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A humpback whale lifts its fluke

Atlantic Odyssey, including Antarctic Peninsula

Example 37 Day Cruise aboard MV Plancius
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The Atlantic Odyssey offers a unique possibility to visit several of the most remote islands in the world. Besides the Antarctic Peninsula, the South Shetland Islands, South Georgia, and the South Orkney Islands, the Atlantic Odyssey visits Tristan da Cunha, St. Helena, and Ascension Island. Beautiful and often rare species live on these islands, many of them not found anywhere else in the world. Isolated local communities can also be visited on this unique Atlantic voyage.
A settlement on the island of Saint Helena.Photographing Penguins in South Georgia.Lemaire channel reflectionPenguins gather by the ocean.A humpback whale lifts its fluke
Highlights
  • View four species of albatrosses in your sail across the Drake Passage
  • Enjoy alpine peaks and a myriad of icebergs during zodiac cruises
  • See humpback whales and minke whales, gentoo penguins, and blue-eyed shags
  • Meet some of the major king penguin rookeries in the world
  • Visit the historic Grytviken where Sir Ernest Shackleton is buried
  • View the Longwood House, where Napoleon resided during his exile
Places Visited
Activity Level: Relaxed
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
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Full Itinerary

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Day 1: Ushuaia | Embark

In the afternoon, embark in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, the southernmost city in the world located at the Beagle Channel and sail through this scenic waterway for the rest of the evening.

Day 2-3: Drake Passage

Spend two days sailing across the Drake Passage. When crossing the Antarctic Convergence, arrive in the circum-Antarctic up welling zone. Hope to view whales, wandering albatrosses, grey headed albatrosses, black-browed albatrosses, light-mantled sooty albatrosses, Cape petrels, southern fulmars, Wilson’s storm petrels, blue petrels and Antarctic petrels. Near the South Shetland Islands, spot your first icebergs.

Day 4-7: Antarctica

Sail directly to “High Antarctica”, passing the Melchior Islands and the Schollaert Channel between Brabant and Anvers Island. On Cuverville Island, a small precipitous island, nestled between the mountains of the Antarctic Peninsula and Danco Island, find a large colony of gentoo penguins and breeding pairs of brown skuas. On Danco Island observe gentoo penguins and possibly Weddell and crabeater seals. In Neko Harbor have the opportunity to set foot on the Antarctic Continent in a magnificent landscape of huge glaciers. Enjoy the landscape surrounded by alpine peaks during zodiac cruises.

When sailing to Paradise Bay, with its myriad icebergs and deep cut fjords, have the opportunity to set foot on the Antarctic continent again and to zodiac cruise between the icebergs in the inner parts of the fjords. In this area you have good chances to see humpback whales and minke whales. After sailing through the Neumayer Channel, hope to get the chance to visit the old British research station, now a living museum and post office at Port Lockroy on Goudier Island. Close to Port Lockroy there may be a landing on Jougla Point with gentoo penguins and blue-eyed shags.

Sail through the spectacular Lemaire Channel to Pléneau and Petermann Island where you can find Adélie penguins and blue-eyed shags. In this area, there are good chances to encounter humpback whales, minke whales, and fin whales. Sailing north through Gerlache Strait arrive at Wilhelmina Bay where you can see feeding Humpback whales. You may embark on a Zodiac cruise if the conditions allow ending at the wreck of Guvernøren an old whaling vessel that burned here in 1915. Around Melchior Islands amidst a beautiful landscape with icebergs, where you may encounter more whales but also Leopard seal and Crabeater seals. This area offers excellent opportunities for kayaking and camping in the pristine Antarctic environment.

Day 8-9: At Sea

On the way north the ship is again followed by a great selection of seabirds while crossing the Drake Passage.

Day 10: Ushuaia

In the afternoon, embark new passengers in Ushuaia - the southernmost city in the world - located at the Beagle Channel, and sail through this scenic waterway for the rest of the evening.

Day 11-14: At Sea

Spend two days sailing across the Drake Passage. When crossing the Antarctic Convergence, arrive in the circum-Antarctic up welling zone. Hope to view whales, wandering albatrosses, grey headed albatrosses, black-browed albatrosses, light-mantled sooty albatrosses, Cape petrels, southern fulmars, Wilson’s storm petrels, blue petrels and Antarctic petrels. 

Day 15-17: South Georgia

Arrive in South Georgia and aim to visit some of the major king penguin rookeries in the world. The late season offers an outstanding chance to see the king penguins on eggs and with small chicks. The rookeries are packed at this time of year, and the traffic to and from the beach is astounding. At Salisbury Plain, view elephant seals and endless numbers of fur seal pups playing in the surf. On Prion Island in the Bay of Isles, search for breeding wandering albatross, then sail for the old whaling settlement in Grytviken, where penguins now walk through the streets. Grytviken is home to a small but highly informative museum and offers a chance to visit the grave of Sir Ernest Shackleton, who is buried alongside his trusted friend and companion Frank Wild. Attempt to land at Gold Harbor and St Andrews Bay to view king penguins, with stunningly beautiful scenery and a wildlife density second to none.

Day 18-22: At Sea

In the Westerlies there is often a pleasant tailwind. On both sides of the Antarctic Convergence, you can observe many species and great numbers of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic seabirds.

Day 23: Gough Island

Approach Gough Island for a zodiac cruise around Quest Bay, weather permitting. Gough Island is a strictly-protected nature reserve and landings are not allowed, but zodiac cruises in the area have proven to offer spectacular scenery and a great abundance of wildlife not easily seen elsewhere in the world. Hope to circumnavigate the entire 33-mile island by ship and see the northern rockhopper penguins and sub-Antarctic fur seals.

Day 24-26: Tristan da Cunha

In the Tristan da Cunha Archipelago, plan to call on the settlement at the west side of the main island. Landings at Nightingale Island and Inaccessible Island are attempted to view millions of seabirds including yellow-nosed albatrosses and brown noddies. An extra day is built in to allow for possible bad weather, as 35% of previous sailings have been unable to make landings in the Tristan da Cunha for this reason.

Day 27-30: At Sea

Enter sub-tropical waters which feature their own species of seabirds and dolphins.

Day 31-33: St. Helena

St. Helena has a good anchorage and landing site at Jamestown. Enjoy the local culture, pleasant climate, and endemic plants and birds, then visit Longwood House, where Napoleon lived and died in exile. Take the opportunity to explore the island on your own and snorkel in its clear waters. Or, stroll by the shallow surf and spot a variety of tropical and sub-tropical fish species.

Day 34-35: At Sea

Enjoy a last few days at sea along the mid-Atlantic Ridge while drawing near Ascension Island.

Day 36: Ascension Island

Ascension Island is a dry volcanic island with a moist and richly-vegetated top. The sooty tern (wide-awake) colony sometimes consists of more than one million breeding pairs. Try to climb the moist summit of Ascension Island and make a zodiac-cruise around Boatswain Bird Island, offering great opportunities for snorkeling. At Comfortless Cove near Georgetown enjoy a very comfortable swim with good snorkeling too (no snorkeling gear is supplied). You may be fortunate to witness egg-laying sea turtles coming ashore at night.

Day 37: Ascension Island

  • 1 Breakfast
Please note: At the present time, all RAF (Royal Air Force) flights to and from Ascension have been cancelled. Therefore, passengers should also book the 7-day voyage from Ascension to Praia in order to catch outbound flights. In the evening the vessel departs from Ascension Island.

Ship/Hotel

MV Plancius

MV Plancius
Dining room
Plancius, Restaurant

Dates & Prices

My Preferred Start Date

This itinerary is no longer available. For other trip ideas, please visit Antarctica Peninsula Cruises & Expeditions.
Quadruple Porthole
Quadruple Porthole
4 cabins with private facilities, 2 bunk beds. (ca. 15 m2)
Quadruple Porthole
Triple Porthole
4 cabins with private facilities, 2 bunk beds. (ca. 15 m2)
Twin porthole cabin
Twin with Porthole
9 twin private cabins with porthole. Two Lower berths. (ca. 15 m2)
Twin with window
Twin with Window
26 twin private cabins with window. Two Lower berths (ca. 15 m2)
Twin Deluxe
Twin Deluxe
2 twin private deluxe cabins. Lower berths - two single beds.(ca. 15 m2)
Superior
Superior
10 twin superior cabins. Lower berth - double bed. (ca. 21 m2)

Notes

- Rates are quoted in U.S. dollars and represent costs per person, double or triple occupancy. Request the Twin or Triple Share Program where you are matched with a cabin mate of the same gender. Even if a cabin mate is not found for you, no single supplement will be charged.
- Single occupancy: All cabins 1.7 times the share twin price
-Children between the ages of 3-15 will be discounted 40% in triple or quad cabins, one child per cabin.
- Due to the extreme nature of itinerary destinations, travel insurance is mandatory for all cruises aboard the Plancius - including medical, accident and repatriation/evacuation insurance.
Included
  • 36 Breakfasts, 35 Lunches, 36 Dinners
  • 36 Nights Accommodations
  • Accommodations as listed
  • Ground transportation as listed
  • Activities as listed
  • Meals as listed
  • Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
  • Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff.
  • All Miscellaneous Service Taxes and Port Charges Throughout the Program
  • All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac.
  • Free use of rubber boots and snowshoes.
  • All meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee and tea.
  • Comprehensive pre-departure material.
  • Upon boarding, passengers receive an internet voucher, providing 1.5 GB of free internet per day. This daily allowance resets every 24 hours. Supplementary internet vouchers are available to purchase on board for those requiring additional internet availability. This applies to all trips scheduled for the 2024-25 Antarctic season and will continue across all future motor vessel trips in both Antarctica and the Arctic.
Excluded
  • Gratuities
  • Travel Insurance
  • Personal Expenses
  • Flight costs (please request a quote)
  • Additional excursions during free time
  • Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
  • Passport and Applicable Visa Expenses
  • Government arrival and departure taxes
  • Pre- and Post Land Arrangements
  • Fuel Surcharge - to be invoiced separately
  • 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.
  • Medical travel insurance, including emergency medical attention and evacuation coverage with a minimum of $100,000 of evacuation coverage is required.

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Kate was great to work with in the planning stage. She was prompt, helpful, and efficient. Our tour guide, Edwin, was knowledgeable and passionate. We were very happy to have traveled with Adventure Life, it made the trip easy and a true pleasure. We could concentrate on enjoying the experience rather than the details of travel.
Lisa Bridge

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