|
Difficulty Level
The Antarctica Classic voyage is the ultimate introduction to the Great
White Continent. This tour includes many of the wildlife and scenic highlights
of the Antarctic Peninsula, Drake Passage and the South Shetland Islands.
Included Highlights
• 9 nights on board ‘Explorer’
• All meals included on board the ship
• 8 expedition staff and naturalists
• Scheduled visits to modern scientific research station
• All shore excursions and Zodiac cruises in Antarctica
Accommodation
9 nights onboard the Explorer. Choose from
triple, twin and superior cabins or suites.
Food Included
All meals included while on board the ship, drinks extra. Our chefs produce
a hearty and varied international menu and there is a good selection of
beer, wine and spirits.
Tour Leader
and/or other staff
Expedition staff/naturalists.
Notes
(1) Shared triple cabins are same sex cabins only. Males and females can
not stay in triple cabins together unless their travelling party has booked
all berths in the cabin.
(2) 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. Visits to research
stations depend on final permission.
|
Leave your watches behind and embrace Mother Nature’s schedule,
letting everyday events of the wild guide your vacation. Imagine a cruise
that doesn’t visit any port cities. Imagine an entire week bereft
of civilization–an entire week devoted to the wildest places of
Alaska. If you are looking for an unspoiled version of Alaska, you have
found the right cruise. Your days are spent exploring Alaska by kayak,
on foot and small excursion craft as your trip winds its way past hidden
inlets and around misty islands. Our belief is that a pod of feeding whales,
mountain goats perched on the cliffs and birds diving for their supper
are sights too important to miss. We have devised a route that explores
the untamed wilderness of Alaska’s Inside Passage, but is flexible
enough to accommodate nature’s surprises.
Antarctica captured the imagination of explorers long
before they first set eyes on the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic
Peninsula nearly 200 years ago. Today the southern continent, one of the
world’s most inhospitable destinations, continues to entice adventure
seekers to its shores: the coldest, windiest and driest on earth.
Our 10-day Antarctica Classic tour focuses on the South
Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula, home to some of the continent’s
most impressive wildlife and dramatic landscapes. Birds, including large
penguin rookeries, rub shoulders with seal colonies while orcas and whales
can sometimes be seen plying the waters offshore. Throughout the voyage
our team of lecturers and guides will share their knowledge of the regions
remarkable natural history and stories from its earliest and most notable
expeditions.
Built by polar adventure expert
Lars Eric Lindblad in 1969, the "Explorer"
was purpose built for expedition cruising in Antarctica. Also well known
as “The Little Red Ship”, the vessel was the world’s
first expedition cruise ship, and is designed with such challenging destinations
as the polar regions and the Amazon River in mind. Explorer is 75 meters
(250 ft.) in length and carries 108 adventurous passengers, a large crew
and one of the most experienced expedition teams in the world, most notably
Captain Uli Demel, who is widely regarded as the master of Antarctic navigation.
Public space onboard includes a dining room serving international cuisine,
a theatre for lectures and presentations, a bar and lounge, and a top
deck that provides a 360 degree view of the surrounding wilderness. Explorer
is also equipped with Zodiac launch boats. Zodiacs provide practically
unlimited mobility and allow exploration of even the most remote and inaccessible
shores. Explorer was completely refurbished this past summer.
Day 1 Ushuaia Tierra del Fuego,
Argentina
Ushuaia, Argentina is the southern most city on earth and the jumping
off point for our Antarctic expedition. Embarkation on the Explorer begins
in the afternoon at the port.
Day 2, 3 Drake Passage
Our adventure begins with a 400-mile crossing of the passage which bears
the name of the 16th-century English explorer Sir Francis Drake. The “Little
Red Ship” is at home in this part of the Southern Ocean. Expect
some turbulent waters as we voyage across the Antarctic Convergence, a
meeting of cold polar water flowing north and warmer equatorial water
moving south. This mixing pushes nutrient rich waters to the surface attracting
a variety of seabirds, whales and other species. Along the way we'll become
acquainted with the ship, enjoy some fantastic meals in the dining hall,
relax with a book or drink in the library or lounge. We'll meet our expedition
staff, ship's crew and lecturers and stretch our legs out on the observation
deck. We'll also begin the lectures and presentations to learn about the
extraordinary human and natural history of the Antarctic region. We usually
hit land sometime on Day 3, so be sure to be out on deck to catch a glimpse
of the first iceberg.
Day 4-7 Antarctic Peninsula & South Shetland Islands
This is what we've all been waiting for - a chance to step foot on the
Antarctic Peninsula! Weather, ice and time permitting we hope to visit
the South Shetland Islands, and Antarctica itself. Possible landings include
Paradise Harbour, Neko Harbour or Wilhelmina Bay and cruising Lemaire
Channel, Errera Channel or Neumayer Channel. Our South Shetland experience
is often highlighted by sailing into the flooded volcanic caldera of Deception
Island. Scientific research stations and abandoned whaling stations also
await our exploration. Conditions permitting we'll attempt two excursions
per day. Potential wildlife sightings include Gentoo, Adelie and Chinstrap
penguins, Fur, Leopard, Weddell and Crabeater seals, Minke and Humpback
whales - and possibly even Orcas. Not to mention the abundance of seabirds,
most notably the albatross that spend the day soaring above our wake.
Enormous icebergs and the sheer walls of their glacial parents provide
virtually limitless photo opportunities.
Day 8, 9 Drake Passage
Today we begin our journey north, back to Ushuaia. Our final two days
at sea are a perfect time to reflect on our memorable adventure, and our
lecturers and staff will be on hand to review the highlights of our Antarctic
experience. Keep your eyes open on the observation deck for some final
whale sightings!
Day 10 Ushuaia
And so our adventure comes to a close. A final breakfast on the Explorer
before saying our goodbyes and disembarking in Ushuaia.
MS EXPLORER DETAILS
|
|
