Antarctica Cruise - Polar Circle & Peninsula

Itinerary

Day 1: Ushuaia / Embarkation

In the afternoon, embark in Ushuaia and sail through the Beagle Channel.

Days 2-3: Crossing the Drake Passage

During these two days, you sail across the Drake Passage. When you cross the Antarctic Convergence, you arrive in the circum-Antarctic up welling zone. In this area you 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.If the winds are favorable you might do your first landing in Antarctic waters in the evening of the third day at Aitcho Island or Penguin Island at the South Shetlands. These volcanic islands are windswept and often shrouded in mist and fog, but do offer subtle pleasures. There is a nice variety of flora (mosses, lichens and flowering grasses) and fauna, such as Gentoo penguins, chinstrap penguins and southern giant petrels.

Days 4-9: Exploring the Antarctic Peninsula and Beyond

You may start your first day in Antarctica with a landing at Hannah Point, where you will find a nice variety of Gentoo penguins, Chinstraps and southern giant petrels, as well as Elephant seals hauling out on the beach. At Deception Island, you may land at Baily Head home to a colony of ten thousands of Chinstrap Penguins. Deception itself is a sub-ducted crater, which opens into the sea, creating a natural harbour for the ship. Here you 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. Good walkers may hike from Baily Head over the ridge of the crater into Whalers Bay, while our ship braves its entrance into the crater through the spectacular Neptune´s Bellow into the ring of Deception Island. On your way further South you will sail to Orne Islands with large colonies of Chinstrap Penguins and a beautiful view across the Gerlache Strait or 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. In Neko Harbor and Paradise Bay with its myriad icebergs and deep cut fjords, you have the opportunity to set foot on the Antarctic Continent. You shall have the opportunity for zodiac cruising between the icebergs in the inner parts of the fjords. You sail through the spectacular Lemaire Channel to Petermann Island offering Adelie Penguins and Blue-eyed Shags. You also may land at Pleneau Island with Elephant Seals and fair chances to encounter Humpback, Minke and Fin Whales. You head south along the Argentine Islands to Crystal Sound, south of the polar circle. The landscape is very impressive with very high mountains and huge glaciers. At the Fish Islands you land at one of the southernmost Adelie Penguin and Blue-eyed Shag colonies in the Antarctic Peninsula. A base visit will also be provided, to give you an insight about the life of modern Antarcticans working on the White Continent. At Detaille Island, south of the Polar Circle, in Crystal Sound you reach probably your farthest south. Sailing north again through Neumayer Channel and Gerlache Strait, you arrive at the Melchior Islands with a very beautiful landscape and again possibilities for zodiac cruising among the icebergs, where you may encounter Leopard Seals, Crabeater Seals and whales.

Days 10-11: Crossing the Drake Passage

In the Drake Passage you have a chance of seeing many seabirds.

Day 12: Ushuaia / Disembarkation

You arrive in the morning and disembark in Ushuaia.

Trip Details

Ship	Molchanov/Multanovskiy
Highlights	Cross the Polar Circle and visit rarely explored Detaille Island and Melchior Islands; Basic Russian research vessel, fairly active program with good lectures and guides.
Trip Notes	This voyage operates aboard the Professor MolchanovIncluded: Voyage aboard the indicated vessel as indicated in the itinerary; All meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee and tea; All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac; Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff;); All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the programme; Comprehensive pre-departure material. Not Included: Any airfare; pre- and post land arrangements; passport and visa expenses; Government arrival and departure taxes; meals ashore; baggage, cancellation and personal insurance (which is strongly recommended); excess baggage charges and all items of a personal nature such as laundry, bar, beverage charges and telecommunication charges; all gear such as boots and jackets; customary gratuity at the end of the voyages for stewards and other service personnel aboard (guidelines will be provided); fuel surcharge ($20 per person, per night).
Payment Policy	A deposit of 10% per person is required to confirm your reservation. Final payment is due 90 days prior to departure. Payment Methods: Deposit: credit cards are accepted (VISA, MC, AMEX, Discover). Final payment: check or wire.WE ARE UNABLE TO ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS FOR FINAL PAYMENT.

When can I go?

Start Date	Finish Date	Places Available
2009-03-08	2009-03-19	+

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