Weddell Sea & Antarctic Penisula
11 nights / 12 days, Weddell Sea & Antarctic Peninsula | The huge Weddell Sea, at its widest it is more than 2000 kilometres (1250 miles) across, is located on the south-east side of the Antarctic Peninsula. The Sea is considered high-Antarctic in contrast to the north-west coast of the Peninsula, which is low-Antarctic. The Sea extents so far south that it is under the direct influence of the very cold Antarctic Continental Climate. The south-western and southern borders of the sea are formed by the Larsen and the Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelves. These shelves produce the huge tabular ice-bergs that are so abundant in the Weddell Sea.
The Weddell Sea was discovered in 1823 by the British sealer James Weddell. It was in this sea that Shackleton's ship, the Endurance was trapped and crushed by ice in 1915.
As the Weddell Sea is under the direct influence of the harsh Antarctic Continental climate temperatures are on the average lower than on the north-west side of the Antarctic Peninsula, around 1ºC (34ºF). In February - March, at the end of the Austral summer, temperatures can even drop slightly below zero. The north-west corner of the Weddell Sea, the area to which our Weddell Sea voyages are limited, is protected fairly well from the prevailing western winds. The weather therefore is often good and fairly stable in this area. Strong katabatic winds can occur at any time though and may have an influence on our program.
| Triple private | Twin private | Superior |
|---|---|---|
| $7,690 | $8,790 | $9,990 |
Rates in USD, per person
| Departure | PLA29 DK, March 4th - March 15th, 2011 |
| Price | From $7,690 per person |
| 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 program Comprehensive pre-departure material |
| Not Included | Any airfare, whether on scheduled or charter flights Pre and post land arrangements Transfers to / from the vessel Passport / visa expenses Government arrival and departure taxes Meals ashore Baggage, cancellation and personal insurance (strongly recommended) Excess baggage charges / items of a personal nature such as laundry, bar, beverage charges Telecommunication charges The customary gratuity at the end of the voyage for stewards and other personnel aboard ( information will be provided ) Service fee $25 |
| Please Note | All dates & rates are subject to change. All voyages will operate subject to a minimum of 25 participants (motor vessels), limited to about 50 passengers. All rates are quoted per person in US Dollar, based on twin occupancy. Twin non private and Twin private cabins are available for single occupancy at 1.7 times the share price US Dollar rates apply for all sales outside the area of the European Union. 5% discount will be granted for bookings for one or more consecutive voyages. It is agreed that if world fuel prices will reach or exceed US Dollar 80 per Barrel Brent 90 days prior to departure Oceanwide Expeditions reserves the right to levy a fuel surcharge of EURO 18 per passenger per night, to be paid by the contracting party of Oceanwide Expeditions. |
| Tour Options | D= Scuba Diving option Supplement $1,190 per diver, including tanks and weights K= Kayaking option Supplement $750, including kayaks and wetsuits |
Weddell Sea Antarctic Peninsula Map
World Travel Award 2009
Day 1 EMBARK USHUAIA In the afternoon, we embark in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, the southernmost city in the world located at the Beagle Channel and sail through this scenic waterway for the rest of the evening.
Day 2 - 3 DRAKE PASSAGE During these two days we will sail across the Drake Passage. When we cross the Antarctic Convergence, we arrive in the circum-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. If the winds are favourable we might do our first landing in Antarctic waters in the evening of the third day at Aitcho Island or Penguin Island at the South Shetlands.
These volcanic islands are windswept and often shrouded in mist and fog, but do offer subtle pleasures. There is a nice variety of flora (mosses, lichens and flowering grasses) and fauna, such as Gentoo Penguins, Chinstrap Penguins and southern Giant Petrels.
Day 4 - 9 WEDDELL SEA - ANTARCTIC PENINSULA A typical itinerary in the Weddell Sea and Antarctic Peninsula could be as follows. This is a sample only, the final itinerary will be determined by the Expedition Leader on board.
We will sail into the Weddell Sea through the ice-clogged Antarctic Sound. Huge tabular icebergs will announce our arrival to the eastern side of the Antarctic Peninsula. We plan to visit Paulet Island to see 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 might also visit Brown Bluff and further into the Weddell Sea area we may visit Devil Island and Vega Island with a large colony of Adelie Penguins and a magnificent view for those hikers who can make it to the top of the hill. Melting ice sometimes provides spectacular waterfall from the cliffs close to point 'Well-Met'.
Back through the Antarctic Sound we may visit the Argentinean station Esperanza on the Antarctic Continent. Watch out for stray Emperor penguins. There might be a chance to see one on an ice-floe. Onward to the West 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.
Time and conditions allowing we hope to sail to Neko Harbour and Paradise Bay to 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.
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 station 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.
Day 10 - 11 DRAKES PASSAGE In the Drake Passage we have again a chance of seeing many seabirds.
Day 12 DISEMBARK USHUAIA We arrive in the morning and disembark in Ushuaia.