Antarctica Cruises & Tours

Adventure Life
800-344-6118 (Toll-free)
406-541-2677 (International)
406-541-2676 (Fax)
E-mail us
1655 S 3rd St. W, Ste 1
Missoula MT, 59801 USA

Extensions

Extend your Antarctica travel a few more days with an Antarctic extension. Antarctica Hospitality
Package » Chile Tour Extensions » Argentina Tour Extensions »

Research Ship 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 MV Plancius One Ocean Navigator / Plancius Luxury Expedition Ship Corinthian II Orion Minerva National Geographic Explorer Clelia II

Icon Legend

Please click to see a detailed explanation of these icons used throughout the site.

Escort

Escorted Unescorted

Difficulty

Easy Moderate Challenging

When to Travel

Excellent Very Good Unpredictable Unavailable

e-mail a friend print itinerary

Ship: MV Orlova

Itinerary: Explorers' Route via the Falklands and S. Georgia

click to enlarge
  Penguin cruising the icePhoto by: Gerald Cubitt

 cabins & deck plans  |  additional itineraries  |  cancellation policy

Days 1&2 :	Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina
Days 3-5 :	Sailing toward the Falklands
Days 6-11 :	South Georgia and Shackleton's Grave
Days 12-17 :	South Shetlands and the Peninsula
Days 18-20 :	Crossing the Drake Passage
	Click for full itinerary

Days	Dates	Deck + Cabin Type
		Triple	Lower Deck Twin	Main Deck Twin	Captain	Superior	Amundsen Suite
20	Jan 14, 2009	$9,800	$11,900	$13,600	$13,600	$16,200	$18,400
		Jan 14, 2009 - $500 per person air credit!
20	Dec 19, 2009	$9,990	$13,390	$14,490	$14,490	$16,790	$19,290
Destinations : Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, Falkland Islands, South Georgia Activities : Cultural Activities, Modern History, Nature Viewing, Photography, Whale Watching

If your goal is to set foot on Antarctica but also; having traveled to the extremes of the Southern Hemisphere; explore the historic Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) and remote South Georgia, this is the ideal small ship expedition. From Shackleton's lonely grave to spectacular Iceberg Alley to Zodiac landings at remote penguin rookeries and other areas rich with wildlife, come follow the early explorers on a remarkable Antarctic experience.

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

On arriving in Ushuaia, transfer to our conveniently located hotel and explore this pioneering port town on the edge of Beagle Channel. Next day, enjoy breakfast at your hotel, then spend the day exploring. Enjoy some free time to shop or relax before boarding our small expedition ship.

Days 3-5 : Sailing toward the Falklands

Join us on deck as we make our way toward the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas). Our specific stops in the outer Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) will depend on local conditions. Typical sightings include Flightless Steamer Ducks, Magellanic Penguins and Gentoo Penguins on Carcass Island; Rockhopper Penguins as well as nesting Black-browed Albatross and Blue-eyed Shags on nearby New Island; plus Peale's and Commerson's dolphins, which frequently bow-ride and play alongside our Zodiacs as we explore the coastal waters. Walk over the tussock grass to enjoy tea and cake at a family "camp" (as Falklanders call their farms), and stroll among colorfully painted buildings in the historic capital Stanley, stopping for a pint at one of its British-style pubs.

Days 6-11 : South Georgia and Shackleton's Grave

Our shipboard historian offers absorbing presentations on the exploration of the Southern Ocean as we continue on toward South Georgia. Remembered as the endpoint of Sir Ernest Shackleton's heroic rescue trek following the sinking of the Endurance, the island of South Georgia is a diverse landscape of 2,100 m mountains, massive glaciers, grassy uplands and deep fjords. Your many wildlife viewing opportunities over the next few days include thousands of King Penguins at Salisbury Plain; Wandering Albatross and fur seals at Prion Island; and southern elephant seals, plus King, Macaroni and Gentoo Penguins along Gold Harbor and other untouched beaches along the coast. On our visit to the former whaling outpost of Grytviken, you can pay your respects at the simple grave of Shackleton, who died here after suffering a heart attack during the Quest expedition in 1922.

Days 12-17 : South Shetlands and the Peninsula

Our approach to the Antarctic Peninsula, the most accessible part of the White Continent, brings breathtaking views of snowcapped mountains, cascading glaciers and massive, flat-topped tabular icebergs in crystal blue seas. On our planned landings you can expect to see every manner of fascinating bird life, from enormous rookeries of Gentoo, Chinstrap and Adelie Penguins, to Blue-eyed Shags, Kelp Gulls, Cape Petrels, Snowy Sheathbills and Antarctic Terns. You may also sight Weddell, crabeater and leopard seals, along with orcas, and humpback and Minke whales. As you'll see from the detailed ice charts (which one of the ship's officers will be happy to explain if you're interested), there are challenges to navigating the Antarctic Sound through the area known as Iceberg Alley; we'll try to loop down for a visit to the large Adelie Penguin colony on Paulet Island. Your exploration of the continent proper typically begins at Paradise Bay or nearby Neko Harbor. Depending on the thickness of the pack ice and iceberg conditions, we venture into spectacular Neumayer and Lemaire Channels, sailing past towering rock faces and magnificent glaciers. We also try to visit one of the many Antarctic research stations in the region, including Port Lockroy, a former British wartime outpost and scientific base that now houses a museum (and what is probably the world’s most remote post office, where you can mail a card home).

Next we head on to the South Shetland Islands, lying just to the north of the Antarctic Peninsula. We hope to stop at Paulet or Elephant Island, home to a large Gentoo Penguin rookery. It was on Elephant Island that the crew of Shackleton's Endurance found refuge while he and five handpicked men carried on in a small open lifeboat, crossing 1,300 km of open sea in order to arrange the rescue of their comrades. On some departures we're able to sail right into the sunken volcanic caldera of Deception Island, where adventurous travelers can test the thermal waters at Pendulum Cove.

Days 18-20 : Crossing the Drake Passage

We cross the famed Drake Passage, named for the 16th-century English navigator Sir Francis Drake, looking out for Wandering Albatross and other seabirds from the ship's spacious decks and promenades. We also cross the Antarctic Convergence, a biological barrier where cold polar waters sink beneath warmer waters from the temperate zones.

Illuminating presentations and lively chats continue as the Expedition Team reviews the journey and invites your perspective on all we've seen and experienced. After docking in Ushuaia, enjoy breakfast on our last morning, then transfer to town or head directly to the airport for your flight home or on to other adventures.

---

- 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 cabinmate is not found for you, no single supplement will be charged.
-Standard Twin Cabins are available for single occupancy at 1.7 times the shared price
-Emergency medical evacuation coverage for a minimum of US$100,000 per person required. Contact us for details on arranging travel insurance.

-FUEL SURCHARGE - $17/ night for Arctic cruises Jun-Sep 2008

Prices are based on a 3% cash discount.

Ship Description: MV Orlova

click to enlarge
  Voyage on expedition cruise ship MV Orlova for a fantastic polar adventure

Built in Yugoslavia in 1976 and refurbished in 2006, the M/V Orlova is a 90 meter ice-strengthened passenger ship. Ship features include a fully equipped lecture hall and theatre, attractive bar and lounge, and also a well stocked Antarctic library. There is an excercise room, and there is a medical infirmary and physician on board.

Accommodation onboard ranges from triple and twin cabins to superiors and suites. All cabins have two lower berths and private facilities with either a porthole or window. They also feature a writing desk, sitting space and ample storage.

Our European chefs serve delicious international cuisine and the comfortable bar is stocked with a good selection of wine and spirits. The ship is crewed by Russian officers and crew, all highly experienced in polar navigation. Our team of naturalists and lecturers from all over the world will offer a unique educational program for passengers during their Antarctica travel, covering subjects such as natural history, ornithology, marine biology, geography, geology, history and the environment.

We maintain an 'open bridge' policy which means that you are almost always welcome to visit the Bridge with its sophisticated communication and navigation equipment at any time (subject to weather conditions). Passengers can use the ship's sophisticated communication equipment for satellite phone and email service.

Triple 7 cabins (400-405, 416) with private baths with shower. 180 sq ft. Each has 2 chairs, 3 wardrobes, cupboard, telephone, window (doesn\'t open), two lower twin beds, and one upper bed	Lower Deck Twin 14 cabins (300-312, 315) with private baths with shower. 159 sq ft. Each has 2 chairs, 2 wardrobes, cupboard, telephone, 2 storage boxes, window (doesn\'t open), and two lower twin beds
Main Deck Twin 23 cabins (407-412, 414,415, 417-429, 431) with private baths with shower. 127 sq ft. Each has a chair, 2 wardrobes, cupboard, telephone, window (can be opened), and two lower twin beds	Captain Eight cabins (600-607) with private baths with shower. 110 sq ft. Each has a TV, safe, chair, wardrobe, cupboard, telephone, two windows (one window can be opened), and two lower twin beds
Superior Three cabins (503, 505, 506) with private baths with shower. 128 sq ft. Each has a TV, safe, two chairs, locker, telephone, two windows (one window can be opened), and two lower full beds	Amundsen Suite Two cabins (501 and 502) with private baths with shower. 334 sq ft. Each has a TV, sofa, safe, refrigerator, table/desk, 2 armchairs, wardrobe, locker, cupboard, telephone, 4 windows (some windows can be opened), and two full beds

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