Antarctica Cruises & Tours

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Extend your Antarctica travel a few more days with an Antarctic extension. Antarctica Hospitality
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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: Kapitan Khlebnikov

Itinerary: Emperor Penguins: Snow Hill Island Safari

click to enlarge
  Penguin FamilyPhoto by: Gerald Cubitt

 cabins & deck plans  |  additional itineraries  |  cancellation policy

Days 1-2 :	Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina
Days 3-4 :	Crossing the Drake Passage
Days 5-7 :	Snow Hill: Walking Among the Emperors
Days 8-11 :	Antarctic Peninsula & South Shetlands
Days 12-14 :	Cruising back to Ushuaia
	Click for full itinerary

Days	Dates	Deck + Cabin Type
		Triple	Twin	Suite	Corner Suite	Single Twin
14	Oct 10, 2009 Oct 22, 2009 Nov 3, 2009	$13,890	$17,990	$21,490	$22,690	--
Destinations : Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, Weddell Sea Activities : Helicopter Tour, Nature Viewing, Photography, Whale Watching

Carrying on a 15-year legacy of polar firsts, last year Quark Expeditions confirmed the existence of 4,000 pairs of Emperor Penguins at a previously unknown site near Snow Hill Island - and we're still the only company visiting this remote rookery. Our "safari" is an ideal opportunity for photographers and nature lovers to observe Emperors early in the breeding season and to take the time you need to appreciate these extraordinary creatures.

John Weller: Author, Photographer, Conservationist

In 2008, author and photographer John Weller will be our special guest on all three Emperor Penguin safaris. John will act as photographer-in-residence during the first departure, delivering interactive photographic workshops to prepare adventurers for the extraordinary photo opportunities we anticipate at the rookery. During the second and third expeditions, John will be leading a team with the intent of filming the Emperors in their underwater habitat. A submersible will be carried aboard the icebreaker to the Weddell Sea where it will be deployed for up to 14 hours each evening while the ship is parked near the rookery. John and his team plan to share some of their underwater footage with guests during the homeward journeys.

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

Arrive in Ushuaia and transfer independently to our conveniently located hotel. The next day, eat breakfast at your hotel before enjoying a leisurely day of exploring the area. In the late afternoon, board the Kapitan Khlebnikov to start your adventure.

Days 3-4 : Crossing the Drake Passage

We sail across the Drake Passage and into the Southern Ocean under austral spring skies tinged with pink by late sunsets. Our ornithologists fill in the details on the Emperor Penguins' biology, unique habitat and adaptive behavior, while our photography experts lead practical onboard workshops. Up on deck, look for Wandering Albatross, shearwaters, whales and dolphins. And, if the skies are clear, watch the horizon for Elephant Island, where Sir Ernest Shackleton left the stranded Endurance crew while he and five men sailed a lifeboat 800 miles to South Georgia to secure their rescue.

Days 5-7 : Snow Hill: Walking Among the Emperors

As on any Antarctic expedition, but particularly on this voyage, our itinerary may have to be modified in response to changing weather and ice conditions; naturally our objective is to visit the Emperor Penguin colony in the best possible weather. On the approach to Snow Hill Island, the Captain and Expedition Leader use air reconnaissance data to choose the best place to position the icebreaker. As we draw near, a few curious penguins may be attracted to the open water by the ship, so keep a look out.

After flying by helicopter to a site that is safely away from the rookery, we walk across the meters-thick sea ice and pause a short distance from the penguins so they are able to adjust to our presence and we can attune ourselves to their relatively quiet ways. When we visit early in the breeding season, the Emperor chicks are still young, so you will possibly see them brooding on their parents' feet or huddling together in large, communal crouches. (As adults they will use the huddle to survive the bitter cold of the austral winter; forming dense groups and keeping their backs to the wind, each bird gradually moves inward to benefit from the warmth at the center, then returns to the edge again so that others may take a turn.) You also witness the Emperors' characteristic displays and can listen for noisy "feeding exchanges."

And of course nothing can match the sight of these remarkable creatures tobogganing, with surprising speed, across the ice - or shooting out of the sea and onto shore. Best of all, this exclusive Quark Expeditions adventure offers photographers and nature lovers extended time in the rookery, so you have plenty of chances to observe and record the Emperor Penguin's life in its natural environment. No other Antarctic travel company comes here, because only a purpose-built polar icebreaker can penetrate the Weddell Sea this early in the season.

Days 8-11 : Antarctic Peninsula & South Shetlands

As we resume our journey back through the Antarctic Sound, our exact route and the number of possible Zodiac landings will depend on the variable conditions encountered throughout the voyage up to this point. Our plan is to land at Brown Bluff on the Trinity Peninsula - the northern end of the Antarctic Peninsula - joining the select few who have actually set foot on the White Continent. Although the focus of our expedition is mainly on the Emperor Penguin, we also hope to visit colonies of Adelie, Chinstrap and Gentoo Penguins as they return with the Antarctic summer to breed on the Peninsula. Further on, we sail past the remote South Shetland Islands, a chain that boasts a profusion of wildlife and is home to 12 research stations operated by various countries. (Under the Antarctic Treaty, which suspends all territorial claims, the islands are not controlled by any one nation.) Time and weather conditions permitting, you can look forward to further sightings of penguins, seabirds and seals along the way.

Days 12-14 : Cruising back to Ushuaia

While every expedition has its own special character, all conclude on a familiar note - a lively debate over how best to safeguard the future of Antarctica and protect extraordinary species like the Emperor Penguin. Your Expedition Team specialists, in their engaging recap sessions, challenge all of us to become ambassadors for Antarctic conservation. Meanwhile, the ship makes its way across the Drake Passage and through the Beagle Channel to Ushuaia. After a last superb meal on board the Kapitan Khlebnikov, transfer to the airport for your flight home.

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- Additional fuel surcharge of $58/night on ship, per person, for Antarctic departures between Oct 2008 - Mar 2009.
-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.
-Single supplement of 1.7 times the twin rate for travelers who want to guarantee single room.
-Emergency medical evacuation coverage for a minimum of US$100,000 per person is required. Contact us for details on arranging travel insurance.

Prices are based on a 3% cash discount.

Ship Description: Kapitan Khlebnikov

click to enlarge
  Kapitan Khlebnikov breaking ice

The KAPITAN KHLEBNIKOV was built in Finland in 1981 and is a powerful polar class icebreaker, which has sailed to extremely remote corners of the globe with adventurous travelers since 1992. No other expedition vessel has navigated more polar waters. It was the first ship ever to circumnavigate Antarctica with passengers in 1996-97.

The ship's interior provides passenger facilities necessary for excellent comfort, with accommodations in 54 first class outside cabin and suites. The vessel carries a maximum of 112 passengers.

All cabins are outside, with windows that can be opened for fresh or cooler air. In addition, passengers may control the flow of air into the cabin by adjusting the vent. Each cabin has a private bathroom with shower, toilet and wash-basin. Cabin floors are carpeted. The cabins have ample cupboard and drawer space, and a large desk. The second bed in each cabin is a convertible sofa bed, which is made up each night by the stewardess and converted back into a sofa during the day. Triple cabins have two lower berths and one upper berth. Each cabin is equipped with an 'in-cabin' music system. All cabins have robes for use while on board, which will be collected on the last day of the voyage. These are available for purchase if passengers wish to take one home.

There is ample storage space under the beds to store most luggage. If not, passengers should alert the cabin stewardess who can store it for the duration of the voyage. Hair dryers, quality soap and shower gel are available in each cabin.

Triple 135 sq. ft. Cabins include twin bunk beds and a convertible sofa, writing desk, chair, bookshelves, storage box, telephone, and porthole or window	Twin 135 sq. ft. Cabins include one twin bed and a convertible sofa, writing desk, chair, bookshelves, 2 wardrobes, storage box, telephone, and porthole or window
Suite 193 sq. ft. Cabin includes separate living area, TV/VCR, refrigerator, convertible sofa, double bed 2 desks, 2 chairs, bookshelves, storage box, telephone, 2 wardrobes, and picture window	Corner Suite 285 sq. ft. Cabin includes separate living area, TV/VCR, refrigerator, convertible sofa, double bed 2 desks, 2 chairs, bookshelves, storage box, telephone, 2 wardrobes, and picture window
Single Twin 135 sq. ft. Cabins include one twin bed and a convertible sofa, writing desk, chair, bookshelves, 2 wardrobes, storage box, telephone, and porthole or window

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