ANTARCTICA CRUISE:  EXPLORERS' CRUISE

Antarctic Peninsula, Falklands & South Shetland Islands

CRUAQEXP - 20 days / 19 nights

ICEBREAKERS: PROFESSOR MULTANOVSKIY, PROFESSOR MOLCHANOV, AKADEMIK SHOKALSKIY, M/V ORLOVA

Departure Day: SET DATES as listed below

More Information on Cruise

All three of our Explorers' Cruises take you to the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), South Georgia, the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands to view abundant Antarctic wildlife. Visit scientific bases and enjoy breathtaking scenery - icy waterways, glaciers, icebergs, and rugged mountains. Depending on the itinerary, you embark and disembark in the ports of Ushuaia or Puerto Madryn in Argentina. As with our Classic Antarctica voyages, no two Explorers' Cruises are exactly alike. The Captain and Expedition Leader continually assess daily weather conditions and wildlife opportunities to take full advantage of the extended daylight in order to maximize time ashore. We can guarantee an engaging adventure and memories that last a lifetime.

South Shetland Islands
This impressive group of islands, lying to the north and roughly parallel to the Antarctic Peninsula, is a haven for wildlife. Our first landfall could be Elephant Island, where Ernest Shackleton's men found refuge during the epic 'Endurance' expedition (following in the wake of Shackleton, from Antarctica to Elephant Island and on to South Georgia, is a particular aim of Explorers' Cruise 3). We will visit enormous penguin rookeries, land on beaches ruled by Antarctic fur seals and observe southern elephant seals wallowing in mud pools. We also hope to visit one of the many research bases in the archipelago and look for Antarctica's only two flowering plants, which thrive here during the short southern summer. A highlight of our visit to the South Shetlands will be sailing through a narrow passage into the flooded caldera of Deception Island.

Antarctic Peninsula
This awe-inspiring wilderness of snow, ice, waterways and mountains is the most readily accessible part of the White Continent and has some of the best wildlife. Enormous rookeries of Gentoo, Chinstrap and Adélie Penguins, Blue-eyed Shags, Kelp Gulls, Cape Petrels, Snowy Sheathbills and Antarctic Terns are just some of the many birds found here in abundance. We are also likely to see Weddell, crabeater and leopard seals, while orcas, humpback whales and Minke whales are often encountered at close range. The Peninsula also has a remarkable history and, during the trip, we will learn about some of the most important and dramatic expeditions to this remote corner of the world. Keeping a lookout from the Bridge or the deck of the ship, as we thread our way along the continent, we will certainly feel the same sense of excitement as many of those early explorers. Sailing around the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula we hope to navigate the Antarctic Sound, or 'iceberg alley' as it is often called, where huge tabular icebergs drift north from the Antarctic continent. If we are lucky, and weather and ice conditions permit, we may be able to land on Paulet Island to see its enormous Adélie Penguin rookery. We also plan to visit aptly-named Paradise Harbor, or nearby Neko Harbor, where glaciers fill the calm waters with a mind-boggling vista of icebergs; this is where we hope to set foot on the Antarctic Continent itself. At Port Lockroy, as well as enjoying the thriving penguin colonies, we will visit a former British scientific station that has recently been renovated to serve as one of the most isolated and intriguing museums in the world. The station also acts as a post office and we will have a unique opportunity to send postcards home. During the voyage we hope to navigate some of the most beautiful waterways in the world (if they are not choked with pack ice and icebergs - a spectacular sight in itself); two in particular, the Neumayer and Lemaire Channels, are narrow passages between towering rock faces and glaciers that are so impressive they are a highlight of the trip for many people. On some voyages we sail south of the Lemaire Channel to Petermann Island, where Adélie and Gentoo Penguins, skuas and Blue-eyed Shags nest close to the landing site.

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
In the historic Falklands we explore some of the privately-owned outer islands that are home to great concentrations of wildlife - including several species found nowhere else in the world. Flightless Steamer Ducks, Magellanic Penguins and Gentoo Penguins are just some of the highlights on Carcass Island, for example, while nearby West Point Island and New Island boast fantastic Rockhopper Penguin rookeries as well as nesting Black-browed Albatrosses and Blue-eyed Shags. Peale's and Commerson's dolphins are often seen along the coasts of these islands and frequently bow-ride and play alongside our boats. We will also explore Stanley, the charming capital of the archipelago.

South Georgia
South Georgia has its own astonishing concentrations of wildlife and awe-inspiring scenery ranging from 7,000-foot mountains and mighty glaciers to deep fjords and low-lying grassland. It is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful and inspiring places on earth and certainly has more wildlife than virtually anywhere else on the planet. Thousands of King Penguins greet us at Salisbury Plain, Wandering Albatrosses nest and thousands of fur seals breed at Prion Island, whilst huge southern elephant seals and a substantial number of King and Gentoo Penguins crowd the beaches at places such as Gold Harbor. The island also played a significant role in Ernest Shackleton's epic journey after the sinking of his ship, the 'Endurance', when he managed to raise the alarm at the whaling station in Stromness. We visit Shackleton's grave at Grytviken, a once-active whaling station.

Drake Passage and other sea crossings
Our journey across the famous Drake Passage, named after the 16th-century English navigator Sir Francis Drake, is an experience in itself. Our ship is accompanied most of the way by albatrosses - including the magnificent Wandering Albatross - along with an impressive variety of other seabirds such as Giant and Cape Petrels. We have a good chance of spotting whales and dolphins and many different species have been encountered in these rich waters over the years. We also cross the Antarctic Convergence, a biological barrier where cold polar waters sink beneath the warmer waters of the more temperate zones. Meanwhile, the program of lectures continues during these sea crossings as our expedition staff introduce some of the wildlife we are likely to encounter and cover all topics from the history of exploration to the geology of the region.

We have a selection of departure dates to choose from and, even though it is impossible to guarantee precisely what we will see because sightings and encounters inevitably vary from trip to trip, we are confident that no-one will be disappointed. Flexibility is the key to success and the Captain and Expedition Leader continually assess daily weather conditions and wildlife opportunities to take full advantage of the almost continuous daylight in order to maximize time ashore.

Highlights

Adventure Option
We are pleased to advise that we will be offering camping as an adventure option on all departures aboard the Akademik Shokalskiy during the Antarctic 2004/05 season. The supplement for this option is US$150 per person.

Daily Itinerary

Day 1     Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina
Arrive in the southernmost city in the world. Explore this 'frontier town' on your own and transfer independently to the Hotel Los Nires or similar hotel.

Day 2     Ushuaia
Enjoy a guided excursion to Tierra del Fuego National Park. Following a traditional Argentine BBQ asado lunch, you have some free time before transferring to the ship for embarkation.

Day 3     At sea
Get to know the expedition team as the ship heads toward the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas). Our lecture series begins.

Day 4 - Day 5     Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Explore some of the privately owned outer islands that are home to great concentrations of wildlife - including several species found nowhere else in the world. Flightless Steamer Ducks, Magellanic Penguins and Gentoo Penguins occupy Carcass Island. Nearby New Island boasts fantastic Rockhopper Penguin rookeries as well as nesting Black-browed Albatrosses and Blue-eyed Shags. Peale's and Commerson's dolphins are often seen along the coasts of these islands and frequently bow-ride and play alongside the Zodiacs. Explore Stanley, the charming capital of the archipelago.

Day 6 - Day 7     At sea
Spot pelagic birds from the deck, as the vessel sails towards South Georgia. The shipboard historian offers captivating presentations on the exploration of the southern ocean.

Day 8 - Day 11     South Georgia
South Georgia has an astonishing concentration of wildlife as well as awe-inspiring scenery ranging from 7,000-foot mountains and mighty glaciers to deep fjords and low-lying grassland. It is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful and inspiring places on Earth. Thousands of King Penguins greet us at Salisbury Plain. Wandering Albatrosses nest and thousands of fur seals breed at Prion Island. Huge southern elephant seals and a substantial number of King and Gentoo Penguins crowd the beaches at places such as Gold Harbor. The island also played a significant role in Ernest Shackleton's epic journey after the sinking of his ship, the Endurance. At Grytviken, once an active whaling station, you visit Shackleton's grave.

Day 12 - Day 13     At sea
As the ship heads for Antarctica, our naturalists introduce the wildlife and natural wonders that lie ahead.

Day 14 - Day 17     South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula
The Antarctic Peninsula, the most readily accessible part of the White Continent, has some of the best wildlife and scenery. You have plenty of time to experience the special magic of this aweinspiring wilderness of snow, ice, and mountains. Expect to see enormous rookeries of Gentoo, Chinstrap and Adélie Penguins. Blue-eyed Shags, Kelp Gulls, Cape Petrels, Snowy Sheathbills, and Antarctic Terns are also abundant. You may also encounter Weddell, crabeater and leopard seals, as well as orcas, humpback, and Minke whales. Your first landfall could be Elephant Island, where Ernest Shackleton's men found refuge during the epic "Endurance" expedition, or Paulet Island with its vast Adélie Penguin rookery. Ice conditions permitting, the expedition then navigates the Antarctic Sound, or "iceberg alley", where huge tabular icebergs drift north from the Antarctic continent. Our exploration of the Antarctic continent often begins with a visit to the aptly named Paradise Bay, or to nearby Neko Harbor. Glaciers fill the calm waters with an amazing vista of icebergs, as you set foot on the Antarctic continent itself. If pack ice and icebergs allow, you navigate some of the most beautiful waterways in the world. Two in particular, the Neumayer and Lemaire Channels, are impressive narrow passages between towering rock faces and spectacular glaciers. During the voyage we plan to visit one of the many Antarctic research bases, perhaps stopping at Port Lockroy, a former British scientific station that now houses a museum and a post office. On some departures, the ship sails through the narrow passage leading into the sunken caldera of Deception Island. Here, if the tide allows, you may dip your toes in the thermal waters of Pendulum Cove.

Day 18-19 - Drake Passage
Your journey across the famous Drake Passage, named after the 16th-century English navigator Sir Francis Drake, is an experience in itself. The ship is accompanied most of the way by albatrosses - including the magnificent Wandering Albatross - along with an impressive variety of other seabirds such as Giant and Cape Petrels. You have a good chance of spotting whales and dolphins. Meanwhile, the program of lectures continues.

Day 20 - Ushuaia
Disembark after breakfast and transfer by bus to the Antarctic Unit office located at the entrance to the pier. If you are departing on the morning flight, the transfer continues to the airport.

Please note: Read this itinerary as a guide only; our exact route and program varies according to ice and weather conditions - and the wildlife we encounter. Flexibility is the key to the success of this expedition. *Airfare is not included in the program. Some group flights are available on request.

Departure Dates

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