Antarctic cruises

Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and Antarctic Peninsula

Aboard the M/V Plancius or Quest.

Ushuaia - Ushuaia
20 days / 19 nights or 19 days / 18 nights

or

Puerto Madryn - Ushuaia
20 days / 19 nights

The Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) were discovered in 1592. Port Stanley has a few shops, hotels and pubs. Island stamps can be purchased and there is an excellent small museum.

On New Island we visit a unique colony with Black-browed Albatrosses, Rockhopper Penguins and Blue-eyed Cormorants, all nesting together. We may see many of the other 60 breeding species of birds, which abound in this area.

We will cross to South Georgia, 1300 km (800 miles) southeast, first sighted in 1675 and later visited by Captain James Cook in 1775. South Georgia has more than 160 glaciers coming down to the sea and is home to millions of seabirds including the beautiful King Penguins and the enormous Wandering Albatrosses. Abandoned whaling stations bear testimony to a less environmentally conscious era, but now Elephant Seals and Fur Seals can be seen on many beaches. Sir Ernest Shackleton was buried at Grytviken in 1922.

On the Antarctic Peninsula, we may land on Paulet Island, where tens of thousands of Adelie penguins nest. At Hope Bay or Brown Bluff we set foot on the Antarctic mainland and, depending on ice and weather conditions, we sail through the spectacular Lemaire Channel, where large numbers of whales seek shelter in the protected waterways. In the South Shetlands, we land at famous sites including Deception Island, Hannah Point and Half Moon Island, all of which have wonderful wildlife.

Itinerary

Day 1: Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina (or Puerto Madryn on the 20 day voyage)
In the afternoon, we embark in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, the southernmost city in the world, located in the shadow of the Andes and right on the Beagle Channel. We will sail through this scenic waterway during the afternoon.

Day 2: At sea
In the westerlies the ship is followed by several species of albatross, storm petrels, shearwaters and diving petrels.

Day 3: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
In the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) we plan to spend the whole day on the fascinating western side of the archipelago. On New Island we'll witness how heavy Black-browed Albatrosses try to land and take off in a colony they share with the sturdy Rockhopper Penguins. A hike along the shore of Carcass Island will give us instead views of Magellanic and Gentoo-Penguins, as well as close encounters with water fowl and Night herons.

Day 4: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
In Stanley, the capital of the Falklands, we will experience Falkland culture, which has some South- American characteristics as well as Victorian charm. In Stanley and its surrounding area we will see a number of stranded clippers from a century ago.

Days 5 & 6: At sea
At sea, on our way to South Georgia we will cross the Antarctic Convergence. As we enter Antarctic waters, the temperature drops by as much as 10 degrees C, within only a few hours. Near the Convergence we will see a multitude of southern seabirds by the ship, including several species of albatross, shearwaters, petrels, prions and Skuas.

Days 7- 10: South Georgia
On South Georgia we shall visit the Bay of Elsehul, with its very active fur seal breeding beach. We then continue to Right Whale Bay, Salisbury Plain, Gold Harbour and Cooper Bay, for an opportunity to see a wide variety of landscapes and wildlife, such as the introduced Reindeer, Elephant seals, King and Macaroni penguins. At Fortuna Bay we will try to follow the footsteps of the great British Explorer Ernest Shackleton and hike over to Stømness Bay. There and at Grytviken we will see an abandoned whaling village, where King Penguins now walk the streets and seals have taken over the buildings. At Grytviken we will also visit the Whaling History Museum, as well as Shackleton's grave nearby. One of the highlights will be a possible visit to Prion Island, where we witness the breeding efforts of the huge Wandering Albatross and enjoy watching their displays.

Days 11 & 12: At sea
At sea, where the ship is again followed by a multitude of seabirds. We might encounter sea-ice and it is at the ice-edge that we might see some high-Antarctic species, such as the Maccormick skua, Snow Petrel and the elusive Emperor Penguin.

Day 13: At Sea / Elephant Island
We are aiming for a visit at Orcadas station, an Argentinean base located in the South Orkney Islands. The friendly base personnel will show us their facilities and we can enjoy the wonderful views of the surrounding glaciers.

Days 14- 16: South Shetland Islands & Antarctic Peninsula
In the South Shetland Island group we plan to visit Deception Island. This ring-shaped island is a huge volcano, with its crater opening into the sea, creating a natural harbour for the ship. Here we find hot springs, an abandoned whaling station, thousands of Cape Pigeons, many 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 station in Whalers Bay. There might be a possibility of an extended hike on the island.

On our way further South we will sail to Orne Islands, with large colonies of Chinstrap Penguins and a beautiful view across the Gerlache Strait; or to Cuverville Island, a small precipitous island, nestled between the mountains of the Antarctic Peninsula and Danco Island. It contains a large colony of Gentoo Penguins and breeding pairs of Brown Skuas. From here we sail to Neko Harbour, in Andvord Bay, and through Paradise Bay, with its myriad icebergs and deep cut fjords, with a good chance to see large whales. We will have opportunities for zodiac cruising between the icebergs in the inner parts of the fjords.

We sail through the spectacular Lemaire Channel to Pleneau and Petermann Island where we can find Adelie Penguins and Blue- eyed Shags. In this area we will have chances to encounter Humpback Whales, Minke Whales and Fin Whales. A base visit will also be provided, to give you an insight to the life of modern Antarcticans working on the White Continent.

Sailing north through the Neumayer Channel we arrive at the Melchior Islands, with a very beautiful landscape and again possibilities for zodiac cruising among the icebergs. Here we may encounter Leopard Seals, Crabeater Seals and whales.

Days 17- 18 (days 18 - 19 on the 20 day voyage): Drake Passage
On our way north we are again followed by a great selection of seabirds while crossing the Drake Passage.

Day 19 (day 20 on the 20 day voyage): Ushuaia
We arrive Ushuaia in the morning and disembark.

Please note: All itineraries are for guidance only. Programmes may vary depending on local ice and weather conditions and in order to take advantage of opportunities to see wildlife. The final itinerary for each voyage will be determined by the Expedition Leader on board. Flexibility is paramount for expedition cruises.

Prices and departures

Prices: from €9,650 (Plancius) or from €10,050 (Quest).

For more information, or to make a reservation, please contact us quoting code ANTOCE010.