Antarctic Peninsula

Aboard MV Plancius, MV Ortelius or Ocean Nova

*LAST MINUTE SPECIAL: Save 25% on the 13 December 2012 & 20% on the 22 December 2012 departures aboard MV Plancius

#Buy One Get One Half Price: Save 50% on second passengers ticket for the 1 March 2013 Antarctic PENINSULA: Whale Photo-Safarivoyage.
Single passengers receive 25% off selected cabins.
Book before 31 Oct 2012.

Embark & Disembark: Ushuaia

10/12 daysDecember - March#

Itinerary for MV Plancius & Ortelius 10-12 days

Click here for Ocean Nova 10 day itinerary

It can simply be said - there is no place like it on earth. The Seventh Continent, the Antarctic, is a pristine environment, largely untouched by man and where nature is still in charge. The scenery is breathtaking and an amazing setting for teeming wildlife that endures and indeed thrives in this harsh land of great white expanses, looming mountain peaks and impressive icebergs.

Day 1

Ushuaia - Beagle Channel

In the afternoon, we embark in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, the picturesque southernmost city in the world located at the Beagle Channel and sail through the Beagle Channel.

Day 2-3

Drake Passage

During these two days we sail across the Drake Passage. When we cross the Antarctic Convergence, we arrive in the circum-Antarctic up welling zone. In this area we 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. Near the South Shetland Islands, we glimpse at the first icebergs.

Day 4

Deception Island - Antarctic Peninsula

At Deception Island, we will try to land at Baily Head with a colony of ten thousands of Chinstrap Penguins. Deception Island is a huge volcano of which the crater opens into the sea, creating a natural harbour for the ship. Here we find hot springs, an abandoned whaling station, thousands of Cape Pigeons and 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.

Day 5

Antarctic Peninsula

We will sail to Orne Islands with large colonies of Chinstrap Penguins and a beautiful view across the Gerlache Strait. Later we continue 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. From there we sail through Paradise Bay with its myriad icebergs and deep cut fjords, while having chances of seeing large whales. We will have opportunities for zodiac cruising between the icebergs in the inner parts of the fjords.

Day 6

Antarctic Peninsula

We sail through the spectacular Lemaire Channel to Petermann Island where we can find Adelie Penguins and Blue-eyed Shags. We also try to land at Pleneau Island home to Elephant Seals. In this area there are good chances to encounter Humpback Whales, Minke Whales and Fin Whales.

Day 7

Antarctic Peninsula

Sailing north through Neumayer Channel and Gerlache Strait we arrive at Charlotte Bay with a very beautiful landscape and again possibilities for zodiac cruising among the icebergs, where we may encounter Leopard Seals, Crabeater Seals and Minke Whales.

Day 8

Antarctic Peninsula

Half Moon Island is a beautiful volcanic island with Chinstrap Penguins, Gentoo Penguins, Blue-eyed Shags, sheathbills and Brown Skuas. Weddell Seals and Elephant Seals may also be spotted. The crew of the Argentine station is very hospitable. We may also choose to land at Hannah Point, which has a very rich wildlife featuring Elephant Seals, Cape Pigeons, Southern Giant Petrels, Macaroni Penguins and Gentoo Penguins.