Title
Weddell Sea – In search of the Emperor Penguin, incl. helicopters
Start – End
Tripcode
OTL23-25
Language
English speaking voyage
Ship
Embarkation / Disembarkation
Ushuaia - Ushuaia
Nights / Days
10 nights
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. If ice conditions are favorable and the route to Snow Hill Island is free of multi-year pack ice, you have the chance for ship-to-shore helicopter transfers to Snow Hill Island (roughly 45 minutes walking distance from the emperor penguin rookery). If successful, this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. But please remember that nature writes the final itinerary out here: Attempts to reach Snow Hill Island during the voyages of 2012 – 19 did not always succeed. However, in 2013, 2017 until 2019, 2022 until 2024 conditions were favorable to land by helicopter on Snow Hill Island and to visit the emperor penguin rookery.
Short description
A true expedition, our Weddell Sea cruise sets out to explore the range of the Emperor Penguins near Snow Hill Island. We will visit the area via helicopter and see a variety of other birds and penguins including Adélies and Gentoos.
Experience the bird’s-eye-view of Antarctica: -
Experience the bird’s-eye-view of Antarctica! Our helicopter capability on m/v Ortelius gives you the rare chance to see the famed emperor penguin rookery south of Snow Hill Island, numbering around 4,000 breeding pairs. Heavy ice may prevent entrance to this area from the Weddell Sea, and ice at the rookery itself might break up and start to melt earlier than expected. With this in mind, the aim is to stop the vessel between the Antarctic Sound and James Clark Ross Island, close to the ice edge, and find emperor penguins on their way to open water. The thrilling helicopter flights make this search possible, enabling you to land in locations otherwise inaccessible this early in the season.
If ice conditions are favorable and the route to Snow Hill Island is free of multi-year pack ice, you have the chance for ship-to-shore helicopter transfers to Snow Hill Island (roughly 45 minutes walking distance from the emperor penguin rookery). If successful, this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. But please remember that nature writes the final itinerary out here: Attempts to reach Snow Hill Island during the voyages of 2012 – 19 did not always succeed. However, in 2013, 2017 until 2019 and 2022 conditions were favorable to land by helicopter on Snow Hill Island and to visit the emperor penguin rookery.
Day 1: End of the world, start of a journey
Day 2 - 3: Path of the polar explorers
Day 4 - 7: Entering Antarctica
Day 8: Drake via Deception Island
Day 9 - 10: Familiar seas, familiar friends
Day 11: There and back again
Day 5 - 6: (Alternate program if the route to Snow Hill Island is free of multi-year pack ice – less than 50 % probability)
Helicopters provide an advantage in reaching the emperor penguin colony, but our ability to use them depends entirely on ice, sea, and weather conditions.
If conditions are favorable, we will visit the colony. If conditions are exceptionally favorable, we will attempt to visit more than once. Helicopter operations take a full day, and flight duration depends on local conditions.
Each helicopter can accommodate 4 – 5 passengers per flight. The landing site is carefully chosen so that the penguins are not disturbed.
Upon arrival to the site, we will walk to the colony. This may take up to 45 minutes and can be challenging in places. Please keep in mind that you are in the world’s most remote region, so there are no guarantees: conditions may change rapidly, which can impact on helicopter operations. It is important to understand and respect this fact. Safety is our greatest concern, so no compromises can be made.
We aim for all groups to spend an equal amount of time at the colony. The time at the colony (and the time to get there from landing site) will often vary, however, due to local conditions and flight times.
Video
Highlights you might experience
Take flight above the breathtaking Antarctic wilderness, visiting locations inaccessible by any other means
A volcanic island in the South Shetlands, north of the Antarctic Peninsula
A towering, ice-capped volcanic cliff on the southeast side of the Antarctic Sound, Brown Bluff is located near the northern coast of the Weddell Sea
The largest, deepest-diving, and least interested in nests of all the penguins, these aptly named Aptenodytes are among the most coveted wildlife attractions in the Antarctic
These gallant-fighting, deep-diving namesakes of the French-claimed Antarctic Adélie Land are among the four penguin species on mainland Antarctica
Though armed with the "stonebreaker" nickname and a quarrelsome reputation, these gentoo relatives are fading from the Antarctic – probably due to climate change
These hygienic divers are the only penguin species whose population is currently increasing along the Antarctic Peninsula
Technically a kind of dolphin, orcas were once thought to appear as whales in the summer and wolves in the winter
These "slender-clawed water workers" spend much of their lives submerged, though it's known they are the only member of their family to consume other seals
These storm-savvy seabirds are the smallest warm-bodied creatures to breed in Antarctica, evading the most violent tempests by flying in the troughs of waves
m/v Ortelius
The ice-strengthened Ortelius is thoroughly outfitted for polar exploration and, when necessary, helicopter flights.
Full ship info »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
51600 USD
Price for the complete cabin, fully occupied.
Sharing berth
12900 USD
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
44250 USD
Price for the complete cabin, fully occupied.
Sharing berth
14750 USD
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
29500 USD
Price for the complete cabin, fully occupied.
Single cabin
25075 USD
Price for the complete cabin occupied by 1 person (1.7x the shared rate).
Sharing berth
14750 USD
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
30600 USD
Price for the complete cabin, fully occupied.
Single cabin
26010 USD
Price for the complete cabin occupied by 1 person (1.7x the shared rate).
Sharing berth
15300 USD
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
32700 USD
Price for the complete cabin, fully occupied.
Single cabin
27795 USD
Price for the complete cabin occupied by 1 person (1.7x the shared rate).
Sharing berth
16350 USD
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
34300 USD
Price for the complete cabin, fully occupied.
Single cabin
29155 USD
Price for the complete cabin occupied by 1 person (1.7x the shared rate).