Antarctica Cruises & Tours

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Extensions

Extend your Antarctica travel a few more days with an Antarctic extension. Antarctica Hospitality
Package » Chile Tour Extensions » Argentina Tour Extensions »

Research Ship Akademik Ioffe Akademik Shokalskiy Aleksey Maryshev Grigoriy Mikheev Polar Pioneer Professor Molchanov Professor Multanovskiy Akademik Sergey Vavilov MV Ushuaia Peregrine Mariner/ Akademik Ioffe Peregrine Voyager / Akademik Sergey Vavilov Ice Breaker Ship Kapitan Khlebnikov Expedition Cruise Ship Polar Star Antarctic Dream Clipper Adventurer - QU MV Orlova National Geographic Endeavour Ocean Nova Andrea Marina Svetaeva MV Plancius One Ocean Navigator / Plancius Luxury Expedition Ship Corinthian II Orion Minerva National Geographic Explorer Clelia II

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Ship: Akademik Ioffe

Itinerary: Antarctic Adventure: Actively Exploring the Peninsula

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  Kayaking the Antarctic waters

 cabins & deck plans  |  additional itineraries  |  cancellation policy

Days 1&2 :	Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina
Days 3-5 :	Across the Drake to the South Shetlands
Days 6-9 :	Antarctic Peninsula
Days 10-12 :	Back across the Drake to Ushuaia
	Click for full itinerary

Days	Dates	Deck + Cabin Type
		Main Deck Triple	Main Deck Twin	Upper Deck Twin	Twin Private	Superior Twin	Peregrine Suite	Cook Suite
12	Dec 5, 2008	$4,400	$5,300	$5,600	$6,400	$6,900	$7,300	$7,900
		Optional activities: kayaking and overnight camping
Destinations : Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica Activities : Nature Viewing, Photography, Whale Watching

When you set foot on the White Continent, you want to benefit from the collective expertise of veterans who know the region inside out. That's the essence of our Antarctic Adventure. Sailing through iceberg-filled bays beneath snowcapped peaks; spotting seals and whales among the ice floes; exploring vast penguin rookeries and remote research stations - it all adds up to the perfect introduction to Antarctica for a small group of active adventurers.

Days 1&2 : Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina

Arrive in Ushuaia, a small city surrounded by rugged peaks and glaciers, and transfer independently to our conveniently located hotel. In the morning, eat a leisurely breakfast and enjoy a day of exploring on your own. Later in the afternoon, the Expedition Team gets you settled aboard your ice-strengthened ship as we sail into the Beagle Channel to start your Antarctic expedition.

Days 3-5 : Across the Drake to the South Shetlands

We enter the Drake Passage, named for Sir Francis Drake, the explorer who proved that Tierra del Fuego was not linked to a further southern continent. Various seabirds, including the Wandering Albatross, accompany us on our crossing. We also sail through the Antarctic Convergence, which - as one of our specialists will be happy to explain, poring over a map in the lounge - is a natural boundary formed by the meeting of cold Antarctic and warmer sub-antarctic waters. By Day 4 we should reach the South Shetland Islands, where we plan to visit penguin rookeries and walk remote beaches sighting Antarctic fur seals and southern elephant seals. We also hope to visit one of the archipelago's many research bases. Conditions permitting, the Captain will try to sail through a narrow passage into the sunken volcanic caldera of Deception Island, where you can test the thermal waters of Pendulum Cove.

Days 6-9 : Antarctic Peninsula

There will be many unforgettable closeups in the days ahead, but if you painted the broader canvas of your Peninsula experience it would begin with endless vistas of windswept ice; jagged mountain peaks crowned with snow; massive glaciers descending into the sea; and our ship winding through deep blue waters dotted with floating icebergs. Then there is the wildlife: Gentoo, Chinstrap and Adelie Penguins; Weddell, crabeater and leopard seals; orcas; humpback and Minke whales; and every kind of bird, from Blue-eyed Shags and Snowy Sheathbills to Kelp Gulls, Cape Petrels and Antarctic Terns. With this as an overture, let's look at a few highlights: We typically sail first to Paradise Bay or nearby Neko Harbor, each home to penguins and seals - before continuing on to the large Gentoo Penguin colonies at Port Lockroy. Close by is one of the world's most out-of-the-way museums: established in 1944 as a secret wartime outpost by James Marr (who as a Boy Scout explored Antarctica with Sir Ernest Shackleton), the former British scientific station includes a post office from which you can mail cards home. Around this point in the journey, those who opted for polar camping will set off with their expedition tents for an unforgettable night on the ice. Next, if conditions allow, we navigate the Neumayer and Lemaire Channels, taking in stunning views as the ship passes between towering rock faces and spectacular glaciers. Travelers who've chosen the sea-kayaking option enjoy an even more dramatic perspective as they paddle among the icebergs. Often we make a Zodiac landing on Petermann Island, a nesting area for Adelie and Gentoo Penguins, skuas and Blue-eyed Shags. Weather permitting, we may also sail up to the Peninsula's northern tip into Iceberg Alley - where massive pieces of the ice shelf have calved into the Antarctic Sound - and land on Paulet Island to visit its Adelie Penguin rookery.

Days 10-12 : Back across the Drake to Ushuaia

Leaving the Peninsula, we sail back across the Drake Passage, keeping an eye out for whales, penguins, seals and myriad species of bird. When not out on deck, you can enjoy more presentations, compare notes and digital photos, or simply relax in the ship's lounge chatting over drinks with other travelers and the Expedition Team. After a last breakfast aboard, transfer to town or head directly to Ushuaia airport to catch your outbound flight.

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-Fuel surcharge (subject to change) of $58/night on ship, per person, for Antarctic departures, Oct 2008 - Mar 2009.
-Single Travelers: OPTIONAL single supplement of 70% for Standard Twins. There is no single supplement for travelers willing to share.
- All of the Akademik Ioffe's departures include optional sea kayaking. Sea Kayaking Supplement is $695 per person for Antarctic voyages and $495 per person for Arctic voyages
-Emergency medical evacuation coverage for a minimum of US$100,000 per person required. Contact us for details on arranging travel insurance.

Prices are based on a 3% cash discount.

Ship Description: Akademik Ioffe

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Widely regarded as the finest expedition ship operating in Polar waters, the Akademik Ioffe offers a high level of comfort - in her appointment, stability and strength.

As a working scientific research vessel, the Akademik Ioffe forms the ideal platform from which to travel Antarctica and the Arctic. Including all the equipments needed for exploring, from Zodiac landing craft to kayaks and camping gear, even snowshoes.

The Akademik Ioffe is a well-equipped, ice-rated ship capable of carrying 110 passengers. In terms of stability and speed, she is 'state of the art' and, while not luxurious, she's very comfortable and kept in top condition.

All cabins have an outside view, with portholes or a window, and are comfortably furnished. Most of them have semi-private (one bathroom between two cabins) or private facilities. On-board facilities include a spacious top deck, where you can enjoy spectacular views, and a refreshing sauna and plunge pool - a great place to relax after your shore excursions during your travels. There is also a well-stocked library, a comfortable lounge and a friendly bar. Other facilities include an exercise room, gift shop and laundry.

Main Deck Triple Bunk beds and a sofa bed. Facilities are shared and there are 2 Portholes. There are 2 cabins in this category.	Main Deck Twin Bunk beds and shared facilities. Portholes. There are 18 cabins in this category.
Upper Deck Twin One lower berth and one sofa bed and semi-private facilities (one bathroom between two cabins). Windows. There are 12 cabins in this category.	Twin Private One lower berth, one sofa bed, and private facilities. Windows. There are 18 cabins in this category.
Superior Twin 2 lower berths, sofa and private facilities. Windows. There are 10 cabins in this category.	Peregrine Suite The Peregrine Suite is one of our fine premium cabins. 1 double bed, 1 sofa bed, separate sleeping quarters, and private facilities. Windows. There are 5 cabins in this category.
Cook Suite The Cooke Suite is our finest premium cabin. 1 double bed, 1 sofa bed, separate sleeping quarters, and private facilities. Windows. There is 1 cabin in this category.

Antarctica Articles & Information :
Antarctica Wildlife | Antarctica History and Present | Antarctica Weather | South Shetland Islands | South Georgia Islands | Falkland Islands | Antarctic vs. Arctic Pole Comparison | Sailing Antarctica in a World-Class Racing Yacht | Antarctica Travel: The Long and Short of It | Antarctic Peninsula | Jonathan's Adventures to Antarctica on the Professor Molchanov | Antarctica's Changing Ice Shelf | Falkland Islands: A Legacy of Disputes | The Falklands War | Current Politics | Cruising Falklands Geography | Wildlife in the Falklands | Introducing the Falkland Islands | Falkland Islands Environment | Weather in the Islands | British Influenced Culture of the Falklands | Cuisine in the Falklands