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A group of penguins check out the camera

Atlantic Odyssey: Ushuaia to Ascension Island

Example 28 Day Cruise aboard MV Plancius
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The Atlantic Odyssey offers a unique possibility to visit several of the most remote islands in the world. Besides South Georgia, the Atlantic Odyssey visits Tristan da Cunha, St. Helena and Ascension Island. Beautiful and often rare species live on these islands, many of them not found anywhere else in the world. Isolated local communities can also be visited on this unique Atlantic voyage.
Leaving Ushuaia behind Albatross Courting, EspanolaBirds of Ascension IslandElephant seal on the coastA group of penguins check out the camera
Highlights
  • Sail across the Drake Passage and view four species of albatrosses
  • Meet the king penguin colony along with elephant seals and their pups
  • See spectacular scenery and an unprecedented abundance of wildlife
  • Explore St. Helena island and enjoy its local culture and pleasant climate
  • Visit several of the most remote islands in the world
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: Ushuaia | Embark

In the afternoon, embark in Ushuaia, Argentina, the southernmost city in the world. Set sail through the Beagle Channel and enjoy the evening on board.

Day 2-5: Drake Passage

  • Ship
  • 4 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches, 4 Dinners
Spend two days sailing across the Drake Passage and hope to view whales, wandering albatrosses, grey headed albatrosses, black-browed albatrosses, light-mantled sooty albatrosses, Cape pigeons, southern fulmars, Wilson’s storm petrels, blue petrels and Antarctic petrels.

Day 6-8: South Georgia

  • Ship
  • 3 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 3 Dinners
Arrive in South Georgia and aim to visit some of the major king penguin rookeries in the world. The late season offers an outstanding chance to see the king penguins on eggs and with small chicks. The rookeries are packed at this time of year, and the traffic to and from the beach is astounding. At Salisbury Plain, view elephant seals and endless numbers of fur seal pups playing in the surf. On Prion Island in the Bay of Isles, search for breeding wandering albatross, then sail for the old whaling settlement in Grytviken, where penguins now walk through the streets. Grytviken is home to a small but highly informative museum and offers a chance to visit the grave of Sir Ernest Shackleton, who is buried alongside his trusted friend and companion Frank Wild. Attempt to land at Gold Harbor and St Andrews Bay to view king penguins, with stunningly beautiful scenery and a wildlife density second to none.

Day 9-13: At Sea

  • Ship
  • 5 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches, 5 Dinners
Observe many species and great numbers of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic seabirds as you sail for Gough Island.

Day 14: Gough Island

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Approach Gough Island for a zodiac cruise around Quest Bay, weather permitting. Gough Island is a strictly-protected nature reserve and landings are not allowed, but Zodiac cruises in the area have proven to offer spectacular scenery and a great abundance of wildlife not easily seen elsewhere in the world. Hope to circumnavigate the entire 33-mile island by ship and see the northern rockhopper penguins and sub-Antarctic fur seals.

Day 15-17: Tristan da Cunha

  • Ship
  • 3 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 3 Dinners
In the Tristan da Cunha archipelago, plan to call on the settlement at the west side of the main island. Landings at Nightingale Island and Inaccessible Island are attempted to view millions of seabirds including yellow-nosed albatrosses and brown noddies. An extra day is built in to allow for possible bad weather, as 35% of previous sailings have been unable to make landings in the Tristan da Cunha for this reason.

Day 18-21: At Sea

  • Ship
  • 4 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches, 4 Dinners
Enter sub-tropical waters which feature their own species of seabirds and dolphins.

Day 22-24: St. Helena

  • Ship
  • 3 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 3 Dinners
St. Helena has a good anchorage and landing site at Jamestown. Enjoy the local culture, pleasant climate, and endemic plants and birds, then visit Longwood House, where Napoleon lived and died in exile. Take the opportunity to explore the island on your own and snorkel in its clear waters. Or, stroll by the shallow surf and spot a variety of tropical and sub-tropical fish species.

Day 25-26: At Sea

  • Ship
  • 2 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 2 Dinners
Enjoy a last few days at sea along the mid-Atlantic Ridge while drawing near Ascension Island.

Day 27: Ascension Island

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Ascension Island is a dry volcanic island with a richly-vegetated top. The sooty tern (wide-awake) colony sometimes consists of more than one million breeding pairs. Try to summit the hill of Ascension Island and make a zodiac-cruise around Boatswain Bird Island, offering great opportunities for snorkeling. At Comfortless Cove near Georgetown enjoy a very comfortable swim with good snorkeling too (no snorkeling gear is supplied). You may be fortunate to witness egg-laying sea turtles coming ashore at night.

Day 28: Ascension Island

  • 1 Breakfast
Please note: At the present time, all RAF (Royal Air Force) flights to and from Ascension have been cancelled. Therefore, passengers should also book the 7-day voyage from Ascension to Praia in order to catch outbound flights. In the evening the vessel departs from Ascension Island.

Ship/Hotel

MV Plancius

MV Plancius
MV Plancius

Dates & Prices

My Preferred Start Date

Per person starting at
$7,250
Quadruple Porthole
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Quadruple Porthole
4 cabins with private facilities, 2 bunk beds. (ca. 15 m2)
Quadruple Porthole
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Triple Porthole
4 cabins with private facilities, 2 bunk beds. (ca. 15 m2)
Twin porthole cabin
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Twin with Porthole
9 twin private cabins with porthole. Two Lower berths. (ca. 15 m2)
Twin with window
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Twin with Window
26 twin private cabins with window. Two Lower berths (ca. 15 m2)
Twin Deluxe
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Twin Deluxe
2 twin private deluxe cabins. Lower berths - two single beds.(ca. 15 m2)
Superior
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Superior
10 twin superior cabins. Lower berth - double bed. (ca. 21 m2)

Notes

- 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 occupancy: All cabins 1.7 times the share twin price
-Children between the ages of 3-15 will be discounted 40% in triple or quad cabins, one child per cabin.
- Due to the extreme nature of itinerary destinations, travel insurance is mandatory for all cruises aboard the Plancius - including medical, accident and repatriation/evacuation insurance.
Included
  • 27 Breakfasts, 26 Lunches, 27 Dinners
  • 27 Nights Accommodations
  • Accommodations as listed
  • Ground transportation as listed
  • Activities as listed
  • Meals as listed
  • Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
  • Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff.
  • All Miscellaneous Service Taxes and Port Charges Throughout the Program
  • All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac.
  • Free use of rubber boots and snowshoes.
  • All meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee and tea.
  • Comprehensive pre-departure material.
Excluded
  • Gratuities
  • Travel Insurance
  • Personal Expenses
  • Flight costs (please request a quote)
  • Additional excursions during free time
  • Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
  • Passport and Applicable Visa Expenses
  • Government arrival and departure taxes
  • Pre- and Post Land Arrangements
  • Fuel Surcharge - to be invoiced separately
  • Meals ashore
  • Baggage, cancellation and personal insurance (which is strongly recommended).
  • Excess baggage charges and all items of a personal nature such as laundry, bar, beverage charges and telecommunication charges.
  • Medical travel insurance, including emergency medical attention and evacuation coverage with a minimum of $100,000 of evacuation coverage is required.

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