Antarctic Express: Cruise South, Fly North
Overview
Location: Antarctica
Destination: Antarctic Peninsula Cruises
Starting at: $7,395
Description
Here's a highly efficient way to travel to Antarctica. We cruise south to the Antarctic peninsula and then, after spending several days exploring, we board a plane on King George Island and fly back over the infamous Drake Passage to Punta Arenas.
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Antarctic Express: Cruise South, Fly North Save 15% on Triple, Lower & Main Deck Twin cabins
Save 20% on Superior, Deluxe and Suites
• Available on new bookings only
• Reservations must be confirmed and deposit paid by April 30, 2013
• Cannot be combined with other offers
• Discounts apply to cruise fees only
Sea AdventurerRates & Dates Prices are per person and shown in USD.
| TRIPLE | LOWER DECK TWIN | MAIN DECK TWIN PORTHOLE | MAIN DECK TWIN WINDOW | SUPERIOR | DELUXE | SUITE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 10, 2013 - Dec 19, 2013 | $7,395 | $9,495 | $9,995 | $10,695 | $11,795 | $12,595 | $13,995 |
Itinerary
Day 1: Ushuaia, Argentina
This quaint city at the southernmost tip of South America is your gateway to Antarctica. The city itself provides a wide range of jewelry shops, cafes, gear shops and restaurants to explore before your voyage. Outside the city, snow-capped mountains and hiking in Tierra del Fuego National Park offer ample adventure activities if you feel like exploring nature.
Day 2: Embarkation Day
We embark in the afternoon, with a journey through the picturesque Beagle Channel. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled and be out on deck, as the channel is home to a wide variety of wildlife including seabirds and seals. Rainbows are common here too, creating a great photography opportunity to kick off the start to your Antarctic adventure.
Days 3–4: Crossing the Drake Passage
Legendary for its high winds and rolling seas, you may get lucky and have surprisingly calm seas. Spend your time in the lounge or chatting with your fellow travelers. As you develop your sea legs during the crossing, our Expedition Team will begin their series of presentations to help prepare you for your upcoming Zodiac and land excursions. You officially enter Antarctica when your ship crosses the Antarctic convergence, a biological boundary that fluctuates around 60° south.
Days 5–8: Antarctic Peninsula & South Shetland Islands
Icebergs are the first attractions that welcome you to Antarctica. Massive floating bergs become more common as we get closer to land and you catch your first glimpse of the Peninsula, with its grand snow-covered mountains. In addition to spotting icebergs, you'll likely spot Adelie penguins chilling out on ice floes and minke or humpback whales feeding and swimming in the frigid waters.
As soon as we can, the Zodiacs will be readied for your first landing in the South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula. The first time you experience this immense wilderness up close can be a numbing experience. The silence is great, the vastness is even greater. Thankfully the noisy locals—penguins and seals—are there to remind you that this wonderful landscape isn't just a dream.
Your Expedition Team will monitor the ice and weather conditions to determine which landing sites we can visit. With many sites to choose from, each expedition presents new opportunities for exploring the white continent by Zodiac and land. Swimming in Antarctica is perhaps the most adventurous option to tempt you, by taking a Polar Plunge in the water at Neko Harbor!
If you would rather stay dry, then how about camping on the ice in Antarctica? A typical day in this wildlife wonderland will be spent listening to calving glaciers at Petermann Island, watching penguins waddle around a beach, or taking a hike atop a hill for a panoramic view of Port Lockroy. Whatever you prefer, the photographic opportunities are endless.
Day 9: Disembarkation & Fly to Punta Arenas
As the ship turns north, you'll say goodbye to the penguins, as well as many of your shipmates. With only the Drake Passage ahead, you'll disembark and enjoy a bit of time on King George Island before flying off to Punta Arenas, Chile. Once you're in Punta Arenas, we'll transfer you from the airport to your hotel, where you're free to explore and enjoy a final dinner out.
Day 10: Depart for Home
Included
- One night pre-expedition hotel accommodation with breakfast
- Shipboard accommodation with daily housekeeping
- All breakfasts, lunches and dinners on board throughout your voyage
- All shore landings per the daily program
- Leadership throughout the voyage by our experienced Expedition Leader
- All Zodiac transfers and cruising per the daily program
- Formal and informal presentations by our Expedition Team and guest speakers as scheduled
- Photographic Journal on DVD, documenting the voyage
- A pair of waterproof expedition boots on loan for shore landings
- An official expedition parka to keep
- Coffee, tea and cocoa available around the clock
- Hair dryer and bathrobes in every cabin
- Comprehensive pre-departure materials, including a map and an informative Antarctic Reader
- A group transfer upon disembarkation in Ushuaia from the ship to the local airport
- All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program
- All luggage handling aboard ship
- Emergency Evacuation Insurance for all passengers to a maximum benefit of USD $100,000 per person
- All flights to or from Antarctica as specified in the itinerary
- Pre night hotel on all Fly and Cruise programs in Ushuaia or Punta Arenas
- Included lunch in Punta Arenas prior to boarding the charter flight to Antarctica
- Group transfers between the hotel and airport in conjunction with the charter flight
Adventure Options
- Kayaking: $950
- Camping: $225
- Snowshoeing: Free
Highlights
- Significantly reduce your Drake Passage crossing time by flying in one direction—a 3-hour flight versus a 2-day crossing by ship!
- Explore the spectacular Antarctic wilderness in a casual atmosphere of like-minded travelers
- Experience abundant wildlife including immense penguin colonies and other seabirds, seals and even some of the great whales at close range
- Cruise in comfort along towering icebergs, serrated maritime mountains and luminous glaciers
- Zodiac landing craft allow visitation on remote shorelines and otherwise inaccessible areas
- Ship allows an "open bridge policy" to observe its sophisticated navigation equipment and provides an excellent location to view wildlife the landscape (subject to weather and critical navigation maneuvers)
- Optional camping available on the Antarctic Peninsula
PLEASE NOTE: Due to the nature of expedition cruising, itineraries are subject to change due to weather, ice conditions, natural and cultural events, wildlife viewing opportunities and other logistical considerations. In general, a ship's crew will endeavor to complete the itinerary provided, but the ultimate decision lies with the ship's captain and expedition leaders.