes too. Wandering
albatrosses, grey-headed albatrosses, black-browed albatrosses,
light-mantled sooty albatrosses, cape pigeons, southern fulmars,
Wilson’s storm petrels, blue petrels, and Antarctic petrels
are a few of the birds you might see.
Day
4 – 7: Entering Antarctica
Gray
stone peaks sketched with snow, towers of broken blue-white ice, and
dramatically different wildlife below and above. You first pass the
snow-capped Melchior Islands and Schollaert Channel, sailing between
Brabant and Anvers Islands.
Sites
you may visit include:
Danco Island
– Activities here may focus on the gentoo penguins nesting on
the island, in addition to the Weddell and crabeater seals that can be
found nearby.
Neko Harbour
– An epic landscape of mammoth glaciers and endless
wind-carved snow, Neko Harbour offers opportunities for a Zodiac cruise
and landing that afford the closest views of the surrounding alpine
peaks.
Paradise Bay
– You may be able to take a Zodiac cruise in these sprawling,
ice-flecked waters, where there’s a good chance
you’ll encounter humpback and minke whales.
Pléneau &
Petermann Islands – If the ice allows it, you
could sail through the Lemaire Channel in search of Adélie
penguins and blue-eyed shags. There is also a possibility
you’ll encounter humpback and minke whales here, as well as
leopard seals.
Port Lockroy
– After sailing through the Neumayer Channel, you may get a
chance to visit the former British research station – now a
museum and post office – of Port Lockroy on Goudier Island.
You may also be able to partake in activities around Jougla Point,
meeting gentoo penguins and blue-eyed shags.
At
the nearby sites, such as Damoy Point there may be the opportunity for
snowshoeing to the old ski-way, this is also one of our favourite
camping sites.
Wilhelmina Bay &
Guvernøren – This is a
great place to spot humpback whales. You also may embark on a Zodiac
cruise ending at the ghostly wreck of the Guvernøren, a
whaling vessel that caught fire here in 1915. Around the Melchior
Islands, amid a frozen landscape peopled with icebergs, you may
encounter even more whales, leopard seals, and crabeater seals.
Conditions on the Drake Passage
determine the exact time of departure.
Day
8 - 9: Familiar seas, familiar friends
Your
return voyage is far from lonely. While crossing the Drake,
you’re again greeted by the vast array of seabirds remembered
from the passage south. But they seem a little more familiar to you
now, and you to them.
Day
10: There and back again
Every
adventure, no matter how grand, must eventually come to an end.
It’s now time to disembark in Ushuaia, but with memories that
will accompany you wherever your next adventure lies.
(Click image to view Ship details)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Voyage
aboard the indicated vessel as indicated in the itinerary
- All
meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee
and tea.
- All
shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac.
- Program
of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced
expedition staff.
- Free
use of rubber boots and snowshoes.
- Luggage
transfer from pick-up point to the vessel on the day of embarkation, in
Ushuaia.
- Pre-scheduled
group transfer from the vessel to the airport in Ushuaia (directly
after disembarkation).
- All
miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the programme.
- Comprehensive
pre-departure material.
Excluded from this voyage
- Any
airfare, whether on scheduled or charter flights
- Pre-
and post- land arrangements.
- Passport
and visa expenses.
- Government
arrival and departure taxes.
- Meals
ashore.
- Baggage,
cancellation and personal insurance (which is strongly recommended).
- Excess
baggage charges and all items of a personal nature such as laundry,
bar, beverage charges and telecommunication charges.
- The
customary gratuity at the end of the voyages for stewards and other
service personnel aboard (guidelines will be provided).
OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES
ADVENTURE
OPTIONS
- Kayaking:
USD 450
- Camping:
USD 195
- Snowshoeing:
Free
- Polar
Diving: (only in the March sailing)
