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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: Professor Molchanov

Itinerary: Falklands, South Georgia & Antarctic Peninsula

click to enlarge
  King Penguin with baby chickPhoto by: Rinie van Meurs

 cabins & deck plans  |  additional itineraries  |  cancellation policy

Day 1 :	Ushuaia, Argentina
Day 2 :	At Sea
Day 3 :	Falklands
Day 4 :	Falklands
Days 5-6 :	Antarctic Convergence
Days 7-10 :	South Georgia
Day 11 :	At Sea
Day 12 :	South Orkneys
Day 13 :	At Sea
Days 14-16 :	South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula
Days 17-18 :	Drake Passage
Day 19 :	Ushuaia
	Click for full itinerary

Days	Dates	Deck + Cabin Type
		Triple Shared	Twin Shared	Twin Private	Superior	Suite
19	Feb 9, 2009	$9,990	$11,790	$13,490	$15,750	$17,350
19	Jan 5, 2010 Feb 12, 2010	$11,790	$13,990	$15,990	$18,490	$20,350
		Feb 12, 2010 - Optional Scuba Diving ($1,190 per person)
Destinations : Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, Falkland Islands, South Georgia Activities : Modern History, Nature Viewing, Photography, Scuba Diving, Whale Watching

Day 1 : Ushuaia, Argentina

In the afternoon, we embark in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, the picturesque southernmost city in the world located at the Beagle Channel and sail through the Beagle Channel.

Day 2 : At Sea

At sea, in the westerlies the ship is followed by several species of albatrosses, storm petrels, shearwaters and diving petrels.

Day 3 : Falklands

In the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) we plan to spend the whole day on New Island offering among others large colonies of Black-browed Albatrosses, Rockhopper Penguins, Blue-eyed Shags, and Sea Lions.

Day 4 : Falklands

In Port Stanley , the capital of the Falklands, we can experience Falkland culture, which has some South-American characteristics. In Port Stanley and surrounding area we can see a quite important number of stranded clippers from a century ago.

Days 5-6 : Antarctic Convergence

At sea, on our way to South Georgia we will cross the Antarctic Convergence. Entering Antarctic waters, the temperature will drop as much as 10 degrees C in the time span of only a few hours. Near the Convergence we will see a multitude of southern seabirds near the ship; several species of albatrosses, shearwaters, petrels, prions and skuas.

Days 7-10 : South Georgia

In South Georgia we shall visit Grytviken with the abandoned whaling village, where King Penguins now walk in the streets, and King Edwards Point with a British garrison and the grave of Shackleton.

Fortuna Bay and Bay of Isles with breeding Wandering Albatrosses on Albatross Island, and Salisbury Plain with a large colony of King Penguins are other highlights of the South Georgia program. We may also visit Elsehul, Right Whale Bay, Possession Bay, Gold Harbour and Drygalski Fjord to give you a good opportunity to see a wide spectrum of landscapes and wildlife, like the introduced Reindeer, Fur Seals, Elephant Seals, Gentoo Penguins, Macaroni Penguins, Grey-headed Albatrosses, Light-mantled Sooty Albatrosses, Northern and Southern Giant Petrels, White-chinned Petrels, several species of prions and storm petrels, Brown Skuas, Dominican Gulls, Antarctic Terns, sheathbills and the endemic South Georgia Pintail.

Day 11 : At Sea

At sea, where the ship is again followed by a multitude of seabirds.

Day 12 : South Orkneys

In the South Orkneys we plan to call at Laurie Island and may visit the friendly Argentine base, in which vicinity we can see breeding Southern Giant Petrels. With permission of the base personnel we may also visit Punta Cormoran which has an Adelie Penguin colony.

Day 13 : At Sea

At sea when we approach the sea-ice, we may have a chance to see some high-Antarctic species like Maccormick Skua, Snow Petrel and the elusive juvenile Emperor Penguin. Chances to encounter Minke Whales are also increasing when we approach the ice.

Days 14-16 : South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula

We will sail into the Weddell Sea through the ice-clogged Antarctic Sound. Huge tabular icebergs will announce our arrival to the eastern side of the Antarctic Peninsula. We plan to visit Paulet Island with a million pairs of Adelie Penguins and the remains of the Nordenskiöld expedition. At Brown Bluff we can put our feet on the continent.

At Deception Island, we will try to land at Baily Head home to a colony of ten thousands of Chinstrap Penguins. Deception itself is a sub ducted crater, which opens into the sea, creating a natural harbour for the ship. Here we find hot springs, an abandoned whaling station, thousands of Cape Pigeons and many Dominican Gulls, Brown and South Polar Skuas and Antarctic Terns. Wilson’s Storm Petrels and Black-bellied Storm Petrels nest in the ruins of the whaling station in Whalers Bay. Good walkers may hike from Baily Head over the ridge of the crater into Whalers Bay, while our ship braves its entrance into the crater through the spectacular Neptune’s Bellow into the ring of Deception Island. In the afternoon we may land at Half Moon Island, where we can obsereve Elephant, Weddell and Fur Seals as well as Chinstrap Penguins, Blue-eyed Shags, Wilson’s Storm Petrels, Kelp Gulls, Snowy Sheatbills, Antarctic Terns and Antarctic Brown Skuas.

On our way West, we sail to Cuverville Island, a small precipitous island, nestled between the mountains of the Antarctic Peninsula. It contains a large colony of Gentoo Penguins and breeding pairs of Brown Skuas. From there we sail to Neko Harbour in Andvord Bay and through Paradise Bay with its myriad icebergs and deep cut fjords, while having chances of seeing large Whales. We will have opportunities for zodiac cruising between the icebergs in the inner parts of the fjords.

Days 17-18 : Drake Passage

On our way north we are again followed by a great selection of seabirds while crossing the Drake Passage.

Day 19 : Ushuaia

We arrive in the morning in Ushuaia and disembark.

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- Additional fuel surcharge of $20/night on ship, per person, for Antarctica departures
- Arctic Fuel Surcharge: $50/night for the 2009 season. If, 2 months before departure, the cost per barrel is less than $130, we will discount this fuel surcharge.
- Sea Kayaking Option: US$700 per person
- 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.
- Standard twin cabins are available for single occupancy at 1.8 times the shared price. Superior cabins and suites available for single occupancy at 2 times the shared price.

Prices are based on a 3% cash discount.

Ship Description: Professor Molchanov

click to enlarge
  Ship crusing the Arctic waters

Small, ice-strengthened vessel offering an experience more like a private expedition than a conventional cruise during your polar travels.

The 72 metre, 1753 ton Professor Molchanov was built in Finland in 1983 for polar and oceanographic research. Continuously refurbished since its conversion for passenger use, the vessel is ideally suited for expedition cruising, carrying a maximum of just 49 passengers in comfortable twin and triple cabins, all outside and each with a desk and ample storage space.

Public areas include a lounge and bar, small library, infirmary (there is a doctor on board) and a sauna. Views are excellent from the large, open decks and the navigation bridge, where we are almost always welcome. The European chefs produce a varied menu and the comfortable bar is stocked with a good selection of wine.

The ship is staffed by Russian officers and crew, all highly experienced in ice navigation. Russian captains are recognized as the world experts in polar operations.

The atmosphere aboard the Professor Molchanov is relaxed and informal, more like a private expedition than a cruise. To explore such a region with just a small number of fellow passengers is a real luxury, and will help make your polar travel of discovery and adventure a truly unforgettable experience.

Triple Shared 2 Triple cabins on deck 3 with two lower and one upper berth, a desk, a small washbasin, storage and hanging space and portholes. Shared shower and toilet facilities are conveniently located on the same deck.	Twin Shared 9 Twin non private cabins with two lower berths, a desk, small washbasin, ample storage and hanging space and portholes. Shared shower and toilet facilities are conveniently located on the same deck.
Twin Private 12 Cabins with a private bathroom with shower,washbasin and toilet,upper and lower berths (2 cabins have lower berths),a desk,ample storage space and windows.	Superior 2 Superior cabins with a double bed and a single sofa-bed. A private bathroom with shower, washbasin and toilet. A sitting area with a desk, video player and TV, coffee and tea facilities, refrigerator, and windows.
Suite The large Suite has a double bed and a single sofa-bed. A private bathroom with shower, washbasin and toilet. A large lounge area with a desk, video player and TV, coffee and tea facilities, refrigerator and large forward and side facing windows.

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