Weddell Sea Cruise

"Weddel Sea (Antarctica) - Southern Shetland Islands"

This expedition cruise offers you the opportunity to discover the scarcely visited eastern side Antarctica Peninsula and glimpse the ice shelf, whereas most of other cruise explore the Western side. ideal introduction to Antarctica. The itinerary visits the best sites along the Antarctica Peninsula and the neighbouring South Shetland Islands. The program enphasise wildlife observation, possible visit of scientific bases, and the breathtaking scenery with narrow waterways, huge glaciers, icebergs and rugged mountains.

The Itinerary

No two voyages are ever exactly the same and the itinerary outlined here is for your guidance only. The Captain and Expedition Leader will assess daily conditions and take full advantage of every opportunity to make landings with our Zodiacs, using the almost continuous daylight to maximize time ashore.
For exact itineraries and conditions, please download brochures
on the Antarctica page

DAY 1: Ushuaia
Arrive in Ushuaia and transfer independently to the pier. Embark at 4pm and sail east through the Beagle Channel for Antarctica, entering the Drake Passage after midnight.

DAYS 2-3: Drake Passage
During these two days we sail across the Drake Passage. When we cross the Antarctic Convergence, we arrive in the cir-cum-Antarctic up welling zone. In this area we may meet 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. Near the South Shetland Islands, we glimpse at the first icebergs, and with a bit of luck we may disembark on Aitcho Island, home of gentoo and chinstrap penguin colonies.

DAYS 4-9: South Shetland Islands - Weddell Sea
We sail into the Weddell Sea and visit Dundee Island, where we might have an extensive walk.
We also plan to visit Paulet Island with a million pairs of Adelie Penguins and the remains of the Nordenskiöld expedition, Seymour Island, where many fossils have been found, and Snow Hill Island, where polar expeditions as early as 1902 wintered. We may even reach Cape Longing at the Larsen Ice Shelf. In this area we meet huge table icebergs from the Ronne Ice Shelf and have good chances to spot Emperor Penguins on ice floes. When we turn north again, we visit Brown Bluff on the Antarctic Continent.
We sail south and plan to offer a zodiac cruise around the rarely visited Astrolabe Island where Antarctic Fulmars, Chinstrap Penguins, Brown Skuas and Blue-eyed Shags breed and Weddell Seals and Antarctic Fur Seals haul out.
In Neko Harbour and Paradise Bay we reach the southernmost area of our voyage, where we have again the opportunity to set foot on the Antarctic Continent in a magnificent landscape of huge glaciers. In this area we have good chances to see Humpback Whales and Minke Whales.
At Deception Island, we try to land at Baily Head with a colony of ten thousands of Chinstrap Pen-guins. Deception Island is a huge volcano of which the crater opens into the sea, creating a natural harbour for the ship. Here we find hot springs, an abandoned whaling station, Cape Pigeons and Dominican Gulls, Brown and South Polar Skuas and Antarctic Terns. Wilson’s Storm Petrels and Black-bellied Storm Petrels nest in the ruins of the whaling sta-tion in Whalers Bay. We continue to Hannah Point, which has a very rich wildlife featuring Elephant Seals, Cape Pigeons, Southern Giant Petrels, Macaroni Penguins and Gentoo Penguins.

DAYS 10-11: Drake Passage
Today we leave Antarctica and head north across the Drake Passage. Now is the chance to relax and review the adventures of the past week, as well as enjoy some final lectures from the expedition staff as you return to Ushuaia.

DAY 12: Ushuaia
After breakfast we disembark and passengers make their own way to the airport or their hotel. If you fly to Buenos Aires, book an afternoon flight. You arrive in the capital in the evening and will probably have to overnight there.

General Information

Rated: Easy

Important: Vessels do not wait ! We advise passengers to arrive in Ushuaia one day before. In case your international flight to Buenos Aires or your flight to Ushuaia is delayed or cancelled, you still have time to arrive on time for the departure. If you miss the departure, no money is paid back.

Additional services: These itineraries do not include any land or air service in Argentina. We can book hotels, transfers between airports and airport/hotel, excursions and domestic flights. Contact us for a quotation !

Aboard Mikheev
November 13, 2006 - November 23, 2006 - 11 days
Deck	Cabin Type	11 days
Lower	Twin without bathroom	$ 4792
		€ 3977
		£ 2683
Lower	Twin with private bathroom	$ 5478
		€ 4546
		£ 3067
Captain	Superior with private bathroom	$ 6360
		€ 5278
		£ 3561
SPECIAL : In search of the Emperor Penguin Expedition

Aboard Maryshev
January 17, 2007 - January 28, 2007 - 12 days
Deck	Cabin Type	12 days
Lower	Twin without bathroom	$ 5929
		€ 4921
		£ 3320
Lower	Twin with private bathroom	$ 6811
		€ 5653
		£ 3814
Captain	Superior with private bathroom	$ 7928
		€ 6580
		£ 4439
Diving suplement of: $970 / € 805 / £ 543
- The January 17, 2007 to January 28, 2007 cruise allows divers onboard Discounts sometimes available on this vessel. ASK FOR INFORMATION

Included:
• Voyage aboard the indicated vessel as indicated in the itinerary.
• All meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee and tea;
• All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac.
• Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff.
• All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the programme.
• Comprehensive pre-departure material.

Not included:
Any airfare, whether on scheduled or charter flights; passport and visa expenses; government arrival and departure taxes; meals ashore; supplement for single hotel accommodations; baggage, cancellation and personal insurance (which is strongly recommended); excess baggage charges and all items of a personal nature such as laundry, bar and beverage charges and telecommunications charges; and the customary gratuity at the end of the voyage for those who have served you aboard (guidelines will be provided).

Special booking & cancellation conditions
Each vessel has special booking and cancellation conditions. Upon reservation we will inform you about the specificities of each vessel.

Please note that all dates & rates are subject to change. All voyages will operate subject to a minimum of 30 participants.