Maritime Wildlife Adventure
« All Akademik Ioffe cruise options
- Day 1 Halifax, Nova Scotia
- Day 2 Sable Island
- Day 3 Bird Island, Cape Breton
- Day 4 Les Iles de la Madeleines, Quebec
- Day 5 Ile Bonaventure (Bonaventure Island), Gaspe Peninsula
- Days 6-7 Anticosti Island
- Day 8 Gros Morne National Park & Woody Point
- Day 9 Francois on the South Shore
- Day 10 Saint-Pierre et Miquelon
| Dates | Deck + Cabin Type | |||||
| Main Deck Triple | Twin Semi-Private | Twin Private | Superior | Shackleton Suite | One Ocean Suite | |
| Jul 15 '13 |
$4,990 | $5,990 | $6,990 | $7,990 | $8,990 | $9,990 |
| Optional Kayaking: $695 | ||||||
- 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 1.5 times the shared price, suites for 2 times the shared price.
Deposit & Payment - Standard twin cabins are available for single occupancy at 1.5 times the shared price, suites for 2 times the shared price.
Day 1 Halifax, Nova Scotia
Board the One Ocean Navigator/Ioffe at 1600 hrs before sailing at 1800 hrs. If your flights permit, take time to wander the waterfront of Halifax. The Historic Properties tell a tale of harbor merchants over the centuries and the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic pays tribute to the rich maritime history of Halifax, including an excellent display of Titanic artifacts and history. The Halifax Citadel is a classic star-shaped British fortress commanding a terrific view over the city of Halifax and the harbour and is staffed by historical animators re-enacting life in a highland regiment in 1869. Halifax is an historic city and the waterfront is the thread that weaves the tapestry of its history.
Day 2 Sable Island
Located on the edge of the Grand Banks hundreds of kilometers from the coast, Sable Island has a storied history as a graveyard of ships. Sporadically inhabited by sealers, shipwreck survivors and salvagers, the island is now home to fewer than 6 year-round inhabitants and a herd of Sable Island ponies. Transitioning to National Park status, Sable Island’s future plans are currently uncertain. A sandbar some 40 kilometers long and a little over a kilometer wide, Sable Island fills a unique biogeoclimatic role. It can be one of the foggiest, windiest and loneliest places in Canada but also one of the warmest and most temperate. Whether your captain is able to land ashore at Sable Island or explore its coast by zodiac and ship,you will join a limited number of people able to experience this island.
Day 3 Bird Island, Cape Breton
A small island located just a few miles offshore, Bird Island is home to a colony of puffins and razorbills. Visit the nearby town of Englishtown where you can pick up fresh-caught lobster to be served aboard the ship for dinner. Cape Breton has a wonderful Celtic music culture and you will take time to learn about this culture while exploring the coast.
Day 4 Les Iles de la Madeleines, Quebec
Sculpted out of sandstone, these islands jut out of the Gulf of St. Lawrence and are home to a very unique fishing culture. With beautifully maintained waterfront houses and boats, flowing grassy plains and sculpted sandstone shorelines, these islands are a delight to visit. In addition to the fishing and sealing culture, experience a wide diversity of bird life as you travel the shore. Beaches and lagoons provide ample viewing opportunities for numerous shorebirds.
Day 5 Ile Bonaventure (Bonaventure Island), Gaspe Peninsula
Drop the anchor between the town of Perce and the island and visit the island by zodiac. One of the largest Northern Gannet colonies in North America, Ile Bonaventure is protected under provincial park status in Quebec. Visit the colony, reveling in the views of these majestic seabirds from very close up.
Days 6-7 Anticosti Island
Enjoy two days to visit this island spending as much time exploring the waters off the coast of it as you will onshore. At the mouth of the St. Lawrence River, and positioned near the mixing of waters from the river, Arctic waters from the Strait of Belle Isle and more temperate waters from the Atlantic, this is a marine region rich in wildlife. Baleen whales such as the humpback, minke and blue whale as well as gray seals and harp seals abound. In addition, look for eagles along the beach and gannets fishing the waters. This is an area rich in wildlife and your naturalists will be spotting and identifying the various creatures around you.
Day 8 Gros Morne National Park & Woody Point
Sail into majestic Bonne Bay, in the heart of Gros Morne National Park. Cliff’s soar up out of the bay on your starboard side covered in a green velvet of tuckamore – windswept spruce sculpted by the ocean breeze. Your destination will be the town of Woody Point where you will be welcomed ashore by a delegation from the community. With a few shops and pubs along the shore road, Woody Point is also your jumping off point for a hike up to the Discovery Center – Gros Morne National Parks interpretation center. From there various hikes will be guided out into the Tablelands (UNESCO world heritage geologic feature) and the Lookoff for a view over much of the park. Keep your eyes peeled for moose while hiking in the park and take time to look down for some of the orchids of the boreal bog and the pitcher plant.
Day 9 Francois on the South Shore
A very small outport community perched on the shores of beautiful fjord on the south coast of Newfoundland, Francois (pronounced Frans-way) a community steeped in the traditions of the sea. There is no road access to Francois and as such, the town can become pretty isolated during the winter and during the storm season. You will be welcomed ashore by the members of the community and perhaps if you hit it off,be welcomed to a dance at the community hall.
Day 10 Saint-Pierre et Miquelon
A French enclave within North America, walking down the streets of St. Pierre is like taking a jaunt into Europe. Complete your voyage in Saint-Pierre with just enough time to visit the town before leaving for your respective home regions.
Itinerary Notes
Please note: Specific sites visited will depend on ice and weather conditions experienced and the itinerary will be updated throughout the voyage in order to take advantage of favorable conditions.Deposit & Payment
Initial deposit is $1700 for Antarctic Voyages, $2100 for Arctic Voyages, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card. We accept Visa, Mastercard, AmEx, and Discover. Alternatively, you can send a check to our Missoula, Montana, office or register online at: https://www.adventure-life.com/forms/fourways.php
Final payment is due 100 days prior to departure.
Final payment by bank transfer, check or Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or Amex. Credit Card payments subject to 3% convenience fee and maximum $15,000 charge.
Booking last minute? No problem! Please contact one of our trip planners, and we can get you on your way if booking less than 100 days prior to departure.
Click here to see a copy of our Terms and Conditions.
Cancellation Policy
| Days Prior to departure | Fee |
|---|---|
| 91 days or more | Full deposit |
| 90 days or less | 100% trip cost |
Akademik Ioffe
- Ship Highlights
- Passengers : 96
Designed for polar research, the Akademik Ioffe is modern, comfortable, safe and ice-strengthened. From small group sessions to briefings for all passengers, she has public spaces onboard ideally suited for each and every need. A separate bar and lounge, as well as a library provide ideal places to sit and relax or catch up on some reading. A selection of movies and documentaries can also be watched in the lounge. Enjoy the sumptuous meals prepared for you by the culinary team in the dining room, which can host all clients in a single seating.
Comfort and Stability
Designed and built as a scientific research vessel in Finland, the Akademik Ioffe is very stable, quiet and comfortable. Refitting and refurbishment over the last five years oriented towards her role as an expedition cruise vessel has improved the comfort and caliber of the facilities aboard the ship.
There is little if any ambient noise from engines or machinery and with most of the public spaces on a separate deck from the majority of the cabins there is little issue with passenger-generated noise.
Vessel stabilization is gained through a combination of external stabilizers on her hull and a built-in ballast trimming system. The rapid transfer of ballast between special trimming tanks reduces vessel motion and coupled with a modern hull design gives us a stable platform for science and exploration.
Cabin Accommodations
All cabins are comfortable and well appointed with private or semi-private facilities and a variety of beds (either bunks or double). All cabins have ample storage facilities and a writing desk and chair, as well as bathrobes. Suites feature upgraded linens/duvets, toiletry kits and arrival gift baskets.
Bar
Located aft of the lobby on the main deck and with a seating capacity of about 25 and/or sufficient standing room for many more, the bar becomes one of the activity hubs on the ship. With outside views through portholes and a door out onto the main deck, the bar is a comfortable place to enjoy a fresh fruit smoothie before breakfast, grab a bottle of water before an excursion or enjoy a cocktail before dinner. A stereo with MP3 player dock and a monitor showing live video footage of the view forward from the bridge at all times can be found in the bar.
Bridge
The ship’s bridge is located on Deck 6 and is open to passengers virtually 24-hours a day. The officer on watch and a helmsman can always be found on duty on the bridge and it is also the best place to meet the master of the vessel. The chart room is a fascinating place to visit and expedition staff or ship’s crew are often available to answer questions about the equipment and instruments found on the bridge.
In addition, the bridge is an excellent place to sightsee and view wildlife from. Binoculars and wildlife identification guidebooks can be found on the bridge and during much of the day, an expedition guide will be watching for wildlife from the bridge.
Dining Room
During select breakfasts during your voyage, join the dining room for an omelet bar. With buffet breakfasts, buffet and/or plated lunches and plated dinners, the dining room can seat all passengers in one sitting. Attractively lit and comfortably furnished, it is served by our ship’s stewards. A culinary team includes three chefs as well as up to three culinary students on each journey.
To keep up to date with the view from the bridge, live streaming video can be viewed on a television screen in the dining room during meals. A small lounge can be found in the forward part of the dining room along with a small bar used during meal service.
Other Amenities
Elevator
Gift Shop
Fitness Room
Infirmary
Library
Lounge
Mud Room
Presentation Room
Multimedia Room
Sauna and Polar Plunge Pool
Top Deck and Observatory
Technical Information
Registered name: Akademik Ioffe
Built: 1989, Rama, Finland
Length: 117 m
Breadth: 18.2 m
Draft: 6 m
Power: twin engine, 5,000Kw diesel, twin propeller
Maximum speed: 14.5 knots
Crew and staff: 56
Passengers: 86
| Cabins | |
|---|---|
 | Main Deck Triple Deck 3, bunk beds and a sofa bed. Shared facilities, in cabin washbasin, writing desk/chair, ample storage, bathrobes & porthole. |
 | Twin Semi-Private Deck 4, one lower berth and one sofa bed, a writing desk and ample storage. Semi-private facilities (one bathroom between two cabins). Opening window. |
 | Twin Private Deck 4 and 5. All cabins have two lower berths, a writing desk/chair and ample storage. Facilities are private and all cabins have a window. |
 | Superior Deck 6 these cabins have two lower berths, a sofa, a writing desk/chair and ample storage. Facilities are private and all cabins have a window. |
 | Shackleton Suite Deck 4 & 5, 1 double berth, 1 sofa bed, separate sleeping quarters, writing desk/chair, TV/DVD, IPod alarm clock. Private facilities, window & deluxe amenities. |
 | One Ocean Suite Deck 5, 1 double berth, 1 sofa bed & separate sleeping quarters, up-graded bedding, a writing desk/chair, TV/DVD, IPod station. Private facilities with tub. Windows overlooking the bow. Deluxe amenities. |
