Antarctic Classic

Join us on a voyage of discovery to Antarctica, a fabulous and virtually pristine paradise for wildlife with incomparable scenery. Explore one of the last true wilderness areas left on earth, largely unchanged since early explorers and whalers first landed on its shores less than two centuries ago.

Throughout the voyage, a team of lecturers and staff will share their knowledge of the remarkable natural history of Antarctica along with entertaining stories from its earliest and most notable expeditions. The expedition also offers possible visits to scientific bases.

Travel in an ice-strengthened vessel, which is ideally suited to expedition cruising in this icy wilderness and which offers a more intimate atmosphere than a traditional cruise. A fleet of Zodiac boats enable shore excursions and short cruises among the icebergs and whales.

Day 1
In the afternoon, we embark in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, the
southernmost city in the world located in the shadow of the Andes and right at the
Beagle Channel shore. We'll sail through this scenic waterway during the
afternoon.

Day 2
At sea, in the westerlies the ship is followed by several species of albatrosses,
storm petrels, shearwaters and diving petrels.

Day 3
In the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) we plan to spend the whole day on the
fascinating western side of the archipelago. On New Island we'll witness how heavy
Black-browed Albatrosses try to land and take off in a colony they share with the
sturdy Rockhopper Penguins. A hike along the shore of Carcass Island will give us
instead views of Magellanic and Gentoo-Penguins, as well as close encounters with
water fowl and Night herons.

Day 4
In Stanley, the capital of the Falklands, we can experience Falkland culture, which
has some South- American characteristics as well as Victorian charm. In Stanley
and surrounding area we can see a quite important number of stranded clippers
from a century ago.

Day 5 and 6
At sea, on our way to South Georgia we will cross the Antarctic Convergence.
Entering Antarctic waters, the temperature will drop as much as 10 degrees C in the
time span of only a few hours. Near the Convergence we will see a multitude of
southern seabirds near the ship; several species of albatrosses, shearwaters,
petrels, prions and Skuas.

Day 7-9
In South Georgia we shall visit the bay of Elsehul, with it's very active fur seal
breeding beach, and then take course to Right Whale Bay, Salisbury Plain, Gold
Harbour and Cooper Bay to give you a good opportunity to see a wide spectrum of
landscapes and wildlife, like the introduced Reindeer, Elephant seals, King and
macaroni penguins. At Fortuna Bay we might try to follow in the footsteps of the
great British Explorer Ernest Shackleton and hike over to Stmness Bay. There and
at Grytviken we'll see and abandoned whaling village, where King Penguins now
walk in the streets and seals have taken over the buildings. At Grytviken we'll also
offer a visit to the Whaling History Museum as well as to Shackleton's grave near
by. One of the highlights might be our visit to Prion Island, where we will witness
the breeding efforts of the huge Wandering Albatross and enjoy watching their
displays.

Day 10
At sea, where the ship is again followed by a multitude of seabirds. At some point
we might encounter sea-ice, and it is at the ice-edge where we might have a chance
to see some high-Antarctic species like the Maccormick skua, Snow Petrel and the
elusive Emperor Penguin.

Day 11
We are aiming for a visit at Orcadas station, an Argentinean base located in the
South Orkney Islands. The friendly base personnel will show us their facilities and
we can enjoy the wonderful views of the surrounding glaciers.

Day 12
At sea

Day 13 - 16
We will sail into the Weddell Sea through the ice-clogged Antarctic Sound. Huge
tabular icebergs will 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 the remains of the Nordenskild expedition. At Brown Bluff we can put our feet
on the continent.
On our way West and south we will pass the Orne Islands with large colonies of
Chinstrap Penguins and a beautiful view across the Gerlache Strait or to Cuverville
Island, a small precipitous island, nestled between the mountains of the Antarctic
Peninsula. It contains a large colony of Gentoo Penguins and breeding pairs of
Brown Skuas. From there we sail to Neko Harbour in Andvord Bay and through
Paradise Bay with its myriad icebergs and deep cut fjords, while having chances of
seeing large whales. We will have opportunities for zodiac cruising between the
icebergs in the inner parts of the fjords.
We sail through the spectacular Lemaire Channel to Pleneau and Petermann
Island where we can find Adelie Penguins and Blue- eyed Shags. In this area there
are good chances to encounter Humpback Whales, Minke Whales and Fin Whales.
Sailing north through Neumayer Channel we may visit Hannah Point, where we will
find a nice variety of Gentoo penguins, Chinstraps and southern giant petrels, as
well as Elephant seals hauling out on the beach. At Deception Island, we will try to
land at Baily Head home to a colony of ten thousands of Chinstrap Penguins.
Deception itself 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. 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.we arrive at the Melchior Islands with a very beautiful
landscape and again possibilities for zodiac cruising among the icebergs, where we
may encounter Leopard Seals, Crabeater Seals and whales.

Day 17 - 18
On our way north we are again followed by a great selection of seabirds while
crossing the Drake Passage.

Day 19
We arrive in the morning in Ushuaia and disembark.

Grade A
General good health necessary.
No specific fitness requirements.

Clients must be in good general health to join our expeditions. The
expedition is ship-based, and physically not very demanding. Although we
spend as much time as possible ashore, you are welcome to remain aboard
the ship if you like. To join the voyage, you must be able to get up and
down steps between the different ship levels and up and down the gangway
to board the zodiacs for the excursions ashore.

The expeditions are led by some of the most experienced Southern Ocean naturalists, who have devoted a lifetime to research in this region.

On board the ship:
The ship is heated throughout with the normal temperature 17-25C. In keeping with our expeditions atmosphere, dress on board is informal. Bring casual and comfortable clothing. Keep in mind that much of the spectacular scenery can be appreciated from deck, which can be slippery. Bring sturdy shoes with no-slip soles and make sure the parka is never far away in case of the call Whales comes over the load speaker and you have to dash outside. Wear layers since it is comfortably warm on board the ship - and cold out on deck. There may be an occasion, ie: Christmas Day, New Year's Eve or a spontaneously Posh Night where you may require clothing that is a little more formal.

Tips to stay comfortable & warm in cold weather:

Avoid overdressing to reduce perspiration

Wear water repellent outer garments that will keep you dry on the outside and still breathe enough so that moisture from you body can escape

Body heat is most likely to be lost from parts that have a lot of surface area in comparison to total mass - namely, the hands and feet. Keep them warm and dry. For hands, mittens are better than gloves.

If the rest of your body is covered, as much as 90% of heat can come from your head, so be sure to wear a hat, beanie or balaclava. These items can be pulled down to protect your ears, forehead, neck and chin. The neck also needs protection with a woollen or synthetic scarf that can be wrapped around the face, when travelling against the wind.

Dress comfortable, loose layers. For anyone out in the cold, it is far better to wear layers of relatively light, loose clothing than one thick, heavy item. Between each layer there is a film of trapped air which, when heated by your body, acts as an excellent insulator. Keep from overheating.

Wool and silk are superior to cotton because they can trap warm air. Synthetic fabrics that spring back into shape after compression are also good. When damp or wet, polyester down is better insulator than goose or duck down. Polar fleece is popular and recommended.

Essential Items

Warm Trousers

Waterproof trousers

Thermal Underwear

Sweaters/Jerseys

Turtlenecks

Mittens and Gloves

Woollen Hat or Balaclava

Warm Socks

Rubber Boots (Gumboots or Wellingtons as we commonly call them)

Waterproof & Windproof Jacket

Backpack

Sunglasses

A pair of Binoculars - highly recommended.

Optional items:

Sandals or similar (slip on sandals) are very useful to wear around the ship

Earplugs may be useful if sharing a cabin with a snorer.

The 'Professor Molchanov' and the 'Professor Multanovskiy' are modern and comfortable oceanographic research vessels.
Built in 1983 in Finland, both were designed as ice-strengthened vessels, and are now under long-term contract by Oceanwide Expeditions. They have been converted for passenger use and are ideally suited for expedition cruising. They have a good anti-roll system, a range of 70 days independent operation and are ISM certified.
The vessels are strongly built of steel with an ice strengthened hull, perfect for polar seas. The 'Professor Molchanov' and the 'Professor Multanovskiy' are manned by enthusiastic Russian crews of around 20, all highly experienced in ice navigation. Russian captains are recognised experts in polar navigation.
All our international expedition leaders and lecturers are highly knowledgeable, helpful and dedicated to the protection of the environment.

The ships have a large bridge (where you are almost always welcome) and good open deck-viewing areas. They carry a full complement of Zodiac craft, excellent for landings and wildlife viewing opportunities in otherwise in-accessible areas. Excellent cuisine, prepared by international chefs, is served in the dining room, which also acts as the lecture room. Other public areas include a lounge and bar, small library, infirmary, and sauna.

Dining is informal and relaxed, and the cuisine outstanding. Award winning chefs prepare delicious meals and are able to cater for any special dietary requirements. A selection of fine New Zealand and Australian wines is available.

Triple shared facilities: 2 lower/1 upper berth, shared facilities, cabin, sink, opening porthole, desk/chair
Twin shared facilities: 2 lower berths, shared facilities, cabin sink, opening portholes, desk/chair
Twin private facilities: A private bathroom with shower, washbasin and toilet, upper and lower berths, a desk, ample storage space and windows.

Superior: A double bed and a single sofa-bed. A private bathroom with shower, washbasin and toilet. A sitting area with a desk, video player and TV, coffee and tea facilities, refrigerator, and windows.

Suite: A a double bed and a single sofa-bed. A private
bathroom with shower, washbasin and toilet. A large lounge area with
a desk, video player and TV, coffee and tea facilities, refrigerator
and large forward and side facing windows.

What type of ship to shore communication facilities does the ship have?
a) Phone: Telephone calls can be made from the ship by the Inmarsat system or the Iridium phone.
b) Fax: Fax messages can be sent from the ship to any fax number anywhere in the world. Charges for outgoing faxes will appear on your ships account.
c) Emails: Emails can be sent to the ships email address. To send messages to this address the sender must be registered with Xantic ( www.xantic.net). There will be a charge for all redirected email messages and this will show on the relevant ship board account. It is possible to send emails to any address anywhere in the world from the ship and a charge will appear on your ship account for any emails sent.

What currency is accepted on board?
The U.S. dollar is the standard currency on board. We will however accept New Zealand and Australian currency at the current exchange rate.

Can you cater to specific dietary requirements?
Our chefs can prepare food according to special dietary needs providing we are notified at the time of final payment. We regret that no kosher or vegan meals can be offered.

Can I recharge my batteries and use electrical appliances on board (ie: hairdryer)?
Power on board is 220V (AC current) with outlets being recessed, round 2 pronged European type. If you plan to bring the American standard 110V equipment with flat pronged plug, you will need to bring a convertor and a round 2 pronged European type adaptor plug. Please check your equipment to be sure you bring what is necessary for your personal needs.
Special note for video equipment battery packs: Please check with a camera source and bring with you a convertor adequate for recharging your pack if your equipment is 110V and needing to be converted to the 220V on board.

How sea sick will I be?
All people wonder if they will be sea sick, the answer to this is difficult as it depends entirely on the individual. From our experience we expect a small percentage of people to get sick and then recover for the remainder of the voyage. If you think you are susceptible to sea sickness then it is a good idea to be prepared. Motion sickness tablets or Scopolamine patches (Scopoderm) can be purchased from your local chemist. Please remember if you are concerned, commence these before the voyage starts (as directed on the information for each medication) rather than after you are already sick.

Not included in expedition fee:
Airfare to and from your home to the port of departure.
Items of a personal nature such as insurance, and excess baggage charge.
Passport, visa and vaccination fees.
On board the ship: beverages, communication charges, medical supplies, laundry, sea shop purchases.

Single Travellers:
Single travellers who wish to share their cabin/hotel room should so indicate on the booking form. The published per person double occupancy fare is guaranteed in this case, whether or not a cabin mate is available.

Payment:
Although we advertise the price of this expedition in U.S. dollars we will be charging you in the equivalent amount of New Zealand dollars. We will be using the current exchange rate on the day of making the booking but as exchange rates are constantly changing we cannot guarantee that your credit card bill will come out to the exact US dollar price as advertised. Please also allow for currency conversion fees charged by your bank (usually between 1% and 3%).

Deposits: A deposit of 25% of the expedition fee is required upon booking to confirm participation. The balance of the fee is payable 90 days prior to departure date.

Cancellations: Cancellations must be received in writing. For cancellations received more than 120 days before departure date, a full refund will be made less $US400.00 fee per person for administration/handling fee. For cancellations received within 120 days of your embarkation date, the full deposit is forfeited. The full expedition fee is forfeited if your notice of cancellation is received within 90 days of your departure date. On forwarding the deposit you agree to be bound by the terms and conditions found here.

Travel Insurance: We strongly recommend that travellers purchase trip cancellation protection and/or travel insurance at the time of booking.

Itinerary Changes
Due to the nature of our expeditions, weather, ice or government regulations may require changes to be made to the itineraries and/or the cancellation of certain shore excursions. Every attempt will be made to adhere to the itineraries described within the limits of safety and time. The ships captain has the last word on any decision made with regard to the vessels itinerary and it is understood that such a decision will be made in the interest of safety of the vessel and of all the passengers on board. In the event of changes, passengers have no right to any refund or other compensation. Expedition fees are based on group participation. Should you choose not to take part in any activity or make use of services provided, no refund will be made.

Notes: This trip is run in conjunction with another operator.