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 MV 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 National Geographic Explorer MV Plancius Luxury Expedition Ship Corinthian II Minerva 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: Ocean Nova

Itinerary: Antarctic Adventure: Actively Exploring the Peninsula

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 :	Across the Drake to the South Shetlands
Days 6-9 :	Antarctic Peninsula
Days 10-12 :	Back across the Drake to Ushuaia
	Click for full itinerary

Days	Dates	Deck + Cabin Type
		Triple	Twin Cabin	Single	Upper/Lower Twin
12	Nov 20, 2008 Nov 30, 2008 Dec 10, 2008	$4,900	$6,900	$9,900	--
		Optional activities: sea kayaking, overnight camping, mountaineering and cross-country skiing
12	Dec 20, 2008	$5,400	$7,600	$10,900	--
		Optional activities: sea kayaking and overnight camping
12	Dec 30, 2008	$6,200	$8,900	$12,500	--
12	Nov 20, 2009 Nov 30, 2009 Dec 10, 2009	$5,490	$7,790	$10,990	--
		Optional Activities: Sea Kayaking ($795 per person), Camping ($195 per person), Mountaineering ($550 per person) and Cross-country skiing ($550 per person)
12	Dec 20, 2009	$6,190	$8,590	$12,390	--
		Optional Activities: Sea Kayaking ($795 per person), Camping ($195 per person), Mountaineering ($550 per person) and Cross-country skiing ($550 per person)
12	Dec 30, 2009	$6,990	$9,990	$13,990	--
		Optional Activities: Sea Kayaking ($795 per person) and Camping ($195 per person)
Destinations : Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica Activities : Nature Viewing, Photography, Whale Watching

When you set foot on the White Continent, you want to benefit from the collective expertise of veterans who know the region inside out. That's the essence of our Antarctic Adventure. Sailing through iceberg-filled bays beneath snowcapped peaks; spotting seals and whales among the ice floes; exploring vast penguin rookeries and remote research stations - it all adds up to the perfect introduction to Antarctica for a small group of active adventurers.

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

Arrive in Ushuaia, a small city surrounded by rugged peaks and glaciers, and transfer independently to our conveniently located hotel. In the morning, eat a leisurely breakfast and enjoy a day of exploring on your own. Later in the afternoon, the Expedition Team gets you settled aboard your ice-strengthened ship as we sail into the Beagle Channel to start your Antarctic expedition.

Days 3-5 : Across the Drake to the South Shetlands

We enter the Drake Passage, named for Sir Francis Drake, the explorer who proved that Tierra del Fuego was not linked to a further southern continent. Various seabirds, including the Wandering Albatross, accompany us on our crossing. We also sail through the Antarctic Convergence, which - as one of our specialists will be happy to explain, poring over a map in the lounge - is a natural boundary formed by the meeting of cold Antarctic and warmer sub-antarctic waters. By Day 4 we should reach the South Shetland Islands, where we plan to visit penguin rookeries and walk remote beaches sighting Antarctic fur seals and southern elephant seals. We also hope to visit one of the archipelago's many research bases. Conditions permitting, the Captain will try to sail through a narrow passage into the sunken volcanic caldera of Deception Island, where you can test the thermal waters of Pendulum Cove.

Days 6-9 : Antarctic Peninsula

There will be many unforgettable closeups in the days ahead, but if you painted the broader canvas of your Peninsula experience it would begin with endless vistas of windswept ice; jagged mountain peaks crowned with snow; massive glaciers descending into the sea; and our ship winding through deep blue waters dotted with floating icebergs. Then there is the wildlife: Gentoo, Chinstrap and Adelie Penguins; Weddell, crabeater and leopard seals; orcas; humpback and Minke whales; and every kind of bird, from Blue-eyed Shags and Snowy Sheathbills to Kelp Gulls, Cape Petrels and Antarctic Terns. With this as an overture, let's look at a few highlights: We typically sail first to Paradise Bay or nearby Neko Harbor, each home to penguins and seals - before continuing on to the large Gentoo Penguin colonies at Port Lockroy. Close by is one of the world's most out-of-the-way museums: established in 1944 as a secret wartime outpost by James Marr (who as a Boy Scout explored Antarctica with Sir Ernest Shackleton), the former British scientific station includes a post office from which you can mail cards home. Around this point in the journey, those who opted for polar camping will set off with their expedition tents for an unforgettable night on the ice. Next, if conditions allow, we navigate the Neumayer and Lemaire Channels, taking in stunning views as the ship passes between towering rock faces and spectacular glaciers. Travelers who've chosen the sea-kayaking option enjoy an even more dramatic perspective as they paddle among the icebergs. Often we make a Zodiac landing on Petermann Island, a nesting area for Adelie and Gentoo Penguins, skuas and Blue-eyed Shags. Weather permitting, we may also sail up to the Peninsula's northern tip into Iceberg Alley - where massive pieces of the ice shelf have calved into the Antarctic Sound - and land on Paulet Island to visit its Adelie Penguin rookery.

Days 10-12 : Back across the Drake to Ushuaia

Leaving the Peninsula, we sail back across the Drake Passage, keeping an eye out for whales, penguins, seals and myriad species of bird. When not out on deck, you can enjoy more presentations, compare notes and digital photos, or simply relax in the ship's lounge chatting over drinks with other travelers and the Expedition Team. After a last breakfast aboard, transfer to town or head directly to Ushuaia airport to catch your outbound flight.

---

- 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 we match you with a cabin mate of the same gender. Even if we are unable to find a cabin mate for you, no single supplement will be charged.
- Sea Kayaking Option: US$695 per person for 2008/09, $795 per person for 2009/10
- Mountaineering Option: US$495 per person for 2008/09, $550 per person for 2009/10 season
- Cross-Country Skiing: US$495 per person for 2008/09 season, $550 per person for 2009/10 season
- Camping Option: There is no supplementary charge for this option for the 2008/09 season. $195 per person for the 2009/10 season. Participation will be confirmed at booking on a first come, first served basis.
-Emergency medical evacuation coverage for a minimum of US$100,000 per person required. Contact us for details on arranging travel insurance.

Prices are based on a 3% cash discount.

Ship Description: Ocean Nova

click to enlarge
  Ocean Nova sailing the seas

The Ocean Nova (previously called Sarpik Ittuk) was built in 1992 at the Ørskov Shipyard in Frederikshavn, Denmark, to navigate the ice-choked waters off Western Greenland. The ship was upgraded in 2000 and significantly refurbished once again in 2006 to include a glass-enclosed forward observation lounge on the top deck – and to offer travelers an even more comfortable retreat after days of exploring ashore. Carrying up to 96 passengers and classified to operate in ice-filled waters, the 73-meter vessel is guided by Danish officers with deep experience in polar navigation. With outside cabins only (all with private facilities) and a spacious dining room, the Ocean Nova is a perfect expedition ship for discovering Antarctica.

The Ocean Nova offers unreserved seating, buffet-style breakfast with table service, table-service lunch and dinner with main course choices from a changing daily menu, and afternoon cakes. The lounge and bar are open all day with a wide selection of wines and spirits. The Ocean Nova also features a library with a collection of polar-themed books, exercise room, and a clinic with a licensed doctor.

Triple 2 lower berths and one upper berth with private facilities and window	Twin Cabin 2 lower berths with private facilities and window
Single 1 lower berth with private facilities and window	Upper/Lower Twin 1 lower berth/1 upper berth with private facilities and window. All of these cabins will be converted to having two lower berths for the 2008-2009 season.

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