Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1: Ushuaia, Argentina
Today when you arrive at Ushuaia International Airport, collect your luggage and grab a taxi to the hotel for check-in.

There is an unexpected charm to Ushuaia, your gateway to Antarctica. The streets are as steep as any in Pittsburgh. The backdrop of snow-capped mountains rivals Vancouver.

Arrive as early as possible, because you can rent mountain bikes, hike mountain trails or in-line skate along the harbor front of this frontier town.

A night at the hotel is included in your tour cost, so your room is ready should your flight to Ushuaia not arrive until midnight- just one of the details that sets us apart.
Overnight in Ushuaia

Day 2: Embarkation Day:
Luggage should be clearly tagged with cabin tags as provided in your final documents and ready to be picked up by the hotel porters by 10:00 AM.

The morning is at your leisure in Ushuaia and the surrounding wilderness areas.

A fascinating region, Tierra del Fuego ranges from barren, desolate landscape raked clean by high winds to pine and beech forests, beautiful blue lakes and snowcapped mountain peaks (and good trout fishing as well). The area, shared by Argentina and Chile, is actually on an island at the southern tip of South America.

Time permitting, you may wish to take ferry ride to Isla de los Lobos, Isla de Pajaros, Martello Island, or Bridges Island. Take along warm clothing any time of year.

Prior to arrival at the vessel, please be sure to have readily available, your passport Argentinean
immigration form and your air tickets - these will be collected by one of cruise staff members
upon embarkation. Our local agent, will provide a non-exclusive transfer to your cruise vessel at 3: 30PM boarding.

Anticipation is high when you board the bus for the transfer to the pier. Who on the bus will be your kayaking companions? Who will ski the pristine wilderness with you?

Once you are satisfied your luggage has arrived safely, explore the ship. The observation deck affords fine views of the deckhands releasing the lines, and the panorama of Ushuaia Harbor.

After the essentials- lifeboat drill, the Welcome Briefing, and your first dinner aboard- return to the deck. Take note of the activity in the water and in the air. Penguins or porpoises often ride the bow waves. And Albatross and Petrels glide overhead.
Breakfast, Dinner

Days 3 to 5: At Sea and Falkland Islands
En route to the Falkland Islands, the ship is well above the Antarctic Circle, so the evening skies can be starlit; and moonlight can trail across the water. Will you stargaze all night or will the Expedition Leader’s wake-up call rouse you from a deep, relaxing sleep?

After breakfast, the in depth education program begins. The range of subjects is diverse, but all are chosen to prepare you for the landings and Zodiac cruises in the Falklands.

Unlike cruise voyages where the schedule of onboard activities is replicated exactly on each sailing, every Antarctic Adventure expedition is unique. The Expedition Team changes the content of the content of the education program and the presentation schedule to take advantage of the personnel aboard, their background, interest and style. This keeps the presenters fresh and their presentations dynamic.

You can spend part of the day on deck watching the petrels and albatrosses that accompany the ship, gliding for miles, never appearing to move a muscle. Carry your camera and binoculars with you. The naturalist will be on deck from time to time to assist you with the identification of the marvelous creatures.

One of the briefings will cover the Antarctic Conservation Guidelines. As a member of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO), actively supporting the organizations efforts to mitigate the impact of tourism in Antarctica, you can help achieve that goal by adhering to the IAATO conservation guidelines that cover everything: boot washing, number of visitors on shore, and human behavior around wildlife.

The choice of activities in the evenings aboard the ship is varied. Over a drink in the bar, get to know your fellow adventurers, who come from all over the world- Europe, Australasia, South America, North America and Africa. Watch a movie in the presentation room, or borrow a book about Antarctica from the library and curl up in your cabin with the sound of waves lapping the hull drifting through the window.

One of the highlights of any exploration to the Falklands is the welcome you receive from its citizens. Accept their invitation to visit a camp- that’s the local word for farm- for a chat, a mug of tea and a piece of cake. We try to include a visit to Stanley, the archipelagos government seat and the only town. Stanley is more British than the Tower of London, in some ways.

If you chose the kayaking option, you wet your paddles for the first time.

The diversity of wildlife makes the Falklands a photographer’s and naturalist’s paradise. The islands are home to a number of species of penguins, King, Rockhopper, Gentoo and Magellanic. Endemic are the Cobb’s Wren and Falkland Steamer Duck. Dolphins, whales and three species of seals are often sighted in the waters surrounding the islands.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Days 6 to 11: Southern Ocean and South Georgia
When Ernest Shackleton and four others sailed the tiny James Caird from Elephant Island to South Georgia, they were crossing the same body of water as you sail today. They, however, knew the sea as the South Atlantic Ocean. Sixteen years after the legendary voyage, the name of the sea that stretches from the mouth of the Drake Passage east to the Shetland Islands and south from the Falkland Islands to the Antarctic Peninsula was changed to the Scotia Sea. The name honored an expedition ship that had sailed between 1902 and 1904, under the command of William S. Bruce, a pioneer of oceanography.

Today, with only the Shag Rocks to break the horizon, you sail in history’s wake.

South Georgia… roughly 100 miles by 20 miles wide, is south of the Atlantic convergence: You are in Antarctica at last!

The inestimable Captain Cook’s published account of his charting of the island set off a rush to harvest the abundant seals and whales he observed. The secretive whalers and sealers protected their favorite beaches and bays. So, although they were often the first to arrive, they have seldom been credited for their Antarctic discoveries.

Wandering Albatrosses and Southern Giant Petrels nest on South Georgia. At certain times of the year, near the nests, massive female Wanderers swoop low overhead. Their teasing sends the males into a frenzy of growling calls. Raising their bills skyward, they try to tempt a female to their side. Bonded Wanderers preen each other, sing duets, and mate frequently. Scientific research has shown that only pairs that have bonded by years of dancing will breed successfully.

On South Georgian headland where the Shags nest, you might see Light-mantled Sooty Albatrosses display in superb flying synchrony, while screaming their bonding calls. South Georgia is home to more than half a million breeding pairs of King Penguins. At three feet tall only Emperor Penguins are larger. King chicks, known as woolies, were once thought to be a separate species of penguins, because they look so different from their parents. King chicks can be seen at various stages of development throughout the year.

Norwegians introduced reindeer to South Georgia in 1911. The deer provided and alternative meat source and some sport! Some environmentalists are attempting to have the reindeer removed, because of their destructive affect on the tussock grass.

While at anchor and the ships lights are dimmed, you might be able to pick out tens of thousands of Antarctic Prions around the ship. On the shores of South Georgia, these birds wait for pitch darkness to enter their burrows amongst the tussock to protect themselves against attacks by their predators- skuas and petrels.

The crested Macaroni Penguins inhabit the island. Their plumage reminded the first to encounter them of the dandies of the 18th century, hence the name. You might witness a skua taking a brown egg smaller than you might expect. This is a sacrificial egg the Macaroni lays first. Two eggs may develop in a good season, but more often than not only the larger second egg hatches.

On the snowy slopes and stone beaches of South Georgia you may encounter Weddell Seals hauled out in the sun. Larsen Harbour is the most northerly place for the seals to pup at the start of the austral spring.

The island has many historical connections to Antarctic exploration. Sir Ernest Shackleton and his comrades crossed the front of the Fortuna Glacier on their way to Stromness whaling station after their epic foot crossing of South Georgia in 1916. That march across glaciers and never explored mountains helped to rescue the crew of the Endurance, stranded on Elephant Island, 800 miles away. Located at Stromness Bay are Shackleton Pass and the waterfall where “The Boss” struggled down to the valley. Shackleton was buried in the churchyard at Grytviken in 1922. He died while visiting South Georgia on his final expedition to Antarctica.

Nordenskjold Glacier is named after Otto Nordenskjold, the leader of the Swedish Antarctic Expedition, which called on South Georgia on the way to Snow Hill Island in the Weddell Sea, in 1902-03.

In November 1904, the first whaling enterprise on South Georgia was established at Grytviken. Eight years later there were seven whaling stations on the island. South Georgia had become the southern capital of the whaling industry. The remains of Grytviken whaling station can be explored. The station is representative of the industry that was the mainstay of the island’s economy until 1965.

Fjord is an Old Norse word from the age of the Vikings. A fjord is a U-shaped valley carved by glaciation that fills with seawater. At the fjord named for Erich von Drygalski, a scientist with the German deep sea Gauss Expedition, rocks about 180-200 million years old can be seen. This rock was almost entirely obliterated by the later intrusion of sheets or dykes of a basic rock type.

Ice, wind and snow are as probable as sunshine on South Georgia during the spring and summer months. No matter which conditions you encounter, you will have made memories that last a lifetime.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Days 12 to 17: South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula
Activities, which are announced in advance in the daily program, are scheduled at any time of the day. The Expedition Team takes advantage of the long hours of daylight that occur so near to the Antarctic Circle.

After your days exploring South Georgia, you find yourself boarding a Zodiac in the South Shetland Islands with ease. One possible activity is cruising along a shore of volcanic ash in a Zodiac in the shelter of the flooded caldera of Deception Island.

Adelie, Gentoo and Chinstrap Penguins breed on the islands of the South Shetlands. Elephant seals are known to haul out near the rookeries. Leopard seals patrol the water’s edge waiting to prey on a sick or inexperienced penguin that enters the water. Skuas, predators that dive from the sky, squawk and fly about. The Breeding season is short in Antarctica, so activity is continual. The type of activity changes as the seasons change from austral spring to summer to fall.

Early in the season, the penguins will be building nests and courting. Observe the rituals, which to your eyes may appear comical, but is to the penguins serious business. When the chicks hatch, the parents invest considerable energy feeding them, waddling or toboggan to the sea, where they feel on krill. They return to the rookery, often climbing steep inclines to regurgitate their dinner into the mouth of the demanding chick. So frequent is this activity that the birds create highways. By the way, penguins have the right of way in Antarctica.

In late summer, the chicks fledge, and the adults molt. During the molt, the energy they expend is internal, because the birds live off the blubber they have accumulated. They would die if they returned to the sea before the new feathers grow in.

Establishing a research station in Antarctica is an important step on the road to becoming a Consultative Party to the Antarctic Treaty. The original signatories have been conducting research for decades at their bases on the continent and in the South Shetland Islands. We try to include a visit to a research station on this expedition. Please note that permission is granted locally and that many elements can influence it and how a visit takes place.

As you sail past the strait that separates the South Shetland Islands from the Antarctic Peninsula, spend some time on deck, watching for icebergs. They are classified according to their shape. There are secluded bays in the Peninsula known as iceberg graveyards, where small icebergs run aground. When the conditions are right, we lower the Zodiacs and cruise at a proscribed distance around them- an unforgettable sight!

Life clings to the edges in the Antarctic Peninsula. Rare, rocky shorelines are jealously guarded by its denizens, as habitable real estate is rare. Mountains rise steeply from the sea. Their summits glisten when the sun strikes them. Fog could descend, obscuring their height. In a sheltered bay, drifting in a Zodiac, its engine turned off momentarily, you experience a silence so complete that you may hear the beating of your own heart! If a seal or whale pops out of the water to gaze over the pontoon at you, your heart quickens.

Kayakers wet their hulls in sheltered bays. If there is a camping option on your expedition, you sleep ashore in tents designed for polar exploration. For cross-country skiers Antarctica is truly the last frontier as you glide through a wilderness devoid of trails.

Antarctica is surprisingly colorful. The evening sky can stain snow rose or orange. The rich greens of moss vibrate beside the rusty red of lichens growing on rocks. Icebergs range from turquoise through azure to violet in different light. The seawater can appear inky one moment and clear as glass another. Carry a camera. The opportunities for photography are extraordinary.

As you explore Antarctica, the Expedition Team holds recaps of what is experienced during landings. These recaps provide opportunities to relive the adventures; share your experiences and ask a question of the Expedition Team. Traveling with a small number of like-minded travelers in a ship for an extended period of time is a recipe for friendships that last a lifetime. Each new adventure shared builds upon the last. Every moment of laughter or awe becomes a memory you cherish. The expedition experience can only be truly understood by participating.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Days 18 to 20: Drake Passage and Ushuaia, Argentina
Crossing the notorious Drake Passage is as much a part of the Antarctic experience as penguins and krill. With the right weather conditions your passage will be relatively easy, but pack your seasick medication just in case the Drake lives up to its reputation.

Continuing recap sessions provide opportunities to discuss how you, a newly minted Polar Ambassador, can help to preserve Antarctica for future generations.

When packing day arrives, a briefing is held, final remarks are made and instructions for disembarking are delivered.

Ushuaia, Argentina. A small vessel comes alongside and a local pilot boards the ship to help navigate the last stretch of water en route to Ushuaia. We suggest that you watch if the weather is fine. You’ll enjoy the soft light of an austral summer day.

After breakfast aboard the ship, you are transferred by bus to the airport.
Breakfast

Departure Dates

Departure Dates

Aboard the Akademik Sergey Vavilov:
November 16 to December 5, 2010
December 14, 2010 to January 2, 2011

Aboard the Akademik Ioffe:
December 29, 2010 to January 17, 2011
February 8-27, 2011

Aboard the Ocean Nova:
November 21 to December 10, 2010
January 24 to February 12, 2011

Aboard the Clipper Adventurer:
November 25 to December 14, 2010
December 22, 2010 to January 10, 2011

Prices

Aboard the Akademik Sergey Vavilov:
$8,890 per person, Triple Cabin with shared facilities.
$10,690 per person, Twin Cabin with shared facilities.
$11,390 per person, Twin Cabin with semi-private facilities.
$13,190 per person, Twin Cabin with private facilities.
$13,790 per person, Superior Cabin.
$14,890 per person, Suite.
$15,990 per person, Cook Suite

Aboard the Akademik Ioffe:
$11,690 per person, Triple Cabin with shared facilities.
$14,190 per person, Twin Cabin with shared facilities.
$14,890 per person, Twin Cabin with semi-private facilities.
$16,890 per person, Twin Cabin with private facilities.
$17,890 per person, Superior Cabin.
$18,890 per person, Suite.
$20,690 per person, Cook Suite

Aboard the Ocean Nova:
Nov. 21 to Dec. 10, 2010:
$9,890 per person, Triple Cabin.
$13,990 Twin Cabin.
$19,990 Dedicated Single Cabin.

Jan. 21 to Feb. 9, 2011:
$12,690 per person, Triple Cabin.
$17,290 Twin Cabin.
$25,290 Dedicated Single Cabin.

Aboard the Clipper Adventurer:
Nov. 25 to Dec. 14, 2010:
$7,890 per person, Triple Cabin.
$10,490 per person, Lower Deck Twin Cabin.
$11,690 per person, Main Deck Cabin with Porthole.
$12,390 per person, Main Deck Cabin with Window.
$13,290 per person, Superior Cabin.
$14,690 per person, Deluxe Cabin.
$16,490 per person, Suite.

December 22 to January 10, 2011:
$11,290 per person, Triple Cabin.
$14,590 per person, Lower Deck Twin Cabin.
$15,290 per person, Main Deck Cabin with Porthole.
$16,290 per person, Main Deck Cabin with Window.
$16,990 per person, Superior Cabin.
$18,490 per person, Deluxe Cabin.
$21,990 per person, Suite.

Inclusions:
· One-night pre- expedition hotel accommodations, including breakfast.
· Group transfer from the hotel to the ship on embarkation day.
· Group transfer from the ship to the airport on disembarkation day.
· Shipboard accommodations with daily housekeeping.
· All breakfasts, lunches and dinners on board throughout your voyage. (Please inform us of any dietary requirements as far in advance as possible. Unfortunately, the ships’ galleys cannot prepare kosher meals.
· All shore landings per the daily program.
· All Zodiac transfers and cruising per the daily program.
· Leadership throughout the voyage by our experienced Expedition Leader, including shore landings and other activities.
· Formal and informal presentations by the Expedition Team and guest speakers as scheduled.
· Photographic album on DVD, documenting the voyage.
· A pair of waterproof expedition boots on loan for shore landings.
· A Quark Expeditions parka- yours to keep.
· Coffee, tea, cocoa and water available around the clock.
· Hair dryer and bathrobe in every cabin.
· Comprehensive pre-departure materials including a map and an informative Antarctic reader.
· All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program.
· All luggage handling aboard ship.
· Emergency evacuation assurance for all passengers to a maximum benefit of $100,000 per person.

Exclusions
· Airfare, whether on scheduled or charter flights
· Arrival taxi transfers or optional excursions in Ushuaia
· Passport and visa expenses
· Government arrival and departure taxes
· Meals ashore; supplement for single hotel accommodations
· Baggage, cancellation and personal insurance (which is strongly recommended)
· Excess baggage charges and all items of a personal nature such as laundry, bar and beverage charges and telecommunication charges
· Customary gratuity at the end of the voyage for those who have served you aboard (guidelines will be provided)

Special Cancellation Policy

All requests for cancellations must be received in writing. Cancellations received up to 180 days prior to departure are refunded less an administrative fee of $750 per person. If cancellation is received between 179 and 90 days prior to deposit, the deposit is forfeited. Please note that for cancellations received within 89 days prior to departure, all deposits and tariffs are forfeited. If cancellation occurs within the 89-day period and full payment has not been received, the full penalty will still apply and unpaid monies are due immediately. Prices quoted are based on group participation and no refunds will be made for any part of the program in which you choose not to participate, including any helicopter flying time (if applicable and which, at the discretion of the Captain and Expedition leader, may or may not be utilized.)

It is understood that refunds cannot be made to passengers who do not complete the tour for any reason whatsoever.

Options & Upgrades

Adventure options are available on selected departures. Space is limited, please book in advance to avoid disappointment.

Kayaking: $795 per person
Camping: $195 per person
Mountaineering: $550 per person
Cross-Country Skiing: $550 per person

What is it like to camp in the Antarctic?

Past campers tell us that they spent most of the night outside their tents absorbing the silence. They reluctantly communicated in whispers, as they found speaking intrusive. During the few hours of darkness that fall they are tempted to reach overhead, because the stars seem near enough to touch. Campers from the Northern Hemisphere find the constellations unfamiliar, adding to the other-worldliness of the experience. All participants report that camping deepens their understanding of Antarctica in countless ways.

What is it like to cross-country ski the Peninsula?

Antarctic cross-country skiers often talk about the anticipation that builds as they gear up for the trail, and the anticipation - the twisting of the upper torso into the direction of a turn when skiing - that will soon follow. Skiers tell us that the moment that feeling and action coincide is sublime, pure and intense, like the landscape they are exploring.

What is it like to climb an Antarctic mountain?

The elemental nature of the activity lingers with Antarctic climbers: heart beats, stretched muscles, and wind whistling through the lines. They speak of hand holds formed by ancient rocks, and steep ice-covered slopes overhead, forcing a scramble, before the advance continues. And finally, with humor, they tell of the glissade, that last descent on the return that turns each of them in to children for one brief moment as they slide.

What is it like to kayak in the polar regions?

There is a lot to do within the first few moments of entering a kayak. Once you are settled and have a feel for the paddle in your hands, you will turn your attention to the surroundings. That is the moment, so our kayakers tell us, when you will truly understand that the experience of of paddling in Antarctica is like no other. Crystal clear water supports the hull. Elemental sounds of water lapping and the drip of resting paddles are a counterpoint to the cry of penguins and the cracking of ancient ice. Dwarfed by the immensity of the landscape, for a short while you drift in awe.

Trip Information

If I book this expedition, what additional major expenses will I incur?

Transportation to and from the embarkation point is not included in the cost of the expedition.

Wearing the right clothes is essential. Mean coastal temperatures are seldom far below freezing. However sunny conditions may swiftly shift to storms with very cold winds and snow flurries. A complimentary parka is provided and we loan you a pair of boots for the duration of the expedition. Once you have booked, we will provide you with a complete list of what to pack.

Of course gratuities are always at your discretion, but we recommend $10-15 per person day if you were pleased with the service level on board. This will be anonymously collected at the end of the voyage and distributed amongst staff and crew. You can make this payment in cash or charge to your shipboard account.

What is the average age and nationalities of travelers on this expedition?

Adventure Ship travelers range in age from 20 to 80 - with the majority between 35 and 55. Most members of Adventure Ship expeditions are active, independent-minded travelers from around the world.

Must I understand English to participate?

Our voyages appeal to an international audience. About 40% of the travelers who join our voyages come from countries where English is not the first language. English is the language used for all documents, communications, shipboard announcements and education program presentations. While most of our travelers have a working knowledge of English, their level of proficiency with the language varies greatly. If you have questions on how your knowledge of English may impact your experience, please contact our office and one of our Adventure Consultants will be happy to discuss this with you.

Do I have to be fit to join one of these expeditions?

Adventure Ship expeditions are for active travelers. Travelers must be able to make their way down a steep, narrow gangway, on the side of the ship to the Zodiac for shore landings. You should be able to walk steadily about the ship, keeping one hand free for the railing, and be able to negotiate through a heavy steel sea door. This expedition is not appropriate for people with restricted mobility as none of our ships offer handicap facilities. Shore landings usually offer a choice of a shorter hike and longer hikes. Of course, if you wish to remain back at the landing site with some of the staff, you are welcome!

May my children accompany me on the expedition?

On this expedition we welcome children that are at least 12 years of age. All children must be accompanied by at least one adult willing to supervise them at all times. Note that the shipboard education programs are designed for adults.

How long will it be light during my trip?

The time of year you travel to Antarctica will determine the amount of daylight. October, November are typically the months where the night falls around 9 or 10pm with sunrise in the early morning. This is the beginning of the Summer Season. Peak daylight is Mid December through early February with nearly 24 hours of sunlight, depending on how far south your voyage travels.

What about seasickness?

In general, the roughest seas encountered are during the open ocean crossings to and from Ushuaia through the Drake Passage; it takes roughly 2 and one half days to get to/from the peninsula and 2 days to/from the Falkland Islands. Everyone reacts differently to the seas, so our Medical Director suggests you consult your physician for a recommendation for your specific circumstances.

Do your ships have stabilizers?

Yes, all our ships have stabilizers.

What is the food like on your ships?

Our passengers rave about the food and the food service offered on our ships. We have standardized our Catering operations on all our ships, so regardless of which ship you travel on, you will receive the same variety of food and excellent service. We offer breakfast, lunch and dinner, and can accommodate most dietary requests and restrictions provided you notify us at time of booking. Afternoon tea with desserts is served each afternoon, and coffee/tea/water service is available in the lounge areas around the clock.