HIGHLIGHTS
- Witness
this Total Solar Eclipse which can only be seen from Antarctica. Travel
across the Drake Passage to reach an area north of the South Orkney
Islands to hopefully observe the eclipse during the early
morning.
- Visit
the Elephant Island in Antarctica – named for its former
abundance of elephant seals - where Ernest Shackleton's ship Endurance
was crushed by ice in the Weddell Sea, and his crew was stranded here
for 137 days.
- Watch
Weddell seals, Chinstrap Penguins, and Macaroni Penguins on the spit of
land Shackleton's men named Point Wild. A solitary statue honours the
Chilean captain Luis Pardo, who took the cutter Yelcho across the Drake
Passage to rescue Shackleton's men.
- Explore
the Antarctic Peninsula on Zodiac cruises and via landings to see seals
and penguin colonies. This promontory of land is the furthest-north
extension of mainland Antarctica.
- Visit
the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica where several landing sites and
remains of whaling stations can be found. This grouping of islands is
75 miles north of the Antarctic Peninsula and holds sixteen research
stations run by Argentina, the US, Chile, Spain and several other
countries.
- Pass
twice through the Drake Passage, a 600-mile wide expanse that marks the
convergence of the Atlantic, Pacific and Southern Oceans. This is an
excellent area for whale-watching and pelagic birding. Look for
albatrosses and Southern Giant Petrels, as well as Cape Petrels, prions
and storm-petrels.
- Enjoy
the opportunity to kayak in a small group under the guidance of
certified kayak instructors. These special excursions are a chance to
appreciate the wilds of Antarctica in peaceful silence.
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person in USD. Promotional offers are not reflected in the rates below.
|
Start Date | End Date | Vista Suite | Veranda Suite | Deluxe Veranda Suite | Medallion Suite | Silver Suite | Royal Suite | Grand Suite | Owner's Suite |
Rates are listed per person in USD. Promotional offers are not reflected in the rates below.
|
Start Date | End Date | (Starting from) Vista Suite | (Mid-range) Silver Suite | (High-end) Owner's Suite |
ITINERARY
DAY
1: Ushuaia, Argentina
Departure
7:00 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
2-4: 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
5: Eclipse Position / Day At Sea
SATURDAY
04 DEC
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
6: Elephant Island, Antarctica
Promising
thrilling adventure, legendary tales and immaculate Antarctic beauty,
Elephant Island is perhaps Antarctica’s best-known location.
The exploits of its early explorers have immortalised this harsh,
monochrome island in the tomes of human history. Believed to take its
name from the elephant seals that early explorers spotted lolling on
its rocks, the volcanic island was not properly explored until 1916 -
when Ernest Shackleton and his men were stricken by the weather and
sought salvation on its shores. Their story of survival, stranded in
this barren land, is one of humanity’s most evocative and
inspiring accounts. Elephant Island is written deep into the legend of
Antarctic exploration, and you’ll discover
Shackleton’s tale for yourself as you arrive in the
island’s icy realm. The remarkable, slowly flowing Endurance
Glacier - which you’ll see on arrival here - takes its name
from their ship, The Endurance. Visit the monument that stands to
Shackleton, often surrounded by a migrating crowd of tiny gentoo
penguins, at Point Wild - the spot where he and his 28 crew members
camped for four and a half months of Antarctic winter. Eventually,
Shackleton and a handful of courageous others sailed for South Georgia
Island, before returning to secure the rescue of the remaining crew
members. Aside from sailing amid breathtaking winter vistas, witnessing
incredible fauna and feeling the sheer rush of an adventure to the
unknown - one of the true joys of any Antarctic cruise is to follow in
the footsteps of the brave explorers who first sought out the alluring
nectar of these dangerous, evocative landscapes.
DAYS
7-8: 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
9: 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
10-11: Drake Passage
DAY
12: Ushuaia, Argentina
Arrive
8:00 AM
(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