When I got on the plane in New York City (Jan 26th) it was 11°F and when I got off the plane in Quito, Ecuador it was 80°F degrees.
I flew down on LAN Air and quickly realized why I ... Full Journal »
In Shackletons Footsteps
« All Polar Pioneer cruise options
- Day 1 Embark in Ushuaia
- Day 2 Drake Passage
- Day 3 Crossing the Antarctic Convergence
- Days 4-6 Weddell Sea
- Day 7 Elephant Island
- Day 8 South Orkney Islands
- Day 9 Scotia Sea
- Day 10 King Haakon Bay, South Georgia
- Days 11-13 South Georgia exploration
- Days 14-16 At sea enroute to the Falkland Islands
- Day 17 Stanley, Falkland Islands
- Day 18 Falklands
- Day 19 At Sea
- Day 20 Disembark in Ushuaia
| Dates | Deck + Cabin Type | ||||
| Triple Shared | Twin Shared | Twin Private | Mini Suite | Suite | |
| Mar 11 '14 |
$12,415 | $14,700 | $17,195 | $18,800 | $19,990 |
| Shackletons Crossing Alpine Trek: $1250 | |||||
- 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
Deposit & Payment - Single costs are 1.7 times the twin rate
Day 1 Embark in Ushuaia
Step aboard in the late afternoon to a warm welcome, introductory briefing and an evening departure along the Beagle Channel. Settle into your homely cabin, explore the ship and enjoy a drink with your shipmates.
Day 2 Drake Passage
Tune into the Southern Ocean as you cross the Drake Passage. Your naturalist and historians will inform you about Antarctica and the weeks ahead. Safety and environmental briefings prepare us for landings, while the outer decks and flying bridge offer the best vantage points for photography and wildlife viewing.
Day 3 Crossing the Antarctic Convergence
The temperature plummets as you cross the biological boundary of the Antarctic Convergence. Cormorants, penguins and seals mark your approach to the South Shetland Islands, where you may well land.
Days 4-6 Weddell Sea
Sail through Antarctic Sound with its spectacular iceberg parade, and into the Weddell Sea. Along the way set foot on the Antarctic continent, watch for whales and seals in a sea of abundance, and visit magnificent penguins rookeries at the Antarctic Peninsula’s northern end. In the Weddell Sea begin to trace Shackleton’s path.
Day 7 Elephant Island
Approaching the steep slopes of Elephant Island, home to 22 of Shackleton’s men for four months, hope for a clear view of the spot where the men wintered beneath upturned boats. With luck go ashore to pay tribute to these hardy souls.
Day 8 South Orkney Islands
Following in Shackleton’s wake, sail across the Scotia Sea, hoping to detour to the remote, mountainous South Orkney Islands. Zodiac cruise through a maze of icebergs, landing at a beach decorated with autumnal-hued lichen-encrusted boulders.
Day 9 Scotia Sea
Time to reflect on all you’ve seen and learned, to prepare for the next phase of your journey as your ship continues across the Scotia Sea.
Day 10 King Haakon Bay, South Georgia
Enter King Haakon Bay on South Georgia’s southern coast and may make a ceremonial landing at Cave Cove, Shackleton’s first landfall after his epic open boat voyage. Bid a farewell your alpine crossing party here as they begin their own adventurous journey through the crevassed terrain of the island’s interior.
Days 11-13 South Georgia exploration
While the alpine party crosses the mountains and passes of South Georgia, the shipboard party explores the bays and promontories, reveling in the island’s extraordinary diversity of wildlife. You will be spoiled for choice of landings: the world’s largest penguin rookeries, wandering albatross on nests, beaches of elephant and fur seals, and Grytviken’s whaling museum vie for your attention. You may choose to hike from Fortuna to Stromness, whose whaling station marked the ending of Shackleton’s arduous island crossing.
Days 14-16 At sea enroute to the Falkland Islands
Back to the Scotia Sea for a relaxing interlude. Continue your Antarctic education and wildlife watching en route to the Falkland Islands.
Day 17 Stanley, Falkland Islands
Stanley, the Falklands, features an excellent museum, post office, picturesque houses, welcoming shops and pubs. Spend the morning exploring the beautiful capital of the Falkland Islands.
Day 18 Falklands
Sea Lion Island offers a welcome opportunity to stretch your legs. Amongst a treasure trove of birdlife, Falkland Island steamer ducks and Magellanic penguins enliven walks through the tussock. There are cliff tops to explore, birds and southern sea lions to watch.
Day 19 At Sea
Prions, petrels and albatross accompany you on the last leg of your voyage as you swap photos and stories and reflect on shared adventures.
Day 20 Disembark in Ushuaia
In the wee hours sail up the Beagle Channel to dock in Ushuaia. A hearty breakfast and fond farewell prepare you for leave-taking and the next leg of your respective journeys.
Itinerary Notes
Please note that the itineraries are at the mercy of weather conditions and not all landings are guaranteed. Itineraries are flexible and will change voyage to voyage, allowing the best chance to make the most of surprising wildlife displays and unexpected opportunities.Cruise fare includes:
- Comprehensive pre-departure information
- All meals, snacks, tea & coffee
- All shore excursions and zodiac cruises
- Educational lectures and guiding services by polar experts
- Use of gumboots
- Daily cabin service
- Polar Pioneer travel mug
- Professionally produced voyage log
Deposit & Payment
Initial deposit is $1450, 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 |
|---|---|
| 90 days or more | Deposit |
| 89 days or less | 100% trip cost |
Polar Pioneer
- Ship Highlights
- Passengers : 54
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 surroundings for your Antarctica travel.
This class of vessel has a fine reputation for polar expedition cruising, due to its strength, maneuverability 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.
| Cabins | |
|---|---|
 | 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 sofa bed 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. |
