HIGHLIGHTS
- Celebrate women in conservation on board our Sylvia Earle
expedition ship, with fellow female travellers
- Enjoy a range of excursion options for all levels and
interests, from leisurely walks to strenuous hikes, Zodiac cruises and
additional water-based activities, such as kayaking
- Join the exclusive polar plunge club and jump into the
beautiful Antarctic waters, warming up afterwards in the sauna or
jacuzzi
- Witness the beauty of nature as we sail at the peak time
for whale activity, particularly humpbacks
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 | Stateroom Superior | Balcony Stateroom C | Balcony Stateroom B | Balcony Stateroom A | Balcony Stateroom Superior | Junior Suite |
|---|
| Mar 03, 2028 | Mar 13, 2028 | 16,195 | N/A | 17,595 | 17,995 | 18,995 | 20,395 | 22,295 | 26,595 |
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)
Junior Suite |
|---|
| Mar 03, 2028 | Mar 13, 2028 | 16,195 | 18,995 | 26,595 |
ITINERARY
Day
1 : Ushuaia
Arrive
in Ushuaia, where you will be met by a representative of Aurora
Expeditions and transferred with your fellow expeditioners to your
assigned pre-voyage hotel. If you are already in Ushuaia, we ask you to
make your way to your hotel. Check-in is from 3.00 pm. This afternoon,
visit the Aurora Expeditions hospitality desk in the hotel lobby,
between 3.00 pm and 7.00 pm, to collect your luggage tags, and confirm
if you wish to join our Lake Escondido pre-embarkation tour tomorrow.
Our team will confirm details regarding your embarkation day, answer
any questions and provide you with information on where to dine or
purchase last minute items.
Expeditioners
arriving after 7.00 pm will find a welcome pack waiting for them at
check-in. We ask you to visit our hospitality desk tomorrow between
8.00 am – 10.00 am.
The
remainder of your time is at leisure. All meals today are at your own
expense.
Assigned
accommodation: To be
advised
Day
2 : Embarkation
This
morning, enjoy breakfast and check-out. Please ensure your cabin
luggage is fitted with cabin tags clearly labelled with your name and
cabin number. Take your cabin luggage to hotel reception, prior to, or
at check-out. Your luggage will be stored and transferred directly to
the port for clearance, to be placed in your cabin ahead of your
arrival on board. Please keep any valuables or personal items with you
throughout the day.
Those
wishing to join our Lake Escondido tour today, please meet in the hotel
lobby at 8.45 am. This tour offers us an unforgettable panoramic drive
through big valleys of glacial origin, evergreen and deciduous forests,
waterfalls and rivers, in the vastness of the Andes Mountain Range. We
will leave Ushuaia city to the northeast of Tierra del Fuego, driving
through peat bog valleys to reach Garibaldi Pass, only accessible by a
winding road that will take us to a panoramic point. From here we will
have amazing panoramic views of Lake Escondido and, if weather
conditions allow, of Fagnano Lake. We will start our descent towards
the northeast to reach Fagnano Lake’s shore where we will
visit a local ranch. After appreciating the landscape, you will have
the chance to enjoy the typical Fuegian Lamb barbecue. Enjoy some free
time there before returning to Ushuaia for ship embarkation.
Alternatively,
enjoy your day at leisure and meet at your hotel lobby or from the
meeting point at the parking lot near the pier (details will be given
by our ground staff at the hotel), to be transferred to the pier for
embarkation.
Once
onboard, you’ll have time to settle into your cabin before
our important mandatory briefings. As the ship pulls away from port,
we’ll gather on the deck to commence our adventure with
spectacular views over Ushuaia and Tierra del
Fuego.
This
evening, get to know your fellow expeditioners and friendly expedition
team and crew at a welcome dinner to celebrate the start of a thrilling
adventure to Antarctica.
Day
3-4 : Drake Passage crossing
As
we commence the Drake Passage crossing, we make the most of our time
getting comfortable with the motions of the sea. Our expedition team
prepare you for our first landing with important wildlife guidelines
and biosecurity procedures and start our lecture program to help you
learn more about Antarctica’s history, wildlife and
environment.
Our
wildlife experiences begin as we enjoy watching and photographing the
many seabirds, including majestic albatrosses and giant petrels
following our vessel. On sea days, you may can enjoy the facilities on
board the vessel including the gym, wellness centre or the relaxing in
one of the observation lounges.
Nearing
the South Shetland Islands and the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula on
the afternoon of day four, the excitement is palpable with everyone
converging on one of the observation decks watching for our first
iceberg. The ocean takes on a whole new perspective once we are below
the Antarctic Convergence and are surrounded by the surreal presence of
floating ice sculptures. The memory of your first big iceberg sighting
is likely to remain with you for a lifetime.
Time
and weather permitting, we may attempt our first landing in Antarctica
by late afternoon.
Days
5-8 : Antarctic Peninsula
It
is 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 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.
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. If you have chosen an
optional activity, you will have the option to do participate in the
activity whenever conditions allow, and of course keen polar plungers
will have the chance to fully immerse themselves in polar waters -
conditions permitting! The polar plunge can take place at any time
during the voyage, so listen out for the announcement from the
expedition team and get ready for the most exhilarating dip of your
life!
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 or make
your way to the bridge (open at the captain’s discretion) for
uninterrupted views of Antarctica in all its splendour. Listen out for
the creak and deep rumble of glaciers as they carve into sea. Take a
quiet moment to experience the wonder of the pristine paradise of the
splendid white continent.
On
board, you will find a range of areas to socialise or relax. We have a
number of lounges, including our Glass Atrium Lounge and Observation
Lounge. Our wellness centre houses our sauna (with a large window, so
you can still enjoy the passing scenery) and offers treatments (book
with reception). Across from our wellness centre you will find our gym
with a range of equipment for your use. Perhaps you would like to take
a dip in one of our jacuzzis on the back deck or enjoy a quiet moment
in the library. As part of our deck theming, we hope to educate our
expeditioners on the impressive and important conservation work these
female scientists are doing across the globe, leading the way in global
conservation initiatives. We honour these women who work tirelessly to
make the world a better place through their innovation, education and
activism. If you are interested in the women who have inspired us, the
hallways of each deck will introduce you to:
Dr
Sylvia Earle - Dr.
Earle was the first female chief scientist of the U.S. National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration; a National Geographic
explorer-in-residence since 1998; and was named by Time Magazine as its
first ‘Hero of the Planet’. Her conservation
initiative Mission Blue is creating a global network of marine
protected areas known as Hope Spots, and her new Deep Hope project aims
to deliver two deep-dive submersibles to collect crucial scientific
data of as-yet-unseen ocean depths.
Dr.
Carden Wallace AM -
Principal Scientist Emeritus at the Queensland Museum since 2014, Dr.
Wallace is a preeminent Australian scientist and the first
curator/director of the Museum of Tropical Queensland from 1987 to
2003. She is an expert on corals and was part of a team that discovered
the mass spawning of coral in 1984. In recognition of her contribution
to marine science, Dr. Wallace was appointed a Member of the Order of
Australia in 2021.
Joanna
Ruxton - Joanna
has the rare distinction of being hailed as ‘the person
responsible for the plastic-free movement’ by Sir David
Attenborough himself. She spent many years at the BBC Natural History
Unit working on the first Blue Planet documentary series. Her
award-winning film A Plastic Ocean, released in 2016, shows the
devastating impact of plastic waste on ocean ecosystems and has helped
to turn the tide against single-use plastics. In 2009, Joanna
co-founded Plastic Oceans UK (now known as Ocean Generation), to
inspire an inclusive global movement to restore a sustainable
relationship between humanity and oceans.
Sharon
Kwok - In 2013,
Sharon founded the AquaMeridian Conservation & Education
Foundation to promote marine education and inspire the next generation
to protect and preserve ocean biodiversity. Sharon continues her
advocacy as a Mission Blue and WildAid board member and Executive
Director of the AquaMeridian Conservation & Education
Foundation.
Bernadette
Demientieff -
Bernadette is a passionate mother/advocate for the rights of Alaska and
the Gwich’in people in northeast Alaska and northwest Canada.
As Executive Director of the Gwich’in Steering Committee, she
speaks for the protection of the calving grounds of the porcupine
caribou herd, known as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, against
destruction from oil and gas companies.
Dr.
Asha de Vos -
Internationally acclaimed Sri Lankan marine biologist, ocean educator
and pioneer of blue whale research in the northern Indian Ocean, Dr.
Asha de Vos founded Oceanswell, Sri Lanka’s first marine
conservation research and education organisation. Her flagship
initiative, The Sri Lankan Blue Whale Project, has led to many key
research publications and informs policy on whale conservation at a
local and global level. Asha’s award-winning work has been
showcased by the BBC, National Geographic, The New York Times and TED,
among many others, and in 2018 she was named one of the 100 most
inspirational and influential women in the world by the BBC.
Hanli
Prinsloo - Hanli
Prinsloo is the founder and executive director of I AM WATER, an ocean
conservation foundation based in Cape Town, South Africa. Dedicated to
protecting oceans through human experience, I AM WATER helps children
in underserved South African communities experience the
ocean’s transformative beauty for the first time. A champion
freediver, Hanli co-founded I AM WATER Ocean Travel with husband Peter
Marshall, offering intimate wildlife encounters with the
ocean’s most majestic creatures.
Days
9-10 : 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
11 : Disembark in 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.
- Lake
Escondido tour in Ushuaia, on Day 2.
- Onboard
accommodation during voyage, including daily cabin service.
- All
meals, snacks, tea, coffee, soft drinks and juices during voyage.
- Beer
and house wine 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 surcharges.
- All
items of a personal nature, including but not limited to alcoholic
beverages (outside of dinner service), gratuities, laundry services,
personal clothing, medical expenses or phone charges.
ADVENTURE
OPTIONS
Add-on
Activities
- Scuba Diving: USD $1295
- Sea Kayaking: USD $1350
- Snorkelling: USD $695
- Paddling: USD $350
Included
Activities
- Bird watching
- Lectures on wildlife, our environment, history and
destinations
- Marine Mammal Spotting
- Photography
- Polar plunge
- Trips ashore
- Walking
- Wildlife Watching
- Zodiac cruising
- Scenic cruising
