Ushiaia Cape Town Antarctic South Georgia

   
 
 

Atlantic Odyssey - Ushuaia to Ascension Via Bouvet Isla

Atlantic Crossing Including Bouvet Island

Penguins
29 Days / 10 locations in Argentina, Chile, Antarctica, South Shetland, South Sandwich Islands, and Ascension Island

The first leg of this discovery cruise starts on March 24, 2015 in Ushuaia, Argentina and offers the South Shetland Islands, followed by the South Sandwich Islands (home to several millions of Chinstrap Penguins, together with smaller colonies of Adélie, gentoo and macaroni penguins) and Bouvet island, ending on April 21, 2015 in Ascension. The second leg offers a 6-nights voyage from Ascension to Praia, Cape Verdes from April 21 till April 27, 2015. Join us on this once in a life-time voyage outlined below.

This is your ultimate chance to sail to Bouvet Island. Bouvet Island (Bouvetøya) is an uninhabited subantarctic volcanic island and belongs to Norway. Bouvet Island is located in the South Atlantic Ocean and is the most remote island in the world.

Itinerary

 
Day 1     Ushuaia - Beagle Channel
On Board the M/V Ortelius
Meals: Dinner

In the afternoon, we embark in Ushuaia and sail through the Beagle Channel.

 
Days 2 - 3     Drake Passage
On Board the M/V Ortelius
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

In the Drake Passage we witness a multitude of Abatrosses, Petrels and Fulmars.

 
Day 4     South Shetland Islands
On Board the M/V Ortelius
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

In the South Shetland Islands we land on King George Islands, where we visit the Chilean, Russian, Chinese and Korean stations.In this area chances are good for encounters with Gentoo Penguins, Weddell Seals, Leopard Seals and Orcas.

 
Days 5 - 7     At Sea
On Board the M/V Ortelius
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

At sea we will probably sail along the sea ice drifting north out of the Weddell Sea. We witness a multitude of albatrosses, petrels and fulmars. -

 
Day 8     South Sandwich Island
On Board the M/V Ortelius
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

In the rarely visited and uninhabited South Sandwich Islands (British), we land on Southern Thule Island, a volcano with a caldera, where we can land near the derelict Argentinian base. Other islands are Cook Island and Bellingshausen Island, named after the discoverers who reached them. These volcanic islands, with an ice cap on the top, are windswept and often shrouded in mist and fog, but do offer subtle pleasures. There is a variety of flora (mosses, lichens and flowering grasses) and fauna, such as Gentoo Penguins, Chinstrap penguins and Southern Giant Petrels. Elephant Seals and Fur Seals also haul out at the beaches.Around the islands we see large blue ice-bergs which have driften there from the Weddell Sea. In blue ice-grotto’s Gentoo Penguins congregate.

 
Days 9 - 11     At Sea
On Board the M/V Ortelius
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

At sea in the westerlies we have a pleasant tailwind. Near the Antarctic Convergence, we observe many species and great numbers of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic seabirds.

 
Days 12 - 13     Bouvet Island
On Board the M/V Ortelius
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Due to the unpredictability of landings at Bouvet, we are allocating 48 hours to be able to have multiple opportunities to land at Bouvet Island (Norwegian territory), another volcano in Antarctic waters topped by an ice-cap, with a rich fauna of seabirds and seals near the coasts. At the southwest side of the island we should have the best opportunities to land at Larsöya and Kapp Norvegia, which have some protection from the swell from the west. A third possibility is at Nyröysa, but this area is more exposed and partly out of bounds; as it is a nature reserve. We will allocate these two days for landings at Bouvet Island.

 
Days 14 - 17     At Sea
On Board the M/V Ortelius
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

At sea in the westerlies we have side winds winds. On both sides of the Antarctic Convergence, we observe many species and great numbers of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic seabirds. We also get now in more temperate waters with their own brand of species. -

 
Day 18     At Sea
On Board the M/V Ortelius
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Today we plan to approach the unique Gough Island for zodiac cruising around the island, as always weather permitting. In previous years we managed to circumnavigate all but four miles of the 33 mile circumference of the island in the ship, saw spectacular scenery and an unprecedented abundance of wildlife.

 
Days 19 - 20     Tristan Da Cunha
On Board the M/V Ortelius
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

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 or Inaccessible Island with millions of seabirds ranging from Yellow-nosed Albatrosses to Brown Noddies. 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 voyages to Tristan da Cunha (1998) we failed during 30% of the voyages to make landings in the Tristan da Cunha archipelago, due to adverse weather.

 
Days 21 - 24     At Sea
On Board the M/V Ortelius
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

We now enter sub-tropical waters with their own species of seabirds and dolphins.

 
Days 25 - 26     St. Helena
On Board the M/V Ortelius
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

St. Helena has a good anchorage and landing site. On this island, we will have ample opportunities to enjoy local culture, pleasant climate, and endemic plants and birds. We will visit the place where Napoleon lived in exile. There will be opportunities to explore the Island on your own.

 
Days 27 - 28     At Sea
On Board the M/V Ortelius
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

At sea towards Ascension Island

 
Day 29     Ascension
Meals: Breakfast

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 may witness egg-laying sea turtles coming ashore in the evening. 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 night April 21/22 the vessel will depart from Ascension Island.

 

Notes

All itineraries are for guidance only. Programs may vary depending on local ice and weather conditions and in order to take advantage of opportunities to see wildlife.

Flexibility is paramount for expedition cruises.

Price Includes
Services of Expedition Guides
Shore Excursions
Comprehensive Pre-Departure Material
Accommodations in Select Cabin Category
Meals Daily Shipboard
Free Use of Rubber Boots for Excursions
Transfers and Luggage Handling
Conferences and Shipboard Entertainment
Tax and Port Charges
OCE-1269
1.28.15.WP26