HIGHLIGHTS
- Be awestruck by the array of wildlife that hunt and play in
the Antarctic Sound, as the humpback whale migration begins
- Marvel at gigantic tabular icebergs in the Weddell Sea
- Learn about the incredible fossil-rich volcanic islands
from our onboard experts
- Hear tales of heroic exploration, tragedy and triumph in
the Weddell region
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person in USD. Promotional offers are not reflected in the rates below.
|
| Start Date | End Date | Stateroom Triple | Stateroom Twin | Superior Stateroom Twin | Balcony Stateroom C | Balcony Stateroom B | Balcony Stateroom A | Balcony Stateroom Superior | Junior Suite | Captain's Suite |
|---|
| Mar 02, 2027 | Mar 14, 2027 | 20,395 | N/A | 22,195 | 22,795 | 23,995 | 25,795 | 28,195 | 33,495 | 38,295 |
Rates are listed per person in USD. Promotional offers are not reflected in the rates below.
|
| Start Date | End Date | (Starting from)
Stateroom Triple | (Mid-range)
Balcony Stateroom B | (High-end)
Captain's Suite |
|---|
| Mar 02, 2027 | Mar 14, 2027 | 20,395 | 23,995 | 38,295 |
ITINERARY
Day
1 : Arrive Punta Arenas
Arrive
in Punta Arenas, where you will be met by a representative of Aurora
Expeditions and transferred to our hotel. We ask that you arrive no
later than 2.00 pm so that you may attend our important briefing this
evening.
Please
visit the Aurora Expeditions hospitality desk in the lobby between 2.00
pm – 6.00 pm to collect your luggage cabin tags. Our team
will confirm details regarding your embarkation day, answer any
questions and provide you with information about where to dine or
purchase last minute items.
Overlooking
the Straits of Magellan, the city sits astride one of the world's most
historic trade routes. Today, Punta Arenas reflects a great blend of
cultural backgrounds, from English sheep ranchers to Portuguese
sailors. It remains an utterly fascinating testament to Chile's rich
history. Modern day Punta Arenas is home to many popular restaurants,
and bars, offering a mix of local and international fare (meals at your
own expense today).
At
7.00 pm this evening, meet your fellow expeditioners at a voyage
briefing where we will reconfirm your transfer times for tomorrow,
explain the procedures for your flight to King George Island and
outline important IAATO regulations for visitors to Antarctica.
Day
2 :Day 2 Fly to King George Island, Embarkation
This
morning we will be transferred to Punta Arenas airport for our charter
flight to King George Island, Antarctica (weather permitting). The
flight will take approximately one hour and forty-five minutes. On
arrival into King George Island our expedition team is on hand to greet
you and to prepare you for your Zodiac transfer to the vessel. You will
have time to settle into your cabin before our important safety
briefings.
Note:
King George Island is located at the northern part of the Antarctic
Peninsula in the South Shetland Islands and is one of the most remote
places on Earth. A clear sky with perfect visibility is required for
safe take-off and landing. A contingency plan will be applied to your
itinerary should your flights not proceed today. Your safety is our
utmost priority. We apologise in advance for any delays caused due to
this unpredictable situation. Please refer to our terms and conditions
for a more detailed explanation.
Days
3-10 : Weddell Sea & Antarctic Peninsula
It’s
almost impossible to describe the feeling of arriving in Antarctica.
Spotting your first iceberg and taking a deep breath of some of the
most fresh, crisp air on earth is an experience that will stay with you
forever.
Once we arrive, the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula and the
South Shetland Islands are ours to explore, and we have a host of
choices available to us. Because we are so far south, we will
experience approximately 18-24 hours of daylight and the days can be as
busy as you wish.
Your experienced expedition team, who have made countless journeys to
this area, will use their expertise to design your voyage from day to
day, choosing the best options based on the prevailing weather, ice
conditions and wildlife opportunities.
Central to the story of where Sir Ernest Shackleton’s ship,
the Endurance became trapped in formidable sea ice, the Weddell Sea
certainly is high on the list for many polar adventurers. A small set
of islands standing off to the east of the Antarctic Peninsula
collectively form the Antarctic Sound – the gateway to the
Weddell Sea. With a well-deserved reputation as being an iceberg alley
where large icebergs try to escape the Weddell Sea through Antarctic
Sound, often making navigation difficult. However, the rewards can be
great. Fossils are a reminder of a more temperate era –
gastropods, large clams, and spiral-shaped ammonites, all turned to
stone.
We hope to experience memorable wildlife encounters as the Weddell
boasts a large Adélie penguin colony just outside of
Antarctic Sound, some of which breed on the rocky slopes of a small
volcanic island, where a large colony of Antarctic blue-eyed shags
jostle for space with nest-building Wilson’s storm petrels.
On thrilling Zodiac excursions or slicing a path through the maze of
sea ice in your kayak, keep watch for chinstrap and gentoo penguins in
and out of the water, as well as humpback, minke and orca whales. Your
camera is sure to get a solid workout during your time in the Weddell
Sea.
We generally make landings or Zodiac excursions twice a day. You will
want to rug up before joining Zodiac cruises along spectacular ice
cliffs or among grounded icebergs, keeping watch for whales, seals and
porpoising penguins. Zodiacs will also transport you from the ship to
land, where you can visit penguin rookeries, discover historic huts and
explore some of our favourite spots along the peninsula.
While ashore we aim to stretch our legs, wandering along pebbly beaches
or perhaps up snow-covered ridgelines to vantage points with mountains
towering overhead and ice-speckled oceans below. Speaking of the oceans
below, keen polar plungers will have the chance to fully immerse
themselves in polar waters - conditions permitting!
In addition to Zodiac cruises and shore excursions, we may ship cruise
some of the narrow, dramatic straits separating offshore islands from
the mainland, or linger in scenic bays to watch whales travelling or
feeding.
This is a great time to enjoy the observation lounge for uninterrupted
views of Antarctica in all its splendour. Keep an ear out for the creak
and deep rumble of glaciers as they carve their way from summit to sea.
Take a quiet moment to experience the wonder of this incredible white
continent.
Join the team in the lecture theatre for presentations covering a broad
range of topics to suit every interest. These lectures will cover polar
science, wildlife, marine biology, glaciology, paleontology,
exploration, history, photography and research including specialist New
Scientist talks. Regardless of the topic, they all have one thing in
common: they all aim to engage, educate, entertain and turn you into an
ambassador for the planet. Plus, both on board and in the Zodiacs, the
expedition crew will give you introductions to and commentary on many
of the Antarctic phenomena you are experiencing.
You will have the opportunity to participate in the unique citizen
science program offered throughout the voyage. It is designed to be a
hands-on, immersive and transformative experience that helps you
protect the beauty of our planet. Various sampling and data collection
projects will be conducted on your voyage and a citizen science
coordinator will be on hand to introduce and assist you. This
expedition provides a unique platform to help collect high-quality
data. With extended access to these remote regions and our expedition
teams equipped with scientific backgrounds, we have the potential to
participate and engage our passengers in citizen science projects to
provide valuable data to the global scientific community. For a greater
understanding, visit our world-class Citizen Science Centre. You will
be rewarded for your thirst for knowledge with one of the best views on
the ship.
Days
11-12 : Drake Passage Crossing
Enjoy
a final morning landing in the South Shetland Islands before we
re-enter the Drake Passage for our return journey to South America.
With lectures and film presentations to complete our Antarctic
experience, there is still plenty of time to enjoy the magic of the
Southern Ocean and the life that calls it home. There is time for
reflection and discussion about what we have seen and experienced. We
hope you become ambassadors for Antarctica telling your family, friends
and colleagues about your journey to this magical place, advocating for
its conservation and preservation so that they might one day visit the
region to experience what you have been lucky to see and do here.
As we approach the tip of South America, our Captain may sail close to
legendary Cape Horn, weather and time permitting.
Day
13 : Disembark Ushuaia
During
the early morning, we cruise up the Beagle Channel, before quietly
slipping into dock in Ushuaia, where we will be free to disembark
around 8.00 am. Farewell your expedition team and fellow passengers as
we all continue our onward journeys, hopefully with a newfound sense of
the immense power of nature.
Upon disembarkation, for those continuing their travels in the region,
transportation to the hotel will be arranged exclusively for guests who
have booked their accommodations through Aurora or for those staying in
downtown areas near the port. Expeditioners departing on flights prior
to 12:30 pm will be directly transferred to Ushuaia Airport, those with
flights after 12:30 pm will have the opportunity to explore Ushuaia
before an afternoon airport transfer, and the transfer procedures and
details will be communicated onboard before disembarkation.
Note: At the
conclusion of the voyage, we do not recommend booking flights departing
Ushuaia prior to 12.00 pm on the day of disembarkation in case there
are delays.
Sylvia Earle (Luxury Expedition, 126-guests)
Due to sail in October 2021 our new ship honours the highly accomplished marine biologist, oceanographer and explorer, Sylvia Earle. As the first female chief scientist of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and named by Time Magazine as its first Hero for the Planet in 1998 - this vessel pays tribute to Sylvia's long standing conservation efforts for marine protected areas and ocean wildlife. Sylvia Earle will be actively involved in the development of her namesake.
(Click image to view Ship details)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- All airport transfers mentioned in the itinerary.
- One night’s hotel accommodation including
breakfast, in Ushuaia on Day 1.
- Afternoon catamaran cruise in Ushuaia, on Day 2.
- Onboard accommodation during voyage, including daily cabin
service.
- All meals, snacks, tea and coffee during voyage.
- Beer, house wine and soft drinks with dinner.
- Captain’s Farewell reception including
four-course dinner, house cocktails, house beer and wine, non-alcoholic
beverages.
- All shore excursions and Zodiac cruises.
- Educational lectures and guiding services provided by
Expedition Team.
- Complimentary access to onboard expedition doctor and
medical clinic (initial consultation).
- One 3-in-1 waterproof, polar expedition jacket.
- Complimentary use of Muck Boots during the voyage.
- Comprehensive pre-departure information.
- Port surcharges, permits and landing fees.
- Wi-Fi*.
Note: Please
note we travel to remote regions and therefore the connection can be
unreliable.
Excluded
from this voyage:
- International or domestic flights – unless
specified in the itinerary.
- Transfers – unless specified in the itinerary.
- Airport arrival or departure taxes.
- Passport, visa, reciprocity and vaccination fees and
charges.
- Travel insurance or emergency evacuation charges.
- Hotel accommodation and meals – unless specified
in the itinerary.
- Optional excursions and optional activity surcharges.
- All items of a personal nature, including but not limited
to alcoholic beverages and soft drinks (outside of dinner service),
gratuities, laundry services, personal clothing, medical expenses or
phone charges.
ADVENTURE
OPTIONS
Add-on
Activities
- Snorkelling: USD $675
- Paddling : USD $640
Included
Activities
- Bird watching
- Lectures on wildlife, our environment, history and
destinations
- Near shore cruises
- Photography
- Polar plunge
- Trips ashore
- Walking
- Whale and mammal spotting
- Zodiac cruises
