| |
|
Cruise
Itinerary: PLA25
Antarctic Peninsulae
No. of Days: 10
Embark: Ushuaia, Argentina
Disembark:
Ushuaia, Argentina
Sailing Dates: 01 Jan 2012
Voyage No : PLA25
Rates:
From Euro 4,950 -
pr. person in a Quadruple Private Room. Port & Handling fees
extra. Discounts are
reduced closer to sailing date. Please check for latest rates when
booking.
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Expedition
Highlights:
Trip options
Kayaking
|
In
general we plan to at least offer 4 kayaking days. Basic kayaking
experience is required and physical fitness is essential. Parallel to
all other activities we are planning on offering kayaking excursions
during morning and / or afternoon landings. The final decision on those
excursions will be met by the Expedition Leader. |
Oceanwide
will provide kayaks and neoprene wet suits. Kayakers will bring their
own personal gear. Kayaking is subject to weather and prevailing ice
conditions. For more details please refer to the activity manual.
Field Camping
|
On
some Antarctic voyages we offer an exciting ‘open
air’ camping option, which gives an intensive experience of
the Antarctic wilderness. Special gear and field equipment will be
provided: tents, wind and waterproof bivouac bags (lightweight
alternative to a tent system). This shelter will protect you from the
elements during the night in the open air of the Antarctic. |
Mattresses
and polar sleeping bags provide comfort during the night. The maximum
number of participants for this camping option is 30 participants per
night. One expedition guide will conduct the activity ashore. Camping
is always subject to weather, local site and environmental regulations.
1 night has to be booked prior to the trip; any extra nights (if those
are possible) must be arranged onboard. Additional nights will be
charged by the Hotel Manager. For more details please refer to the
activity manual.
|
M/v "Plancius" accommodates 114 passengers in 53 passenger cabins with
private toilet and shower in 4 quadruple porthole cabins, 2 triple
porthole cabins, 9 twin porthole cabins, 26 twin cabins with window and
2 twin deluxe cabins, all (ca. 15 square meters) and 10 twin superior
cabins (ca. 21 square meters).
All cabins offer lower berths (either two single beds or one queen-size
bed), except for the 4 quadruple cabins (for 4 persons in 2x upper and
lower beds), and 2 triple cabins (1 bunk bed plus 1 lower bed).
|
Day 1: Ushuaia
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 at the Beagle Channel shore. We’ll sail through
this scenic waterway during the evening.
Days 2 & 3: at sea
During these two days we 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 see 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.
Days 4 - 8 (PL25
and PLA31 days 4 – 7): Antarctica
We will sail directly to “High Antarctica”, passing
the Melchior islands and the Schollaert Channel between Brabant and
Anvers Island. On Cuverville Island, a small precipitous
island, nestled between the mountains of the Antarctic Peninsula and
Danco Island, we will find a large colony of Gentoo Penguins and
breeding pairs of Brown Skuas. If we land on Danco Island we can
observe Chinstrap Penguins and possibly Weddell and Crabeater Seals. In
Neko Harbour we will have the opportunity to set foot on the Antarctic
Continent in a magnificent landscape of huge glacier and enjoy the
landscape during zodiac cruises.
When sailing to Paradise Bay, with its myriad icebergs and deep cut
fjords, we will have the opportunity for zodiac cruising between the
icebergs in the inner parts of the fjords. In this area we have good
chances to see Humpback Whales and Minke Whales. After sailing through
the Neumayer Channel, we hope to get permission to visit the British
research station and post office Port Lockroy on Goudier Island. Close
to Port Lockroy we may also offer a landing on Jougla Point with Gentoo
Penguins and Imperial Shags.
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 there are good chances to encounter Humpback Whales, Minke
Whales and Fin Whales. A visit to one of the scientific stations in
Antarctica will give you an insight about the life of modern
Antarcticans working on the White Continent. Further south we may visit
the Ukrainian Vernadsky Station, where we will receive a warm welcome
from the station crew. Sailing north through Neumayer Channel we arrive
at the Melchior Islands with a very beautiful landscape with icebergs,
where we may encounter Leopard Seals, Crabeater Seals and whales.
Days 9 - 10 (PLA25
and PLA31 days 8 – 9): at sea
In the Drake Passage we have again a chance of seeing many seabirds and
taking advantage of the knowledge of our lecture team.
Day 11 (PLA25
and PLA31 day 10): Ushuaia
We arrive in the morning in Ushuaia and disembark.
A
typical itinerary to the Antarctic Peninsula is illustrated below. All
itineraries are for guidance only. Programs may vary depending on local
ice and weather conditions, the availability of landing sites and
opportunities to see wildlife. The final itinerary will be determined
by the Expedition Leader on board. Flexibility is paramount for
expedition cruises.
|
|
|
|
|
|
