Description

Antarctic Peninsula aboard Plancius

Day 1: 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.Antarctica
Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina

Days 2 & 3: At sea

During these two days we sail across the Drake Passage. When we cross the Antarctic Convergence, we arrive in thecircum-Antarctic up welling zone. In this area we may see Wandering Albatrosses, Grey Headed Albatrosses, Black- browed Albatrosses, Light- mantled Sooty Albatrosses, Cape Pigeons, Southern Fulmars, Wilson’s Storm Petrels, Blue Petrels and Antarctic Petrels. Near the South Shetland Islands, we spot our first icebergs.

Days 4 – 7 （8）: Antarctica

We will sail directly to “High Antarctica”, passing the Melchior Islands and the Schollaert Channel between Brabant and Anvers Island. On Cuverville Island, a small precipitous island, nestled between the mountains of the Antarctic Peninsula and Ronge Island, we will find a large colony of Gentoo penguins and breeding pairs of Brown skuas. If we land on Orne Island we can observe Chinstrap penguins and possibly Weddell and Crabeater seals. In Neko Harbour we will have the opportunity to set foot on the Antarctic Continent in a magnificent landscape of huge glacier and enjoy the landscape during zodiac cruises. When sailing to Paradise Bay, with its myriad icebergs and deep cut fjords, we will have the opportunity for zodiac cruising between the icebergs in the inner parts of the bay. Throughout this area we have good chances to see Humpback whales and Minke whales.

We sail through the spectacular Lemaire Channel to Pléneau 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 Gerlache Strait we arrive at the Wilhelmina Bay where we often are fortunate to see feeding Humpback whales. We may embark on a Zodiac cruise if the conditions allow ending at the wreck of Guvernøren an old whaling vessel that burned here in 1915. Around Melchior Islands amidst a beautiful landscape with icebergs, where we may encounter more whales but also Leopard seal and Crabeater seals.

Days 8 （9） – 9 （10）: At sea

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

Day 10 （11）: Ushuaia

We arrive in the morning in Ushuaia and disembark.

Departure Dates: 2018 to 2019 Season

Pre Season Cruise:
2018: NOV 23 – DEC 03, 2018

On Season Cruise:
2019: JAN 28, 2017 – FEB 07, 2019 | FEB 07 – FEB 17, 2019 | FEB 17 – FEB 28, 2019 | FEB 28 – MAR 11, 2019 | MAR 11 – MAR 22, 2019

Post Season Cruise:
2019: MAR 22 – MAR 31, 2019

OUR SHIP: PLANCIUS & ORTELIUS

It does matter which ship you sail on.

Comfortable and nicely decorated, but not luxurious. It’s made for explorers.

VESSEL STATISTICS & OPERATIONAL SPECIFICATIONS
Plancius

Spacious yet small ship character, comfort & style and modern technology
Base camp for active, adventure and wildlife minded modern explorers
Small ship operation: 116 passengers in 53 passenger cabins with private facilities (toilet, sink shower)
4 quadruple porthole cabins, 2 triple porthole cabins, 9 twin porthole cabins, 26 twin cabins with window and 2 twin deluxe cabins, – all (ca. 15 m2), and 10 superior cabins ca. 21 m2)
All cabins offer lower berths (either two single beds or one queen-size bed), except for the 4 quadruple cabins (2 bunk beds), and 2 triple cabins (1 bunk bed plus 1 lower bed)
Restaurant/lecture room (deck 3) and a spacious observation lounge (with bar, deck 5) with large windows offer full panorama view
Large open deck spaces (with full walk-around possibilities on deck 4), giving excellent opportunities to enjoy the scenery and wildlife
Equipped with 10 Mark V inflatable zodiacs, including 40 HP 4-stroke outboard engines
2 gangways on starboard side, that guarantees a swift zodiac operation
The ship is manned by 17 nautical crew, 19 hotel staff (6 chefs, 1 hotel manager, 1 steward-barman and 11 stewards / cabin cleaners), 7 expedition staff in Antarctica (1 expedition leader and 6 guides/lecturers), and 1 doctor.

Ortelius

The vessel has the highest ice-class notation (UL1 equivalent to 1A) and is therefore very suitable to navigate in solid one-year sea ice and loose multi-year pack ice.
“Ortelius” is a great expedition vessel for 116 passengers with lots of open-deck spaces.
The vessel is manned by 20 highly experienced international nautical crew, 19 international hotel crew, including stewardesses, 7 expedition staff in Antarctica (1 expedition leader and 6 guides/lecturers), and 1 doctor.
The vessel offers simple but comfortable cabins and public spaces
4 quadruple cabins with bunk beds (these can also be used as triple or twin cabins) • 2 triple porthole cabins with bunk beds (these can also be used as quads or twin cabins) • 27 twin porthole cabin with 2 single lower berths • 12 twin cabins with windows and 2 single lower berths • 2 twin deluxe cabins with windows and 2 single lower berths • 6 superior cabins with double beds.
All cabins are spacious outside cabins with a minimum of two portholes or windows per cabin and all cabins have private shower and toilet.
Ortelius” offers a comfortable hotel standard, with two restaurants, a bar/lecture room.
Our voyages are primarily developed to offer our passengers a quality exploratory wildlife program, trying to spend as much time ashore as possible. As the number of passengers is limited to approximately 116 on the “Ortelius”, flexibility assures maximum wildlife opportunities.