SOUTH SHETLAND ISLANDS, ANTARCTICA AND CROSSING THE CIRCLE
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SOUTH SHETLAND ISLANDS, ANTARCTICA AND CROSSING THE CIRCLE
ITINERARY SUMMARY
| Day | Place | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Ushuaia | Day at leisure |
| Day 2 | Embarkation, Ushuaia | City tour, Board the ship and cross the Beagle Channel |
| Days 3 & 4 | Drake Passage | Cross the Drake and arrive at the South Shetland Islands |
| Days 5 - 9 | Antarctic Peninsula | Explore the Peninsula by zodiac and ship. Make landings on the continent and visit Penguin Rockeries |
| Day 10 | King George Island | Flight from King George Island to Punta Arenas |
| Day 11 | Punta Arenas, Chile | Itinerary ends in Punta Arenas |
SHIPS OFFERING THIS ITINERARY
Ocean Albatros
The Ocean Albatros, set for completion in 2022 has a revolutionary X-bow design for more stability and comfort along with being environmentally considerate in all aspects. A total of 93 cabins can accommodate up to 189 guests, all featuring ocean views, 90% with their own balconies. Two restaurants serve up high-quality cuisine along with a Nordic inspired bar to spend your nights enjoying the incredible Antarctic scenery passing you by. Fill in your time at sea with visits to the wellness area (with a gym and a spa), listen to lectures in the modern lecture lounge and soak up the sun (with your coat on) on the open deck dining facility. The Ocean Albatros is part of a new generation of low-energy vessels with 4 diesel engines and 2 electro engines, all controlled electronically to optimise speed and fuel consumption.
Ocean Victory
Ocean Victory commenced voyages November 2021 and was established as one of the most modern small ship vessels in the market.
This stylish cruise ship is ideally suited for our business model of small ship expeditions and is deployed and dedicated to varied Antarctic region voyages.
With a total of 93 comfortable staterooms for our guests, all with a view of the ocean, (and 90% with their own balcony), several restaurants, a wellness area, an Albatros Nordic Bar, an open deck dining facility, a modern lecture lounge, and other amenities, the vessel is also environmentally-friendly onboard, with an implementation of the Green Initiative Program, ensuring both absolute comfort and sustainability for our guests.
Day 1 Ushuaia
Overview:
Arrive in Ushuaia, Argentina – the world’s southernmost town. Explore the quaint city or local countryside. Alternatively, consider a day trip off the beaten path to the raw, natural archipelago of Tierra del Fuego. It’s a hiker’s paradise with rugged snow-capped mountains, glaciers, flower-filled meadows and boggy quagmires. In the afternoon, we board our ship, Ocean Victory.
Our journey begins as we navigate through the calms of Beagle Channel, a strait in the Tierra del Fuego Archipelago.
Day 2-3 Drake Passage
In the Drake, the excitement builds as Antarctic wildlife comes into view with our first sight of seals, penguins, and albatrosses. As well as the first icebergs as we approach the South Shetland chain of islands.
With the unique X-BOW design, the Ocean Albatros will offer you a smoother sailing across the Drake passage than conventional expedition vessels – and with a far less carbon emission.
Days 4-5 South Shetland Islands
Over the next two days, we will explore to the sub-Antarctic islands of the South Shetland chain.
Projected landfalls could include: King George Island; Deception Island, an extinct volcano; Half Moon Island with nesting Wilson’s storm petrels and chinstrap penguins.
The itinerary and activities over the next few days depend on weather and ice conditions. The route and shore landings will be determined by the captain and expedition leader and communicated to guests through regularly scheduled briefings.
Days 6-8 Antarctic Peninsula
As the white shimmer of Antarctica looms on our horizon, the presence of wildlife multiples by tens of thousands with many species of lively penguins, inquisitive seals, nesting birds and the spray of marine mammals.
Wildlife abounds on the Antarctic Peninsula: leopard, fur and Weddell seals of Cuverville Island; humpback whales of Gerlache Strait; Paradise Bay; the dramatic Lemaire Channel’s orcas. Explore as far south as possible towards the Antarctic Circle at c. 66 deg 33 minutes south of the Equator. Possible landfall in this wild and seldom visited area could be Pleneau and Petermann Islands, Crystal Sound and Detaille Island. We will also visit research stations if ice conditions allow us.
The itinerary and activities over the next few days depend on weather, swell and ice. The route and shore landings will be determined by the captain and expedition leader and communicated to guests through regularly scheduled briefings.
Days 9-10 At Sea
Today, we depart Antarctica and spend two days at sea on our way back to the calms of Beagle Channel and Ushuaia, Argentina. En-route, we will cross Drake Passage and cruise past Cape Horn, a legendary maritime landmark and the southern tip of South America.
During our time at sea, a variety of activities will be arranged on board, and it provides the perfect opportunity to socialize with fellow travellers.
Day 11 Ushuaia
This morning, we arrive back in Ushuaia where our Antarctic voyage ends.