Antarctic Circle Quest - 15-day expedition cruise visiting Antarctica

A 14-night expedition cruise from Ushuaia in Argentina to cross the Antarctic Circle and explore the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands.

The aim on this voyage is to head as far south as ice and weather permit. The ice-rated ship enables us to navigate through some of the world's most breathtaking waterways - many littered with brash ice, 'growlers' and colossal, stunning icebergs.

Aboard our well-appointed expedition vessel, we see Antarctic nature in all its glory. The offshore South Shetland group boasts an abundance of wildlife, including five seal species and massive penguin rookeries of Gentoo, Adelies and Chinstraps as well as a profusion of seabirds from albatross to skuas. A wildlife highlight may well be watching a variety of magnificent whale species in close proximity as they crest the surface of the waves.

After a few days exploring the 'deep south', there are further shore excursions on the northerly route along the Antarctic Peninsula. The ship is small enough to navigate through the narrow Lemaire Channel, with glacial walls towering high on both sides, leading to a jigsaw of jewel-like islands that are home to huge penguin rookeries, elephant seals and countless seabirds.

More information about your expedition cruise ships - Akademik Ioffe or Akademik Sergey Vavilov

P408: Cruise Departure Dates 2010/11

2010: Feb 8; 2011: Jan 21, 26; Feb 13, 26

P408: Antarctic Circle Quest - 15-day expedition cruise visiting Antarctica 2010/11 £ price per person Show More Categories > Cabin Categories Departure Dates Triple Twin Twin Semi-private Twin Private Superior 2010 Feb 8 4425 5310 5625 6355 13080 2011 Jan 21, 26; Feb 13 5190 6250 6590 7480 15370 Feb 26 3980 4770 5020 5790 11980 Show More Categories > Cabin Categories Departure Dates Suite Cook Suite Package Price from 2010 Feb 8 7195 7825 6785 2011 Jan 21, 26; Feb 13 8460 9200 7670 Feb 26 6620 7180 6170 The cabin prices shown above are cruise only prices. The 'package price from' price is based on the lowest-price twin cabin option and includes flights from London and the Ground arrangements package. Overnight camping is available, where conditions allow, at an additional cost of £120pp. Sea Kayaking is available on this cruise for suitably experienced people at a cost of £490pp There is an optional carbon offset payment of £69pp

The cruise price includes • Full board cruise ship accommodation in cabin category of choice, with afternoon tea most days • Highly experienced expedition leader • Onboard lectures, videos, slide and film shows • Shore excursions by zodiac boat • Onboard medical officer • Port taxes • Comprehensive pre-departure booklet and expedition manual

Additional Information • The 18 day package holiday with prices shown above departs from London the day before the Ship Only start date. Arrival back in London is normally 2 days after Ship Only end date, with an overnight in Buenos Aires. It includes both flights from London and the Ground arrangement package shown below • Ground arrangements package: £180pp in twin/double. Outbound: Airport to Airport transfers in Buenos Aires if applicable. Meet and Greet service at Ushuaia Airport. Inbound: 1 night accommodation in Buenos Aires (4 star hotel) and connecting transfers to and from the airport

Useful Links More Antarctic Cruises More Polar Cruises

Useful Links More Antarctic Cruises More Polar Cruises

Itinerary
Day 1	Ushuaia Our journey begins in Ushuaia where we will overnight in a hotel.
Day 2	Ushuaia, embark on ship Morning is free to explore Ushuaia and the surrounding area, to do some last minute shopping, stroll around Ushuaia and down to the port or maybe go for a walk in the nearby National Park. The transfer to the ship takes place in the afternoon. Once on board there is a get together for introductions to the expedition team, to learn about the ship and its layout, talk about the itinerary for the next 10 days and participate in the obligatory lifeboat drill. Departure from Ushuaia is normally around 6:00 p.m, and we set sail through the Beagle Channel in the early evening. The long days mean plenty of evening light in which to experience the beauty of the channel, and to perhaps enjoy your first wildlife sightings.
Day 3 - 4	Drake Passage Sea conditions in the Drake Passage can vary from dead calm (known as 'Drake Lake'), to rough and stormy (known as 'Drake Shake'). As you cross the Drake Passage our team of experts is out on deck to help you spot whales and identify seabirds. There is also a program of talks, covering the wildlife, the ice, and polar history. This prepares you for your adventure to the 'White Continent'. The excitement intensifies as you cross the Antarctic Convergence, where the cold waters of the Antarctic Ocean meet the warmer waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. You feel the change as the air gets cooler. Huge icebergs loom up against the horizon in increasing numbers, and Wandering albatrosses, petrels and other birds which thrive in this cold, remote ocean are frequently seen.
Day 5 - 12	Antarctic Peninsula Our itinerary for these days is necessarily flexible, and will be decided upon by your expedition leader in consultation with the ship's captain. It will depend on ice and weather conditions, and may start by sailing as far south as possible, hopefully to the Antarctic Circle, and then working our way back north along the peninsula and finally visiting the off-shore Shetland Islands group. On the other hand the order may be reversed, first cruising among the volcanic South Shetland Islands before travelling to the waterways of the Antarctic Peninsula, and further south. The itinerary focuses on the areas with the greatest promise of wildlife, and frequent shore excursions are planned at perhaps Livingston, Half Moon, Aicho or King George Islands. This area is a favoured feeding ground for Humpback whales and, with luck, you may see them dining on krill. Nearby, around 80,000 Adelie penguins have established one of the largest rookeries, alongside Gentoo and Chinstrap penguins, providing great opportunities for photography. At crescent-shaped Half Moon Island, a breeding colony of Chinstrap penguins shares their territory with fur seals and Blue-Eyed shags; while at Livingston Island you may observe Weddell seals, Elephant seals, skuas, Giant petrels, Antarctic terns and rookeries of Chinstrap, Gentoo and Macaroni penguins. Weather permitting you may also enter the flooded caldera of Deception Island, a recently active volcano and one of the most perfect crater islands in the world. Steam rises from the black sand beaches in places along its shores where the cold Antarctic waters mix with the steaming thermal waters of the bay - although this is very much dependant on the tide and the hot water flow. You may also observe the island's large Chinstrap penguin colony and enjoy spectacular walks to the higher points of the crater rim. We then head further south, to Paradise Harbour or north to Hope Bay, both situated on the Antarctic mainland, to see some of the most dramatic scenery the continent has to offer. Here, there are further opportunities for spectacular photography. Ringed with overhanging ice cliffs, the bay is filled with a wild assortment of floating icebergs that reflect a stunning array of the colours, including the most exquisite blues, turquoise and indigo. On one or two occasions we may also go ashore to visit some of the research stations maintained by several different countries on the peninsula or offshore islands. Back on board whilst we cruise between landing points, you will be tempted to spend time out on deck if conditions are calm, just watching and marvelling at the glory of the passing scenery. Penguins are often seen 'porpoising' in the water, or resting on ice flows, which pass by the ship, and the scenery of the Lemaire Channel can be absolutely breathtaking. South of this channel we hope that the seas will be clear enough to take us right down to the Antarctic Circle; the scenery remains outstanding, and although there's no 'marker on the sand', it's a great feeling to know when we've reached the line. Sadly, all great things must come back to an end, and we eventually turn the ship, and head back north for the final stages of a remarkable journey.
Day 13 - 14	Drake Passage Leaving the Antarctic Peninsula overnight our ship heads back across the Antarctic Convergence and the Drake Passage. The crossing is completed with the rounding of Cape Horn, weather permitting.
Day 15	Ushuaia-Disembarkation In the early morning you arrive back in Ushuaia where your voyage ends. You are transferred either to town on to the airport for your onward flight to Buenos Aires.
Note: Weather, ice, or other conditions may necessitate changes to our itinerary and alteration to certain shore excursions. This is a sample itinerary. Call us for flight times specific to your chosen date.
See additional information about these Antarctic expedition cruises