Antarctic Peninsula and Weddell Sea
- Polar Cruises
Our emphasis is on unique wildlife encounters, exploring new sites and pristine landscapes, visiting sites of historical interest and the occasional visit to scientific stations.
Cruising along the Antarctic Peninsula and South of the Circle
Explore the deep bays and fjords of the Antarctic Peninsula where massive glaciers flank a rugged spine of snowy mountains. Scattered amongst penguin rookeries and basking seals, reminders of early explorers bring history to life. Scientific stations open the door to fascinating research. We hope to make landings two to three times a day. To get ashore we will use zodiacs. Sometimes we will cruise along spectacular ice cliffs, or make contact with whales. In these situations we will appreciate the distinct advantage of being on a small vessel, which gives everyone the opportunity to experience these very special close encounters with wildlife.
Across the Antarctic Circle
Venturing across the Antarctic Circle beyond 66°33” South, takes you to a frozen region of brooding mountain ranges, massive blue icebergs and waterways taut with fast ice. Plentiful krill attracts the continent’s greatest variety and concentration of wildlife, including Orcas, Leopard seals, Fur seals, penguins and Snow petrels.
Scuba Diving and Snorkelling
On some departures we also offer a Polar Scuba diving and Polar snorkelling option. You will be one of the few divers and snorkelers ever witness the fascinating underwater world of these Antarctic waters. Please contact us for more details on these activities.
Crossing the Circle
This itinerary includes one of the most in-depth exploration of the Antarctic Peninsula, it also offers the opportunity to venture further south across the Antarctic Circle. As you head towards a milestone few travelers reach, you’ll feel you are in a world without borders, sailing through an endless stretch of sea, snow and ice.
Dramatic ice formations will ignite your imagination as you search the landscape for the wildlife that calls it home. Whether it’s humpback whales alongside the ship, a leopard seal diving beneath your Zodiac, penguins sliding into crystal waters from an iceberg, or a giant petrel soaring above cracking sea-ice, you’ll experience a sensory overload in Antarctica like you’ve never felt before.
Note:
This is a sample itinerary only. Final itiniraries, ports of embarkation and disembarkation and sites may change depending on vessel and departure dates, weather- and ice conditions.
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Antarctic Peninsula & South of the Circle
On King George Island we are at the stepping off point for the Antarctic Peninsula. A host of choices is now open to us and depending on the ice and weather conditions the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula is yours to explore. Our experienced leaders, will use their expertise to design your voyage from day to day. This allows us to make best use of the prevailing weather, ice conditions and wildlife opportunities. Because we are so far south, we will experience approximately 18-20 hours' daylight and the days will be as busy as you wish. There is plenty of time for sleep when you get home!
Once we arrive in the calmer waters of Bransfield and Gerlache Straits, we hope to make landings and do other activities like kayaking, diving and snorkeling two to three times a day. To get ashore we will use Zodiacs. Sometimes we will cruise along spectacular ice cliffs, or make contact with whales, penguins and seals. In these situations we will appreciate the distinct advantage of being on a small vessel, which gives everyone the opportunity to experience these very special close encounters with wildlife.
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You may visit the following exciting places if conditions and time allows: Livingston Island
A unique landing place on the Peninsula – tiny toes of land that are literally alive with wildlife. Here we will find two species of penguins breeding, chinstraps and gentoos. It is not uncommon to find wallows of elephant seals that are 60 beasts strong. Giant petrels nest on the ridgeline. The vegetation consists of mosses, lichens and the only grass species that grows in Antarctica. All this is set against a stunning backdrop, underneath long black scree slopes at the foot of the mountains and glaciers of Livingston Island.
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Deception Island
Visiting Deception Island is like making a journey to the moon. We sail through the narrow opening of Neptune's Bellows to enter the flooded volcanic crater. Inside is an unworldly scene, virtually devoid of life. We can explore the lifeless remains of a derelict whaling station and a vacant British base, or climb to the rim of the crater. Steam rises from the shore indicating that the water is actually warm enough for a swim, for those who dare. Outside the crater, if conditions allow, we might land at Bailey Head to explore the enormous chinstrap penguin rookery that featured in David Attenborough's Life in the Freezer series.
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Paradise Harbour
We might step on the continent of Antarctica at Paradise Harbour. Prepare to be dazzled by your first glimpse of the continent. The scenery here is amazing. We hope the weather will be mild enough to allow us all to step foot on the White Continent itself. Paradise Harbour is a protected bay surrounded by magnificent peaks and spectacular glaciers, the rocky cliffs provide perfect nesting sites for blue-eyed shags, terns and gulls. This is a haven for whales so keep your eyes open for humpbacks, orcas and minkes, as well as crabeater seals, as we explore the bay in Zodiacs. Imagine being so close to a whale that when he surfaces to blow, the fishy spray of his exhalation momentarily blurs your vision. Words cannot describe this experience.
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Half Moon Island
A wildlife rich island tucked into a neat bay at the eastern end of Livingston Island. On a clear day the glaciers and mountains of Livingston Island dominate the scene. There is a large chinstrap penguin rookery tucked in between basaltic turrets coloured by yellow and orange lichens. Gulls nest on these turrets and there are often fur seals and elephant seals hauled out on the pebble beaches. At one extremity of the island there is a large colony of nesting blue-eyed shags. At the other end lies a small Argentine station that is sometimes occupied by scientists conducting research on the penguin colony and surrounding waterways.
*NOTE: Snorkeling & Diving activity on designated trips need a minimum of 6 participants.
Dates & Rates
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Plancius Across the Antarctic Circle
- Plancius
- 11 nights
- shipMaxPassengers 116
- Learn more about this vessel
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Dates
- 28th Feb - 11th Mar 2019
- Embark: Ushuaia
- Disembark: Ushuaia
Prices from
- Superior Cabin
- EUR 9,350
- Twin Window
- EUR 8,150
- Twin Porthole
- EUR 7,850
- Quadruple cabin
- EUR 6,350
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Polar Pioneer Across the Antarctic Circle
- Polar Pioneer
- 10 nights
- shipMaxPassengers 54
- Learn more about this vessel
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Dates
- 2nd Mar - 12th Mar 2019
- Embark: Punta Arenas
- Disembark: Punta Arenas
Prices from
- Captain's Suite
- USD 16,200
- Superior Cabin
- USD 14,800
- Triple Cabin
- USD 9,700
- Twin Private Cabin
- USD 13,800
- Twin Public Cabin
- USD 11,400
- Full Charter
- POA
CROSSING THE POLAR CIRCLE
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Ortelius Across the Antarctic Circle
- Ortelius
- 13 nights
- shipMaxPassengers 116
- Learn more about this vessel
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Dates
- 18th Mar - 31st Mar 2019
- Embark: Ushuaia
- Disembark: Ushuaia
Prices from
- Superior Cabin
- EUR 9,950
- Twin Window
- EUR 8,700
- Twin porthole deck 3
- EUR 8,300
- Twin Porthole deck 4
- EUR 8,300
- Quadruple Porthole
- EUR 6,800
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Greg Mortimer Across the Antarctic Circle
- Greg Mortimer
- 12 nights
- shipMaxPassengers 160
- Learn more about this vessel
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Dates
- 3rd Feb - 15th Feb 2020
- Embark: Ushuaia
- Disembark: Ushuaia
Prices from
- Captain's Suite
- USD 22,100
- Junior Suite
- USD 19,200
- Balcony Suite
- USD 16,300
- Balcony stateroom
- USD 12,700
- Aurora Stateroom
- USD 11,600
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Greg Mortimer Across the Antarctic Circle
- Greg Mortimer
- 12 nights
- shipMaxPassengers 160
- Learn more about this vessel
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Dates
- 14th Feb - 26th Feb 2020
- Embark: Ushuaia
- Disembark: Punta Arenas
Prices from
- Captain's Suite
- USD 20,300
- Junior Suite
- USD 17,600
- Balcony Suite
- USD 14,900
- Balcony stateroom
- USD 11,700
- Aurora Stateroom
- USD 10,700
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Plancius Across the Antarctic Circle
- Plancius
- 11 nights
- shipMaxPassengers 116
- Learn more about this vessel
-
Dates
- 16th Feb - 27th Feb 2020
- Embark: Ushuaia
- Disembark: Ushuaia
Prices from
- Superior Cabin
- EUR 9,650
- Twin Deluxe
- EUR 8,950
- Twin Window
- EUR 8,400
- Triple Porthole
- EUR 7,400
- Quadruple cabin
- EUR 6,550
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Ortelius Across the Antarctic Circle
- Ortelius
- 13 nights
- shipMaxPassengers 116
- Learn more about this vessel
-
Dates
- 18th Mar - 31st Mar 2020
- Embark: Ushuaia
- Disembark: Ushuaia
Prices from
- Superior Cabin
- EUR 10,250
- Twin Deluxe
- EUR 9,600
- Twin Window
- EUR 8,950
- Twin porthole deck 3
- EUR 8,550
- Twin Porthole deck 4
- EUR 8,550
- Triple porthole
- EUR 7,850
- Quadruple Porthole
- EUR 6,950
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Antarctic Peninsula and Weddell Sea
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