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Antarctic Peninsula
Accessible Antarctica


Weddell Sea - In search of the Emperor Penguin (Ushuaia- Ushuaia)

'Grigoriy Mikheev'
'Grigoriy Mikheev/Aleksey Maryshev'

GMK21 Sunday 11 November - Sunday 25 November, 2007 (16 days)
AMR22 Saturday 17 November - Saturday 01 December, 2007 (15 days)

Aboard Aleksey Maryshev and Grigory Mikheev

Your unique chance to be part of a true expedition voyage!

The Emperor Penguin rookery, as being seen over the last two seasons, is situated south of Snow Hill Island. Although we will not be able to reach that far through the ice, the idea is mainly to situate ourselves between Snow Hill Island and James Ross Island close to the ice-edge and observe the Emperor Penguins on their way to the open water on Day 5. If the weather and / or ice-conditions do not allow this maneuver, we will try again the next day and reschedule our cruise programme. If on the other hand the weather is great, but we can not find any Emperor Penguins, our programme would still unfold on Snow Hill Island with a visit to the historic hut of the Swedish Antarctic Expedition under Otto Nordenskjöld and a visit to Seymour Island in order to see fossils there in the afternoon.

Map of Weddell Sea Polar Cruise


Please note that the following itinerary is 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.

Day 1
 Depart London in the afternoon for a flight via Madrid, arriving Buenos Aires on Day 2. Flights from regional UK airports may also be available; please enquire for details.

Day 2
 Arrive Buenos Aires International airport, and transfer to Buenos Aires Aeroparque for the flight to Ushuaia, arriving in the evening.
Overnight Ushuaia

Day 3
 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 4 - 5
During these two days we will 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.

In the late afternoon we plan our first Zodiac-landing on Penguin Island, which lies close off the south coast of King George Island. Penguin Island was sighted in 1820 by a British expedition and so named by expedition leader Bransfeld because penguins occupied the shores of the 1 mile long island.

Day 6
 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 with a million pairs of Adelie Penguins. In the afternoon we visit Brown Bluff, a ice-capped, flat-topped mountain with a prominent cliff of reddish-brown volcanic rock on the north side.

Day 7 - 8
 Between Snow Hill Island and James Ross Island we will make our first attempt to observe Emperor Penguins on the ice-edge making their way to open water. In case this should fail we will tray again on day 6. Alternatively we will visit the remains of the Nordenskiöld expedition on Snow Hill Island. We might also visit Seymour Island, where many fossils can be found, the Argentinean station Esperanza on the Antarctic Continent (where we can observe Gentoo Penguins, Cape Petrels, Pale-faced Sheathbills, skuas, Kelp Gulls and Antarctic Terns) and - on our way to the Nortwest Antarctic Peninsula - Astrolabe Island, discovered by the French expedition of captain Jules Dumont d'Urville during 1837-1840 and named by him after his chief expedition ship the 'Astrolabe'.

Day 9
 In the Northwest Peninsula we plan to visit Cuverville Island with the largest colony of Gentoo Penguins in the region and furthermore bird-specie such as Southern Giant Petrels, Wilson's Storm-petrels, Antarctic Shags, South Polar Skuas, Kelp Gull and Antarctic Terns. From there we sail through Paradise Bay with its myriad ice-bergs and deep cut fjords. We will have opportunities for Zodiac cruising between the icebergs in the inner parts of the fjords.

Day 10
 After a morning visit on Enterprise Island, first charted by the Belgium explorer Gerlache in 1898 and well-known by whalers operating in the area in the early 20th century, we sail to Hannah Point where we can see Chinstrap and Gentoo Penguins and also small numbers of Macaroni Penguins, various other bird-specie and Southern Elephant, Weddell and Antarctic Fur Seals.

Day 11-12
In the Drake Passage we have again a chance of seeing many seabirds and to take advantage of the knowledge of our lecture team.

Day 13
We arrive in the morning in Ushuaia and disembark.
Overnight Ushuaia

Day 14
 Depart Ushuaia in the afternoon for return flight to Madrid and the UK, arriving on Day 15.
M/V Grigoriy Mikheev and Aleksey Maryshev
  • Length 66 metres (210 feet)
  • Breadth 12.8 metres (42 feet)
  • Draft 3.5 metres (12 feet)
  • Speed 12.5 knots
  • Passengers capacity 46
  • 19 Russian crew
  • 3 international expedition staff
  • 3 international hotel & catering staff and 1 emergency doctor

The ships are modern, ice-strengthened research vessels, built in Finland for the Russian Academy of Science. They are under long-term contract to Oceanwide Expeditions and have been converted for passenger use and are ideally suited to expedition cruising in polar areas. They comply with the highest international safety and environmental regulations, as well as the Arctic and Antarctic Shipping guidelines. The passengers are accommodated in triple, twin, superior cabins or a suite. All cabins are 'outside' and most cabins have private facilities. The public areas are comfortable and cosy and include a dining room which could also act as the lecture room, a bar with reference books, a small infirmary and a sauna. The best viewing places on board for spotting wildlife are the bridge (where passengers are welcome) and the open-deck areas. The ships carry a full complement of Zodiac crafts, for both cruising and landing ashore. Usually on our voyages the Chef will organize a Polar barbecue on deck. Surrounded by an impressive landscape and accompanied by your fellow-travellers, staff members and the Russian crew members, this event is one to remember.


'Grigoriy Mikheev' deckplan


Accommodation: Cabins as described above subject to availability.

Travel: Flights from regional UK airports may also be available; please enquire for details.

Leaders: Guides from Oceanwide Expeditions

Prices per person: GMK21/AMR22
Twin not en suite £ 4,710 (as single £7,270)
Twin en suite £ 5,130 (as single £8,040)
Superior twin en suite £ 5,740
Deposit : 10% of cost

Land only single supplement:
180

The prices are per person, and are fully inclusive of return flights UK/Ushuaia, overnight accommodation in Ushuaia and Buenos Aires, transfers in Ushuaia & Buenos Aires, the cruise, meals during the voyage, shore excursions by Zodiac and activities throughout the voyage, lectures and leadership by expedition staff, taxes and port charges and pre-departure information.

The prices exclude travel insurance, meals ashore, optional tips to leaders and crew, drinks, and other personal expenses.

For a price ex Ushuaia, please deduct £ 895 from the total cost.

For a price ex Buenos Aires, please deduct £ 545 from the total cost.

Please note that we can arrange optional extensions in Ushuaia (see our Patagonia itinerary for details), or anywhere else in Argentina. You can also opt to leave the UK a day earlier and spend a day in Buenos Aires to break the long journey south.


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