DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person in USD. Promotional offers are not reflected in the rates below.
|
| Start Date | End Date | QUAD | TRIPLE PORTHOLE | TWIN PORTHOLE | TWIN WINDOW | TWIN DELUXE | SUPERIOR |
|---|
| Mar 23, 2026 | May 04, 2026 | 16,380 | 20,610 | 20,610 | 21,555 | 23,310 | 24,975 |
Rates are listed per person in USD. Promotional offers are not reflected in the rates below.
|
| Start Date | End Date | (Starting from)
QUAD | (Mid-range)
TWIN WINDOW | (High-end)
SUPERIOR |
|---|
| Mar 23, 2026 | May 04, 2026 | 16,380 | 21,555 | 24,975 |
ITINERARY
Day
1: End of the world, start of a journey
Your
voyage begins where the world drops off. Ushuaia, Argentina, reputed to
be the southernmost city on the planet, is located on the far southern
tip of South America. Starting in the afternoon, you embark from this
small resort town on Tierra del Fuego, nicknamed “The End of
the World,” and sail the mountain-fringed Beagle Channel for
the remainder of the evening.
Day
2 – 3: Path of the polar explorers
Over
the next two days on the Drake Passage, you enjoy some of the same
experiences encountered by the great polar explorers who first charted
these regions: cool salt breezes, rolling seas, maybe even a fin whale
spouting up sea spray. After passing the Antarctic Convergence
– Antarctica’s natural boundary, formed when
north-flowing cold waters collide with warmer sub-Antarctic seas
– you are in the circum-Antarctic upwelling zone. Not only
does the marine life change, the avian life changes too. 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
are a few of the birds you might see.
Day
4 – 7: Entering Antarctica
Gray
stone peaks sketched with snow, towers of broken blue-white ice, and
dramatically different wildlife below and above. You first pass the
snow-capped Melchior Islands and Schollaert Channel, sailing between
Brabant and Anvers Islands.
Sites
you may visit include:
Danco
Island
– Activities here may focus on the gentoo penguins nesting on
the island, in addition to the Weddell and crabeater seals that can be
found nearby.
Neko
Harbour
– An epic landscape of mammoth glaciers and endless
wind-carved snow, Neko Harbour offers opportunities for a Zodiac cruise
and landing that afford the closest views of the surrounding alpine
peaks.
Paradise
Bay
– You may be able to take a Zodiac cruise in these sprawling,
ice-flecked waters, where there’s a good chance
you’ll encounter humpback and minke whales.
Pléneau
& Petermann Islands
– If the ice allows it, you could sail through the Lemaire
Channel in search of Adélie penguins and blue-eyed shags.
There is also a possibility you’ll encounter humpback and
minke whales here, as well as leopard seals.
Port
Lockroy
– After sailing through the Neumayer Channel, you may get a
chance to visit the former British research station – now a
museum and post office – of Port Lockroy on Goudier Island.
You may also be able to partake in activities around Jougla Point,
meeting gentoo penguins and blue-eyed shags.
Note:At the
nearby sites, such as Damoy Point there may be the opportunity for
snowshoeing to the old ski-way, this is also one of our favourite
camping sites.
Wilhelmina
Bay & Guvernøren
– This is a great place to spot humpback whales. You also may
embark on a Zodiac cruise ending at the ghostly wreck of the
Guvernøren, a whaling vessel that caught fire here in 1915.
Around the Melchior Islands, amid a frozen landscape peopled with
icebergs, you may encounter even more whales, leopard seals, and
crabeater seals.
Conditions
on the Drake Passage determine the exact time of departure.
Day
8 - 9: Familiar seas, familiar friends
Your
return voyage is far from lonely. While crossing the Drake,
you’re again greeted by the vast array of seabirds remembered
from the passage south. But they seem a little more familiar to you
now, and you to them.
Day
10: There and back again
Every
adventure, no matter how grand, must eventually come to an end.
It’s now time to disembark in Ushuaia, but with memories that
will accompany you wherever your next adventure lies.
Day
1: End of the world, start of a journey
Your
voyage begins where the world drops off: Ushuaia, Argentina, said to be
the southernmost city on the planet, located on the far southern tip of
South America. Starting in the afternoon, we embark from this small
resort town on Tierra del Fuego (nicknamed “The End of the
World”) and sail the mountainous Beagle Channel for the rest
of the evening.
Day
2 – 4: Sea route to South Georgia
Today
we are en route to South Georgia. After passing the Antarctic
Convergence, which is a natural boundary formed when north-flowing cold
waters collide with warmer sub-Antarctic waters, we enter the
circum-Antarctic upwelling zone. Not only does the marine life change,
the bird life changes, too: A variety of albatrosses and petrels show
up, along with Cape pigeons and southern fulmars.
Day
5 – 7: South Georgia sights
Our
aim today is to visit some of the world’s top king penguin
rookeries. This time of year you have a good chance of seeing these
animals nesting on eggs, with their chicks nearby. The rookeries are
sometimes overflowing, with penguins traveling to and from the beach.
Possible
visits in this region include:
Salisbury
Plain, St. Andrews Bay, Gold Harbour
– Here you can see not only the massive king penguin colony,
but also elephant seals and limitless fur seal pups playing in the surf.
Grytviken
– We also have the opportunity to check out this abandoned
whaling station, where king penguins walk the streets and elephant
seals lie around like they own the place – because they
basically do! You might also see the South Georgia Museum as well as
Shackleton’s grave here.
Cooper
Bay
– This is a fine place for a Zodiac cruise, and this bay also
houses a rookery of macaroni penguins. King penguins, pintails, and
giant petrels may also appear here.
Moltke
Harbour
– Located in Royal Bay, this scenic spot gives you the chance
to see the huge king penguin colony that lives here.
Day
8– 12: Once more to the sea
A
pleasant tailwind often accompanies the vessel through the westerlies,
and on both sides of the Antarctic Convergence, you might see large
numbers of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic seabirds.
Day
13: The quest continues at the great Gough Island
Today
we plan to approach Gough Island for a Zodiac cruise in Quest Bay, if
the weather permits. Here you might see northern rockhopper penguins
and sub-Antarctic fur seals. In previous years, it has been possible
for us to circumnavigate most of Gough Island’s 33-mile
circumference, taking in this area’s splendid scenery and
abundant wildlife.
Day
14 – 17: Tristan da Cunha and all the pretty birds
The
remote islands of Tristan da Cunha are famed for their plentiful bird
populations, which include rockhopper penguins, several species of
albatross, petrels, skuas, terns, and many others. Our goal during this
stage of our voyage is to visit the small settlement on the west side
of the main island, but we might also land at Seal Bay on the south
side of Tristan da Cunha or at Sandy Point on the east side.
In
these stunning locations, you could encounter such exotic wildlife as
yellow-nosed albatrosses and sub-Antarctic fur seals, all while
exploring a rarely visited spot. We also intend to land at Nightingale
Island and Inaccessible Island, both of which offer great views of
beautiful seabirds ranging from yellow-nosed albatrosses to brown
noddies.
Two
days are reserved at Tristan da Cunha in case of bad weather, but
please remember that nature determines our itineraries here: Since
beginning the Atlantic Odyssey cruise in 1998, adverse weather led to
the cancellation of 35% of Tristan da Cunha landings. If we have to
divert for safety reasons, we will find good alternatives.
Day
18 – 21: Subtropical seas and seabirds
Seabirds
and dolphins indigenous to this region often follow the vessel.
Day
22 – 24: St. Highlights of Saint Helena
After
we land at Jamestown on Saint Helena Island, you will have the
opportunity to enjoy the area’s local culture, pleasant
climate, and endemic bird life. You can pay a visit to Longwood House,
where Napoleon died in exile; walk the 699-step Jacob’s
Ladder, if you’re feeling ambitious; or snorkel the shallows
offshore, seeing multitudes of tropical and subtropical fish.
Please
note: You have
the option to disembark and fly home from Jamestown, if flights are
available. In the evening, we will depart for Ascension Island and
Praia, Cape Verde, where you can also disembark. Make sure to book
voyage PLA33-26 if you want to fly out from Praia.
Day
1: Heading out of St. Helena
Our
voyage starts in Jamestown, a uniquely situated city that offers much
to see before we set sail. Enjoy the local British culture, tropical
climate, and endemic birds of this remote volcanic island. You can
visit Longwood House, where Napoleon died in 1821, and even walk the
699-step Jacob’s Ladder if you feel ambitious. If you have
more time, you can also go on small hikes or snorkeling in the
shallows, seeing multitudes of tropical and subtropical fish.
Day
2 – 3: Sailing the Mid-Atlantic Ridge
Today
we aim to sail along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the sprawling submarine
mountain range that runs about 16,000 km (10,000 miles) from the Arctic
Ocean toward the southern tip of Africa. Join us for stargazing on the
aft deck, where we will show you the many highlights of the equatorial
sky. Weather permitting, these celestial wonders can be seen with
binoculars or even with the naked eye.
Day
4 – 5: Onward to Ascension Island
This
dry volcanic island is a major home for sooty terns (also known as
wideawakes), whose colony here sometimes grows to over a million
breeding pairs. You may get the chance to hike up to the richly
vegetated summit of the island, and we might also visit the beach to
watch green turtles laying eggs.
Day
6 – 10: Crossing the equator
Joining
us across the equator are Arctic terns and long-tailed skuas flying
their northbound spring migration. At this stage of the voyage, we will
hope for good weather as we attempt more stargazing on deck, observing
how the polar star becomes visible on the northern horizon.
Day
11: The pleasures of Praia
We
arrive in the town of Praia on Cape Verde’s Santiago Island,
disembarking later that day at 18:00 hours. Though no lunch will be
served, you are free to stay on board or store your luggage until
disembarkation. If you have the time, we offer an additional tour in
and around Praia. Here you can visit the historic Cidade Velha and its
massive hillside fortress, built to defend against English raiders.
Other sights include the oldest Christian church in the tropics as well
as the slave whipping post in the main square. You can also simply
explore the streets of Praia, enjoying the folk music spilling out of
tavern windows.
Plancius (Expedition, 108-guests)
MV Plancius offers a restaurant/lecture room on deck 3 and a spacious observation lounge (with bar) on deck 5 with large windows, offering full panorama view. The vessel has large open deck spaces (with full walk-around possibilities on deck 4), giving excellent opportunities to enjoy the scenery and wildlife. She is furthermore equipped with 10 Mark V zodiacs.
(Click image to view Ship details)
WHAT'S 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.
- Free
use of rubber boots and snowshoes.
- Luggage
transfer from pick-up point to the vessel on the day of embarkation, in
Ushuaia.
- Pre-scheduled
group transfer from the vessel to the airport in Ushuaia (directly
after disembarkation).
- All
miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the programme.
- Comprehensive
pre-departure material.
- Free 1.5 GB of daily Wifi
Excluded
from this voyage
- Any
airfare, whether on scheduled or charter flights.
- 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.
- The
customary gratuity at the end of the voyages for stewards and other
service personnel aboard (guidelines will be provided).
