On this extraordinary 19-day voyage, follow in the wake of explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton to Antarctica and the South Shetlands before heading via Antarctic Sound and Weddell Sea to South Georgia and Falkland Islands. Cross the mighty Drake Passage en route for the South Shetland Islands. Make Zodiac landings at penguin rookeries, research stations, and fascinating lookouts. Explore the Antarctic Sound with its mighty tabular icebergs and enter the Weddell Sea in search of wildlife. In South Georgia, find wildlife-packed beaches, active research stations, former whaling stations, and Shackleton’s final resting place. Sail to the Falkland Islands, and explore Port Stanley with its quaint English architecture before venturing further west for Zodiac landings and wildlife observations on pristine and sheltered beaches.
Highlights
Cross the infamous Drake Passage in the wake of great explorers
Set foot on the Antarctic Peninsula
Discover abundant wildlife, including penguins, whales, seals, and seabirds
Learn about whaling and maritime history in the Falklands and South Georgia
Arrive and embark in Ushuaia, Argentina, the world’s southernmost town. Explore the quaint city or local countryside. Alternatively, consider a day trip off the beaten path to the raw, natural archipelago of Tierra del Fuego. It's a hiker's paradise with rugged snow-capped mountains, glaciers, flower-filled meadows and boggy quagmires. In the afternoon, board your ship, Ocean Victory. Your journey begins as the captain navigates through the calms of Beagle Channel, a strait in the Tierra del Fuego Archipelago.
Sailing onward, cross the famed Drake Passage - a body of water that marks the intersection of the cold Antarctic with the warmer Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The Drake Passage is known for strong westerly winds, rolling seas, and its nickname "The Roaring Fifties." While this passage may be challenging, rest confidently aboard the expedition vessel, which is purpose-built with stabilizers, powerful engines and a highly qualified crew. The most spirited sailors consider Drake Passage a lifetime achievement – and soon you can tick it off on the list yourself! In the Drake, the excitement builds as Antarctic wildlife comes into view with your first sight of seals, penguins and albatrosses.
Having crossed the Drake, explore the sub-Antarctic islands of the South Shetland chain and marvel at the captivating landscapes encountered along the way. Weather permitting, make your first landfall on King George Island before continuing further south to the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula.
Over the coming days, begin the exciting Antarctic experience at the very tip of the Continent. During these days in the Antarctic Sound, named in 1902 after the Swedish vessel Antarctic, the Captain and the Expedition Team keeps a watchful eye on the mighty tabular icebergs, born from the floating Larsen Ice Shelf further south. The expedition crew will aim to have both continental and island landings on the shores of Antarctic Sound and Weddell Sea, always on the lookout for some of the unusually large penguin colonies that have recently been observed.
The itinerary and activities over the next few days depend on weather and ice conditions. The route and shore landings to be determined by the Captain and Expedition Leader and communicated to the guests through regularly scheduled briefings.
From the Weddell Sea, continue your journey into the open sea, just as Ernest Shackleton and his men did more than a hundred years ago. Having lost their ship Endurance deep south in the Weddell Sea they moved slowly north on ice floes and later in open lifeboats until they reached Elephant Island. From here started one of the most remarkable boat journeys in the polar history, when Shackleton and five of his men for two weeks navigated the 720 nautical miles to South Georgia to call for recovery of the stranded crew on Elephant Island.
South Georgia offers stunning wildlife experiences with a wealth of breeding penguins, sea birds, sea lions and seals, all seeking shelter in this oasis amidst the roaring Southern Ocean. Previous whaling history pops up in most of the fjords you will explore – not least in Grytviken, the only inhabited settlement on this mountainous island. Grytviken is also the final resting place of Ernest Shackleton, after he died on yet another Antarctica voyage in 1922. Explore the fjords of the north coast for 2-3 days and take as many shore landings as time and the swelling sea will allow.
Days at sea are great for participating in lectures, photo sessions and recaps, reading books in the ship library and watching the ubiquitous storm petrels and albatrosses from top deck, or just to relax.
During the morning, the ship approaches Falkland Islands and in the early afternoon Ocean Victory will cast anchor in the sheltered natural harbor of Port Stanley. Utilizing Zodiacs, land in town center, and take a leisurely stroll through the streets of Stanley.
On the following day, make landings – weather permitting – at two of the islands’ many magnificent wildlife spots.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
$11,790
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Category G Single
Single Stateroom (Porthole) 18 m2
Standard single stateroom onboard, located on deck 3. This is a conveniently located stateroom close to the Mudroom which facilitates access to the Zodiacs during embarkation and disembarkation to begin your adventures on the Zodiacs. Single staterooms are normally with a porthole, single bed (200*90), reading light, and a sitting chair.
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Category F Triple
Triple Stateroom (Porthole) 22 m2
There are four Triple staterooms on board Ocean Victory featuring portholes, all with private en-suites. Located on Deck 3, they're close to the mudroom and loading platforms. Triple staterooms are normally with a sofa bed and two twin beds however a double bed can be accommodated.
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Category E
French Balcony Suite 16 m2
The French Balcony Suite is a standard stateroom with a French balcony, a double bed, floor-to-ceiling windows and a bathroom. All French Balcony Suites are located on Deck 7.
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Category D
Albatros State Stateroom (Porthole) 22 m2
The standard stateroom on Ocean Victory is close to the Mudroom and has quick access to the zodiac platforms for disembarkation during landings. This is very convenient if you have more limited mobility and would like a short distance to the zodiacs. The staterooms are perfect for those who wish a comfortable base during their stay onboard Ocean Victory. The standard staterooms all have a double bed or 2 single beds and bathroom. The staterooms are located on deck 3 except for 1 which is located on deck 4.
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Category C
Balcony State Stateroom 24 m2
The most abundant type of stateroom on Ocean Victory, the Balcony State Staterooms are located on decks 4 & 6. They have a balcony, a double bed or two single beds, a bathroom, and a sofa that can be used as a bed for a child if traveling as a family. If you desire to book two staterooms with connecting doors, this is also a possibility under this category.
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Category B Triple
Balcony Suite 28 m2
Ocean Victory has 4 Balcony Suites on board located on decks 4 & 6. The suites feature double or twin beds and a seating area, bathroom, and balcony. The balcony suites can host 2 people.
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Category B
Balcony Suite 35 m2
Ocean Victory has 2 Balcony Suites on board located on Deck 4. The suites feature double or twin beds, a seating area, a bathroom and a large balcony. The balcony suites can host 2 people.
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Category A
Junior suite 42 m2
The 4 Junior Suites aboard Ocean Victory have a great view from their location high up on the ship on deck 7.
The suites feature a double bed or twin beds, sofa bed, seating area, a spacious bathroom, and a private balcony. The suite can accommodate up to 3 people.
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Premium Suite
Premium suite 45 m2 – PS
The largest of all the staterooms on board the Ocean Victory is the Premium Suite. This 2-bedroom suite features a double bed (or twin beds), a sofa bed, table and chair, a balcony, and a spacious bathroom. Located on deck. 4.
This category is available upon request. Please refer to Albatros Expeditions for price.
Initial deposit is 25%, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 100 days prior to departure by bank transfer, check or credit card. Only Visa and Mastercard are accepted for deposit. The operator does NOT accept AMEX or Discover
This was our first trip to South America and we were a little nervous. But Adventure Life made things so easy! All our questions were answered before we left, and our guide, Vidal, was amazing! He gave us enough space to explore without rushing us along. He also knew where the best picture taking opportunities were, which was great.
