Atlantic Odyssey

from USD $ 7,250 to USD $ 10,400

Itinerary details

Voyage:
Atlantic Odyssey
Duration:
27 nights / 28 days
Start:
Ushuaia, Argentina
Finish:
Ascension Island
Vessel:
MV Plancius

Atlantic Odyssey

The Atlantic Odyssey offers a unique possibility to visit several of the remotest 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.

Dates & RatesCabins (all Prices in US$ Dollar)
CodeDateQuadruple
Porthole
Triple
Porthole
Twin
Porthole
Twin
Window
Twin
Deluxe
Superior
PLA32B-16
Start Mar 26, 2016
End Apr 22, 2016
7,2508,0508,8509,2509,65010,400

Day 1: Embarkation and departure from Ushuaia – Ushuaia (March 26) – Ushuaia – In the afternoon, we embark in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, the southernmost city in the world located at the Beagle Channel and sail through this scenic waterway for the rest of the evening.

Days 2 – 5: At Sea – During these two days we sail across the Drake Passage. When we cross the Antarctic Convergence, we arrive in the circum-Antarctic up welling zone. In this area we may see Wandering albatrosses, Grey-headed albatrosses, Black-browed albatrosses, Light-mantled Sooty albatrosses, Cape petrels, Southern fulmars, Wilson’s Storm petrels, Blue petrels and Antarctic petrels. Near the South Shetland Islands, we spot our first icebergs.

Days 6 – 8: South Georgia – South Georgia – We begin our visit We 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. Salisbury Plain offers this scenario in mind boggling quantity. We will see the huge King penguin colony along with Elephant seals and endless numbers of fur seal pups playing in the surf. On Prion Island in the Bay of Isles (the island is closed for visitors during breeding season from 20 Nov – 07 January) we can see breeding Wandering albatrosses. We will also find time to visit the old whaling settlement in Grytviken, where now the penguins walk through the streets. Grytviken is home to a small, but highly informative museum and also offers a chance to visit the grave of Sir Ernest Shackleton who is buried here alongside his trusted friend and companion Frank Wild. We will attempt to land Gold Harbour and St Andrews Bay with stunningly beautiful scenery and a wildlife density second to none. King penguins are truly Kings here! We end our South Georgia experience in the spectacular Dryglaski Fjord.

Days 9 – 13: At Sea – In the Westerly’s we have a pleasant tailwind. On both sides of the Antarctic Convergence, we observe many species and great numbers of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic seabirds.

Days 14: Gough Island – Today we plan to approach the unique Gough Island for a zodiac cruise around Quest Bay, as always weather permitting. Gough Island is a strictly protected nature reserve and landings are not allowed. However, the intended Zodiac cruise have proven to offer spectacular scenery and a great abundance of wildlife not easily seen elsewhere in the world. In previous years we managed to circumnavigate all but four miles of the 33 mile circumference of the island by ship. We felt very privileged to be among the few visitors who have been able to experience Gough and in particular, to see it at such close quarters and in such favourable conditions. We hope to be lucky to repeat this unique experience with you.

Days 15 – 17: Tristan da Cunha – In the Tristan da Cunha archipelago we plan to call on the settlement at the west side of the main island. We will also try to make landings at Nightingale Island and Inaccessible Island where millions of seabirds ranging from Yellow-nosed Albatrosses, Nortern Rockhopper penguins to Brown Noddies breed. We allow one day in reserve for bad weather. Please note that we will try and approach for landings, however due to the weather conditions this is not always possible. Since we began our Atlantic Odyssey’s (1998) we failed during 30% of the voyages to make landings in the Tristan da Cunha archipelago, due to adverse weather.

Days 18 – 21: At Sea – We now enter sub-tropical waters with their own species of seabirds and dolphins.

Days 22 – 24: St. Helena – St. Helena has a good anchorage and landing site at James Town. On this island, we will have ample opportunities to enjoy local culture, pleasant climate, and endemic plants and birds. We will visit Longwood House, the place where Napoleon lived and died in exile. There will be opportunities to explore the Island on your own and for snorkelling in the shallow surf where we can find a multitude of tropical and sub-tropical fish species.

Days 25 – 26: At Sea

Days 27 – 28: Ascension Island – Ascension Island (April 24 – 25) – Ascension Island is a dry volcanic island with a moist and richly vegetated top. The Sooty tern (wide-awake) colony sometimes consists of more than 1 million breeding pairs. We will try to climb the moist summit of Ascension Island and make a zodiac-cruise around Boatswain Bird Island. Near the anchorage at Georgetown we also have great opportunities for snorkelling. We aim to witness egg-laying sea turtles coming ashore at night. Some of our passengers may disembark and fly with the scheduled RAF (Royal Air Force) flight to Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, UK. Others may proceed with the voyage to the Cape Verdes. In the evening the vessel will depart from Ascension Island.

Itinerary details

Voyage:
Atlantic Odyssey
Duration:
27 nights / 28 days
Start:
Ushuaia, Argentina
Finish:
Ascension Island
Vessel:
MV Plancius

Fares include:

  • • Voyage aboard the designated vessel as indicated in the itinerary.

    • All meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee and tea.

    • Free use of rubber boots aboard Plancius & Ortelius and snowshoes aboard ‘Plancius’.

    • All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac.

    • Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff.

    • All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program.

    • Comprehensive pre-departure material.

Not included:

• Any airfare whether on scheduled or charter flights.

• Pre- and post land arrangements.

• Transfers to the vessel in Ushuaia and from the vessel in Ascension or Praia.

• Passport and visa expenses.

• Government arrival and departure taxes.

• Meals ashore.

• Baggage, cancellation and personal insurance (which is strongly recommended).

• Excess baggage charges.

• All items of a personal nature such as laundry, bar, beverage charges and telecommunication charges.

• The customary gratuity at the end of the voyages for stewards and other service personnel aboard (guidelines will be provided).

• Possible fuel surcharges; It is agreed that if world fuel prices will reach or exceed US Dollar 90 per Barrel Brent (US Dollar 120 for season 2013-2014) 90 days prior to departure Oceanwide Expeditions reserves the right to levy a fuel surcharge of US $ 400 per passenger for bookings outside Europe and EURO 300 per passenger for bookings within Europe, to be paid by the contracting party.

Single occupancy: All cabins 1.7 times the share price