| Title: | Antarctica - Whale watching discovery and learning voyage |
| Dates: | |
| Tripcode: | OTL30-27 |
| Duration: | 10 nights |
| Ship: | m/v Ortelius |
| Embarkation: | Ushuaia |
| Disembarkation: | Ushuaia |
| Language: | English speaking voyage |
| Important: | Diving is an optional activity. Experience with cold-water diving and dry-suit dives (at least 30) is a must! |
| More about: | |
All itineraries are for guidance only. Programs may vary depending on ice, weather, and wildlife conditions. Landings are subject to site availabilities, permissions, and environmental concerns per IAATO regulations. Official sailing plans and landing slots are scheduled with IAATO prior to the start of the season, but the expedition leader determines the final plan. Flexibility is paramount for expedition cruises. The average cruising speed of our vessel is 10.5 knots.
This Antarctic Peninsula cruise delivers you into a landscape of rugged rock, pure white snow, and a fantastic variety of wildlife. Come say hello to whales, seals, and penguins.
Day 1: End of the world, start of a journey
Your voyage begins where the world drops off. Ushuaia, Argentina, reputed to be the southernmost city on the planet, is located on the far southern tip of South America. Starting in the afternoon, you embark from this small resort town on Tierra del Fuego, nicknamed “The End of the World,” and sail the mountain-fringed Beagle Channel for the remainder of the evening.
Day 2 – 3: Path of the polar explorers
Over the next two days on the Drake Passage, you enjoy some of the same experiences encountered by the great polar explorers who first charted these regions: cool salt breezes, rolling seas, maybe even a fin whale spouting up sea spray. After passing the Antarctic Convergence – Antarctica’s natural boundary, formed when north-flowing cold waters collide with warmer sub-Antarctic seas – you are in the circum-Antarctic upwelling zone. Not only does the marine life change, the avian life changes too. 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 are a few of the birds you might see.
Day 4 – 8: Entering Antarctica
Sites you may visit include:
Neko Harbour – An epic landscape of mammoth glaciers and endless wind-carved snow, Neko Harbour offers opportunities for a Zodiac cruise and landing that afford the closest views of the surrounding alpine peaks.
Pléneau & Petermann Islands – If the ice allows it, you could sail through the Lemaire Channel in search of humpback and minke whales, as well as leopard seals.
Port Lockroy – After sailing through the Neumayer Channel, you may get a chance to visit the former British research station – now a museum and post office – of Port Lockroy on Goudier Island. You may also be able to partake in activities around Jougla Point, meeting gentoo penguins and blue-eyed shags.
Wilhelmina Bay & Guvernøren – This is a great place to spot humpback whales. You also may embark on a Zodiac cruise ending at the ghostly wreck of the Guvernøren, a whaling vessel that caught fire here in 1915. Around the Melchior Islands, amid a frozen landscape peopled with icebergs, you may encounter even more whales, leopard seals, and crabeater seals.
Charlotte Bay - We might encounter a variety of wildlife, including gentoo penguins, Weddell seals and possibly some migrating whale species such as humpback whales or minke whales.
Conditions on the Drake Passage determine the exact time of departure.Day 9 - 10: Familiar seas, familiar friends
Your return voyage is far from lonely. While crossing the Drake, you’re again greeted by the vast array of seabirds remembered from the passage south. But they seem a little more familiar to you now, and you to them.
Day 11: There and back again
Every adventure, no matter how grand, must eventually come to an end. It’s now time to disembark in Ushuaia, but with memories that will accompany you wherever your next adventure lies.
Highlights you might experience
m/v Ortelius
ACTIVITIES YOU CAN PARTICIPATE IN
Diving
You must be advanced and experienced in dry suit and cold water diving. Diving is subject to local ice and weather conditions. Group size: minimum 8 divers.
Cabins & Prices
Quadruple Porthole
- Cabin size between 12,4 m² and 14,1 m²
- 2 portholes
- 2 upper / lower berths
- Private shower & toilet
- Desk & chair
- Flatscreen TV
- Telephone & WiFi (supplemented)
- Hair dryer
- Safe deposit box
- Ample storage space
Complete cabin
Price for the complete cabin, fully occupied.
Sharing berth
Share your cabin with others for the best price.
Triple Porthole
- 2 portholes
- 1 upper / lower berth + 1 single lower berth
- Private shower & toilet
- Desk & chair
- Flatscreen TV
- Telephone & WiFi (supplemented)
- Hair dryer
- Safe deposit box
- Ample storage space
Complete cabin
Price for the complete cabin, fully occupied.
Sharing berth
Share your cabin with others for the best price.
Twin Porthole
- Cabin size between 11,4 m² and 15,1 m²
- 2 portholes
- 2 lower berths
- Private shower & toilet
- Desk & chair
- Flatscreen TV
- Telephone & WiFi (supplemented)
- Hair dryer
- Safe deposit box
- Ample storage space
Complete cabin
Price for the complete cabin, fully occupied.
Single cabin
Price for the complete cabin occupied by 1 person ({rate}x the shared rate).
Sharing berth
Share your cabin with others for the best price.
Twin Window
- Cabin size between 17,5 m² and 17,7 m²
- 2 windows
- 2 lower berths
- Private shower & toilet
- Desk & chair
- Flatscreen TV
- Telephone & WiFi (supplemented)
- Hair dryer
- Safe deposit box
- Ample storage space
Complete cabin
Price for the complete cabin, fully occupied.
Single cabin
Price for the complete cabin occupied by 1 person ({rate}x the shared rate).
Sharing berth
Share your cabin with others for the best price.
Twin Deluxe
- Cabin size 17,7 m²
- 3 windows
- 2 lower berths
- Private shower & toilet
- Desk & chair
- Small sofa
- Refrigerator
- Coffee & tea maker
- Flatscreen TV
- Telephone & WiFi (supplemented)
- Hair dryer
- Safe deposit box
- Ample storage space
Complete cabin
Price for the complete cabin, fully occupied.
Single cabin
Price for the complete cabin occupied by 1 person ({rate}x the shared rate).
Sharing berth
Share your cabin with others for the best price.
Superior
- Cabin size between 18,4 m² en 20,4 m²
- 2 windows (minimum)
- 1 double bed
- 1 single (sofa) bed
- Private shower & toilet
- Desk & chair
- Flatscreen TV
- Telephone & WiFi (supplemented)
- Refrigerator
- Coffee & tea maker
- Hair dryer
- Safe deposit box
- Ample storage space
Complete cabin
Price for the complete cabin, fully occupied.
Single cabin
Price for the complete cabin occupied by 1 person ({rate}x the shared rate).