Classic Antarctica Cruise to the Antarctic Peninsula
and the South Shetland Islands
Please go to the 2006 cruises index
The 11-day or 12-day Classic Antarctica Cruises offer you
the perfect introduction to the White Continent.
Depart from and return to the port of Ushuaia, Argentina,
the southernmost city in the world. You will experience the
wildlife and scenic highlights of the Antarctic Peninsula
and the South Shetland Islands.
Each voyage incorporates as much wildlife viewing as possible,
with visits to scientific bases and plenty of time to enjoy
breathtaking waterways, glaciers, icebergs and rugged mountains.
No two voyages are exactly alike, no matter which Classic
Antarctica voyage you choose. The Captain and Expedition Leader
continually assess daily weather conditions and wildlife opportunities,
taking advantage of the extended daylight to maximize time
ashore. You will become one of the fortunate few to
have set foot on the continent of Antarctica.
Our aim is to include as much time ashore and as many Zodiac
cruises as conditions will allow. With this in mind, we have
chosen vessels that enable us to keep passenger numbers small
enough for everyone to be out enjoying the wildlife and scenery
at the same time. This means that you get more time ashore,
or in Zodiacs, than with other larger vessels operating in
the Antarctic Peninsula.
The Classic Antarctic Cruise is offered on one of three former
Scientific Research vessels Akademik Shokalskiy, Professor
Molchanov, Professor Multanovskiy or the Expedition
Cruise Ship MV Orlova.
View information
about Akademik Shokalskiy, Professor Molchanov, Professor
Multanovskiy ships
View information about
MV Orlova
Useful
information about these cruises
Departure dates for 2005/2006 |
We offer 30 departure dates between
8 November 2005 and 2 March 2006
Departures from and return to Ushuaia,
Tierra del Fuego, Argentina
Price
details and departure dates
|
|
Check availability of this
cruise
 Back
to the Antarctic Cruises index
|
Call us to check availability:
UK: 0845 226 2475
Overseas: +44 1756 693609
| |
|
| The itinerary presented here
is for the 12-day voyage - the 11-day voyage has one fewer
day along the Antarctic Peninsula. |
| DAY
1 |
Ushuaia,
Tierra del Fuego, Argentina
Arrive in the southernmost city in the world and transfer
independently to the Hotel Los Nires or similar hotel.
The remainder of the day is free to explore this 'frontier
town' at leisure. |
| DAY
2 |
Ushuaia
Spend the morning with a local guide on a group excursion
to Tierra del Fuego National Park, and then enjoy a traditional
Argentine BBQ asado lunch. Embark in the afternoon,
settle into your cabin, and meet your Expedition Team
before the ship sets sail along the scenic Beagle Channel. |
DAYS
3-5 |
Drake
Passage & South Shetland Islands
Journey across the famous Drake Passage, named after the
16th-century English navigator Sir Francis Drake - an
experience in itself. The ship is accompanied much of
the way by albatrosses - including the magnificent Wandering
Albatross - along with an impressive variety of other
seabirds. Cross the Antarctic Convergence, a natural border
where cold polar waters sink beneath the warmer waters
of the more temperate zones.
Land is usually sighted for the first time late afternoon
on Day 4 - the South Shetland Islands, which lie to the
north of the Antarctic Peninsula. Visit vast penguin rookeries,
land on beaches ruled by Antarctic fur seals and observe
wallowing southern elephant seals. You may also visit
one of the many research bases in the archipelago or look
for Antarctica's only two flowering plants, which thrive
here during the short southern summer. Often the ship
sails through the narrow passage leading into the sunken
caldera of Deception Island. Here, if the tide allows,
you may dip your toes in the thermal waters of Pendulum
Cove. |
DAYS
6-9 |
Antarctic Peninsula
The Antarctic Peninsula, the most readily accessible part
of the White Continent, has some of the best wildlife
and scenery. You have plenty of time to experience the
special magic of this awe-inspiring wilderness of snow,
ice, waterways, and mountains. Expect to see enormous
rookeries of Gentoo, Chinstrap and Adélie Penguins.
Blue-eyed Shags, Kelp Gulls, Cape Petrels, Snowy Sheathbills
and Antarctic Terns are also abundant. You may also encounter
Weddell, crabeater and leopard seals, as well as orcas,
humpback, and Minke whales.
Our exploration of the Antarctic continent often begins
with a visit to the aptly named Paradise Bay, or to nearby
Neko Harbor. Glaciers fill the calm waters with an amazing
vista of icebergs as you set foot on the Antarctic continent
itself. When visiting Port Lockroy, you enjoy the thriving
penguin colonies and visit a recently renovated former
British scientific station that serves as one of the most
isolated and intriguing museums in the world. The station
also acts as a post office from which you can mail postcards
home.
If pack ice and icebergs allow, you navigate some of the
most beautiful waterways in the world. Two in particular,
the Neumayer and Lemaire Channels, are impressive narrow
passages between towering rock faces and spectacular glaciers.
Some voyages sail south of the Lemaire Channel to Petermann
Island, where Adélie and Gentoo Penguins, skuas
and Blue-eyed Shags nest close to the landing site.
On our longer voyages, the expedition may also visit the
northern tip of the Peninsula to navigate the Antarctic
Sound, or 'iceberg alley', where huge tabular icebergs
drift north from the Antarctic continent. If weather and
ice conditions permit, you land on Paulet Island to see
its vast Adélie Penguin rookery. |
DAYS
10-11 |
Drake Passage
You bid farewell to Antarctica as you sail north across
the Drake Passage. The adventure is not over, as there
are more opportunities to watch birds and whales cavorting
in the open ocean. Final presentations by our expedition
staff enhance the voyage en route to Ushuaia. |
| DAY 12 |
Ushuaia
Disembark after breakfast and transfer by bus
to the Antarctic Unit office located at the entrance to
the pier. If you are departing on the morning flight,
the transfer continues to the airport. |
| Read this itinerary as a
guide only; our exact route and program varies according
to ice and weather conditions - and the wildlife we encounter.
Flexibility is the key to the success of this expedition.
Visits to research stations depend on final permission. |
|
