MOL 22 24 November - 04 December 2008 (11 days)
MOL 23 04 December - 14 December, 2008 (11 days)
MLT 23 07 December - 17 December, 2008 (11 days)
MOL 23A 14 December - 24 December, 2008 (1 days)
AMR 24 20 December - 30 December, 2008 (11 days)
MOL 24 24 December, 2008 - 04 January, 2009 (12 days)
GMK 25 24 December 2008 - 03 January, 2009 (11 days)
AMR 25 30 December, 2008 - 09 January, 2009 (11 days)
MLT 25 04 January - 14 January, 2009 (11 days)
AMR 26 09January - 19 January, 2009 (11 days)
MLT 26 14 January - 24 January, 2009 (11 days)
GMK 28 31 January - 10 February, 2009 (11 days)
MLT 28 04 February - 14 February, 2009 (11 days)
MLT 29 14 February - 24 February, 2009 (11 days)
AMR 29 17 February - 27 February, 2009 (11 days)
GMK 30 28 February - 10 March, 2009 (11 days)
AMR 32 21 March - 31 March, 2009 (11 days)
Aboard Grigoriy Mikheev, Aleksey Maryshev, Professor Molchanov and Professor Multanovskiy
We explore some of the most spectacular landscapes on the planet, with icebergs, glaciers, snow-capped mountains and abundant wildlife, including many species of seals, seabirds, whales and vast numbers of penguins.
Antarctica and the Sub-Antarctic Islands are some of the last truly unspoilt regions of the world. The mysterious White Continent, with its multi-coloured ice caps, glistening glaciers and towering snow-capped mountains, offers unparalleled scenery and photographic opportunities. Enormous numbers of penguins, whales, seals and seabirds congregate in the food-rich waters along the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic shores. The future of Antarctica is crucial to the climate and ecology of the world and on most of our cruises we have an opportunity to visit one of the many scientific bases.
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 Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world, we sail out along the Beagle Channel and across the Drake Passage. Icebergs become a familiar sight as the ship approaches Antarctica. The South Shetland Islands were discovered in 1819 and lie parallel to the Antarctic Peninsula, separated by the deep-water Bransfield Strait, 150 km, (100mile) wide.
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. Sailing on south we hope to pass through the narrow and spectacular Lemaire Channel, surrounded by mountains and glaciers and a popular passage for several species of whales journeying up and down the sheltered Antarctic Peninsula waterways. Here Minke Whales, the smallest of the rorqual whales, weighing 6,000-7,000 kilos (6-8 tons) and ferocious-looking Leopard Seals are common.
We sail on to volcanic Deception Island, in the South Shetlands Islands. Here the ship, weather permitting, will sail into the flooded crater through the narrow entrance known as Neptune's Bellows. Returning to Ushuaia across the Drake Passage, a multitude of seabirds follow the ship, including several species of albatross and petrel.
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.
AMR 30, 31, 32 and GMK30 also offer a fascinating scuba - diving programme for experienced dry- suit divers along sea ice and to explore the marine wildlife.
MOL22 and 23 offer a kayak option for a maximum of 15 kayakers per voyage.
Itinerary
Day 1
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 afternoon.
Day 2-3
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.
Day 4-8
A typical itinerary in the South Shetlands and Antarctic Peninsula could be as follows. This is a sample only, the final itinerary will be determined by the Expedition Leader on board.
At Aitcho Islands or Penguin Island, we will first land in Antarctic waters. 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. Elephant Seals and fur seals may also haul out at the beaches. We might also try to land at Baily Head on the outer rim of Deception Island with a colony of ten thousands of Chinstrap Penguins. 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, thousands of Cape Pigeons and 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.
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 there we sail through Paradise Bay with its myriad icebergs and deep cut fjords, while having chances of seeing 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 there are good chances to encounter Humpback Whales, Minke Whales and Fin Whales. A base visit will also be provided, to give you an insight about the life of modern Antarcticans working on the White Continent.
Sailing north through Neumayer Channel we arrive at the Melchior Islands with a very beautiful landscape and again possibilities for zodiac cruising among the icebergs, where we may encounter Leopard Seals, Crabeater Seals and whales.
Day 09 -10
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 11
We arrive in the morning in Ushuaia and disembark.
M/V Professor Molchanov and Professor Multanovskiy
- Length 71,6 metres (236 feet)
- Breadth 12,8 metres (42 feet)
- Draft 4,5 metres (15 feet)
- Speed 12,5 knots
- Passengers capacity 52
- 20 Russian crew
- 3 international expedition staff
- 3 international hotel & catering staff and 1 emergency doctor
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.
Accommodation: Cabins as described above subject to availability.
Travel: We can arrange flights and overnight accommodation for you if necessary. Please contact us for prices and availability.
Leaders: Guides from Oceanwide Expeditions
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Prices per person:
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AMR24/25/26/29
GMK25/28
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AMR32
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Twin not en suite
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£ 3,715
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£ 2,915
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Twin en suite
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£ 4,215
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£ 3,305
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Superior twin en suite
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£ 4,935
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£ 3,860
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Deposit :
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10% of cost
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10% of cost
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Prices per person:
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GMK30
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Twin not en suite
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£ 3,195
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Twin en suite
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£ 3,585
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Superior twin en suite
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£ 4,195
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Deposit :
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10% of cost
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Prices per person:
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MOL22/23/23A
MLT23
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MOL24
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Triple not en suite
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£ 2,715
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£ 3,470
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Twin not en suite
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£ 3,195
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£ 4,085
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Twin en suite
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£ 3,585
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£ 4,640
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Superior twin en suite
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£ 4,195
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£ 5,440
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Suite
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£ 4,605
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£ 5,995
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Deposit :
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10% of cost
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10% of cost
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Prices per person:
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MLT 25/26/28/29
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Triple not en suite
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£ 3,160
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Twin not en suite
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£ 3,715
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Twin en suite
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£ 4,215
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Superior twin en suite
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£ 4,935
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Suite
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£ 5,435
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Deposit :
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10% of cost
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10% of cost
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Please enquire for single supplements.
The prices are per person, and are fully inclusive 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 return flights UK/Ushuaia (please allow approximately £ 1500), overnight accommodation in Ushuaia, transfers in Ushuaia, travel insurance, meals ashore, optional tips to leaders and crew, drinks, and other personal expenses.
Please allow two days either side of the cruise dates for travel and an overnight at each end of the cruise in case of any delays.
Supplement for Scuba Divers is £ 550 per diver.
Supplement for Kayaking is £ 385 per person including a dry suit.
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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