Cross the geographical milestone of the Antarctic Circle with a champagne toast on this 12-day expedition cruise aboard the Polar Pioneer. Observe the extraordinary beauty of this frozen area and the bustling wildlife which call this frozen continent home. Board your ship in Ushuaia and begin a once-in-a-lifetime adventure to the Antarctic Circle threading your way through an intricate system of icy waterways.
Highlights
Explore Antarctica´s pristine wilderness of ice, mountains and waterways
Observe busy penguin parents feeding their chicks and preparing for winter
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Step aboard the Polar Pioneer in Ushuaia and settle in to your comfortable cabin. There is time to greet fellow passengers and explore the ship before an evening cruise down the Beagle Channel.
Cross the Drake Passage, accompanied by albatross, petrels, fulmars, and prions. Polar experts speak about Antarctica’s unique wildlife and history and prepare you for landings with environmental and Zodiac briefings. All eyes are peeled for first iceberg, first penguin and first glimpse of land, the mercurial sea stacks outlying the South Shetland Islands.
As you spend time exploring the Antarctic Peninsula, penguin parents get busy feeding their chicks and preparing for winter. Enjoy thrilling Zodiac cruises amongst sparkling icebergs and spot Weddell and leopard seals on icefloe. Heading down south, your ship make its way through ice to cross the Antarctic Circle. As ice conditions dictate your itinerary, you may reach spectacular Crystal Sound and make landings at Stonington and Detaille Islands. Keep an eye out for humpback and minke whales as they come to feed in the channels!
Your ship starts making its way north across the Drake Passage, hopefully rounding Cape Horn on its way to Punta Arenas. Enjoy some free time to exchange photos or watch spectacular sea birds darting around the ship.
Day 12: Puerto Williams | Disembark | Fly to Punta Arenas
1 Breakfast
This morning Polar Pioneer reach Puerto Williams in Chile. After breakfast, disembark and enjoy a town tour before being transferred to the airport for your flight to Punta Arenas. In Punta Arenas, transfer from the airport to downtown Punta Arenas.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
$10,600
Select a Date
Twin Shared
Twin Shared Cabins have two lower bunks, a desk, small washbasin, ample storage and hanging space and portholes. Showers and toilets are very close by and are shared with other Main Deck cabins.
Notes
Please note that all of Polar Pioneer itineraries are at the mercy of weather conditions and not all landings are guaranteed. These itineraries are flexible and will change voyage to voyage, allowing the best chance to make the most of surprising wildlife displays and unexpected opportunities.
- Rates represent costs per person, double or triple occupancy. Request the Twin or Triple Share Program where you are 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.
Initial deposit is $2700 plus $250 USD deposit for any activities at the time of booking, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 100 days prior to departure by Bank transfer, check or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
For full cancellation policy details, please contact us for a quote.
Included
11 Breakfasts, 10 Lunches, 11 Dinners
11 Nights Accommodations
Accommodations as listed
Ground transportation as listed
Activities as listed
Meals as listed
Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
Comprehensive pre-departure information
Beer, House Wine, and Soft Drinks with Dinner
Educational Lectures and Guiding Services from Expedition Team
Complimentary access to onboard expedition doctor and medical clinic (initial consult)
Port Surcharges, Permits, and Landing Fees
Captain's Welcome and Farewell drinks including four-course dinner, house cocktails, house beer and wine, non-alcoholic beverages.
A 3-in-1 waterproof polar expedition jacket
Complimentary use of Muck boots during the voyage
All shore excursions and Zodiac cruises
All airport transfers mentioned in the itinerary.
On-board accommodation during voyage including daily cabin service
Excluded
Gratuities
Travel Insurance
Personal Expenses
Flight costs (please request a quote)
Additional excursions during free time
Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
Passport and Applicable Visa Expenses
Airport Departure Tax - Airport arrival or departure taxes
Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks (outside of dinner service), laundry services, personal clothing, medical expenses, Wi-Fi, email or phone charges
Hotels and meals not included in itinerary
Optional activity surcharges
Reciprocity and Vaccination Charges
Passengers traveling with Aurora Expeditions are required to be covered by a reputable travel insurance policy that includes baggage loss, cancellation & curtailment of the holiday, medical, accident, and repatriation/emergency evacuation coverage worth at least $250,000 USD.
Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
Meyer Smolen
TrustScore 4.8 | 169 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 169 reviews on
1 day ago
Friendly and professional interactions. Answered my questions and followed up on initial contact.
Tim Elliott
2 days ago
Adventure Life has been an extraordinary travel resource for us over the years and today was no exception. Our River Cruise booking was handled by Jess (who has been our personal trip planner for several years) the same day as our inquiry. Suggestions were given for cabin choice and pre-trip options (that were not shown on the cruise line's website) like airport transfers and prepaid gratuities. Trip insurance recommendations followed and we were assigned a travel co-ordinator till the end of the tour. All we have to do is show up! Great service from friendly folks.
APtravelwell
3 days ago
My representative Kevin was very responsive generally and in crafting our itinerary to our specific priorities.
Rocco Labella
3 days ago
Although there was a lot of paper work, I received help and guidance when I needed it.
Donna Kirby
4 days ago
Our travel was flawless! The rider pickup (airport, hotel, ship) was seamless. Jane's recommendation for Emerald Cruise Sakara was everything I wanted but the experience was soooo much more. Adventure Life took care of each and every detail and this was the easiest of all my travels.
