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Weddell Sea & Antarctic Peninsula

Example 12 Day Cruise aboard Akademik Shokalskiy
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You never know what you are going to discover when you set course for the Weddell Sea. It is a wild and exciting area, alive with wildlife and offering great scope for exploration. The day-to-day itinerary of this voyage is dependent on weather and ice conditions prevailing in the vicinity of the mighty Riser Larsen Iceshelf. Having travelled through the iceberg canyons of Antarctic Sound, enter the Northern Weddell Sea. Nestled amongst ice floes is the little-known Seymour Island whose fossil rich rocks conceal the story of the disappearance of the dinosaurs and the collapse of the mythical Gondwana. The aim of this voyage is to explore these fossil beds under the watchful eye of Dr. Paul Willis, as well as to enjoy the wildlife treasure chest of the northern Weddell Sea. We also hope to follow the incredible, compelling story of Swedish explorer Otto Nordenskjold and his men (1901 - 1903). Travel in Zodiacs around the icebergs an wildlife havens of this lesser known part of the Antarctic Peninsula, and spend a few days on it's better known west coast.
Checking out a grounded iceberg during an Antarctica cruiseAdelie penguins on the march across the Antarctic landscapeKayak with massive icebergsWhale breaching near the zodiac
Places Visited
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: Embark in Ushuaia

Board the ship Akademik Shokalskiy in the afternoon. Set sail along the Beagle Channel then turn south towards Antarctica.

Day 2: Drake Passage

As you cross the Drake Passage, the temperature begins to fall. Stay busy with lectures and safety briefings in preparation for your first landing.

Day 3: Enroute to South Shetland Islands

By mid-afternoon the ship should be in iceberg waters. If all goes well you may encounter your first penguin on one of the South Shetland Islands.

Day 4: Antarctic Sound

In the early hours of the morning hope to be among the towering corridors of icebergs in Antarctic Sound. A narrow passage, alive with penguins, guards the entrance to the Weddell Sea.

Day 5-7: Weddell Sea

Three days of exploring in the whale- and seal-rich Weddell Sea, where activities will be controlled by the movement of ice. Huge glaciers pour down between the mountains from the polar plateau, and the surface of the ocean is covered with plates of ice the size of city blocks. One aim is to visit the fossil-rich shores of Seymour Island.

Day 8-9: Antarctic Peninsula

Plan to visit the beautiful western flanks of the Antarctic Peninsula, exploring the Gerlache Strait, Neumayer Channel, and Paradise Harbour area.

Day 10-11: Drake Passage

Cross the Drake Passage with magnificent albatrosses in your wake. The last shipboard lectures give you time to polish your Antarctic education before making a ceremonial rounding of Cape Horn.

Day 12: Disembark in Ushuaia

Cruise up the Beagle Channel in the early morning before docking in Ushuaia. After transferring to a city hotel there is time to explore the central town area, or perhaps visit the nearby Tierra del Fuego mountains.

Ship/Hotel

Akademik Shokalskiy

Akademik Shokalskiy ship photos

Akademik Shokalskiy

Originally designed for polar and ocean research, the Akademik Shokalskiy is small, nimble, and fully ice-strengthened, a capable vessel for navigating the most remote parts of Antarctica that larger ships cannot.
Lecture hall of the Akademik Shokalskiy

Dates & Prices

My Preferred Start Date

This itinerary is no longer available. For other trip ideas, please visit Antarctica Cruises & Tours.
Main Deck
Two lower berths, writing desk, wardrobe and drawers. Private washbasin. Nearby shower and toilet facilities are shared with other Main Deck cabins. These cabins have a porthole.
Superior
One bunk (one upper and one lower berth), writing desk, wardrobe and drawers. Private bathroom with shower, toilet and washbasin. These cabins have windows.
Superior Plus
Two lower berths, writing desk, wardrobe and drawers. Private bathroom with shower, toilet and washbasin. These cabins have windows.
Mini Suite
Separate bedroom with a double bed and a sofa in the lounge, writing desk, wardrobe and drawers. Private bathroom with shower, toilet and washbasin. Mini Suites have windows.
Heritage Suite
Large lounge area, separate bedroom with double bed and a sofa in the lounge, writing desk, wardrobe and drawers. Private bathroom with shower, toilet and washbasin. Large forward and side facing windows allow great views.
Main Deck Triple
One bunk (one upper abd ibe lower berth) and one additional lower berth, writing desk, wardrobe and drawers. Private washbasin. Nearby shower and toilet facilities are shared with other Main Deck cabins. These cabins have a porthole.

Notes

- Single clients are matched with a sharer of the same sex in a twin-share cabin. Payment of a single supplement guarantees a single cabin. The single supplement is 1.8 times the price of the voyage with the exception of the suites which are double the single rate.
-Emergency medical evacuation coverage for a minimum of US$100,000 per person required. Contact us for details on arranging travel insurance.

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