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Extensions

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 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: Polar Pioneer

Itinerary: Across the Antarctic Circle

click to enlarge
  Whale breaching near the zodiac

 cabins & deck plans  |  additional itineraries  |  cancellation policy

Day 1 :	Embark in Ushuaia
Day 2 :	Drake Passage
Day 3 :	Antarctic Convergence
Days 4-9 :	Antarctic Peninsula and Antarctic Circle
Day 10 :	Drake Passage
Day 11 :	At Sea
Day 12 :	Disembark in Ushuaia
	Click for full itinerary

Days	Dates	Deck + Cabin Type
		Triple Shared	Twin Shared	Twin Private	Mini Suite	Suite
12	Feb 6, 2009	$5,790	$7,190	$8,090	$8,990	$9,790
12	Feb 5, 2010 Feb 16, 2010	$6,090	$7,590	$7,590	$9,590	$10,390
Destinations : Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, Polar Circle Activities : Nature Viewing, Photography, Scuba Diving, Whale Watching

With its nutrient-rich waters providing plenty of food for krill, fish, penguins, seals and whales, the Antarctic Peninsula is home to the continent's greatest variety and concentration of wildlife. On this voyage we have the best of both worlds - we sample the diversity of wildlife encountered only on the Peninsula, yet travel far enough south to cross the Antarctic Circle. The Antarctic Circle crossing, through spectacular passages to Crystal Sound, reveals major changes in the continent's land- and ice scapes, and also in the distribution and abundance of wildlife. By the end of the voyage, when the ship heads back north, you will have gained a rare understanding of Antarctica's wildlife and these southerly latitudes.

Day 1 : Embark in Ushuaia

Board our ship Polar Pioneer in the afternoon, then sail down the Beagle Channel in the evening.

Day 2 : Drake Passage

Overnight, weather permitting, we will have travelled into Drake Passage. During the day there is time for lectures, safety briefings and 'ocean-gazing' from the bridge or outer decks.

Day 3 : Antarctic Convergence

Today we should cross the Antarctic Convergence, the biological boundary of Antarctica, and may see our first icebergs. In the evening we approach the Brabant and Anvers islands area.

Days 4-9 : Antarctic Peninsula and Antarctic Circle

For six days we plan to explore the western flanks of the Antarctic Peninsula as far south as the Antarctic Circle, where the waters abound with whales at this time of the season. We hope to enter the magical Crystal Sound and, if ice conditions are favourable, to navigate a passage into Marguerite Bay through a very narrow channel called The Gullet.

Day 10 : Drake Passage

We head north into the Drake Passage, past the last of the icebergs.

Day 11 : At Sea

This is our last day of lectures and the final opportunity to enjoy the Southern Ocean's rich seabird life. A cruise past Cape Horn (weather permitting, of course) and a farewell dinner provide a fitting finale.

Day 12 : Disembark in Ushuaia

We travel up the Beagle Channel to disembark in Ushuaia, then transfer to our hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure in the 'town at the end of the world.' You may like to visit the nearby Lapataia National Park or walk in the mountains behind the town.

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-A fuel surcharge of $50/person/day applies to all Antarctic departures, Nov 2008-Feb 2009.

-Kayaking Options: US$825 $1,045 for Nov 10)
-Diving Options: US$700
-Alpine Crossing Options: US$700
-Climbing Options: US$250
-Camping Option: There is no supplementary charge for this option. Participation will be confirmed at booking on a first come, first served basis.
-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 costs are 1.7 times the twin rate

Ship Description: Polar Pioneer

click to enlarge
  Polar Pioneer

Polar Pioneer was built in Finland in 1985 as an ice-strengthened research ship, and for many years she plied the treacherous waters of the USSR's northern coast. In 2000 she was refurbished in St Petersburg to provide comfortable accommodation for 54 passengers. A combined bar/lounge/library area (stocked with a good collection of polar books) was also created by simple internal restructuring - inviting surroundsing for your Antarctica travel.

This class of vessel has a fine reputation for polar expedition cruising, due to its strength, manoeuvrability and small number of cabins. All cabins have outside portholes plus ample storage space. The Russian captain and crew are among the most experienced ice navigators in the world and their enthusiasm is legendary.

The spacious bridge is always open to us and the decks are ideal for viewing. The chefs are European, and the dining room is attended by Russian stewardesses.

Polar Pioneer is not a luxury vessel as such, but this is a most popular ship for travel to the Polar regions. The accommodation is simple yet comfortable, and the meals are wholesome and uncomplicated. A small fleet of inflatable Zodiacs with outboard motors enable us to travel from ship to shore.

Triple Shared Triple Cabins have two lower and one upper berth, a desk, a small washbasin, storage and hanging space and portholes. Showers and toilets are very close by and are shared with other Main Deck cabins.	Twin Shared Twin Shared Cabins have two lower bunks, a desk, small washbasin, ample storage and hanging space and portholes. Showers and toilets are very close by and are shared with other Main Deck cabins.
Twin Private Twin Private Cabins have two lower bunks, a desk, windows, and a private bathroom with shower, toilet and washbasin. Two cabins have upper and lower bunks (cabins 402 and 403).	Mini Suite Mini Suites have a separate small bedroom with double bed, a sofabed in the main room, a desk, video player and TV, windows and a private bathroom with shower, toilet and washbasin.
Suite The Suite features a large lounge area, a separate small bedroom with double bed, a sofabed in the main room, a video player and TV, refrigerator, large forward and side facing windows, and a private bathroom with shower, toilet and washbasin.

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