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Towering blue icebergs, vast penguin colonies, whales, seals and glaciers right in the heart of the peninsula
Begin your journey in Ushuaia, a small but bustling port town at the tip of South America. This Argentine town is an ideal gateway for you to explore the southern extent of Patagonia while preparing for your adventure ahead. Get active in the mountains or enjoy handcrafted chocolate at a café in town.
The morning is free to explore Ushuaia and the surrounding area, to do some last minute shopping, stroll around Ushuaia and down to the port or maybe go for a walk in the nearby National Park. The transfer to the ship takes place in the afternoon. Once on board there is a get together for introductions to the expedition team, to learn about the ship and its layout, talk about the itinerary for the next 10 days and participate in the obligatory lifeboat drill. Departure from Ushuaia is normally around 6:00 p.m, and we set sail through the Beagle Channel in the early evening. The long days mean plenty of evening light in which to experience the beauty of the channel, and to perhaps enjoy your first wildlife sightings.
Sea conditions in the Drake Passage can vary from dead calm (known as 'Drake Lake'), to rough and stormy (known as 'Drake Shake'). As you cross the Drake Passage our team of experts is out on deck to help you spot whales and identify seabirds. There is also a programme of talks, covering the wildlife, the ice, and polar history to prepare you for your adventure to the 'White Continent'. The excitement intensifies as you cross the Antarctic Convergence, where the cold waters of the Antarctic Ocean meet the warmer waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. You feel the change as the air gets cooler. Huge icebergs loom up against the horizon in increasing numbers, and Wandering albatrosses, petrels and other birds which thrive in this cold, remote ocean are frequently seen.
The most common reaction upon reaching the White Continent is a sense of reverence and awe. The experience is beyond words, since few places are as untouched and enduring as Antarctica. You will begin to appreciate why this region has long captivated the attention of explorers and travellers alike. Every time we visit Antarctica, we witness something new or unexpected, which means that your expedition will be unlike any other - creating a unique, personal experience.Each day, you will take Zodiac excursions from the ship to explore local bays, channels and landing sites. Your Expedition Team will take care of you at each landing, whether you are hiking the Antarctic landscape, visiting a research station or consorting with Chinstrap, Adélie and Gentoo penguins, all of which can be found here. Keep an eye out for Weddell, Fur, Crabeater and Leopard seals as well as curious whales, such as Humpbacks, Fins, or perhaps Orcas while on a Zodiac cruise. Each excursion will present a new collection of creatures to delight you and keep your camera busy.Amid the serene silence of Antarctica, noisy interludes become indelible memories, such as penguins squabbling over prized pebbles, or the boom and crack of a calving glacier.Every day will be different, having been carefully crafted by your Expedition Team to inspire and educate you about this wonderful part of the world.
Leaving the Antarctic Peninsula behind, our ship heads back across the Antarctic Convergence and the Drake Passage. The crossing is completed with the rounding of Cape Horn, weather permitting.
In the early morning we arrive back in Ushuaia where your voyage ends. You will be transferred either to town on to the airport for your onward flight to Buenos Aires.
9 or 10 nights on the ship, 1 night hotel in UshuaiaExpedition cruising in
comfortable conditions
All meals while on the ship included.Typical MealsThe ships galley offers
good quality service and cuisine throughout, with excellent chefs preparing
international menus including vegetarian dishes, accompanied by a wide
variety of drinks from around the world on sale.Breakfast: Buffet style –
unlimited tea and coffee, a selection of fruit juices, hot options including
bacon and eggs or omelettes, a selection of bread and toast and
jam/honey/marmalade, fruit and cereal.Lunch: Three course set meal or buffet,
or the occasional BBQ.Dinner: Three or four courses with a starter of soup
and/or salad, a choice of mains with at least one vegetarian option and a
dessert, with tea and coffee.Vegetarians and vegans can be well catered for
on this holiday - please do inform us before departure of any special dietary
requests so that our local team can be well prepared.
9 or 10 nights on the ship, 1 night hotel in UshuaiaExpedition cruising in
comfortable conditions
Travelling ConditionsThe voyages are designed to be as flexible as possible,
taking advantage of circumstances and events as they occur, as well as
passengers’ wishes and particular interests wherever possible. The
atmosphere onboard is relaxed and friendly with expedition staff, including
naturalists and polar experts, on hand and the opportunity to mingle with
people from all over the world. The ship is kept warm, clean and comfortable
with a wet / mud room in which to hang gear and store boots ready for the
next adventure.On the Zodiac cruises you are sitting still for most of the
time with the potential for some sea spray and a cold headwind - if you are
not dressed appropriately you will get cold. On the shore excursions, the
majority of landings are ‘wet’ which means that the Zodiacs beach and you
are helped to slide into the ankle deep shore break before walking up onto
dry land (wellington boots are issued to all passengers).There are, of
course, no paths, so be prepared for slippery, rough terrain and sometimes
fairly deep snow. Back on board the cosy ship after each adventure, you can
have a sauna and/or a hot shower and then relax with a tea, coffee, hot
chocolate or something stronger from the bar.Optional activitiesOn some
occasions, space is limited on the optional activities and needs to be booked
in advance. Please also note that not all optional activities are available
on every departure. Please ask our Polar Sales team for more information if
you are interested in one of the options below.Sea kayaking optionImagine
gliding across the surface of a bay in the presence of icebergs and glaciers.
Our Sea Kayaking program is a great way to intimately explore your
surroundings. A small group of kayakers will plan to go out multiple times
per voyage as an alternative to shore landings or Zodiac cruises. The number
of opportunities to kayak is weather dependent and will be conducted only
during calm conditions. Prior kayaking experience is required, and you must
be able to do a wet exit to participate. Beginners interested in kayaking
should consider participating in the Paddling Excursion.Paddling ExcursionIf
you’re interested in kayaking but would like to try something a bit less
demanding than Sea Kayaking, you’re the perfect candidate to sign up for a
one-time paddle on our stable sit-on-top kayaks—perfect for anyone with
minimal or no kayaking experience. Rotating groups of passengers will be
taken out on calm days, with our expert guides always present to provide
instruction and help connect you with the Polar sea.Stand-Up
PaddleboardingCombining surfing with kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding will
give you a very personal and unique perspective on Antarctica. Conducted in
small groups—in calm bays and harbours, in good weather conditions—and
accompanied by a safety Zodiac, onetime stand-up paddleboarding excursions
can be pre-booked in two consecutive priority groups. After the first two
successful outings, this activity will be offered via sign-up on board the
ship on a first-come, first-served basis for any subsequent outings.Camping
on Ice optionTreat yourself to an overnight camping adventure in Antarctica!
This is one of the best ways to experience Antarctica in an intimate manner,
taking your expedition to the next level. Camping is available on most
early-season Antarctic voyages. An onboard safety briefing gets you fully
prepped and ready for an unforgettable night of sleeping under the Antarctic
summer sky. Dress warm and eat a hearty meal before you head out, as no food
is allowed on land. You will be provided with a mat, sleeping bag, and bivvy
sack to keep you comfortable and dry while you sleep on top of the snow. Our
popular camping options have limited availability, so book early to secure
your space.DurationThe itinerary shown is the most common 11 day itinerary
offered; the departures with a longer duration spend a different length of
time along the Antarctic Peninsula.Polar ItinerariesAll Polar itineraries
should be treated as a guide only - it is possible that, amongst other
things, the capricious nature of wind, visibility and ice, intelligence from
previous sailings, changes in local landing regulations or the expert opinion
of the crew onboard may lead to adjustments to the route published.Booking
ConditionsPlease note that, as with all Polar holidays and voyages, the
booking conditions for this trip differ from our standard conditions. The
required deposit is 25% per person of your selected travel arrangements
(minimum £1000 per person or equivalent in booking currency) and the
balance of the price of your travel arrangements must be paid at least 133
days before your departure date. The deposit is non-refundable, and at 133
days before departure date, our cancellation penalties are 100% of the
holiday cost. COVID-19 Vaccination: Please note that as a condition of
travel on any of our Polar voyages, clients must be fully vaccinated against
COVID-19. Clients must provide proof of their vaccination status to Quark
staff before boarding the ship. For full terms and conditions please refer
to our Quark Book and Travel with Confidence Policy, found here:
https://www.exodus.co.uk/quark-book-and-travel-confidence If you have any
questions, please contact our specialist Polar sales team on 020 8003 9957 or
at polar@exodus.co.uk for further details.
POLAR ADVENTURE SHIPThe Antarctic Explorer is offered on the Ocean Adventurer, the Ocean Diamond
and the World Explorer which are Polar Adventure Ships. Please visit the
Polar Fleet page for Ship Information and Deck Plans.Polar Adventure
ShipsThese are small ice rated vessels well qualified for Polar waters.
Intimate adventures are always more enjoyable with like-minded passengers and
staff, so these voyages are for people who like flexible itineraries and
plenty to keep them busy. Activities include frequent Zodiac excursions,
trekking and many hours on deck in areas that other ships only dream about
accessing. Food and staff are excellent and every guest benefits from the
technical advances of this superb fleet. Rest assured our Polar Adventure
Ships enable any traveller to maximize their experience sensitively in the
Poles.
WORLD EXPLORER[[{"fid":"223171","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default"},"type":"media","field_deltas":{"5":{"format":"default"}},"attributes":{"height":"434","width":"1109","class":"media-element
file-default","data-delta":"5"}}]]Distinct and comfortable, refined and
roomy—these attributes and more describe World Explorer. Every cabin has
either a private walk-out or Juliet balcony for direct ocean views. World
Explorer also delivers plenty of public areas to unwind in after a day
outdoors, including the glass-domed Observation Lounge, the Explorer Lounge,
the library, and a dedicated lecture theatre. Health and wellness facilities
feature an outdoor running track, a small gym and a sauna, plus a spa with
change rooms, showers and lockers.[caption caption="Infinity Suite - World
Explorer"][[{"fid":"274696","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default"},"type":"media","field_deltas":{"1":{"format":"default"},"2":{"format":"default"}},"attributes":{"height":"217","width":"327","class":"media-element
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Lounge - World
Explorer"][[{"fid":"274701","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default"},"type":"media","field_deltas":{"3":{"format":"default"}},"attributes":{"height":"209","width":"314","class":"media-element
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World
Explorer"][[{"fid":"274706","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default"},"type":"media","field_deltas":{"4":{"format":"default"}},"attributes":{"height":"208","width":"311","class":"media-element
file-default","data-delta":"4"}}]][/caption]Cabin Class:TRIPLE: Located on
Deck 6, and approximately 242 sq. ft. (22.5 sq. m) in size, these cabins have
one double or two single beds, and a 55 sq. ft. (5 sq. m) walk-out balcony. A
separate combo sitting area/bedroom with a sofa bed and additional closet,
refrigerator, TV, state of the art “infotainment” system, and private
bathroom with shower is also featured in each cabin.INFINITY SUITE: Located
on Decks 5 and 6, and approximately 270 sq. ft. (25 sq. m) in size, these
cabins have one double or two single beds, and a floor-to-ceiling glass
Juliet balcony. A sitting area with sofa, refrigerator, TV, state of the art
“infotainment” system, and private bathroom with shower is also featured
in each cabin.VERANDA SUITE: Located on Decks 5 and 6, and approximately 215
sq. ft. (20 sq. m) in size, these cabins have one double or two single beds,
and a 55 sq. ft. (5 sq. m) walk-out balcony. A sitting area with sofa,
refrigerator, TV, state of the art “infotainment” system, and private
bathroom with shower is also featured in each cabin.SUPERIOR SUITE: Located
on Decks 5 and 6, and approximately 278 sq. ft. (26 sq. m) in size, these
cabins have one double or two single beds, and a 110 sq. ft. (10 sq. m)
walk-out balcony with access from sitting room and bedroom. A separate
sitting area with sofa, walk-in closet, refrigerator, TV, state of the art
“infotainment” system, and private bathroom with shower is also featured
in each cabin.DELUXE SUITE: Located on Deck 5, and approximately 334 sq. ft.
(31 sq. m) in size, these cabins have one double or two single beds, and a
110 sq. ft. (10 sq. m) walk-out balcony with access from sitting room and
bedroom. A separate sitting area with sofa, his & hers closets, refrigerator,
TV, state of the art “infotainment” system, and private bathroom with
shower and his & hers sinks is also featured in each cabin.OWNER’S
SUITE: Located on Decks 5 and 6, and approximately 355 sq. ft. (33 sq. m) in
size, these cabins have one double or two single beds, and a 110 sq. ft. (10
sq. m) walk-out balcony with access from sitting room and bedroom. A separate
sitting area with sofa, refrigerator, TV, state of the art “infotainment”
system, and private bathroom with shower, his & hers sinks, and bathtub is
also featured in each cabin.
OCEAN ADVENTURER[[{"fid":"153716","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default"},"type":"media","field_deltas":{"1":{"format":"default"}},"attributes":{"height":"340","width":"959","class":"media-element
file-default","data-delta":"1"}}]]The Ocean Adventurer is a comfortable
vessel with spacious cabins, which all have private bathroom facilities and
exterior views. Designed to carry travellers in comfort to the most remote
corners of the world, Ocean Adventurer was built in 1976, and underwent
extensive upgrades in 2017. This multi-million dollar investment included
renovations to the interior of the ship, significant technical upgrades, and
the addition of a new cabin category, the Owner’s Suites. The refurbishment
gave the ship new bathrooms in every cabin, and upgrades to the Lounge,
Dining Room, gym, and suites. Technical enhancements – including two new
engines, generators, gear boxes, drive systems, and re-bladed propellers –
resulted in increased fuel efficiency, and a minimized carbon
footprint. [caption caption="Lower Deck Twin - Ocean
Adventurer"][/caption][caption caption="Deluxe Cabin - Ocean
Adventurer"][/caption][caption caption="Dining Room - Ocean
Adventurer"][/caption][caption caption="Main Lounge - Ocean
Adventurer"][/caption]Cabin Class:TRIPLE: From 145 sq. ft. (13.5 sq. m), a
Triple Cabin is equipped with two lower berths and one upper berth. Located
on the Main Deck, it has private facilities, and a porthole with exterior
views.LOWER DECK TWIN: From 115 sq. ft. (11 sq. m), a Lower Deck Twin Cabin
is equipped with two lower berths. Located on the Lower Deck, it has private
facilities, and a porthole with exterior views.MAIN DECK TWIN PORTHOLE: From
115 sq. ft. (11 sq. m), a Main Deck Twin Porthole Cabin is equipped with two
lower berths. Located on the Main Deck, it has private facilities, and a
porthole with exterior views.MAIN DECK TWIN WINDOW: From 115 sq. ft. (11 sq.
m), a Main Deck Twin Window Cabin is equipped with two lower berths. Located
on the Main Deck, it has private facilities, and a window with exterior
views.SUPERIOR: From 132 sq. ft. (12 sq. m), a Superior Cabin is equipped
with two lower berths. Located on the Upper and Captain’s Decks, it has
private facilities, and windows with exterior views.DELUXE: From 144 sq. ft.
(13 sq. m), a Deluxe Cabin is equipped with two lower berths. Located on the
Captain’s Deck, it has private facilities, and windows with exterior
views.SUITE: From 215 sq. ft. (20 sq. m), a Suite is equipped with one
double bed made up of two twin berths. Located on the Captain’s Deck, it
has windows with exterior views and private facilities.OWNER’S SUITE: From
208 sq. ft. (19 sq. m), an Owner’s Suite Cabin is equipped with one double
bed made up of two twin berths. Located on the Bridge Deck, it has private
facilities, and windows with exterior views. Cabin 403 has a bathtub and
shower; other Owner’s Suites have showers.DECKPLAN:
OCEAN DIAMOND[[{"fid":"106321","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default"},"type":"media","field_deltas":{"1":{"format":"default"}},"attributes":{"class":"media-element
file-default","data-delta":"1"}}]]The Ocean Diamond is a luxurious vessel
with spacious cabins. All cabins have private bathroom facilities and
exterior views. Please feel free to enjoy the flat screen TV and DVD player
in your cabin. The Ocean Diamond is Quark Expeditions’ modern, stable
super-yacht. Carrying a maximum of 189 passengers, this outstanding vessel
features numerous adventure options plus onboard amenities for you to enjoy
such as a well-stocked polar
library.[[{"fid":"111856","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default"},"type":"media","field_deltas":{"3":{"format":"default"}},"attributes":{"height":"204","width":"304","class":"media-element
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file-default","data-delta":"9"}}]] Cabin Class:TRIPLE: Approximately 200
sq. ft. (19 sq. m) in size, this cabin has two twin beds and an upper bed,
and two portholes. Located on the Lower Deck, these cabins have a private
bathroom with shower. A refrigerator, TV, and DVD player are included in each
cabin. Please note that porthole covers may be closed during sea days or
during inclement weather as a safety precaution.TWIN OBSTRUCTED
VIEW: Approximately 200 sq. ft. (19 sq. m) in size, these cabins have one
double bed or two twin beds, and a picture window (the view is obstructed).
Located on the Captain’s and Upper Decks, these cabins have a private
bathroom with shower. A refrigerator, TV, and DVD player are included in each
cabin.TWIN WINDOW: Between 183 and 200 sq. ft. (17 and 19 sq. m) in size,
these cabins have one double bed or two twin beds, and a picture window.
Located on the Upper, Main and Captain’s Decks, these cabins have a private
bathroom with shower. A refrigerator, TV, and DVD player are included in each
cabin.SUITE: Approximately 400 sq. ft. (37 sq. m) in size, these suites have
one double bed or two twin beds, and two picture windows. Located on the Main
Deck, these suites have two private bathrooms, and a separate sitting area
with a sofa, chair, and small table. Two refrigerators, TVs, and DVD players
are included in each cabin.SINGLE PORTHOLE: Approximately 200 sq. ft. (19
sq. m) in size, these cabins have one double bed and two portholes. Located
on the Lower Deck, these cabins have a private bathroom with shower. A
refrigerator, TV, and DVD player are included in each cabin. Please note
that porthole covers may be closed during sea days or during inclement
weather as a safety precaution.SINGLE OBSTRUCTED VIEW: Approximately 200 sq.
ft. (19 sq. m) in size, these cabins have one double bed, and a picture
window (the view is obstructed by the lifeboats). Located on the Captain’s
Deck these cabins have a private bathroom with shower. A refrigerator, TV,
and DVD player are included in each cabin.BALCONY SUITE: Approximately 325
sq. ft. (30 sq. m) in size, including the balcony, this suite has one double
bed or two twin beds, and a full-size window with a sliding glass door that
leads to a private deck with chairs. Located on the Observation Deck, this
suite has a private bathroom with shower. A refrigerator, TV, and DVD player
are included in each cabin.
The Exodus group forms part of the ship’s complement, enjoying the relaxed,
intimate and informal atmosphere, which breaks into smaller groups to
facilitate the frequent excursions. We offer these cruises in conjunction
with our partners, Quark Expeditions and One Ocean Expeditions, and Exodus
participants will join an international group, not all of whom have booked
through Exodus. Occasionally some of these may be younger than 18 years old,
the Exodus' stated minimum age for this trip.We work with many fine
Expedition Leaders and Polar Experts, bringing a diversity of interests
including zoology, Polar history, geology, ornithology and ocean sciences.
The ship’s operating crew have many years of experience in Polar Regions
and are committed to ensuring a safe and memorable journey. Each day your
cabin will be serviced by the housekeeping crew, and your meals served by the
friendly and attentive restaurant staff. There is also a resident medical
officer.
All meals while on the ship included.Typical MealsThe ships galley offers
good quality service and cuisine throughout, with excellent chefs preparing
international menus including vegetarian dishes, accompanied by a wide
variety of drinks from around the world on sale.Breakfast: Buffet style –
unlimited tea and coffee, a selection of fruit juices, hot options including
bacon and eggs or omelettes, a selection of bread and toast and
jam/honey/marmalade, fruit and cereal.Lunch: Three course set meal or buffet,
or the occasional BBQ.Dinner: Three or four courses with a starter of soup
and/or salad, a choice of mains with at least one vegetarian option and a
dessert, with tea and coffee.Vegetarians and vegans can be well catered for
on this holiday - please do inform us before departure of any special dietary
requests so that our local team can be well prepared.
During the expedition, you will visit remote and isolated sites that are
accessible only by Zodiac landing craft. Designed for expedition work, these
large and heavy-duty inflatable vessels are extremely safe.
Travelling land only: 11 days starting and ending in UshuaiaYour trip
normally starts at the pier in Ushuaia on Day 1 of the itinerary. Details of
how to reach the start point are provided in the Final Joining Instructions
‐ sent approximately two weeks before departure.
Late Spring and Early Summer - October & NovemberThe start of the season and
the most adventurous time to travel. You’ll encounter truly breathtaking,
exquisitely sculpted icebergs emerging from their frozen hibernation. Many of
these blue bergs house courting, nesting and brooding penguins.High Summer -
December, January & FebruaryClose to the solstice you’ll experience almost
perpetual daylight. These are the mildest months when the first Adelie and
Gentoo penguin chicks are hatched. As the water warms the whale sightings
also improve.Late Summer - February & MarchThis is the time for some
incredible encounters with whales, especially Minkes and Humpbacks. The
receding ice allows for further exploration and penguin colonies are very
active with adults feeding their chicks.
Boots – Rubber boots are essential for a Polar Expedition, but to eliminate
these from your packing list we will loan you a pair for the duration of the
voyage.Parkas – We recommend one with a wind and waterproof shell - a
complimentary Quark Expeditions parka will be provided.Trousers –
Waterproof trousers or salopeltes are essential for Zodiac travel as well as
activities on shore.Gloves – To keep your hands warm and dry, pack a
minimum of two pairs of gloves: a pair of thin polypropylene gloves to be
worn underneath warm outer gloves.Hat and Scarf – Pack a warm, woollen hat
or cap that covers your ears, as well as a scarf, neck gaiter or other face
protection.Socks – For maximum warmth, we suggest that you wear two pairs
of socks to wear inside the rubber boots.Outer Clothing – Pack woollen or
fleece jumpers and tops, plus several turtlenecks for layering.Underclothing
– Pack silk or polypropylene underwear since it will keep you warm without
adding bulk.Knapsack or Backpack – To keep your hands free for shooting
photographs, bring a water resistant or waterproof knapsack or backpack.Shoes
– Non-slip shoes for walking around the vessel.As advice about luggage
allowances for both hand and hold luggage is subject to change, we suggest
you check the airline's website for the latest information prior to your
departure.
SwimsuitSunglassesBinocularsCamera, extra batteries, film or memory
cardsProtective sunscreenElectric converter with adapter plug set,
220V/110VSmall medical kit containing prescription medicines and
over-the-counter medication for basic ailments such as stomach upsets,
allergies, headaches and seasicknessSnow poles or trekking poles
On board the ships all transactions are in US dollars. Dollars can also be
used in Argentina, although local currency is preferred. At the conclusion of
your voyage, you will be presented with an account. This will include any
drinks from the bar, laundry or ship’s shop purchases for which you have
signed. You may pay for this in US Dollars cash, credit card (Visa or
MasterCard ONLY) or US dollars Traveller’s Cheques.Allow US$ 8 for the
airport tax on departure from Ushuaia and US$ 18 to depart from Buenos Aires
(Please note that airport taxes do change often and it is recommended to
include a little extra in case of this). You should also budget some dollars
for sightseeing and meals/drinks in Argentina, the amount depending on your
tastes.
The appropriate amount to tip the staff and crew is a personal matter but it
is customary to provide an end-of-cruise gratuity (as a rough guide
approximately US$13-15 per day per passenger would be appreciated).
Travel insuranceSingle accommodation (available on request)Visas or
vaccinations
Ved skriftlig aksept av vårt tilbud bekrefter du/dere at våre betingelser er både lest og forstått og at evt kansellerings gebyrer kan tilkomme ved en evt. avbestilling av reisen.