Antarctica Cruises & Tours

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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 Luxury Expedition Ship Corinthian II Minerva Clelia II

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Ship: Polar Pioneer

Itinerary: Shackleton Odyssey

click to enlarge
  Walking the ice

 cabins & deck plans  |  additional itineraries  |  cancellation policy

Day 1 :	Embark in Ushuaia
Day 2 :	Drake Passage
Day 3 :	Crossing the Antarctic Convergence
Days 4-5 :	Gerlache Strait
Day 6 :	Antarctic Sound
Day 7 :	Elephant Island
Day 8 :	South Orkney Islands
Day 9 :	Enroute to South Georgia
Day 10 :	Cave Cove, South Georgia
Days 11-15 :	South Georgia
Days 16-17 :	At Sea
Day 18 :	Falklands
Day 19 :	At Sea
Day 20 :	Disembark in Ushuaia
	Click for full itinerary

Days	Dates	Deck + Cabin Type
		Triple Shared	Twin Shared	Twin Private	Mini Suite	Suite
20	Feb 28, 2009	$9,190	$10,990	$12,990	$13,990	$14,990
		Optional Alpine Crossing Excursion across South Georgia Island
Destinations : Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, Falkland Islands, South Georgia Activities : Nature Viewing, Photography, Whale Watching

This voyage follows the path of Shackleton's odyssey from the northern Weddell Sea, past Elephant Island and across the Scotia Sea to the south-western side of South Georgia. This voyage is the reverse of our other two South Georgia voyages. Shackleton's epic story of survival, which started with the sinking of his ship, Endurance, in the Weddell Sea six months previously, symbolises heroic Antarctic exploration. We included the Shackleton Odyssey in our Antarctic Peninsula program for the first time in 2000. The voyage was immensely popular and very successful, as we managed to visit all of the accessible sites significant to The Boss's Southern Ocean epic. This is a magical region, where only a privileged few have walked among the tussock grass, sat quietly near an albatross nest, or gazed at the enormity of an ice cliff reflected in still, midnight-blue water.

Day 1 : Embark in Ushuaia

We board our ship Polar Pioneer mid-afternoon, then slip away from the dock in the early evening. The cruise down the Beagle Channel provides a fine view of the mountains and beech forests of Tierra del Fuego.

Day 2 : Drake Passage

While crossing the Drake Passage, accompanied by albatross and petrels, we are busy with lectures and briefings.

Day 3 : Crossing the Antarctic Convergence

By mid-afternoon, we should have crossed the Antarctic Convergence cold water boundary to Antarctica, and hope to see our first icebergs near the South Shetland Islands.

Days 4-5 : Gerlache Strait

We make contact with penguins, seals and whales in the beautiful Gerlache Strait, using our Zodiacs to cruise among the ice or make landings.

Day 6 : Antarctic Sound

At the northern end of the Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctic Sound is often choked with icebergs but this waterway provides a wildlife-rich corridor into the Weddell Sea. We begin to retrace Shackelton's path near Paulet Island.

Day 7 : Elephant Island

If the weather is kind we will land on the steep slopes of Elephant Island, the unexpected home for Shackelton's men for many months.

Day 8 : South Orkney Islands

We cruise among the mountainous South Orkney Islands.

Day 9 : Enroute to South Georgia

Cruising the Scotia Sea towards South Georgia.

Day 10 : Cave Cove, South Georgia

We enter King Haakon Bay on South Georgia, hopefully stopping for a ceremonial landing at Cave Cove where Shackelton made his first landfall after the epic open boat voyage.

Days 11-15 : South Georgia

Exploring the whaling stations, bays and promontories of South Georgia. These will be busy days as we immerse ourselves in South Georgia's extraordinary wildlife diversity - at places like Salisbury Plain, St Andrews Bay and Gold Harbour, where hundreds of thousands of king penguins line the beach, or Albatross Island, where the lords of the Southern Ocean, the wandering albatross, nest among tussock grasses.

Days 16-17 : At Sea

While at sea we have time to reflect on our days on South Georgia and enjoy the delights of birdwatching from the outer decks.

Day 18 : Falklands

We visit the southern islands of the Falklands, bristling with nesting birds.

Day 19 : At Sea

We complete our lecture program during the short hop to the South American coast.

Day 20 : Disembark in Ushuaia

We dock in Ushuaia after cruising back along the Beagle Channel in the early morning. Transfer to a city hotel or commence your homeward journey.

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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

Prices are based on a 3% cash discount.

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