Destinations

This border, that is located at Latitude 66° 33′ South, marks the Antarctic Territory according to one of the definitions.

The Antarctic Circle experiences a period of 24 hours where the Sun is above the horizon during the summer solscice on 21st December. The reason for this phenomenon is that the axis of the earth is tilted by 23.5 degrees.

South of the Polar Circle at Detaille Island in Crystal Sound is the farthest south that we will probably reach at Latitude 66°52' South.

The islands are all very different in landscape and some even in climate. The island of Fogo is volcanically the most active of all the islands. 

Cape Verde is located at Latitude 27º North, which means the archipelago is situated within the Tropics. The climate on Cape Verde is milder though, less hot than the climate of the African mainland due to the fact that the islands are surrounded by ocean. The summer temperatures range from 25º to 29º C (77º to 84ºF). The islands see little rain and are therefore dry to very dry.

Mount Fogo, 2829 metres (9280 feet) high, is the highest peak of Cape Verde. The volcano is still active: it last erupted in 1675. Near its peak is a caldera, inside of which is a village. The capital of Cape Verde is the city of Praia, on the island of Sao Tiago (Santiago).
 

They were named, together with the South Shetland Islands, after the islands in northern Scotland by the Scottish sealers that frequented the area. 

The islands were discovered only in 1821 when they were sighted by the respectively British and American sealers George Powell and Nathaniel Palmer. The islands consist mainly of rock and ice (85 % is glaciated), with little vegetation. Argentina and the United Kingdom have scientific stations on the islands, the Orcadas Station and Signy Station.

Here it continues as a mainly sub-marine ridge, the Scotia Ridge, until it comes above sea-level at the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. 

The peninsula consists of an 800 kilometres (500 mile) long mountain chain, the highest peaks rising to approximately 2,800 metres (9,186 feet), and numerous off-lying islands. The Peninsula offers the most dramatic scenery and biggest variety of wildlife in Antarctica. Visitors are easily overcome by sensory overload by the huge amount of ice-bergs.

The archipelago consists of 11 major islands and numerous smaller ones. They are mainly mountainous and more than 80% glaciated. The islands are of volcanic origin. Although the islands might have been sighted before, the first recorded sighting is that of William Smith, a British sailor whose ship was blown off course while rounding Cape Horn in 1819. Soon after, seal hunters frequented the islands in search of Fur Seals.

The Ross Sea is a giant bay found south by south-east from New Zealand. Home of at least 10 species of mammal, 6 dozen species of birds, nearly a hundred types of fish, and around 1000 examples of invertebrate species. The Ross Sea is one of the few expanses of salt water that has been left (relatively) free of human impact.

Travellers to the Ross Sea are greeted by a massive geographical wonder – the Ross Ice Shelf. The shelf, roughly the size of France, is in fact part of a massive glacier that runs back onto the continent. The Shelf, referred to as the Ross Barrier by explorers like Shackleton and Scott, runs 700 km long at its northern end and towers 15-50 metres above the water.

Passengers aboard one of our Ross Sea Journeys will travel along the southern parts of the Antarctic Peninsula, Peter I Island, the Bellingshausen and Amundsen Seas into the Ross Sea. Visiting the Ross Ice-shelf, Dry Valleys, McMurdo Station, Campbell Island and the historic huts of discovery voyagers Scott and Shackleton. Ortelius will be equipped with helicopters. Be prepared for an unforgettable memory.  

The Weddell Sea extents far south and is therefore under the direct influence of the very cold Antarctic Continental Climate. The continental borders of the Weddell Sea are formed by huge floating sheets of ice. These ice-shelves produce the huge tabular ice-bergs that are so abundant in the Weddell Sea. Scientists have declared the waters of the Weddell Sea to be the clearest water of any sea on Earth. The clarity of the water is on par with distilled water.

The Weddell Sea is frequented by a large number of Orcas, Humpback, and Minke Whales as well as Leopard, Weddell, and Crabeater Seals. The area is also home to a large number of penguins, namely the Adelie Penguins - who have a colony of more than 100,000 breeding pairs - which nest on Paulet Island.  Recently a colony of Emperor Penguins was also found nearby on Snowhill Island.

The Weddell Sea was discovered by the British sealer James Weddell in 1823.

Experience Earth’s wilder side on a Greenland cruise

When you join us on an Arctic cruise to Greenland, adventure is guaranteed. Not only will you encounter a world where Inuit and European culture meet, but also a ruggedly beautiful wilderness populated by a wide range of exotic Arctic animals.

A Greenland trip takes you to places like Scoresby Sund, Earth’s largest fjord system and a spectacular place to experience the magical northern lights. It takes you to places like Northeast Greenland National Park, the largest park in the world.

A trip to Greenland also takes you to places where you might encounter musk oxen, bowhead whales, Arctic hares, and various species of seabird and seal.

Our Greenland cruises do not merely observe the coastline from the decks of a vessel, they get you to shore as often as possible, immersing you in one of the Arctic’s most unforgettable and scenically stunning landscapes.

But even the sea time of a Greenland cruise is eventful, as the waters surrounding this unrivaled island are alive with belugas, blue whales, fins, minkes, narwhals, sperm whales – and of course, bowhead whales, one of the least-known cetaceans in the world.

If you’re interested in experiencing the ultimate Arctic wilderness, join us on one of our many dynamic Greenland cruises detailed below.

Embark on an Arctic cruise to Svalbard

Offering majestic fjords, astounding ice formations, and some of the densest populations of polar bears on the planet, Svalbard stands out among all Arctic cruise destinations.

Svalbard was once called Spitsbergen, meaning “pointed mountains” in Dutch, and was discovered in 1596 by Dutch explorer Willem Barentsz. But unlike the arduous voyages made to Svalbard in the early years of its discovery, our Arctic cruises to Svalbard are safe and comfortable – though not at all lacking in polar adventure.

Svalbard expedition: what to expect?

Svalbard is part of Norway, and its principal island, Spitsbergen, is the largest and only permanently populated island of the chain. Svalbard cruises tend to focus on animal sightings, as the area is known for its seabirds (kittiwakes, guillemots, and many more), seals, walruses, whales, and of course, polar bears.

Taking a cruise to Svalbard means experiencing snow-swept peaks, rolling tundra, and dramatically cut coastlines. It means loads of opportunities for hiking, snowshoeing, and many other outdoor activities. It means getting the chance to see truly exotic wildlife in its natural habitat.

In a word, a Svalbard cruise means adventure.

Join us on an expedition cruise to Svalbard cruise and enjoy some of the most awe-inspiring scenery and wildlife the world has to offer.

Norway’s Arctic volcanic island of Jan Mayen

Topped by the 2,277-meter high (7,470 feet) stratovolcano, Mount Beerenberg, the largely glaciated Norwegian island of Jan Mayen provides visitors staggeringly scenic views as well as the chance to spot marine life in the food-rich waters offshore.

The weather around Jan Mayen, however, can make landings tricky. Heavy rain, high winds, and fog are all likely here, though the temperatures are comparable to our other Arctic areas: When we visit Jan Mayen in June, the average temperature is around 2 to 3°C (36 to 37°F).

But despite the strong chance of inclement weather, occasionally the sun breaks through and provides Jan Mayen visitors some of the most ruggedly beautiful photo opportunities found in the Arctic.

From the slopes of this 2300 meters high volcano impressive glaciers spill into the sea. The food rich waters that surround the island offer very good whale sighting opportunities. 

The weather around Jan Mayen is often not so good: it is said the weather is foul for 362 days of the year. There may be heavy rain, wind and fog but then, soon after, the sun may break through and the air becomes clear. In June, when our ships visit Jan Mayen, the average temperature is around 2º to 3ºC (36º to 37ºF).

Jan Mayen is an island of breath-taking beauty and mystique and is dominated by the active volcano Mt Beerenberg.

Join a Falkland Islands cruise and enter a bird lover’s paradise

Few places provide such a winning combination of terrain and birdlife as the Falklands, and few trips offer so many opportunities for unforgettable adventure as a cruise to the Falklands – especially for those who love birds.

Over 60 distinct species of bird breed on the Falkland Islands, and in fact over 80% of the world’s black-browed albatrosses can be found there. As for penguins, you have the chance to spot multiple species during a cruise to the Falklands: gentoos, kings, macaronis, rockhoppers, and Magellanics call these islands home.

But bird life is not the only wildlife you could see on a Falklands trip. Seals and whales are also commonly spotted in or near these wildlife-rich waters, making even the sea legs or shore visits of a Falklands cruise memorable.

Specifically, fur seals, elephant seals, and sea lions may appear on a trip to the Falklands. As for the larger species you might encounter during a Falklands cruise, these range from sei whales to sperm whales, porpoises to dolphins, and maybe even orcas.

Join us on a cruise to the Falklands, a bird lover’s dream come true and the ideal place to unleash your inner explorer.

South Georgia is home to two mountain ranges – the Salvesen and the Allardyce – which soar to a peak of almost 3,000 metres above the sea. In the summer almost 75% of the island is covered in snow, ice, and glaciers. Come winter, a covering of snow reaches right down to the water’s edge.  

The island is also called an Antarctic Oasis because of the huge numbers of penguins and seals that breed here. The marine ecosystem is considered one of the densest examples of biodiversity in the world. Visitors can spot seals on both the land and in the waters, and a variety of whales pass through the area.

South Georgia is one of the remotest and wildest places on earth.

The few visitors were deterred from settling due to the aridity. It was eventually occupied in 1815 by the British who wished to prevent any possible use by the French for an attempt to release Napoleon from St. Helena.

All the early visitors, and indeed all visitors up to the present, with the exception of Napoleon, seem to have been impressed with the island. Because of its situation, offering a convenient refreshment station, there were continual efforts made by the Portuguese, the Dutch and the English to secure it.

Tristan da Cunha is a very special place, an active volcano on which people live, located in the middle of the South Atlantic Ocean. The island is often called the most remote inhabited island of the world but is also famous for its specific Tristan culture, its natural beauty and the large number of seabirds that breed there.

Even though it’s named Iceland, the island is in fact only covered by ice for up to 10% of its surface area. The rest of the island’s geography is still being formed by its active volcanoes. 

Despite its proximity to the Arctic Circle Iceland enjoys surprisingly mild winters at its southern end thanks to the North Atlantic and Irminger Currents. Southern end temperatures range around 0°C during the winter. However the north end temperatures can drop much further to -25°C.

Arctic Foxes are the only mammals indigenous to Iceland; all other mammals arrived with the settlement of humans on the island. While there is an occasional Polar Bear, they are considered visitors from Spitsbergen and Greenland, and there is not considered to be any sort of Icelandic Polar Bear population. 

The seas however are full of life, fisheries playing a major role in Iceland’s economy. These fish are part of the food chain that feeds local Harbour and Grey Seals and Whales. Birds are numerous along Iceland’s shores, and the species include Kittiwakes, Puffins, and Skuas.