Antarctica Cruise - The Peninsula - Luxury expedition ship with 5-star service
Classic Antarctica, Fantastic cuisine, and experienced naturalist guides. Most cabins have a veranda.
13 Days | Departure:  12/22/13 |  From $13,750

Tell me more about a trip to Antarctica!

2013/14 Itinerary Antarctic Peninsula, Falklands, South Georgia cruises Peninsula Cruise 10 days from $4,595 Weddell Sea and Antarctic Peninsula Remote region kayaking option Air-Cruise Fly over the Drake Passage then join your ship in Antarctica. Fly both ways or fly one - sail one options Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falkland Islands 22 days from $15,980 Antarctic Peninsula Fly / sail 10 days, active adventure, camping, kayaking Antarctica Cruise 14 days, Luxury Accommodation kayaking Antarctica Cruise - The Peninsula Active Adventure - kayaking, camping Classic Antarctica Fly cruise with Antarctic Circle crossing 9 days from $12,695 Antarctic Peninsula Luxury Ship 13 days from £13,750 Across the Circle Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctic Circle, Historic Areas - kayaking, camping 14 days from $5,499 Antarctic Peninsula Antarctic Peninsula, Penguins, Seals, Whales, Historic sites 10 days from $7,876 Cruises in Eastern Antarctica - Ross Sea Region Ross Sea in the Wake of Scott and Shackleton Ross Ice Shelf, McMurdo Sound 29 days from $18,700 Antarctica Peninsula to the Ross Sea Wildlife and History rarely travelled itinerary 31 days from $24,163 Galapagos cruises Recommended Reading Lonely Planet travel guide Antarctica USA | UK Free world delivery Antarctica Cruising Guide USA | UK Free world delivery

Testimonials  |   Ship types

Trip Highlights: Luxury expedition ship with 5-star service, fantastic cuisine, and experienced naturalist guides. Most cabins have a veranda. A truly beautiful ship!

Rates: $13,750 - $37,450
Above rates are per person

Ship - Silver Explorer- Luxury Expedition Ship
Passengers: 132

Introduction

Experience the wonders of the Antarctic while taking full advantage of the luxurious all-inclusive lifestyle afforded by the world’s best and most uncompromising service including the most spacious suites and comfortable common areas of any expedition ship. A frosted wilderness of glistening white as far as the eye can see. Natural ice sculptures like enormous works of avant-garde art. This is the modern explorer’s final frontier. Hear the cries of penguins multiplied by the thousands, watch leopard seals and sea lions perfectly at ease in the company of visitors, feel the unspeakable magnificence of a whale breaching from beneath cold ocean waters. Astounding animal encounters – opportunities found nowhere else on earth. Charter flight schedules vary with departure; see end of page for details.

Itinerary

Day 1: Ushuaia, Argentina
Departing from Buenos Aires, fly to Ushuaia and transfer to the port. Embark Silver Explorer and bid farewell to Tierra del Fuego, the ‘Land at the End of the World.’ This evening, after settling in and setting sail, you will be introduced to your Expedition Team.

Day 2: At Sea
As you set sail on the first leg of your journey, the welcoming expedition staff will give talks and presentations that will prepare you for the exciting adventures that lay ahead. Learn about the the Silver Explorer and interact with our officers regarding navigation techniques. Tonight, you are invited to attend a special Welcome Aboard cocktail party whereat the Captain will introduce his senior officers and various members of the Silver Explorer crew.

Day 3: Stanley, Falkland Islands
Stanley is the capital of the remote Falkland Islands, and has a distinct British ambience and feel. Stroll through the charming streets of this colorful little town, lined with quaint cottages and a variety of traditional pubs. Visit a 19th-century Anglican cathedral, wander through the small local museum, and see the lingering reminders of the 1982 Falklands War.

Day 4: Falkland Islands
In the morning, watch for Peale’s dolphins and the distinctive black and white markings of the Commerson’s dolphin as Silver Explorer approaches West Point Island. Upon arrival, photographic opportunities are everywhere as you walk across rolling moorland and admire colonies of black-browed albatrosses that nest side-by-side with feisty rockhopper penguins. Learn about the island’s unique vegetation including the rare Felton plant. The hospitable island owners are always happy to answer your questions and share their stories.

New Island is a wildlife and nature reserve, and its many birds and animals are protected by an environmental conservation group. Once ashore, hike into the rocky cliffs to a rookery where rockhopper penguins and blue-eyed shags share the same nesting area. Observe black-browed albatross going about their daily routines and may even spot upland geese. The onboard historian will tell you about ‘Barnard's barn’ – a stone structure once belonging to an early settler, as well as the wreck of the Protector III – an old minesweeper used for seal hunting, now grounded just off the shore.

Day 5-6: Drake Passage
The Drake Passage has a notorious reputation for its turbulent seas due to the Antarctic Convergence, a natural boundary where cold polar water flowing northward and warmer equatorial water moving southward mix. When they meet, nutrients are pushed to the surface, often attracting a multitude of seabirds and whales. Spend some time on deck watching the horizon and the variety of seabirds that float in the air currents of the ship’s wake such as the black-browed albatross, sooty shearwaters and white-chinned petrels.

Days 7-10: Antarctica Peninsula Past the furthest reaches of Tierra del Fuego and beyond your wildest imagination lies the last great frontier – Antarctica’s vast white wilderness. Landscapes formed by the harshest wrath of mother nature, yet blessed by an isolated independence and tranquility await. A place where remarkable natural beauty and wildlife species exist and, in fact thrive despite the harsh climate. Witness the dramatic splendor of spectacular iceberg sculptures, marvel at calving glaciers and experience up-close encounters with marine mammals. Watch for seals sunbathing on slow-moving ice floes and for Humpback, Minke, and Orca whales breaching from below the frigid waters. Each day you will have the opportunity to partake in at least two Zodiac departures, and, if conditions permit, will visit a variety of penguin rookeries and scientific research stations. Perhaps a Zodiac cruise amidst colorful icebergs or a special excursion with your expert guest naturalist will be the highlight of your day’s agenda.

Days 11-12: Drake Passage
The Drake Passage has a notorious reputation for its turbulent seas due to the Antarctic Convergence, a natural boundary where cold polar water flowing northward and warmer equatorial water moving southward mix. When they meet, nutrients are pushed to the surface, often attracting a multitude of seabirds and whales. Spend some time on deck watching the horizon and the variety of seabirds that float in the air currents of the ship’s wake such as the Black-browed albatross, Sooty shearwaters and White-chinned petrels. As you return to Ushuaia, take advantage of the opportunity to listen to additional presentations offered by onboard specialists and swap prized photos with new found friends.

Day 13: Ushuaia, Argentina / Disembarkation / Buenos Aires
After breakfast, disembark the Silver Explorer. You are then transferred to the airport for your return charter flight (included) to Buenos Aires.

Notes:

Included:
All ocean-view suite accommodation; complimentary beverages served throughout the ship (a premium assortment of complimentary wines, champagne and spirits are stocked in one of the finest cellars at sea; in-suite beverage cabinet stocked with your preferred assortment of complimentary beverages; all onboard gratuities; no assigned dining time, no assigned table; complimentary in-suite dining and 24-hour room service; a full spectrum of entertainment and onboard enrichment from renowned authors to destination specialists; expedition parka and backpack; complimentary rubber boots on board; port charges and handling fees.

Not Included:
International airfare; charter flight, Buenos Aires-Ushuaia & Ushuaia-Buenos Aires, transfers in Ushuaia between airport/pier on day of embark/debark [$950 per person (12/23/2013)];  government fees and taxes; passport expenses; items of a personal nature; fuel surcharge may apply.