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Itinerary
Antarctic Small-Ship Expedition I
11 days - Nov-Mar - From US $ 4,890
DISCLAIMER: All itineraries are for guidance only. Programs may vary depending on local ice and weather conditions and in order to take advantage of opportunities to see wildlife. Flexibility is paramount for expedition cruises.
Season: November 2006 - March 2007
Day 1: In the afternoon, you will embark in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina--the picturesque southernmost city in the world, located in the shadow of the Andes at the shore of the Beagle Channel. You'll be shown to your cabin and then head down to the deck as the ship leaves Ushuaia behind and heads out into the scenic Beagle Channel.
Day 2-3: During these two days, you will sail across the Drake Passage. After crossing the Antarctic Convergence, the ship will arrive in the circum-Antarctic upwelling zone. In this area, you may see wandering albatrosses, grey-headed albatrosses, black-browed albatrosses, light-mantled albatrosses, cape pigeons, southern fulmars, and Wilson’s storm-petrels, blue petrels and Antarctic petrels. Near the South Shetland Islands, you can see the first icebergs of the journey.
If the winds are favorable, the ship might make its first landing in Antarctic waters in the evening of the third day at Aitcho Island, or Penguin Island at the South Shetlands. These volcanic islands are windswept and often shrouded in mist and fog, but do offer subtle pleasures. There will be a nice variety of flora (mosses, lichens and flowering grasses) and fauna, such as gentoo and chinstrap penguins, and southern giant petrels.
Day 4-8: At Deception Island, the ship will try to land at Baily Head, home to a colony of thousands of chinstrap penguins. Deception Island is a huge volcano, its crater opening into the sea, creating a natural harbor for the ship. Here you will find hot springs, an abandoned whaling station, thousands of cape pigeons, many Dominican gulls, brown and south polar skuas and Antarctic terns. Wilson’s storm and black-bellied storm petrels can also be seen nesting in the ruins of the whaling station at Whalers Bay.
The ship will sail to Orne Islands with its large colonies of chinstrap penguins and a beautiful view across the Gerlache Strait. Later, you will continue to Cuverville Island, a small precipitous island nestled between the mountains of the Antarctic Peninsula and Danco Island. The island contains a large colony of gentoo penguins and breeding pairs of brown skuas. From there, the ship will sail through Paradise Bay, a place of myriad icebergs, deep cut fjords, and the chance to see large whales. You will have an opportunity for zodiac cruising between the icebergs in the inner parts of the fjords.
The ship will sail through the spectacular Lemaire Channel to Petermann Island, where you can find Adelie penguins and blue-eyed shags. The ship will also try to land at Pleneau Island, home to elephant seals. In this area, there will be a good chance to encounter humpback, minke and fin whales.
Sailing north through Neumayer Channel and Gerlache Strait, you will arrive at Charlotte Bay and its very beautiful landscape. Again, there will be the possibility for zodiac cruising among the icebergs, where you may encounter leopard and crabeater seals, and minke whales.
Today will bring a visit to Half Moon Island, a beautiful volcanic island with chinstrap and gentoo penguins, blue-eyed shags, sheathbills and brown skuas. Weddell and elephant seals may also be spotted. The crew of the Argentine station located here is very hospitable and you may have a chance to visit the research station. The ship may also choose to land at Hannah Point, which has very rich wildlife featuring elephant seals, cape pigeons, southern giant petrels, macaroni and gentoo penguins.
Day 9-10: In the Drake Passage, you will again have a chance to see many seabirds.
Day 11: You will arrive in Ushuaia in the morning and disembark.
Season: November 2007 - March 2008
Day 1: In the afternoon, you will board a Russian research vessel in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, the picturesque southernmost city in the world located at the Beagle Channel. The adventure will start as the ship sails through the Beagle Channel.
Day 2-3: During these two days, you will sail across the Drake Passage and Antarctic Convergence, and arrive in the circum-Antarctic upwelling zone. In this area you may meet 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. You can also see the first icebergs near the South Shetland Islands.
If the winds are favorable, the ship might make its first landing in Antarctic waters in the evening of the third day at Aitcho Island, or Penguin Island at the South Shetlands. These volcanic islands are windswept and often shrouded in mist and fog, but do offer subtle pleasures. There will be a nice variety of flora (mosses, lichens and flowering grasses) and fauna, such as gentoo and chinstrap penguins, and southern giant petrels.
Day 4-8: Your first day in Antarctica will start with a landing at either Half Moon Island or Hannah Point, where you will find a nice variety of gentoo and chinstrap penguins, southern giant petrels, and elephant seals hauling out on the beach. Later, the ship will attempt to land at Baily Head, on the outer rim of Deception Island, home to a colony of thousands of chinstrap penguins.
Deception Island is a huge volcano, its crater opening into the sea, creating a natural harbor for the ship. While there, you will find hot springs, an abandoned whaling station, thousands of cape pigeons, many Dominican gulls, brown and south polar skuas, and Antarctic terns. Wilson's storm petrels and black-bellied storm petrels nest in the ruins of the whaling station in Whalers Bay, a place to which you can hike.
Heading farther south, you will sail to Cuverville Island, a small precipitous island nestled between the mountains of the Antarctic Peninsula and Danco Island. It contains a large colony of gentoo penguins and breeding pairs of brown skuas.
In Neko Harbor, you will have the opportunity to set foot on the Antarctic Continent in a magnificent landscape of huge glaciers.
While sailing to Paradise Bay, with its myriad icebergs and deep cut fjords, you will have the opportunity for a zodiac cruise between the icebergs in the inner parts of the fjords. In this area, you will have a good chance to see humpback whales and minke whales.
The ship will then sail through the spectacular Lemaire Channel to Pleneau and Petermann Islands, where you may find Adelie penguins and blue-eyed shags. In this area, there will be a good chance that you will encounter humpback, minke and fin whales. A visit to one of the scientific stations in Antarctica will give you an insight about the life of those living and working on the White Continent.
Sailing north through Neumayer Channel, you will arrive at the Melchior Islands, home to very beautiful landscapes. There will again be the possibility for zodiac cruising among the icebergs, where you may encounter leopard seals, crabeater seals and whales.
Day 9-10: You will see many different seabirds as you sail through the Drake Passage, and can take in a lecture from the knowledgeable lecture team.
Day 11: The ship will arrive in the morning at Ushuaia where you will disembark.
Please note that some dates of travel allow for the opportunity to scuba dive in the Antarctic waters. Please check the Date and Prices section for more information.
Season: November 2006 - March 2007
Day 1: In the afternoon, you will embark in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina--the picturesque southernmost city in the world, located in the shadow of the Andes at the shore of the Beagle Channel. You'll be shown to your cabin and then head down to the deck as the ship leaves Ushuaia behind and heads out into the scenic Beagle Channel.
Day 2-3: During these two days, you will sail across the Drake Passage. After crossing the Antarctic Convergence, the ship will arrive in the circum-Antarctic upwelling zone. In this area, you may see wandering albatrosses, grey-headed albatrosses, black-browed albatrosses, light-mantled albatrosses, cape pigeons, southern fulmars, and Wilson’s storm-petrels, blue petrels and Antarctic petrels. Near the South Shetland Islands, you can see the first icebergs of the journey.
If the winds are favorable, the ship might make its first landing in Antarctic waters in the evening of the third day at Aitcho Island, or Penguin Island at the South Shetlands. These volcanic islands are windswept and often shrouded in mist and fog, but do offer subtle pleasures. There will be a nice variety of flora (mosses, lichens and flowering grasses) and fauna, such as gentoo and chinstrap penguins, and southern giant petrels.
Day 4-8: At Deception Island, the ship will try to land at Baily Head, home to a colony of thousands of chinstrap penguins. Deception Island is a huge volcano, its crater opening into the sea, creating a natural harbor for the ship. Here you will find hot springs, an abandoned whaling station, thousands of cape pigeons, many Dominican gulls, brown and south polar skuas and Antarctic terns. Wilson’s storm and black-bellied storm petrels can also be seen nesting in the ruins of the whaling station at Whalers Bay.
The ship will sail to Orne Islands with its large colonies of chinstrap penguins and a beautiful view across the Gerlache Strait. Later, you will continue to Cuverville Island, a small precipitous island nestled between the mountains of the Antarctic Peninsula and Danco Island. The island contains a large colony of gentoo penguins and breeding pairs of brown skuas. From there, the ship will sail through Paradise Bay, a place of myriad icebergs, deep cut fjords, and the chance to see large whales. You will have an opportunity for zodiac cruising between the icebergs in the inner parts of the fjords.
The ship will sail through the spectacular Lemaire Channel to Petermann Island, where you can find Adelie penguins and blue-eyed shags. The ship will also try to land at Pleneau Island, home to elephant seals. In this area, there will be a good chance to encounter humpback, minke and fin whales.
Sailing north through Neumayer Channel and Gerlache Strait, you will arrive at Charlotte Bay and its very beautiful landscape. Again, there will be the possibility for zodiac cruising among the icebergs, where you may encounter leopard and crabeater seals, and minke whales.
Today will bring a visit to Half Moon Island, a beautiful volcanic island with chinstrap and gentoo penguins, blue-eyed shags, sheathbills and brown skuas. Weddell and elephant seals may also be spotted. The crew of the Argentine station located here is very hospitable and you may have a chance to visit the research station. The ship may also choose to land at Hannah Point, which has very rich wildlife featuring elephant seals, cape pigeons, southern giant petrels, macaroni and gentoo penguins.
Day 9-10: In the Drake Passage, you will again have a chance to see many seabirds.
Day 11: You will arrive in Ushuaia in the morning and disembark.
Season: November 2007 - March 2008
Day 1: In the afternoon, you will board a Russian research vessel in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, the picturesque southernmost city in the world located at the Beagle Channel. The adventure will start as the ship sails through the Beagle Channel.
Day 2-3: During these two days, you will sail across the Drake Passage and Antarctic Convergence, and arrive in the circum-Antarctic upwelling zone. In this area you may meet 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. You can also see the first icebergs near the South Shetland Islands.
If the winds are favorable, the ship might make its first landing in Antarctic waters in the evening of the third day at Aitcho Island, or Penguin Island at the South Shetlands. These volcanic islands are windswept and often shrouded in mist and fog, but do offer subtle pleasures. There will be a nice variety of flora (mosses, lichens and flowering grasses) and fauna, such as gentoo and chinstrap penguins, and southern giant petrels.
Day 4-8: Your first day in Antarctica will start with a landing at either Half Moon Island or Hannah Point, where you will find a nice variety of gentoo and chinstrap penguins, southern giant petrels, and elephant seals hauling out on the beach. Later, the ship will attempt to land at Baily Head, on the outer rim of Deception Island, home to a colony of thousands of chinstrap penguins.
Deception Island is a huge volcano, its crater opening into the sea, creating a natural harbor for the ship. While there, you will find hot springs, an abandoned whaling station, thousands of cape pigeons, many Dominican gulls, brown and south polar skuas, and Antarctic terns. Wilson's storm petrels and black-bellied storm petrels nest in the ruins of the whaling station in Whalers Bay, a place to which you can hike.
Heading farther south, you will sail to Cuverville Island, a small precipitous island nestled between the mountains of the Antarctic Peninsula and Danco Island. It contains a large colony of gentoo penguins and breeding pairs of brown skuas.
In Neko Harbor, you will have the opportunity to set foot on the Antarctic Continent in a magnificent landscape of huge glaciers.
While sailing to Paradise Bay, with its myriad icebergs and deep cut fjords, you will have the opportunity for a zodiac cruise between the icebergs in the inner parts of the fjords. In this area, you will have a good chance to see humpback whales and minke whales.
The ship will then sail through the spectacular Lemaire Channel to Pleneau and Petermann Islands, where you may find Adelie penguins and blue-eyed shags. In this area, there will be a good chance that you will encounter humpback, minke and fin whales. A visit to one of the scientific stations in Antarctica will give you an insight about the life of those living and working on the White Continent.
Sailing north through Neumayer Channel, you will arrive at the Melchior Islands, home to very beautiful landscapes. There will again be the possibility for zodiac cruising among the icebergs, where you may encounter leopard seals, crabeater seals and whales.
Day 9-10: You will see many different seabirds as you sail through the Drake Passage, and can take in a lecture from the knowledgeable lecture team.
Day 11: The ship will arrive in the morning at Ushuaia where you will disembark.
Please note that some dates of travel allow for the opportunity to scuba dive in the Antarctic waters. Please check the Date and Prices section for more information.
