HIGHLIGHTS
- Photograph
massive albatross and beautiful pintado petrels as they swoop and soar
around the ship, guiding us toward South Georgia
- Visit
beaches teeming with king penguins and elephant seals
- Pay
your respects to famed explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton at his grave site
- Go
further into the Antarctic sea on a Zodiac, experience the rugged
peninsula from a sea kayak, undertake an exhilarating hike up a
sparkling glacier, or share an endearingly comical moment with an
inquisitive gentoo, chinstrap and Adélie penguin
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person in USD. Promotional offers are not reflected in the rates below.
|
| Start Date | End Date | Deluxe Veranda Fwd | Studio Single | Veranda Stateroom | Veranda Suite | Junior Suite | Studio Veranda Single | Penthouse Suite | Owner's Suite |
|---|
| Feb 16, 2025 | Mar 05, 2025 | 30,495 | 39,995 | 31,995 | 33,995 | 39,995 | 42,995 | 46,495 | 49,495 |
| Jan 24, 2026 | Feb 10, 2026 | 29,695 | 38,995 | 31,195 | 33,095 | 38,995 | 42,195 | 45,295 | 48,395 |
Rates are listed per person in USD. Promotional offers are not reflected in the rates below.
|
| Start Date | End Date | (Starting from)
Deluxe Veranda Fwd | (Mid-range)
Junior Suite | (High-end)
Owner's Suite |
|---|
| Feb 16, 2025 | Mar 05, 2025 | 30,495 | 39,995 | 49,495 |
| Jan 24, 2026 | Feb 10, 2026 | 29,695 | 38,995 | 48,395 |
ITINERARY
Day
1: Arrive in Ushuaia, Argentina
You
will begin your journey in Ushuaia, a small but bustling port at the
tip of South America. It’s the 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.
Day
2: Embark
Embarkation
will occur in the late afternoon, after which your vessel will sail
down the historic Beagle Channel, which transects the Tierra del Fuego
archipelago in the extreme south of South America. Expect an air of
anticipation as you depart!
Days
3 to 6: At Sea
There
are many activities to keep you engaged while you are at sea. Learn to
identify seabirds that glide alongside the ship, or attend dynamic
presentations by your Expedition Team. You will be prepped on safety
procedures for Zodiac cruises and shore landings, and also be given
instructions for getting the most out of your optional sea kayaking
adventures (extra cost), a truly intimate way to experience Antarctica.
If
conditions are right, the first indication that you are approaching
South Georgia is the sight of birds around a group of rocky spires
called Shag Rocks. Have your binoculars and cameras ready to capture
these rocky spires rising out of the icy ocean waters. Shags and prions
often rest here, and due to nutrient rich upwellings around the rocks
it can be a good place to keep a lookout for whales.
Days
7 to 9: South Georgia
After
enjoying South Georgia from a distance, we’ll head toward its
numerous beaches to find a bay for your first excursion. Landing sites
are varied, largely determined by the weather conditions of your
voyage. The sites you visit will provide you with wildlife encounters
unrivaled anywhere else on Earth.
South
Georgia is one of the most fertile breeding grounds in the world for
sub-Antarctic wildlife, with beaches blanketed with penguins and seals.
It won’t take you long to realize that you are in a
birder’s paradise, as burrowing seabirds, albatross and
petrels can be seen in abundance. You’ll find that South
Georgia, once a popular base for whalers and sealers, is also scattered
with abandoned relics and evidence of human activity from centuries
gone by. Your Expedition Team will help bring those days to life while
you visit old whaling stations and enjoy presentations on the South
Georgia of then and now.
One
of the most significant sites you will visit on the island is
Grytviken. This settlement is one of the first whaling stations
established in sub-Antarctic waters. Grytviken possesses a special
appeal largely because it’s the site of the grave of Sir
Ernest Shackleton, one of the most famous Antarctic explorers.
Days
10 and 11: At Sea
Say
goodbye to the king penguins as you leave for your next destination:
Antarctica! Your days at sea are filled with presentations and
workshops led by your Expedition Team, who will prepare you for the
wildlife and landscapes that will surround you upon your arrival on the
7th Continent.
Days
12 to 15: Antarctic Peninsula
The
most common reaction upon reaching Antarctica is a sense of reverence
and awe. The experience is hard to put into words, since few places are
as untouched and enduring as
Antarctica.
You
will discover a land of extremes. One moment you’ll be
overcome with a feeling of complete isolation and silence, and the next
moment you’ll be inspired by nature as a calving glacier
crashes into a brilliant blue sea or a curious penguin waddles by to
observe you.
Your
Expedition Team will take care of you at each excursion, whether you
are Zodiac cruising, visiting a historical site or observing penguin
colonies. Chinstrap, Adélie and gentoo penguins are found
here, along with Weddell, fur, crabeater and leopard seals. Keep a
lookout for Antarctic whales, such as minkes, while on a Zodiac cruise.
Eachday and each excursion will present a new array of creatures to
delight you and keep your camera busy.
As
exciting as the Zodiac excursions and landings are, perhaps
you’ll treat yourself to an extra-special Antarctic
experience by booking an optional paddling excursion (at an extra cost)
or cast reason aside and jump into Antarctic waters for the Polar
Plunge!
Days
16 and 17: Crossing the Drake Passage
After
more than a dozen days of unique wildlife encounters and remarkable
landscapes, your journey home begins. Crossing the Drake is your
unofficial rite of passage. Spend time on deck watching for seabirds
and whales, enjoy presentations by your Expedition Team, or simply
relax and reminisce about your experiences.
Day
18: Disembark in Ushuaia
You
will arrive in Ushuaia in the morning, which allows you to continue
your adventure onward or catch your flights home.
Ocean Explorer (Luxury Expedition, 138-guests)
Ocean Explorer, the newest addition to our fleet, is modern, elegant
and purpose-built for polar exploration. The 138-passenger vessel has
been designed with the latest in expedition ship technology. One of the
ship’s key features is the ULSTEIN X-BOW®, a marine
engineering innovation that ensures a comfortable and smooth sailing
experience thanks to the inverted bow. Located at the bow is the
two-story, light-filled library, which introduces a welcome airiness to
the expedition ship.
(Click image to view Ship details)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Beginning Antarctica 2024/25, Quark Expeditions will be offering Bar service and Wi-Fi for all guests
- Leadership
throughout the voyage by our experienced Expedition Leader, including
shore landings and other activities
- All
Zodiac transfers and cruising per the daily program
- All
shore landings per the daily program
- Shipboard
accommodation with daily housekeeping
- All
meals, snacks, soft drinks and juices on board throughout your voyage
(Please inform us of any dietary requirements as far in advance as
possible. Unfortunately, the ships’ galleys cannot prepare
kosher meals.)
- Beer
and wine during dinner; and coffee, tea and cocoa available around the
clock
- Formal
and informal presentations by our Expedition Team and guest speakers as
scheduled
- A
photographic journal documenting the expedition
- A
pair of waterproof expedition boots on loan for shore landings
- An
official Quark Expeditions® parka to keep
- Hair
dryer and bathrobes in every cabin
- All
miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program
- All
luggage handling aboard ship
- Emergency
Evacuation insurance for all passengers to a maximum benefit of USD
$500,000 per person
- Group
arrival transfer in Ushuaia from airport to pre-expedition hotel on Day
1
- One
night’s pre-expedition hotel accommodation in Ushuaia with
breakfast (Note: The number of guests per room is the same as cabin
occupancy on the ship. Due to limited availability, travelers who
reserve a suite on board are accommodated in standard rooms at the
hotel. Triple rooms may not be available.)
- Group
transfer from hotel to ship on embarkation day
- Group
departure transfer upon disembarkation in Ushuaia from ship to local
airport or to luggage storage facility
NOT
INCLUDED
- International
airfare
- Passport
and applicable visa expenses
- Government
arrival and departure taxes not mentioned
- Meals
unless otherwise specified
- Baggage,
cancellation, interruption and medical travel
insurance—strongly recommended
- Excess-baggage
fees on international flights
- Mandatory
waterproof pants for Zodiac cruising, or any other gear not mentioned
- Laundry,
bar, massage services and other personal charges, unless specified
- Phone
and Internet charges
- Voluntary
gratuity at the end of the voyage for
- expedition
staff and shipboard crew
- Additional
overnight accommodation
- Arrival
and departure transfers, except where explicitly stated
- Adventure
Options not listed in Included Activities
ADVENTURE OPTIONS - Hiking: Free
- Polar Plunge: Free
- Zodiac Cruising: Free
- Kayaking: USD 1,995
- Paddling: USD 395
