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Polar Circle & Antarctic Peninsula
MLT30 06 March – 17 March, 2010 (12 days) aboard Professor Multanovskiy
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© Franco Banfi/Oceanwide Expeditions
Sunset on mountains in the 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.
Weather and landing conditions permitting, we will spend as much time ashore as possible, hiking and exploring the sites. The limited number of passengers aboard the vessel enables us to bring everyone, all at once, quickly and smoothly ashore with our inflatable Zodiacs. Regularly we try to land at”unknown” locations, which will contribute to the exploratory character of the Polar voyage. Apart from snow and ice and the rich Antarctic life, there are also many historical sites, such as Paulet Island where Otto Nordenskjöld’s Swedish expedition survived, in 1901-03. The Swedish hut is still standing, surrounded by thousands of Adelie Penguins. From here it is possible to gain an understanding of what enticed men to this remote land. Muffled against the weather we look out across the Weddell Sea: inhospitable, yet inspiring, it is a sight to quicken the pulse and move the spirit. If we are lucky, we may even spot that most elusive of birds, the Emperor Penguin on an ice floe. Sometimes, as we sail towards the Lemaire Channel, sea-mist may obscure the narrow strait leaving only rocky peaks visible against the sky. Take a place high on the upper deck where the mist thins, the deck will disappear and the filtered light takes on an ethereal glow. On some voyages we move further south, crossing the Antarctic Circle and reaching Crystal Sound, a land of high mountains and huge glaciers. Sailing north through Neumayer Channel we arrive at the Melchior Islands where we may have our last Zodiac cruise of the voyage. 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. *AMR30/31 also offers a fascinating scuba - diving programme for experienced dry- suit divers along sea ice and to explore the marine wildlife. Day 1 In the afternoon, we embark in Ushuaia and sail through the Beagle Channel. Day 2 & 3 During these two days we will 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 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. If the winds are favourable we might do our first landing in Antarctic waters in the evening of the third day at Aitcho Island or Penguin Island at the South Shetlands. 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. Day 4 – 9 We may start our first day in Antarctica with a landing at Hannah Point, where we will find a nice variety of Gentoo Penguins, Chinstraps and southern Giant Petrels, as well as Elephant Seals hauling out on the beach. At Deception Island, we will try to land at Baily Head home to a colony of ten thousands of Chinstrap Penguins. Deception itself is a sub ducted crater, which 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. Good walkers may hike from Baily Head over the ridge of the crater into Whalers Bay, while our ship braves its entrance into the crater through the spectacular Neptune’s Bellow into the ring of Deception Island. 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. In Neko Harbour and Paradise Bay with its myriad icebergs and deep cut fjords, we have the opportunity to set foot on the Antarctic Continent. We shall have the opportunity for zodiac cruising between the icebergs in the inner parts of the fjords. We sail through the spectacular Lemaire Channel to Petermann Island offering Adelie Penguins and Blue-eyed Shags. We also try to land at Pleneau Island with Elephant Seals and fair chances to encounter Humpback, Minke and Fin Whales. We head south along the Argentine Islands to Crystal Sound, south of the polar circle. The landscape is very impressive with very high mountains and huge glaciers. At the Fish Islands we land at one of the southernmost Adelie Penguin and Blue-eyed Shag colonies in the Antarctic Peninsula. A base visit will also be provided, to give you an insight about the life of modern Antarcticans working on the White Continent. At Detaille Island, south of the Polar Circle, in Crystal Sound we reach probably our farthest south. Sailing north again through Neumayer Channel and Gerlache Strait, 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 10 & 11 In the Drake Passage we have again a chance of seeing many seabirds. Day 12 We arrive in the morning and disembark in Ushuaia. N.B. Voyages MOL30, MLT30 and MLT31 also offer a fascinating scuba diving programme for experienced dry-suit divers along sea ice and to explore the marine wildlife. |
M/v Professor Molchanov & M/v 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.
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 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
Please enquire for single supplement. 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 on AMR30/31 is £ 550 per person. 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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