HIGHLIGHTS
- Sail
the legendary Drake Passage, an experience that few are ever lucky
enough to experience.
- Set
sail, to slowly drop off the bottom of the map from Cape Horn, and
voyage on an expedition down into the icy underworld of Antarctica.
- Be
one of the handful of people that will ever be lucky enough to
experience the majestic beauty of these monochrome landscapes
first-hand. The Antarctic Sound will be one of your first encounters of
this whitewash kingdom, located at the northerly tip of the Antarctic
Peninsula - which sprawls up like a tentacle towards Tierra del Fuego,
South America’s most southerly point, otherwise known as the
‘End of the World’.
- Witness
cathedral-sized icebergs up close, and blue-hued glaciers, slowly
slipping from imposing locations like Hope Bay. Blanched mountain peaks
cover the peninsula, and you’ll find thousands of adorable
Adelie penguin pairs thriving undisturbed in the Antarctic
Peninsula’s unique setting.
- Visit
the South Shetland Islands that are lying close to the northwestern tip
of the Antarctic Peninsula, separated by the Bransfield
Strait.
- Watch
plump elephant seals, and crowds of Gentoo, Chinstrap and Adelie
Penguins also calling the islands home.
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person
|
Start Date | End Date | From EUR | From USD |
Rates are listed per person
|
Start Date | End Date | From EUR | From USD |
ITINERARY
DAY
1: Ushuaia, Argentina
Departure
5:00 PM
A
southerly frontier - on the cusp of wild nature and extraordinary
adventures - the excitement in Ushuaia is palpable. Prepare for
memorable exploits amid the extremes of this southerly location - as
you adventure into the colossal scenery of the fractured Tierra del
Fuego and beyond. Known as the 'End of the World' Ushuaia looks out
across the Beagle Channel, and is surrounded by the Martial Mountains
to the north. Despite its remote location, Ushuaia is a surprisingly
busy and lively resort, with lots to keep its visitors entertained. For
many people, Ushuaia is their last glimpse of anything resembling a
city, before they jump off the map into the wilderness, to answer the
call of immense national parks or Antarctic expeditions. One of the
most dramatic landscapes on the planet - Argentina's land of fire,
National Park Tierra del Fuego, is a place of titanic natural forces
and limitless beauty. Snow-covered mountains poke the sky, while
glaciers spill down between peaks, and gaping fjords open up. With
incredible wildlife - from penguins to whales - the park offers some of
South America's most amazing hiking opportunities and panoramas. When
it comes to food in Ushuaia, locals cook up fierce flavours using the
freshest ingredients. King crab is one of the most popular dishes,
while sea bass - hauled freshly from the waters - and mounds of meaty
mussels - known as cholgas - are also on the menu here.
DAYS 2-3:
Drake Passage
Sailing the
legendary Drake Passage is an experience that few are ever lucky enough
to experience. The southern tip of the Americas already feels like a
wild enough environment – but the sensation of watching the
distant cliffs of the peninsular known as the ‘End of the
World’ fade into the horizon, is one that’s equal
parts epic, eerie and magical. Set sail, to slowly drop off the bottom
of the map from Cape Horn, and voyage on an expedition down into the
icy underworld of Antarctica. Drake Passage is an extraordinary voyage
of romantic ocean faring legend, as you aim for Antarctica’s
icy realm. On arrival, skyscraper sized icebergs salute you, as you
traverse the waters of this continent where snow and ice dwelling
creatures like penguins and whales roam undisturbed. Your first sight
of this most-unexplored place will most likely be the South Shetland
Islands. Walk in the footsteps of some of history’s greatest
and bravest explorers as you explore famed, snow-covered landmasses
like Elephant and Deception Island. If the journey across Drake Passage
sounds daunting, don’t worry – even in rough seas
you’re never alone, and will often be accompanied on this
spine-tingling adventure by soaring albatrosses and maybe even a
protective pod of humpbacks and hourglass dolphins or two. Converging
warm and cool ocean currents attract some spectacular animal life to
the passage.
DAY 4:
South Shetland Islands, Antarctica
The
ice-coated Antarctic Peninsula forms perhaps the most accessible region
of mainland Antarctica, lying a mere 480-miles away from South America,
across the fabled waters of Drakes Passage. Lying close to the
northwestern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula, separated by the
Bransfield Strait, the South Shetland Islands fall under the
jurisdiction of the Antarctic Treaty, suspending claims on their
sovereignty. Several countries maintain research bases here, and with
plump elephant seals, and crowds of Gentoo, Chinstrap and Adelie
Penguins also calling the islands home, it can even feel a little
crowded at times. King George Island is the largest and most hospitable
island, hosting the majority of the research stations - some of which
are populated all-year-round by tiny, hardy crews. Don’t be
fooled though, these islands offer extraordinary adventure in one of
the most remote locations on earth. The triple peaks of Mount Foster
tower above the archipelago, and you’ll feel your heart
pumping a little quicker, as you sail into the core of Deception
Island’s magnificent collapsed volcano caldera. Hike the luna
landscapes within, and even dip into the improbably warm,
geothermally-heated waters of Pendulum Cove. Elephant Island,
meanwhile, is written deep into the annals of Antarctic expedition
legend, as the site where Ernest Shackleton and the stricken crew of
the Endurance miraculously survived a harsh Antarctic winter, in 1916.
DAYS 5-6:
Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica
The
Antarctic Peninsula unravels upwards towards South America, reaching
out a beckoning finger to the adventurous, who dare to explore this
untamed realm. Stretching up from the heart of the world’s
southernmost continent, the Antarctic Peninsula lies a mere 620 mile
from Tierra del Fuego and, for many, offers a spectacular first taste
of the snow-blanketed landscapes and colossal ice sculptures, which
make up Earth’s least-explored continent. Unseen by humans
until 1820 - a blink of an eye ago in relative terms - this is an
adventure sure to make your hairs stand on end, as you experience the
thrill of the truly unknown and extraordinary. The vast peninsula is
sprinkled with research bases, which are at the frontline of human
scientific endeavour, pushing to study and understand this unique
landscape, its exceptional wildlife, and the impact that humans are
having on this pristine continent. Witness cathedral-sized icebergs up
close, and blue-hued glaciers, slowly slipping from imposing locations
like Hope Bay. Blanched mountain peaks cover the peninsula, and
you’ll find thousands of adorable Adelie penguin pairs
thriving undisturbed in this peninsula’s unique setting.
DAY 7:
Antarctic Sound, Antarctica
Few voyages
ignite the imagination like a journey down to one of the
planet’s most remote, extreme and enchanting wilderness,
Antarctica. An adventure in its purest form, only a handful of people
will ever be lucky enough to experience the majestic beauty of these
monochrome landscapes first-hand. The Antarctic Sound will be one of
your first encounters of this whitewash kingdom, located at the
northerly tip of the Antarctic Peninsula - which sprawls up like a
tentacle towards Tierra del Fuego, South America’s most
southerly point, otherwise known as the ‘End of the
World’. Taking its name from the first ship to brave the
passageway between the peninsular and the Joinville Island groups back
in 1902, the Sound is a raw, sensory assault of imposing iceberg slabs,
broken away from the disintegrating Larsen Ice Shelf. Come face-to-face
with stadium-sized islands of ice and meet the extraordinary birdlife
that call this whitewash kingdom home. Watch on, as colonies of Gentoo
penguins hop around, and cape petrels sweep overhead, as the
continent’s unique wildlife thrives around you. If
you’re planning your first venture into Antarctica,
you’ll want to brush up on your photography skills in
advance, to capture this unforgiving continent in all of its
unrestrained glory.
DAY 8:
Drake Passage
DAY 9:
Eclipse Position / Day At Sea
2:30
AM - 5:00 AM
Calling
all skywatchers, umbraphiles and astronomers! Extremely rare and very
exciting, a full solar eclipse is a bucket list experience if ever
there was one. Scheduled for 4th December, 2021 the next eclipse will
take place only in Antarctica and we will be positioned in the small
path of totality for maximum effect. This experience is not available
for the average cruisers; imagine being surrounded by brilliant light
one minute, then complete blackout the next, before enjoying the
mysterious shadow-play as we wind back to the blinding white of
Antarctica. Watch how the curious wildlife will react to the eclipse,
making sure to note their behaviour and let the onboard naturalist
know. Other onboard expedition staff will share their insightful
knowledge in order to help you gain a better understanding of this
phenomenal phenomenon. As if a trip to the seventh continent was not
special enough!
DAY 10:
Drake Passage
DAY 11:
Stanley, Falkland Islands
A true
haven for wonderful, diverse wildlife watching, Stanley invites you
ashore to soak in the untouched beauty of the Falkland Islands. Rolling
farms and animal-covered coves and cliffs unravel nearby, while
reminders of the war that scarred these islands in 1982 also reveal
themselves on closer inspection. The Falkland Islands - a tiny,
southerly outpost of the United Kingdom - lie a long way from the
nearest land at Patagonia, and their isolated location has helped to
maintain this unblemished, unhurried world of wonderful animals and
wind-whipped scenery. The ghostly, rusting wreck of the Lady Elizabeth
ship welcomes you into port - and is a reminder of the historically
treacherous nature of these 740 islands' remote location. Stanley sits
as the capital, and even here there’s a quiet village
ambience, as you wander quaint streets below colourful roofs. The small
cathedral has an unusual decoration outside – a dramatic
archway constructed from the giant jawbones of a blue whale. While
Stanley oozes quiet appeal, you’ll quickly want to head out
into the ‘Camp’ – the local word for
practically any part of the Falklands except for Stanley. Home to
thousands of Gentoo and Magellanic penguins, you can meet their larger
siblings - the tuxedo-clad king penguins, who rest on the shores. With
five varieties of penguins living here, or dropping in during
migrations, it’s one of the best places in the world to see
the flightless birds squawking and waddling adorably. Cape Dolphin is
the perfect position to spot exciting marine mammals cruising offshore,
and you’re just as likely to bump into the island’s
penguin and elephant seal populations here too. With varied birdlife
filling its skies and sweeping over the waves, the scale and diversity
of animals close to Stanley makes for a truly awe-inspiring visit.
DAY 12:
West Point Island, Falkland Islands
A
north-westerly outpost of the scenic Falkland Islands, you'll be
welcomed ashore by the calls and cries of a huge colony of black-browed
albatross. Indeed, the island was originally known as Albatross Island
before being renamed to reflect its geographic location. While the
albatrosses - that flash white feathers in the rugged cliffs above the
waves - are the most well known residents, they are far from the only
animal inhabitants of this remote, isolated land. A huge army of
birdlife calls the island sanctuary home, overwhelming the tiny human
population and sheep that roam West Point Island's grasses. Meet the
rockhopper penguins who scamper and burrow along the coast's boulders,
as well as the imperial cormorants who rest here in great numbers.
You're also liekly to encounter Magellanic penguins during your
explorations. Hike the island's quiet landscapes, and look out for
endemic plants like Felton's flower carpeting the green interior.
Decorated with some of the archipelago's most dramatic scenery, explore
this wind-lashed, distant land of soaring cliffs and towering coastal
precipices. Cliff Mountain is the island's standout - a towering
sandstone monolith, and the archipelago's highest cliff, falling away
to swirling waves below. Look out to the waters to spot Commerson's
dolphin chasing each other around the island's wave-washed footprint.
Whales also visit, as well as the fur seals who you may spot lounging
around West Point Island's inviting shores.
New
Island, Falkland Islands
Remote and
raw, New Island lies to the west of the Falkland Islands, and the
humble human population here is far outweighed by the extraordinary
birdlife that resides along its craggy coastline. Out in the
tempestuous wilds of the South Atlantic Ocean, the island is a
sanctuary of animal life - with crowds of rockhopper penguins, wrinkled
seals and stern-looking albatross among its many residents. The
penguins of the Falklands are a sight to see, fooling and falling on
the beaches, before diving in and whipping through the waters. Home to
five different species, including king penguins - who strut with their
orange collars glowing against the pure white feathers of their chests.
Sea lions, seals and elephant seals bark and lumber along the
shoreline, while sleek orcas patrol and Peale’s dolphins cut
through the waves. Settlement Rookery’s cliffs rattle with
the sounds of crashing sea waves, and the echoing shouts of hollering
black-browed albatross, king cormorants and rockhopper penguins. Enjoy
gorgeous sweeping landscapes, littered with shipwrecks and sprinkles of
colourful wildflowers. A warm welcome is guaranteed, especially when
the local custom of smoko is served up – towering platters of
cakes and biscuits with tea and coffee. Things haven’t always
been so peaceful here, however, and you can pay a visit to the
battlefields and memorials of the costly war in 1982, when the British
and Argentinians clashed fiercely over these islands.
DAY 13:
Ushuaia, Argentina
Arrive 10:00 PM
DAY 14: Ushuaia,
Argentina
(Click image to view Ship details)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- 1
night pre-cruise and 1 day-use post-cruise
- Transfers
(between airport/hotel and ship)
- In-country
flights when required by itinerary
- Guided
Zodiac, land and sea tours, and shoreside activities led by the
Expeditions Team
- Parka
- Enrichment
lectures by a highly qualified Expeditions Team
- Spacious
suites
- Butler
service in every suite
- Unlimited
Free Wifi
- Personalised
service – nearly one crew member for every guest
- Choice
of restaurants, diverse cuisine, open-seating dining
- Beverages
in-suite and throughout the ship, including champagne, select wines and
spirits
- In-suite
dining and room service
- Onboard
entertainment
- Onboard
gratuities