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Antarctic Peninsula
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. |
© Franco Banfi/Oceanwide Expeditions
Chinstrap Penguin |
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. 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. 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. 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 glaciers, other continent landings are for example possible on Portal Point . During the cruise we will also offer zodiac cruises such as near Foyn Harbour on Nansen Island and Neko Harbour. 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 visit the British research station and post office Port Lockroy on Goudier Island. Close to Port Lockroy we can 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 and again possibilities for zodiac cruising among the icebergs, where we may encounter Leopard Seals, Crabeater Seals and whales. Day 9 - 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. Plancius M/v 'Plancius' started her life in 1976 as an oceanographic research vessel for the Royal Dutch Navy and was named 'Hr. Ms. Tydeman'. In June 2004, the vessel was taken out of active service and was purchased by Oceanwide Expeditions in December 2006. |
| Still under construction, but available for Polar expeditions in June 2009, the vessel shall be completely rebuilt as a 112-passenger vessel and shall comply with the latest SOLAS-regulations (Safety Of Life At Sea), is classed by Lloyd’s Register in London and will fly the Dutch flag. The vessel will be comfortable and nicely decorated, but is not a luxurious vessel. Our voyages in the Arctic and Antarctic regions are and will still be primarily defined by an exploratory educational travel programme, spending as much time ashore as possible. This vessel will fully meet our demands to achieve this. M/v 'Plancius' can accommodate 112 passengers in 54 passenger cabins with private toilet and shower in 4 triple private cabins, 40 twin private cabins (ca. 15 square meters) and 10 twin superior cabins (ca. 21 square meters). |
© Oceanwide Expeditions
'M/v Plancius' |
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The vessel is manned by 30 international crew members (inc. 10 stewardesses/cabin cleaners), 6 hotel staff (4 chefs, 1 purser and 1 steward-barman), 6 expedition staff (1 expedition leader and 5 guides-lecturers) and 1 doctor. 
M/v Plancius Deckplan - click for larger image M/V Professor Molchanov and Professor Multanovskiy |
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'Professor Molchanov' |
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
Dive option on MOL29 - £720.00 per person including tanks, weights – Maximum 24 divers per voyage 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 £1500.00), 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. 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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