ANTARCTICA – BASE CAMP – WEDDELL SEA
__________________
ANTARCTICA – BASE CAMP – WEDDELL SEA
ITINERARY SUMMARY
| Day | Place | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Ushuaia, Argentina | Embark in the southernmost city on the planet, set sail |
| Days 2 - 3 | At Sea | Enjoy cool salt breezes, rolling seas and the incredible bird and marine life following the ship |
| Days 4 - 10 | Antarctic Peninsula | Massive tabular icebergs, wildly dramatic landscapes, fascinating historical sites, iconic wildlife |
| Days 11 - 12 | At Sea | Re-cross the Drake Passage and reflect on your incredible trip |
| Day 13 | Ushuaia, Argentina | Disembark and continue on your onwards journey |
SHIP OFFERING THIS ITINERARY
Ortelius
The Ortelius was originally the Marina Svetaeva. Built in Gdynia, Poland in 1989, it served as a special-purpose vessel for the Russian Academy of Science. Later it was re-flagged and renamed after the Dutch/Flemish cartographer Abraham Ortelius, who in 1570 published the first modern world atlas: Theatrum Orbis Terrarum or Theatre of the World. The Ortelius can accommodate 108 guests and has an abundance of open-deck spaces for watching wildlife and the impressive scenery as you sail past. She also has the highest ice-class notation (UL1, equivalent to 1A) making her perfect for polar expeditions.
BASECAMP
The Antarctica – Base Camp – Weddell Sea cruise offers you a myriad of ways to explore and enjoy the Antarctic Region. All offered activities, as well as the standard included shore excursions and zodiac cruises, are free of charge.
The Included Activities are:
Camping – Special gear and field equipment will be provided. Camping is subject to weather, local site and environmental regulations.
Kayaking – Basic kayaking experience is of advantage, but it is not a requirement. Physical fitness is essential. Kayaking is subject to weather and prevailing ice conditions.
Mountaineering –Mountaineering knowledge is preferable, but not required. Physical fitness is essential. Mountaineering must be pre-booked prior to departure. Mountaineering is subject to weather and local site conditions.
Photo Workshop – Participants with a special interest in photography will bring their personal photo equipment. The workshop must be pre-booked prior to departure.
Snowshoeing – Snowshoe walking is easy and does not require any technical skills. The snowshoes will fit all boot sizes and can be used in combination with Oceanwide’s rubber boots.
Day 1 Ushuaia, Argentina
Your voyage begins where the world drops off. Ushuaia, Argentina, reputed to be the southernmost city on the planet, is located on the far southern tip of South America. Starting in the afternoon, you embark from this small resort town on Tierra del Fuego, nicknamed “The End of the World,” and sail the mountain-fringed Beagle Channel for the remainder of the evening.
Days 2 – 3 The Drake Passage
Over the next two days on the Drake Passage, you will enjoy some of the same experiences encountered by the great polar explorers who first charted these regions: cool salt breezes, rolling seas, maybe even a fin whale spouting up sea spray.
After passing the Antarctic Convergence – Antarctica’s natural boundary, formed when north-flowing cold waters collide with warmer sub-Antarctic seas – you are in the Antarctic circumpolar current upwelling zone. Not only does the marine life change, the bird life changes too.
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 are a few of the birds you might see.
Days 4 – 10 Antarctic Peninsula
The great Weddell Sea features massive tabular icebergs, wildly dramatic landscapes, and fascinating historical sites. It is also one of the best places in Antarctica for viewing iconic wildlife like whales, seals, and rarely seen seabirds.
Locations you may visit, depending on local conditions, include:
Antarctic Sound – nicknamed “Iceberg Alley” for the enormous tabular icebergs found here.
Brown Bluff – Possibly the most scenic location in the northern Antarctic Continent, Brown Bluff is characterized by sheer canyon walls, fallen boulders, and beautiful volcanic creations capped with ice.
Herbert Sound – The visually impressive areas of Naze Peninsula and Comb Ridge.
Devil Island – Offers a magnificent vantage point for hikers willing to foot it to the top of the hill. Melting ice sometimes forms a waterfall dropping from the cliffs close to Cape Well-met.
Erebus and Terror Gulf – Look for new activity opportunities and may visit Vega Island, experiencing the wilderness of Antarctica in its most remote places.
Days 11 – 12 Drake Passage
Your return voyage is far from lonely. While crossing the Drake, you’re again greeted by the vast array of seabirds remembered from the passage south. But they seem a little more familiar to you now, and you to them.
Day 13 Ushuaia, Argentina
Even great adventures must eventually come to an end. It’s now time to disembark in Ushuaia with memories that will accompany you wherever your next journey lies.