Atlantic Odyssey 2010
30 nights / 31 days, Ushuaia - Ascension | The Antarctic Peninsula offers you the most dramatic scenery and biggest variety of wildlife in Antarctica. In the southern summer large ice-free areas provide breeding grounds for very large numbers of seabirds and seals. From King George Island and Penguin Island we will sail down to the beautiful Paradise Bay, where you can go ashore on the Antarctic mainland.
The narrow and spectacular Lemaire Channel is surrounded by mountains and glaciers and a popular passage for several species of whales journeying up and down the sheltered Antarctic Peninsula waterways. In the Antarctic Peninsula Minke Whales, the smallest of the rorqual whales, and ferocious-looking Leopard Seals are common.
The coastal regions are populated by sea birds such as Petrels, Albatrosses, Skuas and Penguins as well as marine mammals like the Crabeater Seal, Leopard Seal, Ross Seal, Weddell Seal, Fin Whale and Right Whale, Sea Lions.
In the Antarctic Peninsula tens of thousands of Adelie Penguins nest on Paulet Island. Large numbers of whales seek shelter in the protected waterways of Lemaire Channel.
| Triple non private | Twin non private | Twin private | Superior | Suite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $ 7,950 | $9,390 | $10,650 | $11,890 | $13,550 |
Rates in USD per person
| Departure | MOL32, March 23rd - April 22nd, 2010 |
| Price | From $7,950 per person |
| Included | Voyage aboard the indicated vessel as indicated in the itinerary All meals throughout voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee & 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 | RUBBER BOOTS Starting from season 2009/10 on board our vessel mv Plancius, Oceanwide Expedition will provide for all passengers free, the use of rubber boots. These rubber boots will be of high quality, perfect for the Antarctic conditions that we will encounter, to keep your feet dry, warm and comfortable for all landings. These rubber boots will be handed out on board. FIELD CAMPING On all our Antarctic 2009/10 mv Plancius departures we will now offer an exciting 'open air' camping option, which gives an intensive experience of Antarctic wilderness. Oceanwide Expeditions will provide special gear and field equipment which includes top quality wind and waterproof bivouac bags (lightweight alternative to tent system). This will keep you dry, warm and comfortable during the night in the open air of Antarctica. A polar sleeping bag to keep you warm will also be provided. The maximum number of participants for this camping option is 15 participants per night. Oceanwide Expeditions will provide 1 camping guide. Camping is always subject to weather, local site and environmental regulations. 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. All itineraries are for guidance only. Programs may vary depending on local ice and weather conditions, and in order to take advantage of opportunities to see wildlife. Flexibility is paramount for expedition cruises. |
Atlantic Odyssey Map
World Travel Award 2009
Day 1 USHUAIA
In the afternoon, we embark in Ushuaia and sail through the Beagle Channel.
Day 2 - 3 DRAKE PASSAGE
In the Drake Passage we witness a multitude of Albatrosses, Petrels and Fulmars.
Day 4 ANTARCTIC CONTINENT
At Hope Bay and Brown Bluff we hope to set foot on the Antarctic Continent. In this area chances are good for encounters with Gentoo Penguins, Weddell Seals, Leopard Seals and Orcas.
Day 5 WEDDELL SEA
From Devil Island at the tip of the Weddell Sea is surrounded by huge table icebergs of the Larsen Ice Shelf. We will climb a hill with a gently slope from where we have a great view on the surroundings. At Paulet Island we will observe the last individuals of a large Adelie Penguin colony near the ruins of the Nordenskiöld Expedition from the beginning of the 20th century.
Day 6 AT SEA
At sea we will probably sail along the sea ice drifting north out of the Weddell Sea. On the floes we may see some juvenile Emperor Penguins.
Day 7 SOUTH ORKNEYS
On our way north we plan to visit South Orkneys, where the Scotsman Bruce once wintered and where we now may visit the friendly people of an Argentinean base.
Day 8 AT SEA
At sea, on our way to South Georgia, we witness a multitude of Albatrosses, Petrels and Fulmars.
Day 9 - 11 SOUTH GEORGIA
In South Georgia we will pay visits to the abandoned whaling settlements Grytviken, where now the penguins walk through the streets, and King Edwards Point with the grave of Shackleton. We will walk near the big King Penguin colony on Salisbury Plain and the breeding Wandering Albatrosses on Prion Island in the Bay of Isles. The last day in South Georgia we will spend in Cooper Bay where we will observe Chinstrap Penguins and Macaroni Penguins and breeding Light-mantled Sooty Albatrosses. Later we intend to sail to Gold Harbour to visit another King Penguin colony and to see many Elephant Seals and Fur Seals. It is a good area for long walks. We conclude our visit with zodiac excursions in the magnificent Drygalski Fjord and Larsen Harbour.
Day 12 - 16 ANTARCTIC CONVERGE
In the westerlies we have a pleasant tailwind. On both sides of the Antarctic Convergence, we observe many species and great numbers of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic seabirds.
Day 17 GOUGH ISLAND
Today we plan to approach the unique Gough Island for zodiac cruising around the island, as always weather permitting. In previous years we managed to circumnavigate all but four miles of the 33 mile circumference of the island in the ship, saw spectacular scenery and an unprecedented abundance of wildlife. We felt very privileged to be among the few visitors who have been able to experience Gough and in particular, to see it at such close quarters and in such favourable conditions. We hope to be lucky to repeat this unique experience with you.
Day 18 - 20 TRISTAN DA CUNHA
In the Tristan da Cunha archipelago we call at the settlement at the west side of the main island. We will also try to make landings at Nightingale Island with millions of seabirds ranging from Yellow-nosed Albatrosses to Brown Noddies. We allow one day in reserve for bad weather.
Day 21 - 24 AT SEA
At sea, we now enter sub-tropical waters with their own brand of seabirds and dolphins.
Day 25 - 27 ST. HELENA
St. Helena has a good anchorage and landing site. On this island, we will have ample opportunities to enjoy local culture, pleasant climate, and endemic plants and birds. We will visit the place where Napoleon lived in exile. There will be opportunities to explore the Island on your own and for snorkelling, in the shallow surf near a wreck we can find a lot of fishes.
Day 28 - 29 AT SEA
At sea
Day 30 - 31 ASCENSION ISLAND
Ascension Island is a dry volcanic island with a moist and richly vegetated top. The Sooty Tern (wide-awake) colony sometimes consists of more than 1 million breeding pairs. We will try to climb the moist summit of Ascension Island and make a zodiac-cruise around Boatswain Bird Island offering also great opportunities for snorkelling. We may witness egg-laying sea turtles coming ashore at night. Some of our passengers may disembark and fly with the scheduled RAF (Royal Air Force) flight to Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, UK. Others may proceed their voyage to Cape Verdes.