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PLEASE NOTE
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.
Day 1
In the afternoon, we embark in Ushuaia, Tierra del
Fuego, Argentina, the picturesque southernmost city in the
world located at the Beagle Channel and sail through the Beagle
Channel.
Day 2 & 3 During these two days
we sail across the Drake Passage. When we cross the Antarctic
Convergence, we arrive in the circum-Antarctic up welling
zone. In this area we may meet 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 glimpse at the first icebergs.
Day 4 At Deception Island, we will
try to land at Baily Head with a colony of ten thousands of
Chinstrap Penguins. Deception Island is a huge volcano of
which the crater 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.
Day 5 We will sail to Orne Islands
with large colonies of Chinstrap Penguins and a beautiful
view across the Gerlache Strait. Later we continue to Cuverville
Island, a small precipitous island, nestled between the mountains
of the Antarctic Peninsula and Danco Island. It contains a
large colony of Gentoo Penguins and breeding pairs of Brown
Skuas. From there we sail 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.
Day 6 We sail through the spectacular
Lemaire Channel to Petermann Island where we can find Adelie
Penguins and Blue-eyed Shags. We also try to land at Pleneau
Island home to Elephant Seals. In this area there are good
chances to encounter Humpback Whales, Minke Whales and Fin
Whales.
Day 7 Sailing north through Neumayer
Channel and Gerlache Strait we arrive at Charlotte Bay with
a very beautiful landscape and again possibilities for zodiac
cruising among the icebergs, where we may encounter Leopard
Seals, Crabeater Seals and Minke Whales.
Day 8 Half Moon Island is a beautiful
volcanic island with Chinstrap Penguins, Gentoo Penguins,
Blue-eyed Shags, sheathbills and Brown Skuas. Weddell Seals
and Elephant Seals may also be spotted. The crew of the Argentine
station is very hospitable. We may also choose to land at
Hannah Point, which has a very rich wildlife featuring Elephant
Seals, Cape Pigeons, Southern Giant Petrels, Macaroni Penguins
and Gentoo Penguins.
Day 9 &10 In the Drake Passage
we have again a chance of seeing many seabirds.
Day 11 We arrive in the morning in
Ushuaia and disembark.
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