Take this opportunity to spend Christmas with this 13-day cruise aboard Akademik Ioffe that explores Antarctic Peninsula and the icy realms of the Weddell Sea. Enjoy wildlife viewing ar Brown Bluff where more than 10,000 colonies nesting Adelie penguins can be found. This trip also includes visits to the South Shetland Islands, the western and northern sections of the Antarctic Peninsula giving you a truly comprehensive Antarctic experience.
Highlights
Cruise through the Errera Channel and visit Cuverville's penguin rookeries
Visit the fabled location of Point Wild on the coast of Elephant Island
Spend three days exploring the Gerlache coastline of Antarctica
Spend Christmas in the most magical place on Earth
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Your journey to Antarctica commences this afternoon in Ushuaia, in southern Argentina. Gather at a central meeting point and transfer to the pier and embark on the expedition ship. After settling into your cabins and exploring the ship, meet the expedition team and your fellow passengers. Excitement is in the air as you enjoy a welcome cocktail and dinner and cast off, bound for Antarctica and the adventure of a lifetime.
Set off to a southerly course for Antarctica. This stretch of the South Atlantic is rich in its bio-diversity and showcases an abundance of wildlife. You will be joined by hundreds of seabirds including the wandering albatross. Giant petrels and smaller Cape petrels are also constant companions as we make your way south. Photographing these magnificent birds takes patience and skill and your photography expert will be on hand to show you the best techniques. Join the ship’s Captain on the bridge and learn about the operations of our modern research vessel. Throughout the day the onboard experts educate the passengers with a series of presentations about the environment, the wildlife and history of the locations to visit in the coming days. As you approach the coastline of Antarctica, you anticipate an increase in whale sightings.
Day 4-6: Western Antarctica Peninsula | South Shetland Islands
Arrive into the Antarctic waters via the Bismark Strait and aim for some of the favorite landing sites today. Anvers island is of the largest of the off-shore ‘barrier’ islands of the Antarctic Peninsula. There are several outstanding sites here and neighboring Wiencke Island, such as Damoy Point, or Port Lockroy. A short transit across the Gerlache Strait bring you along the actual continental landmass of Antarctica. A shore landing at Paradise Harbour will be a highlight for many – as you step foot on the continent proper, for the first time.
Enjoy sea kayaking into the nearby ice cathedral of Skontorp Cove or you can enjoy the view of the reflecting gigantic glaciers throwing a magical light over the dark water. Move along the Gerlache Strait on an overnight sail where you can encounter whale migration at this time of the season.
By morning, you will reach the Northen Gerlache where Cierva Cove or Mikkelson Harbour allow for some great excursions on shore and in the Zodiacs.
Sunrise over Livingston Island is a sight to behold as the mountains are a blaze of color as you arrive into the South Shetlands. Enter the McFarlane Strait with an objective of Half Moon Island, or nearby Yankee Harbour.
Arrive in the Weddell Sea and start with today's exploration. The region is home to immense colonies of the smallest of Antarctica’s penguin species – the Adelie. In locations such as Paulet Island, Brown Bluff, Gourdin Island and the Danger Islands, these rookeries are home to as many as 100,000 nesting penguins. If ice conditions permit, you can push south towards the fabled location of Snow Hill Island. A known emperor penguin rookery can be found here. While the largest of Antarctica’s penguins nest far from the shoreline, all eyes are peeled on the waters and ice floes to view these superb penguins coming and going from their rookery.
Day 11-12: Drake Passage | Return to South America
As we make your way back to South America, the educational presentations continue and enjoy an entertaining and memorable voyage recap by our Expedition Leader. Join the photography experts in the multimedia room and download and back up your precious images. If weather conditions allow, you can make a rounding of Cape Horn. This fabled stretch of water is home to legendary tales of exploration and early navigation. It’s a fitting place to reflect on a wonderful expedition. Approaching the entrance to the Beagle Channel in early evening light, enjoy a special dinner attended by the Captain of the ship.
Day 13: Ushuaia | Disembark
1 Breakfast
In the early morning, arrive into Ushuaia, Argentina. It is time to say farewell to your crew and fellow travelers. Guests will be transported to their hotels or to the airport for return flights home. It will be possible to connect to flights through to Buenos Aires or other destinations in South America. Otherwise enjoy a night in town or venture further afield to explore the highlights of Patagonia.
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.
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Main Deck Triple
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Twin Semi-Private
Deck 4. Two lower berths (one which can be converted to a sofa during the day), a writing desk/chair, bookshelf and tall wardrobes with internal shelving for storage. Facilities are semi-private (one bathroom between two cabins) and all cabins have a window that can be opened.
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Twin Private
Deck 4 and 5. Two lower berths (one which can be converted to a sofa during the day), a writing desk/chair, bookshelf and ample storage. Facilities are private and all cabins have a window that can be opened.
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Superior
Deck 6. Two lower berths, a sofa, a writing desk/chair and ample storage. Facilities are private and all cabins have a window that can be opened.
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Shackleton Suite
Deck 4 & 5. One double bed, one sofa bed, separate sleeping quarters, up-graded bedding, a writing desk/chair, IPod alarm clock, mini stereo, capsule coffee maker, mini bar. Private facilities. Large window that can be opened.
Notes
- Rates are quoted in U.S. dollars and 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.
- Twin and superior cabins are available for single occupancy at 1.5 times the shared price, suites for 2 times the shared price. Single supplement is not available in triple cabins.
- Child and Youth Prices: 25% discount for young people aged up to 17 years, and 20% off for those aged from 18-21 years who can prove they are in full-time education.
Initial deposit is 25%, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 130 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
The trip might have been the absolute best of our lifetime (thus far). We particularly want to commend our guide Peter in the Guilin area-he was so incredibly attentive, energetic, enthusiastic-and absolutely dedicated to ensuring that our meals were 100% vegetarian.
Jack Charney
TrustScore 4.8 | 174 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 174 reviews on
1 day ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
2 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.
