Antarctic small ship expedition

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Itinerary details

Voyage:
ANTARCTIC SMALL SHIP EXPEDITIONS
Duration:
9 nights / 10 days
Start:
Ushuaia, Argentina
Finish:
Ushuaia, Argentina
Vessel:
Ocean Nova

Antarctic small ship expedition

A high-end wilderness adventure, not just a cruise.

•  Small ship access to Antarctica’s hidden gems
•  All travelers ashore at once, quickly
•  Penguins, seals, whales, and natural beauty

Small ship access to Antarctica’s hidden gems.
Reach remote areas that are inaccessible to larger ships. The hull’s excellent ice rating lets us park right in the ice!

Spend time ashore, not waiting to disembark.
Build for polar waters, the ship carries only 71 guests. Disembarkation is efficient so you can enjoy more time ashore.
HIGHLIGHT: A pod of whales is visiting? The ship carries seven Zodiacs. All guests can enjoy the whales at once!

Abundant wildlife, icebergs, and majestic landscapes.
See many colonies of penguins and various species of whales, seals, and sea birds. Amazing photography opportunities!
HIGHLIGHT: The leaders will show you how to capture underwater photos of penguins.

The Expedition Vessel
The voyage takes place aboard M/V Ocean Nova, a modern and comfortable vessel built in Denmark.
Her ice-strengthened hull and equipment are ideally suited for expedition travel in Antarctica.
In keeping with our “boutique” style of operation, service on board is professional and informal. A varied menu of international dishes is paired with a selection of wonderful Chilean wines.

Travel program

Leaving from Ushuaia, Argentina, the expedition takes you through the Beagle Channel and across the mythical waters of the Drake Passage. Explore one of the most spectacular places on earth, the coldest, highest, windiest, driest, and remotest continent – Antarctica.

Itinerary

Day 1: Your journey begins in Ushuaia, Argentina. Board Ocean Nova and sail along the Beagle Channel towards Puerto Williams, Chile, the southernmost town in the world. Explore the surroundings before setting sail to Antarctic land.

Due to port operations, boarding in Ushuaia is exclusively between 15:00 hr and 16:00 hr. At 16:00 hr. boarding will close. Please be on time. Keep your passport at hand and allow enough time to clear port security and to reach the vessel.

Day 2 – 3: Sail towards Antarctica across the famous passage named in honour of Sir Francis Drake, the great 16th century British explorer. As you sail en route to the South Shetland Islands, attend an engaging program of lectures and presentations. In the company of expert guides, watch for wildlife from the glass-enclosed lounge or from the outside decks. You may spot magnificent sea birds, such as albatrosses and petrels, as well as different species of whales on their way south to Antarctica. After crossing the Antarctic Convergence, the environment changes noticeably. Keep your camera ready, as this is the time to watch for the first icebergs and the first sight of Antarctic land.

Day 4 to 7: Cruise between the South Shetland Islands and the western coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, sailing along ice-filled fjords and among spectacular icebergs, while enjoying the company of sea birds, penguins, seals and whales. Each day, disembark by Zodiac boat and explore the landscape together with expert polar guides. From the ship enjoy spectacular vistas from the glass-enclosed lounge while sharing your daily adventures with fellow guests.
No journey is the same as flexibility is the key to success in Antarctica. The Expedition Team sets the voyage route to take advantage of the ever-changing opportunities provided by Nature, crafting a unique and extraordinary experience each time. While the exact itinerary changes with each expedition, you will explore several spots that offer the best possible overview of the varied Antarctic environment. Your voyage may include visits to sites such as Paulet Island, Hope Bay, Port Lockroy, Petermann Island, Paradise Bay, Deception Island, the Lemaire Channel, or many other magnificent places.
Our adventure will be very active, with several daily landings and cruises in Zodiac boats, lectures and a very enjoyable time on board.

Day 8 to 9: Return to South America with a northbound crossing of the Drake Passage. Relax and take the time to watch for wildlife from the bridge or outside decks.

Day 10: The program ends upon arrival at the port in Ushuaia.

Itinerary details

Voyage:
ANTARCTIC SMALL SHIP EXPEDITIONS
Duration:
9 nights / 10 days
Start:
Ushuaia, Argentina
Finish:
Ushuaia, Argentina
Vessel:
Ocean Nova

Included in the rate

· Comprehensive pre-expedition information material
· Expedition along the Antarctic Peninsula with daily shore excursions (based on local conditions) Loan of waterproof boots for every passenger for wet landings
· Briefings and recaps pre- and post-excursions given by expedition staff
· All guided shore excursions and Zodiac cruises
· Lectures and presentations given by Antarctic specialists
· Daily buffet breakfast and lunch offering a wide choice of dishes
· Daily served dinner offering a choice of three main courses
· A selection of wines, beers, and soft drinks served with lunch and dinner
· Coffee, tea, chocolate, cappuccino, water and snacks throughout the expedition Post-expedition information file including a gallery of images from the trip

 

Not included in the rate

· Juice, soft drinks, wine, beer, spirits, and mixed drinks served at the bar Accommodation, meals, excursions, and transfers in Ushuaia
· Personal travel insurance
· Any personal expenses, such as for communication, laundry, souvenirs, etc.
· Gratuities for the shipboard personnel (suggested USD 10 per person per day).
· Visas or Passport expenses and/or any other arrival and/or departure tax, if applicable

Medical insurance

VAE requires participants to be adequately covered by a medical insurance, including aero-medical evacuation from Antarctica.

Cancellation insurance

VAE strongly urges participants to be adequately covered by cancellation insurance.

Itinerary

Every effort will be made to adhere to the planned program. However, it must be realized that with this type of adventurous travel to Antarctica, changes to the itinerary may occur due to severe and unpredictable weather. We need to emphasize the fact that weather conditions are unpredictable and that safety is always the paramount concern on any Antarctic voyage. For this reason VAE reserves the right to change the itinerary here described due to weather conditions or other factors beyond VAE’s control without consulting the participants.

Flight Connexions

A tight time-schedule connection with an Antarctic expedition is unwise. For this reason, VAE strongly suggests travellers not to book a departing flight from Ushuaia before 2 PM on the day of return from Antarctica.