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Extensions

Extend your Antarctica travel a few more days with an Antarctic extension. Antarctica Hospitality
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Research Ship MV Akademik Ioffe Akademik Shokalskiy Aleksey Maryshev Grigoriy Mikheev Polar Pioneer Professor Molchanov Professor Multanovskiy Akademik Sergey Vavilov MV Ushuaia Ice Breaker Ship Kapitan Khlebnikov Expedition Cruise Ship Polar Star Antarctic Dream Clipper Adventurer MV Orlova National Geographic Endeavour Ocean Nova National Geographic Explorer MV Plancius Luxury Expedition Ship Corinthian II Minerva Clelia II

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Ship: Aleksey Maryshev

Itinerary: Antarctic Peninsula and the Polar Circle

click to enlarge
  Humpback whale breaching close to the shipPhoto by: Goran Ehlme

 cabins & deck plans  |  additional itineraries  |  cancellation policy

Day 1 :	Embark in Ushuaia
Days 2-3 :	Across the Drake Passage
Days 4-9 :	Antarctic Peninsula and the Polar Circle
Days 10-11 :	Drake Passage
Day 12 :	Disembark in Ushuaia
	Click for full itinerary

Days	Dates	Deck + Cabin Type
		Twin Non Private	Twin Private	Superior
12	Feb 27, 2009	$6,250	$6,990	$8,190
		Feb 27, 2009 - Optional scuba diving ($990)
Destinations : Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, Polar Circle Activities : Nature Viewing, Photography, Scuba Diving, Whale Watching

Day 1 : Embark in Ushuaia

In the afternoon, we embark in Ushuaia and sail through the Beagle Channel.

Days 2-3 : Across the Drake Passage

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. Near the South Shetland Islands, we glimpse at the first icebergs.

Days 4-9 : Antarctic Peninsula and the Polar Circle

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 to the south sailing through the Gerlache Strait we will have great chances to see many Humpback Whales and Minke Whales. 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. In this area there are good chances to encounter Humpback Whales, Minke Whales 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. At Detaille Island, south of the Polar Circle, in Crystal Sound we reach probably our farthest south.

Sailing north through Neumayer Channel and Gerlache Strait, we arrive at Inverleith Harbour, where we may have our last zodiac cruises of the voyage.

Days 10-11 : Drake Passage

In the Drake Passage we have again a chance of seeing many seabirds.

Day 12 : Disembark in Ushuaia

We arrive in the morning and disembark in Ushuaia.

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-Additional fuel surcharge of $20/night on ship, per person, for Antarctica departures
- Twin non-private and private cabins are available for single occupancy at 1.8 times the share price (2 times for Superior cabins).
-Solo Travelers: Request the Twin Share Program where you can be matched with a cabin mate of the same gender. Even if a cabin mate is not found for you, no single supplement will be charged.
-Rates are quoted in U.S. dollars and represent costs per person, double occupancy.

Prices are based on a 3% cash discount.

Ship Description: Aleksey Maryshev

click to enlarge
  Aleksey Maryshev

The 'Aleksey Maryshev' is a modern and comfortable research vessel of the Hydrographic Institute of St. Petersburg and is the sister ship to the 'Grigoriy Mikheev'. Built in 1990 in Finland, and designed as an ice-strengthened vessel and converted in the Netherlands for passenger use, the vessel is ideally suited to expedition cruising and Antarctica travel. She has a range of 70 days independent operation and is ISM certified.

The vessel is strongly built of steel with an ice-strengthened hull, perfect for the polar seas. She is manned by an enthusiastic Russian crew of around 20, all highly experienced in ice navigation. Russian captains are recognized experts in polar navigation.

All our international expedition leaders and lecturers are highly knowledgeable, helpful and dedicated to the protection of the environment.

The 'Aleksey Maryshev' has a large bridge (where you are almost always welcome) and good open deck-viewing areas. She carries a full complement of Zodiac craft, excellent for landings and wildlife viewing opportunities in otherwise in-accessible areas.

Excellent cuisine, prepared by international chefs, is served in the dining room, which also acts as the lecture room. Other public areas include a lounge and bar, small library, infirmary, and sauna. The vessel has email and satellite phone communication available for travelers.

Twin Non Private Cabins on deck 3 with upper and lower berths, a desk, small washbasin, ample storage and hanging space and portholes. Shared shower and toilet facilities are conveniently located on the same deck.	Twin Private Cabins on decks 3 & 4 with a private bathroom with shower, washbasin and toilet, upper and lower berths, a desk, ample storage space and windows.
Superior Superior cabins on deck 4 with a double bed and a single sofa-bed. A private bathroom with shower, washbasin and toilet. A sitting area with a desk, Coffee and tea facilities, refrigerator and windows

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