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Unforgettable experiences on your Antarctic cruise

Shackleton Centenary Voyage

Example 22 Day Cruise aboard Hebridean Sky
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Celebrate the 100th anniversary of Ernest Shackleton's epic Antarctic journey by following in his footsteps on this 22-day voyage. Board the Hebridean Sky in Buenos Aires, Argentina and head for the Falkland Islands for the chance to explore Stanley. As you cruise through the polar waters be sure to keep an eye out for seabirds, whales, dolphins, and seals! Frequent trips ashore give ample opportunities to visit penguin colonies and explore the antarctic landscape on foot. As you near the end of your voyage prepare to cross the Drake Passage back to Ushuaia, Argentina. 
A large penguin colonyKayak in unforgettable landscapesA seal pup poses yawns in the sunlightKayakers pose in formation for the camera.Unforgettable experiences on your Antarctic cruise
Highlights
  • Search for whales, dolphins, and seabirds as you sail
  • Explore the museum, shops, and pubs of Stanley, East Falkland
  • Follow in Shackleton's footsteps on King Haakon Bay
  • Visit the Salisbury Plain king penguin colony
Activity Level: Relaxed
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
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Full Itinerary

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Day 1: Arrive in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Arrive in the capital of Argentina, the birthplace of Tango, the home of Asado, the “Paris of South America”, and the largest concentration of theaters in the world: Buenos Aires. The city is rich in culture and style and a vibrant gateway for your voyage.

Day 2: Embark in Buenos Aires

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Arriving at the ship in the afternoon, you are greeted by your Expedition Team and ship's officers at a safety and orientation briefing followed by the Captain's welcome dinner. Then, watch the city lights fade in the fresh night air as you sail seaward.

Day 3-5: Southern Ocean

  • Ship
  • 3 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 3 Dinners
Among the wildlife spotting opportunities as you sail south are the albatrosses, prions, and petrels that frequently follow the ship. Join your Expedition Team out on deck, in search of the whales and dolphins that may also be seen in the area. Onboard experts begin the presentations with informative and entertaining lectures on the wildlife, history, and geology of The Falkland Islands and Southern Ocean. Helpful briefings on environmental regulations and expedition safety are held in the comfortable lecture hall.

Day 6: Stanley, East Falkland

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Chosen for its sheltered harbor and access to abundant fresh water and peat for fuel, Stanley is easy to discover on foot as most shops and services are centered on the port. The museum, the post office featuring first day covers, plenty of shops with locally made wool items, and Stanley's lively pubs are available to explore. It is possible to experience the wildlife of the Falklands from the town including sea lions and Peale's and Commerson's dolphins in the harbor or bird life in nearby Gypsy Cove.

Day 7-8: Southern Ocean

  • Ship
  • 2 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 2 Dinners
There is plenty of wildlife spotting as you make your way east across the Antarctic Convergence and officially enter Antarctic waters. Ship board presentations continue, featuring the exciting history and abundant wildlife of South Georgia.

Day 9: King Haakon Bay

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Plan to awake this morning in King Haakon Bay, the historic launching point of Shackleton's treacherous traverse, of what was then an uncharted mountainous island. If weather and the authorities permit your landing, a private group of qualified climbers go ashore to begin a three-day trek following in Shackleton's footsteps. Assuming conditions permit, travelers not participating in the climb may enjoy a leisurely walk along the bay or explore the area via zodiac. You may see elephant seals, fur seals and king penguins on the beach as well as burrowing petrels and pipits in the tussock grasslands. As you leave the island enter waters rich in krill, so spend some time on deck, keeping an eye out for several species of whale that may be feeding here.

Day 10: Salisbury Plain | Prion Island

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
This morning visit the Salisbury Plain king penguin colony. The colony boasts an estimated 60,000 breeding pairs, which swells to 250,000 individuals in total during molting season. The colony has had an extraordinary population increase over the last century; only 350 breeding pairs were counted at this site in 1912. While you are enjoying lunch the ship re-positions to Prion Island, an important breeding site for the wandering albatross and the South Georgia pipit. This landing requires a special permit, and is highly regulated, but is one of the few places in the world where you can view wandering albatross on the nest.

Day 11: St. Andrew's Bay | Grytviken

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
After breakfast explore St. Andrew's Bay on South Georgia's exposed and rugged north coast. If conditions permit, land and visit the island's largest king penguin colony. In addition to king penguins, St. Andrew's Bay is also home to over 6,000 southern elephant seal cows during the pupping season, making it one of the largest elephant seal breeding beaches on the island. In the afternoon arrive at Grytviken and visit the final resting place of Ernest Shackleton, in the company of special guest, Angie Butler. While researching her recent book on Shackleton's "right-hand man" Frank Wild, Angie discovered Wild's misplaced ashes, and worked with Wild's family to have them brought to Grytviken, where they now rest on the right hand side of Shackleton's grave site. Grytviken means 'pot cove' in Norwegian and Swedish, and the site earned its name from the numerous sealers' try-pots (used for rendering seal or whale blubber) that have been found here. The ruins of Grytviken whaling station are at the head of the cove, surrounded by spectacular mountains. After visiting the cemetery have ample opportunity to explore the remains of the whaling station, as well as a museum that contains whaling photographs and artifacts. A post office and a full size replica of the James Caird are located in a building adjacent to the museum. The Norwegian Church built in 1913 is only a short walk away.

Day 12: Fortuna Bay | Stromness

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
This morning explore Fortuna Bay. In addition to a good sized king penguin colony, the bay is also home to over 6,000 southern elephant seal cows during the pupping season, making it one of the largest elephant seal breeding beaches on the island. If conditions permit return to Fortuna after lunch for the “Shackleton Walk”, recreating the final leg of Shackleton’s historic journey by walking from Fortuna Bay to Stromness Bay. This is a moderately difficult walk, and those who prefer to stay on-board for the quick re-positioning to Stromness find plenty to enjoy in its scenic beauty, historic buildings, and abundant wildlife. Those who choose not to do the walk may appreciate a stroll to the beautiful Shackleton Waterfall located at the end of the valley. After reuniting with the traverse team at Stromness, return to the ship to toast them and hear more about their adventures.

Day 13: Gold Harbor | Cooper Bay

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
This morning discover Gold Harbor, one of the most stunning sites in all of South Georgia. At the head of the bay is the spectacular Bertrab Glacier, which hangs over vertical cliffs. Gold Harbor is home to both gentoo and king penguin colonies. Elephant seals dominate the beaches while southern giant petrels constantly patrol the site for feeding opportunities. In the afternoon visit Cooper Bay, home to the only macaroni penguin colony that is reasonably accessible by boat. Either land on a small beach or cruise in zodiacs to catch a glimpse of this notoriously difficult to view penguin species. If landing is possible access to the macaroni colony does involve climbing up a steep, tussock covered slope, littered with fur seals. Chinstrap penguins are also prevalent at this site.

Day 14-15: Scotia Sea

  • Ship
  • 2 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 2 Dinners
Heading farther south, informative presentations and wildlife watching continue as the icebergs become more and more plentiful.

Day 16-19: Antarctica & South Shetland Islands

  • 4 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches, 4 Dinners
Early on the morning of Day 16 pass by Elephant Island, and if conditions allow, zodiac cruise or land on this exposed and remote local. Your focus is on the site where Shackleton's party beached, after Endurance sank in the Weddell Sea. Twenty-two men remained here, living under a lifeboat, while Shackleton and two companions took the James Caird and sailed for South Georgia. After four months, on August 30, 1916, Shackleton returned to rescue his men with the vessel Yelcho. A bronze bust of the Yelcho's Captain, Luis Pardo Villalon, can be seen within the chinstrap penguin colony. In 2013 a group of explorers and filmmakers set out from the same spot, in an effort to replicate Shackleton's journey using only the equipment and gear available to the original group. Special guest Seb Coulthard was the expedition engineer on this project and has many tales to tell, about both the original expedition and the 2013 recreation.

Your Expedition Leader and Captain create a flexible itinerary based on weather, ice, and opportunity. The route stresses the most scenic bays and channels of the Peninsula with stops at penguin rookeries, seal wallows, bird colonies and whale feeding areas as well as sites of historic and scientific interest. The trip may include picturesque Neko Harbor, sheltered Paradise Harbor, the humpback whale favored Wilhelmina Bay, the striking Lemaire Channel, the wildlife-filled Penola Channel, or the majestic Neumayer Channel. The expedition may stop at an active scientific base such as Poland’s Arctowksi or Ukraine’s Vernadskiy as well as an historic base such as U.K.’s Port Lockroy or Wordie House. Adelie, chinstrap and gentoo penguins abound, and Weddell, crabeater and elephant seals are often found hauled out to rest along with predatory leopard seals and the aggressive Antarctic fur seal. Minke and humpback whales are frequent visitors in the late season and orca sightings are also common.

Day 20-21: Drake Passage

  • 2 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 2 Dinners
The presentation series and wildlife spotting continue as you sail back to Ushuaia and reflect on beautiful Antarctica and its fragile future. Arrive at Ushuaia in the early hours of Day 22.

Day 22: Disembark in Ushuaia

  • 1 Breakfast
Morning disembarkation lets you catch a flight homeward or extend your stay in Ushuaia for more sights and adventure.

Ship/Hotel

Hebridean Sky

Hebridean Sky Ship
Hebridean Sky ship
Hebridean Sky Ship

Buenos Aires - Hotels

Dates & Prices

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Per person starting at
$13,995
Window Suite aboard the Island Sky
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Single Suite
Averaging 225 sq. ft. Queen size bed or two twin-sized beds and a third berth, window and sitting area.
Window Suite aboard the Island Sky
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Triple Suite
Averaging 225 sq. ft. Queen size bed or two twin-sized beds and a third berth, window and sitting area.
Hebridean Sky ship
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Porthole Suite
Averaging 240 sq. ft. Queen size bed or two twin-sized beds, porthole and sitting area.
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Window Suite
Averaging 225 sq. ft. Queen size bed or two twin-sized beds, window and sitting area.
Hebridean Sky ship
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Promenade Suite
Averaging 220 sq. ft. Queen size bed or two twin-sized beds, window and sitting area.
Deluxe Suite aboard the Hebridean Sky
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Deluxe Suite
Averaging 240 sq. ft. Queen size bed or two twin-sized beds, bow & side windows and sitting area.
Hebridean Sky ship
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Veranda Suite
Averaging 260 sq. ft and a 40 sq. ft. balcony. Queen size bed or two twin-sized beds, private balcony and sitting area.
Hebridean Sky ship
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Penthouse Suite
Averaging 325 sq. ft and a 80 sq. ft. balcony. Queen size bed or two twin-sized beds, private balcony and sitting area.
Polar Latitudes - Owner's Suite
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Owners Suite
Averaging 385 sq. ft and a 110 sq. ft. balcony. Two room suite with sitting area and bedroom, queen size bed or two twin-sized beds,

Notes

Single supplement - Single occupancy of a twin cabin is available at 1.7 times the twin occupancy rate.

Travel Insurance - All passengers are required to carry valid travel insurance which must contain medical and evacuation coverage of no less than $150,000 as well as cancellation and trip interruption.
Included
  • 21 Breakfasts, 20 Lunches, 21 Dinners

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This was my first experience with Adventure Life - and I couldn't have been more pleased with the trip. The guides and local staff in both Buenos Aires and Uruguay were terrific - extremely helpful and accommodating. I really enjoyed meeting the friendly staff in Buenos Aires in person (I left my bags with them for the afternoon).
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