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A large penguin colony

Shackleton Centenary Voyage

Example 20 Day Cruise aboard Hebridean Sky
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Celebrate the 100th anniversary of Ernest Shackleton's epic Antarctic journey by following in his footsteps on this 20-day voyage. Board the Hebridean Sky in Ushuaia, Argentina. As you cruise through the polar waters be sure to keep an eye out for seabirds, whales, dolphins, and seals! Frequent trips ashore give ample opportunities to visit penguin colonies and explore the antarctic landscape on foot. As you near the end of your voyage prepare to cross the Drake Passage back to Ushuaia, Argentina. 
Unforgettable experiences on your Antarctic cruiseKayak in unforgettable landscapesA seal pup poses yawns in the sunlightKayakers pose in formation for the camera.A large penguin colony
Highlights
  • Search for whales, dolphins, and seabirds as you sail
  • Explore the museum, shops, and pubs of Stanley, East Falkland
  • Follow in Shackleton's footsteps on King Haakon Bay
  • Visit the Salisbury Plain king penguin colony
Activity Level: Relaxed
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
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Full Itinerary

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Day 1: Ushuaia

Arrive in Ushuaia anytime today. Enjoy a complimentary stay at the beautiful Arakur Hotel & Resort. Explore the trails, take a spa, head into town, or relax and soak-in the surroundings. The optional evening briefing is a great opportunity for you to ask questions and to meet some of your fellow travelers. 

Day 2: Embark in Ushuaia

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Dinner
Enjoy a complimentary buffet breakfast in the morning. The rest of the morning is free to explore until your mid-afternoon transfer to the ship, where you are greeted by your Expedition Team and ship’s officers at a safety and orientation briefing followed by the Captain’s welcome dinner. After dinner, relax and take in the mountainous scenery during the evening sail down the Beagle Channel past Magellanic penguin, rock cormorant, and sea lion colonies.

Day 3-4: Drake Passage

  • Ship
  • 2 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 2 Dinners
Among the wildlife spotting opportunities as you sail south are the albatrosses, prions, and petrels that frequently follow the ship. The Expedition Team is out on deck as well, looking for the whales and dolphins that may also be seen in the area. Your experts begin the presentation series with informative and entertaining presentations on the wildlife, history, and geology of Antarctica. Helpful briefings on environmental regulations and expedition safety are also held in the comfortable presentation hall. The length of the journey depends on sea conditions, but you can hope to have your first sightings of the South Shetland Islands of the Antarctic Peninsula in the evening of Day 4.

Day 5-7: Antarctica South Shetland Islands

  • Ship
  • 3 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 3 Dinners
Your Expedition Leader and Captain create a flexible itinerary based on weather, ice, and opportunity. The route stresses the most scenic bays and channels of the Peninsula with stops at penguin rookeries, seal wallows, bird colonies and whale feeding areas as well as sites of historic and scientific interest. The trip may include picturesque Neko Harbor, sheltered Paradise Harbor, the humpback whale-favored Wilhelmina Bay, the wildlife-filled Errera Channel, the majestic Neumayer Channel, or the striking Antarctic Sound with its tabular icebergs. You may stop at an active scientific base such as Poland’s Arctowksi or Argentina’s Esperanza as well as an historic base such as U.K.’s Port Lockroy or the Nordenskjöld expedition remains at Hope Bay. Adelie, chinstrap and gentoo penguins abound, and Weddell, crabeater and elephant seals are often found hauled out to rest along with predatory leopard seals and the irritable Antarctic fur seal. Minke and humpback whales are frequent visitors in the late season and orca sightings are also common.

Day 8: Elephant Island

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Early this morning pass by Elephant Island, and if conditions allow, zodiac cruise or land on this exposed and remote locale. The focus is on Point Wild where Shackleton’s party beached, after Endurance sank in the Weddell Sea. Twenty-two men remained here, living under a lifeboat, while Shackleton and five companions took the James Caird and sailed for South Georgia.

Day 9-10: At Sea

  • Ship
  • 2 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 2 Dinners
These days at sea mirror the path that Shackleton’s rescue party took from Elephant Island to South Georgia and eventual rescue. The education program continues with presentations about the amazing natural and human history of South Georgia Island. The sea journey transits the rich waters of the Scotia Sea, where you can spend time on deck with the albatross and petrels as well as keep a look out for feeding whales from the bridge. In the evening the James Caird reenactment documentary is showcased. “Shackleton: Death or Glory” is hosted by Shackleton Epic crew member and Polar Latitudes historian Seb Couthard.

Day 11: South Georgia Island | Gold Harbor

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
This morning discover Gold Harbor, one of the most stunning sites in all of South Georgia. At the head of the bay is the spectacular Bertrab Glacier, which hangs over vertical cliffs. Gold Harbor is home to both gentoo and king penguin colonies. The adolescent fur seals of the season dominate the beaches while southern giant petrels constantly patrol the site for feeding opportunities. In the afternoon visit Cooper Bay, home to the only macaroni penguin colony that is reasonably accessible by boat. The ship either lands on a small beach or cruises in zodiacs to catch a glimpse of this notoriously difficult-to-view penguin species. If landing is possible access to the macaroni colony does involve climbing up a steep, tussock covered slope, littered with fur seals. Chinstrap penguins are also prevalent at this site.

Day 12: St. Andrew's Bay | Grytviken

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
After breakfast explore St. Andrew’s Bay on South Georgia’s exposed and rugged north coast. If conditions permit land and visit the island’s largest king penguin colony. In addition to king penguins, St. Andrew’s Bay is also home to over 6,000 southern elephant seal cows during the pupping season, making it one of the largest elephant seal breeding beaches on the island. Late in the season molting elephant seals are common along with fur seals. In the afternoon arrive at Grytviken, and visit the final resting place of Ernest Shackleton, in the company of special guest, Angie Butler. While researching her recent book on Shackleton’s “right-hand man” Frank Wild, Angie discovered Wild’s misplaced ashes, and worked with Wild’s family to have them brought to Grytviken, where they now rest on the right-hand side of Shackleton’s gravesite. Grytviken means ‘pot cove’ in Norwegian and Swedish, and the site earned its name from the numerous sealers’ try-pots (used for rendering seal or whale blubber) that have been found here. The ruins of Grytviken whaling station are at the head of the cove, surrounded by spectacular mountains. After visiting the cemetery and raising a glass to “The Boss” you have ample opportunity to explore the remains of the whaling station, as well as a museum that contains whaling photographs and artifacts. A post office, and a full size replica of the James Caird are located in a building adjacent to the museum. The Norwegian Church built in 1913 is only a short walk away

Day 13: Fortuna Bay | Stromness

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
This morning explore Fortuna Bay. In addition to a good-sized king penguin colony, the bay is also home to light mantle sooty albatross, and fur and elephant seals. Fortuna Bay was once highly utilized by sealers and the caves they used for shelter are visible from the landing beach. If conditions permit return to Fortuna after lunch for the “Shackleton Walk”, recreating the final leg of Shackleton’s historic journey by walking from Fortuna Bay to Stromness Bay. This is a moderately difficult walk, and those who prefer to stay onboard for the quick repositioning to Stromness find plenty to enjoy in its scenic beauty, historic buildings, and abundant wildlife. Those who choose not to do the walk may appreciate a stroll to the beautiful Shackleton Waterfall located at the end of the valley.

Day 14: Salisbry Plain | Prion

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
This morning visit the Salisbury Plain king penguin colony. The colony boasts an estimated 60,000 breeding pairs, which swells to 250,000 individuals in total during molting season. The colony has had an extraordinary population increase over the last century; only 350 breeding pairs were counted at this site in 1912. While you eat lunch the ship repositions to Prion Island, an important breeding site for the wandering albatross and the South Georgia pipit. This landing requires a special permit, and is highly regulated, but is one of the few places in the world where you can view wandering albatross on their nests.

Day 15: King Haakon Bay

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Plan to awake this morning in King Haakon Bay, the historic launching point of Shackleton’s treacherous traverse, of what was then an uncharted mountainous island. If weather and swell permit your landing in this exposed bay, disembark for a leisurely walk along the bay or explore the area via zodiac. You may see elephant seals, fur seals, and king penguins on the beach as well as burrowing petrels and pipits in the tussock grasslands. As you leave the island enter waters rich in krill, so spend some time on deck, keeping an eye out for several species of whale that may be feeding here as the cold currents sweep past South Georgia’s northernmost tip.

Day 16-17: At Sea

  • Ship
  • 2 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 2 Dinners
Make your way west towards the Falkland Islands and the warmer waters north of the Antarctic convergence. The rich waters created by the Pacific rounding South America into the south Atlantic Ocean allows the opportunity to watch out for different species of sea birds. New species of whales are possible including southern right whales and a few species of dolphin not found in Antarctic waters. Conclude the documentary series “Shackleton: Death or Glory” hosted by expedition boson petty officer and Polar Latitudes historian Seb Coulthard.

Day 18: East Falklands | Stanley

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Chosen for its sheltered harbor and access to abundant fresh water and peat for fuel, Stanley is easy to discover on foot as most shops and services are centered on the port. The museum, the post office featuring first day covers, plenty of shops with locally made wool items, and Stanley’s lively pubs are available. It is possible to experience the wildlife of the Falklands from the town including sea lions and Peale’s and Commerson’s dolphins in the harbor. 

Day 19: At Sea

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Your final day at sea as you transit towards the Beagle Channel and South America. Spend this final day of the trip with celebrations of your voyage with presentations from your expedition team, and the voyage slideshow from Polar Latitudes photographer. The evening is capped with the Captain’s farewell cocktail and dinner reception, with live music and shared stories in the bar.

Day 20: Ushuaia | Disembarkation

Morning disembarkation allows you to catch a flight homeward or extend your stay in Ushuaia, for more sights and adventure.

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Hebridean Sky

Hebridean Sky Ship
Hebridean Sky ship
Hebridean Sky Ship

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Window Suite aboard the Island Sky
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Single Suite
Averaging 225 sq. ft. Queen size bed or two twin-sized beds and a third berth, window and sitting area.
Window Suite aboard the Island Sky
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Triple Suite
Averaging 225 sq. ft. Queen size bed or two twin-sized beds and a third berth, window and sitting area.
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Porthole Suite
Averaging 240 sq. ft. Queen size bed or two twin-sized beds, porthole and sitting area.
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Window Suite
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Promenade Suite
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Deluxe Suite aboard the Hebridean Sky
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Deluxe Suite
Averaging 240 sq. ft. Queen size bed or two twin-sized beds, bow & side windows and sitting area.
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Veranda Suite
Averaging 260 sq. ft and a 40 sq. ft. balcony. Queen size bed or two twin-sized beds, private balcony and sitting area.
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Penthouse Suite
Averaging 325 sq. ft and a 80 sq. ft. balcony. Queen size bed or two twin-sized beds, private balcony and sitting area.
Polar Latitudes - Owner's Suite
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Owners Suite
Averaging 385 sq. ft and a 110 sq. ft. balcony. Two room suite with sitting area and bedroom, queen size bed or two twin-sized beds,

Notes

Single supplement - Single occupancy of a twin cabin is available at 1.7 times the twin occupancy rate.

Travel Insurance - All passengers are required to carry valid travel insurance which must contain medical and evacuation coverage of no less than $150,000 as well as cancellation and trip interruption.
Included
  • 19 Breakfasts, 17 Lunches, 18 Dinners

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Kate was great to work with in the planning stage. She was prompt, helpful, and efficient. Our tour guide, Edwin, was knowledgeable and passionate. We were very happy to have traveled with Adventure Life, it made the trip easy and a true pleasure. We could concentrate on enjoying the experience rather than the details of travel.
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