I have had quite a few people ask about
taking a trip to Antarctica to visit the 7th continent so here it is. We
will be taking a special program that is only run once a year called
Cruise South & Fly North which takes one leg of the 2-day ocean voyage
out of the picture by returning to Chile by plane. This way you get a
full flavor of crossing the Drake passage complete with on board
lectures and activities but you save 2 days on the return by flying
back. I like this plan.
We will be going with Quark Expeditions
whom I am confident, with my extensive research, are the best in the
business for this tour. The reviews I have read are all outstanding.
We will be on their Sea Adventurer ship which has a capacity of just 117
guests. Our price reflects a 10% group discount saving you almost $1,000
plus we will match you up with a roommate as always.
Here
is more information on our ship and itinerary:
·
9Days
·
Day 1 —
Ushuaia,
Argentina
This quaint city at the southernmost tip of South America is your
gateway to Antarctica.
Day 2 —
Embarkation Day
You will embark in the afternoon, with a journey through the picturesque
Beagle Channel.
Days 3 to 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.
Days 5 to 7 —
Antarctic
Peninsula and South Shetland Islands
Icebergs are the first attractions that welcome you to Antarctica.
Massive floating bergs become more common as you get closer to land and
you catch your first glimpse of the Peninsula, with its grand
snow-covered mountains.
Day 8 —
Disembarkation
and Fly to Punta Arenas
As the ship turns north, you’ll say goodbye to the penguins, as well as
many of your shipmates. Spent the night in
Punta Arenas hotel.
Day 9 —
Depart for Home
Depart for home.
DEPOSIT OF $500
Please pay your deposit by February 1st as we do not have cabins on hold
and this is the only cruise of the entire season where we can fly one
way.
We will not forward your deposit over to Quark until we reach 16
passengers so your deposit will be refundable until we reach the point
of having a confirmed group.
Day-by-Day
Expedition
in Brief
-
The
excitement of a southbound Drake Passage crossing.
-
The speed
and convenience of a flight back to South America.
-
All the
Antarctic Peninsula highlights.
-
Lecturers
and specialists deliver presentations on geology and animal life.
Onboard
Lectures
Presentations by Quark’s Expedition Team are included as part of your
voyage. Through formal illustrated presentations, as well as informal
briefings, the Quark Expeditions Team will cover a range of topics
including ornithology, marine biology, glaciology, geography, geology,
history and the environment.
* Cost is for a lower deck
shared room. Upgrades are available as follows:
Add $1,000 for a main deck porthole room
Add $1,500 for a main deck
window room
South Shetland Islands
POSSIBLE LANDINGS AND
WILDLIFE SIGHTINGS
These
islands will be your first sighting of land after Ushuaia, as the
archipelago stretches for 540 km (335 miles) from northeast to southwest
off the coast of Antarctica. The Bransfield Strait separates this
archipelago from the Antarctic Peninsula. Nearly 200 years ago the
islands were wiped clear of seals. Today, you’ll see that the seal
populations have recovered and the islands once again support an
abundance of wildlife.
AITCHO
ISLANDS
This is a group of small islands,
some still unnamed, situated in the northern entrance of English Strait.
You can often spot a great mix of wildlife here, with gentoo and
chinstrap penguins having established rookeries. Southern elephant and
fur seals are frequently hauled out here too.
BAILY HEAD
Also known
as Rancho Point, this area is a rocky headland on the southeastern shore
of Deception Island. Chinstrap penguins build nests on slopes leading to
a high ridge that dominates the natural amphitheater and provides you
with a superb setting for landscape photography.
HALF MOON
ISLAND
This
crescent-shaped island was known to sealers as early as 1821. Unlike
sealers who liked to keep their best locations secret, we’re happy to
bring you ashore on this impressive island. Many Antarctic birds breed
here including chinstrap penguins, shags, Wilson’s storm petrels, kelp
gulls, snowy sheathbills, Antarctic terns and skua.
HANNAH POINT
Macaroni,
chinstrap and gentoo penguin rookeries are located on the point, which
is on the south coast of Livingston Island. Due to the rather congested
area available to the nesting penguins, you can only visit here from
January 10 onwards.
PENDULUM COVE
Hot
geothermal waters are found along the shoreline of this cove, named for
observations made in 1829 by a British expedition. You may see yellow
algae and boiled krill floating on the surface of the water, because of
the scalding hot water!
PENGUIN ISLAND
Antarctica
has two flowering plants, both of which you can find on Penguin Island:
Deschampsia antarctica
and
Colobanthus quitensis.
Chinstrap penguins, fur seals and southern elephant seals use the island
for breeding purposes.
ROBERT POINT
A nice
spot for Zodiac cruising, this point was known to sealers as early as
1820. Chinstrap penguins, kelp gulls and pintado petrels breed and
whales may be seen in the surrounding waters.
TELEFON BAY
Your
Expedition Team will be happy to point out that it is here where the
most recent evidence of volcanic eruption on Deception Island can be
seen.
TURRET POINT
Chinstrap
and Adélie penguin rookeries are found on this point, situated on the
south coast of King George Island. You’ll find the beaches here can get
crowded with fur, southern elephant and Weddell seals hauled out on the
rocks.
WHALER’S BAY
To reach
Whaler’s Bay it is necessary to sail through a narrow passage called
Neptune’s Bellows. The bay was used by whalers from 1906 to 1931 and it
is part of a protected harbor created by a circular flooded caldera,
known as Deception Island. Along with waddling penguins and lounging
seals, you’ll see rusting remains of whaling operations on the beach.
Watch for steam that may rise from geothermally heated water springs
along the shoreline.
YANKEE HARBOUR
Gentoo penguins have
established a rookery on this harbor, which is situated on the southwest
side of Greenwich Island. Here you can see an abandoned Argentine refuge
hut and a large glacier that stretches along the east and north sides of
the bay. An abandoned sealing try pot is all that remains of the
activity that brought men thousands of miles in tall ships to seek their
fortune.
ON ALL SHIPS,
RATES INCLUDE:
• One night
pre-expedition hotel accommodation with breakfast in Ushuaia, Argentina,
or Punta Arenas, Chile as indicated in the itinerary (The number of
guests per room is the same as cabin occupancy on the ship. Due to
limited availability, travelers who reserve a suite on board are
accommodated in standard rooms at the hotel. Triple rooms may not be
available.)
•
Shipboard accommodation with daily housekeeping
•
All breakfasts, lunches and dinners on board throughout your voyage
(Please inform us of any dietary requirements as far in advance as
possible. Unfortunately, the ships’ galleys cannot prepare kosher
meals.)
•
All shore landings per the daily program
•
Leadership throughout the voyage by our experienced Expedition Leaders,
including during shore landings and other activities
•
All Zodiac transfers and cruising per the daily program
•
Snowshoes available on loan for shore excursions on designated voyages
•
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 (Muck) boots on loan for shore landings
•
An offi cial Quark Expeditions parka to keep
•
Life jackets and immersion suits
•
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 the ship
•
Emergency evacuation insurance for all passengers to a maximum benefit
of US$100,000 per person
ALSO INCLUDED
DURING EXPEDITIONS
THAT EMBARK
IN USHUAIA:
•
Group transfers in Ushuaia from the airport to any local hotel
•
Group transfers from a designated location in Ushuaia to the ship on
embarkation day
ALSO INCLUDED
IN ‘ANTARCTIC EXPRESS’ PROGRAMS DEPARTING FROM AND RETURNING TO PUNTA
ARENAS, CHILE:
•
All flights between Punta Arenas (PUQ) and Antarctica (KGI) as specified
in the itinerary
•
One pre-night (group dinner included) and one post-night expedition
hotel accommodation with breakfast in Punta Arenas
•
A group arrival transfer in Punta Arenas from the airport to the
included hotel for passengers arriving on day 1 of the program only
•
Included lunch in Punta Arenas prior to boarding, or on the charter
flight to Antarctica
•
Group transfers between the hotel and airport in conjunction with the
charter flight to/from Antarctica
ALSO INCLUDED
IN ‘ANTARCTIC EXPRESS: CRUISE SOUTH, FLY NORTH’:
•
Pre-expedition night hotel in Ushuaia including breakfast
•
Group transfers in Ushuaia from the airport to any local hotel
•
Group transfers from a designated location in Ushuaia to the ship on
embarkation day
•
Flight from Antarctica (KGI) to Punta Arenas (PUQ) as specifi ed in the
itinerary
•
Group transfer between the airport and hotel in conjunction with the
charter flight from Antarctica
•
One night post-expedition hotel accommodation in Punta Arenas with
breakfast as indicated in the itinerary
RATES
SPECIFICALLY DO NOT INCLUDE:
•
Any airfare unless otherwise specified in the itinerary
•
Passport and visa expenses
•
Government arrival and departure taxes, including Argentina’s
Reciprocity Fee
•
Any meals ashore with the exception of breakfast at the host hotel
before
embarkation and lunch/dinner on specified fly-cruise programs
•
Baggage, cancellation, interruption and medical travel insurance
•
Excess baggage charges
•
Laundry, bar, beverage and other personal
charges unless specified
•
Telecommunications charges
•
The voluntary gratuity at the end of the voyage for shipboard staff and
crew
•
Massage services
•
Adventure options that are not included in
the cost of the voyage
As we get closer to the trip we will have
more information on the possibility of group air to Punta Arenas, Chile
and a potential stopover in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Sign up for this
Singles Trip!
