Antarctica Peninsula South Shetland Cruise

   
 
 

In Search of the Emperor and King Penguins Cruise

Falkland Island, Weddell Sea & Antarctica

14 Days / 8 locations in Argentina, Falkland Islands, Antarctica, and South Shetland

A typical itinerary to the Weddell Sea, Antarctic Peninsula and Falkland Islands is illustrated below. All itineraries are for guidance only. Programs may vary depending on local ice and weather conditions, the availability of landing sites and opportunities to see wildlife. The final itinerary will be determined by the Expedition Leader on board. Flexibility is paramount for expedition cruises.

Highlight: During this voyage we have the chance to observe all eight Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic penguin species; Emperor Penguin, King Penguin, Adelie Penguin, Macaroni Penguin, Chinstrap Penguin, Gentoo Penguin, Magellanic Penguin and Rockhopper Penguin. Snowshoeing will also be available.

Itinerary

 
Day 1     Puerto Madryn
On Board the M/V Plancius
Meals: Dinner

In the afternoon, we embark in Puerto Madryn and sail to the Falkland Islands.

 
Days 2 - 3     At Sea
On Board the M/V Plancius
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

The ship is followed by several species of albatrosses, storm petrels, shearwaters and diving petrels.

 
Days 4 - 5     Falkland Islands
On Board the M/V Plancius
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

In the Falklands (Malvinas) we plan to stay two days on the fascinating western side of the archipelago. On Saunders we will be able to observe four species of breeding penguins (Gentoo, King, Magellanic and Rockhopper), Black-browed Albatrosses and King Cormorants. A hike along the shore of Carcass Island will give us views of Magellanic and Gentoo-Penguins, as well as close encounters with water fowl and Night herons and passarines. Weather and conditions depending, we may attempt, instead of Carcass, a landing at Steeple Jason to visit the largest black browed albatross colony in the world (113.000). We will visit New Island, a beautiful place where we will observe Rockhopper penguins, Blue-eyed Shags and Black-browed Albatrosses. In the afternoon at sea.

 
Days 6 - 7     At Sea
On Board the M/V Plancius
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Enroute to the Weddell Sea

 
Days 8 - 9     Antarctic Peninsula
On Board the M/V Plancius
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

We might visit Brown Bluff in order to make a continental landing at the Northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. We will sail into the Weddell Sea and if the Antarctic Sound is accessible and the ice does not prevent us to sail further, we might see the huge tabular icebergs that announce our arrival to the eastern side of the Antarctic Peninsula. We plan to visit Paulet Island with a million pairs of Adelie Penguins and to see the remains of the Nordenskiöld expedition. Between Snow Hill Island and James Ross Island there are chances to observe Emperor Penguins on the ice-edge making their way to open water. We are on the search!

 
Day 10     Deception Island
On Board the M/V Plancius
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Deception is a sub-ducted crater, which opens into the sea, creating a natural harbour for the ship. Here we find hot springs, an abandoned whaling station, thousands of Cape Pigeons and many Dominican Gulls, Brown and South Polar Skuas and Antarctic Terns. Wilson’s Storm Petrels and Black-bellied Storm Petrels nest in the ruins of the whaling station in Whalers Bay. On our first landing we may visit Macaroni Point, searching for Macaroni Penguins. Conditions allowing we may also land at Baily Head home to a colony of ten thousands Chinstrap Penguins (please note this landing is not always guaranteed and is only possible in good weather conditions). Good walkers may hike from Baily Head over the ridge of the crater into Whalers Bay, while our ship braves its entrance into the crater through the spectacular Neptune’s Bellow into the ring of Deception Island.

 
Day 11     South Shetland Islands
On Board the M/V Plancius
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

In the morning we plan to land at Half Moon Island at the South Shetland Islands, where we can observe Elephant, Weddell and Fur Seals as well as Chinstrap Penguins, Blue-eyed Shags, Wilson’s Storm Petrels, Kelp Gulls, Snowy Sheathbills, Antarctic Terns and Antarctic Brown Skuas.

 
Days 12 - 13     Drake Passage
On Board the M/V Plancius
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

On our way north we are again followed by a great selection of seabirds while crossing the Drake Passage

 
Day 14     Ushuaia
Meals: Breakfast

We arrive in the morning in Ushuaia and disembark.

 
Price Includes
Airfare Per Itinerary
Use of Rubber Boots and Snowshoes
Transfer - Ship to Airport
Port Charges & Tax
Services of Expedition Guides
Conferences and Shipboard Entertainment
Entrances Per Itinerary
Meals Daily Shipboard
Accommodations in Select Cabin Category
OCE-1269
1.28.15.WP26