Falklands, South Georgia, & Antarctic Peninsula 19 day Cruise - Prices from $9,550 Departures: 12/29/2007, 1/3/2008, 1/27/2008, 2/10/2008, 2/21/2008

See entire List of Trips Ship: Gregoriy Mikheev/Aleksey Maryshev Trip Highlights: Fairly active program with good lectures and guides aboard Russian research vessel; three days exploring South Georgia and four days in the remote Weddell Sea. Want more info about this trip or other Antarctic travel options?

Day 1: Ushuaia / Embarkation
In the afternoon, 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. Sail through this scenic waterway during the afternoon.

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

Day 3: Falkland Islands
In the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) you spend the whole day on the fascinating western side of the archipelago. On New Island 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 you instead views of Magellanic and Gentoo-Penguins, as well as close encounters with water fowl and Night herons.

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

Days 5-6: At Sea
At sea, on your way to South Georgia you 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 you will see a multitude of southern seabirds near the ship; several species of albatrosses, shearwaters, petrels, prions and Skuas.

Days 7-9: Exploring South Georgia
In South Georgia you 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 you may follow in the footsteps of the great British Explorer Ernest Shackleton and hike over to Stømness Bay. There and at Grytviken you see an abandoned whaling village, where King Penguins now walk in the streets and seals have taken over the buildings. At Grytviken you also offer a visit to the Whaling History Museum as well as to Shackleton´s grave near by. One of the highlights might be your visit to Prion Island, where you witness the breeding efforts of the huge Wandering Albatross and enjoy watching their displays.

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

Day 11: Orcadas Station
Today, you may visit Orcadas Station, an Argentinean base located in the South Orkney Islands. The friendly base personnel will show you their facilities and you can enjoy the wonderful views of the surrounding glaciers.

Day 12: At Sea
Today is spent at sea.

Days 13-16: Exploring the Weddell Sea & Antarctic Peninsula
Sail into the Weddell Sea through the ice-clogged Antarctic Sound. Huge tabular icebergs will announce your arrival to the eastern side of the Antarctic Peninsula. You may to visit Paulet Island with a million pairs of Adelie Penguins and the remains of the Nordenskiöld expedition. At Brown Bluff you can put your feet on the continent.

On your way west and south you 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 sail to Neko Harbor in Andvord Bay and through Paradise Bay with its myriad icebergs and deep cut fjords. Enjoy zodiac cruising between the icebergs in the inner parts of the fjords.

Sail through the spectacular Lemaire Channel to Pleneau and Petermann Island where you can find adelie penguins and blue-eyed shags. Here, you may encounter humpback whales, minke whales and fin whales.

Sailing north through Neumayer Channel you may visit Hannah Point and find a nice variety of Gentoo penguins, Chinstraps and southern giant petrels, as well as Elephant seals. At Deception Island, you may 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 you find hot springs, an abandoned whaling station, thousands of Cape pigeons and many Dominican gulls, Brown and South Polar Skuas and Antarctic Terns. Good walkers may hike from Baily Head over the ridge of the crater into Whalers Bay, while your ship braves its entrance into the crater through the spectacular Neptune´s Bellow into the ring of Deception Island you arrive at the Melchior Islands with a very beautiful landscape and again possibilities for zodiac cruising among the icebergs, where you may encounter Leopard Seals, Crabeater Seals and whales.

Days 17-18: Crossing the Drake Passage
On your way north you are again followed by a great selection of seabirds while crossing the Drake Passage.

Day 19: Ushuaia / Disembarkation
Arrive in Ushuaia the morning and disembark the ship.

Notes:

This voyage operates aboard the Aleksey Maryshev on 12/29/2007, 1/27/2008, and 2/21/2008.

Included:
Voyage aboard the indicated vessel as indicated in the itinerary; All meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee and tea; 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 programme; Comprehensive pre-departure material.

Not included:
Any airfare; pre- and post land arrangements; passport and visa expenses; Government arrival and departure taxes; meals ashore; baggage, cancellation and personal insurance ( which is strongly recommended); excess baggage charges and all items of a personal nature such as laundry, bar, beverage charges and telecommunication charges; all gear such as boots and jackets; customary gratuity at the end of the voyages for stewards and other service personnel aboard (guidelines will be provided).

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Deck Plan - Gregoriy Mikheev

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