Polar Circle & Antarctic Peninsula Cruise - M/V Ortelius 2016/17

This cruise travels further south to cross the Antarctic Circle at latitude 66° 33′ South. Continuing further south of the Polar Circle to Detaille Island in Crystal Sound. This will most likely be the farthest south that will be reached.

  • At A Glance

    Visiting

    Ushuaia - Antarctic Peninsula - Polar Circle - Ushuaia

     

    Highlights

    • The wildlife of the Antarctic Peninsula, stunning landscapes, icebergs and glaciers.
    • Visit historic sites and Antarctic Research Stations.
    • Take small group zodiac cruises and hikes ashore.
    • Cross the Polar Circle at Latitude 66° 33′ South.

     

    Wildlife

    • Seabirds: Albatrosses, Fulmars, Petrels, Shags, Skuas, Prions, Shearwaters
    • Penguins: Chinstrap, Gentoo, Adelies
    • Whales: Humpback, Fin, Minke, Orca, Southern Right, Blue, Sperm, Dolphins
    • Seals: Weddell, Crabeater, Fur, Elephant & Leopard

     

    Duration

    • 11 nights/12 days

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Detailed Itinerary

    Day 1

    In the afternoon, we embark in Ushuaia and sail through the Beagle Channel.

     

    Days 2 & 3

    During these two days we sail across the Drake Passage. When we cross the Antarctic Convergence, we arrive in the circum-Antarctic up welling zone. In this area we may see 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.

     

    Near the South Shetland Islands, we spot our first icebergs. The Master of the vessel may decide to sail the narrow English Strait between Robert Island and Greenwich Island if the conditions are favourable. Then we might be able to do our first landing in Antarctic waters in the late evening of the third day at Aitcho Island at the South Shetlands.

     

    If the conditions do not allow us to manoeuvre through the English Strait then we continue sailing South of Livingston. These volcanic islands or the South Shetlands are windswept and often shrouded in mist and fog, but do offer subtle pleasures. There is a nice variety of flora (mosses, lichens and flowering grasses) and fauna, such as Gentoo Penguins, Chinstrap Penguins and southern Giant Petrels.

     

    Days 4 - 9

    We may start our first day in Antarctica with a landing at Hannah Point, where we will find a nice variety of Gentoo Penguins, Chinstraps and southern Giant Petrels, as well as Elephant Seals hauling out on the beach.

     

    At Deception Island, we will try to land. Deception itself is a sub ducted crater, which opens into the sea, creating a natural harbour for the ship.

     

    Here we find hot springs, an abandoned whaling station, thousands of Cape Pigeons and many Dominican Gulls, Brown and South Polar Skuas and Antarctic Terns. Wilson's Storm Petrels and Black-bellied Storm Petrels nest in the ruins of the whaling station in Whalers Bay.

     

    Good walkers may hike from Baily Head over the ridge of the crater into Whalers Bay, while our ship braves its entrance into the crater through the spectacular Neptune's Bellow into the ring of Deception Island.

     

    On our way further South we will sail to Orne Islands with large colonies of Chinstrap Penguins and a beautiful view across the Gerlache Strait or to Cuverville Island, a small precipitous island, nestled between the mountains of the Antarctic Peninsula and Danco Island. It contains a large colony of Gentoo Penguins and breeding pairs of Brown Skuas.

     

    In Neko Harbour and Paradise Bay with its myriad icebergs and deep cut fjords, we have the opportunity to set foot on the Antarctic Continent. We shall have the opportunity for zodiac cruising between the icebergs in the inner parts of the fjords.

     

    We sail through the spectacular Lemaire Channel to Petermann Island offering Adelie Penguins and Blue-eyed Shags. We also try to land at Pleneau Island with Elephant Seals and fair chances to encounter Humpback, Minke and Fin Whales.

     

    We head south along the Argentine Islands to Crystal Sound, south of the polar circle. The landscape is very impressive with very high mountains and huge glaciers. At the Fish Islands we land at one of the southernmost Adelie Penguin and Blue-eyed Shag colonies in the Antarctic Peninsula.

     

    At Detaille Island, south of the Polar Circle, in Crystal Sound we reach probably our farthest south. Sailing north again through Neumayer Channel and Gerlache Strait, we arrive at the Melchior Islands with a very beautiful landscape and again possibilities for zodiac cruising among the icebergs, where we may encounter Leopard Seals, Crabeater Seals and whales.

     

     

    Days 10 & 11

    In the Drake Passage we have again a chance of seeing many seabirds.

     

    Day 12

    We arrive in the morning and disembark in Ushuaia.



    Gallery

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  • Landing Locations

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