E-mail a friendShip: Akademik Shokalskiy
Itinerary: Antarctic Adventure: Actively Exploring the Peninsula
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Penguins on the BeachPhoto by: Andrew Wilson
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| Days 1&2 : | Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina |
|---|---|
| Days 3-5 : | Across the Drake to the South Shetlands |
| Days 6-9 : | Antarctic Peninsula |
| Days 10-12 : | Back across the Drake to Ushuaia |
| Click for full itinerary |
| Days | Dates | Deck + Cabin Type | ||||
| Triple Shared Bath | Twin Shared | Twin Private | Superior | Suite | ||
| 12 | Nov 22, 2008 | $4,800 | $5,700 | $6,800 | $7,900 | $8,400 |
| Optional activities: Sea Kayaking & Overnight Camping | ||||||
| 12 | Dec 20, 2008 Feb 26, 2009 |
$5,200 | $6,400 | $7,400 | $8,600 | $9,500 |
| Optional activities: Sea Kayaking & Overnight Camping | ||||||
| 12 | Dec 30, 2008 Feb 6, 2009 Feb 16, 2009 |
$6,100 | $7,500 | $8,600 | $9,700 | $10,600 |
| Optional activities: Sea Kayaking & Overnight Camping | ||||||
| 12 | Nov 21, 2009 | $5,390 | $6,390 | $7,590 | $8,790 | $9,390 |
| Optional activities: Sea Kayaking & Overnight Camping | ||||||
| 12 | Dec 19, 2009 Feb 28, 2010 |
$5,890 | $7,290 | $8,390 | $9,690 | $10,690 |
| Optional activities: Sea Kayaking & Overnight Camping | ||||||
| 12 | Jan 11, 2010 Feb 8, 2010 Feb 18, 2010 |
$6,890 | $8,490 | $9,790 | $10,990 | $11,990 |
| Optional activities: Sea Kayaking & Overnight Camping | ||||||
| Destinations : Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, South Shetland Islands Activities : Nature Viewing, Photography, Sea Kayaking, Whale Watching |
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When you set foot on the White Continent, you want to benefit from the collective expertise of veterans who know the region inside out. That's the essence of our Antarctic Adventure. Sailing through iceberg-filled bays beneath snowcapped peaks; spotting seals and whales among the ice floes; exploring vast penguin rookeries and remote research stations - it all adds up to the perfect introduction to Antarctica for a small group of active adventurers.
Days 1&2 : Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina
Arrive in Ushuaia, a small city surrounded by rugged peaks and glaciers, and transfer independently to our conveniently located hotel. In the morning, eat a leisurely breakfast and enjoy a day of exploring on your own. Later in the afternoon, the Expedition Team gets you settled aboard your ice-strengthened ship as we sail into the Beagle Channel to start your Antarctic expedition.
Days 3-5 : Across the Drake to the South Shetlands
We enter the Drake Passage, named for Sir Francis Drake, the explorer who proved that Tierra del Fuego was not linked to a further southern continent. Various seabirds, including the Wandering Albatross, accompany us on our crossing. We also sail through the Antarctic Convergence, which - as one of our specialists will be happy to explain, poring over a map in the lounge - is a natural boundary formed by the meeting of cold Antarctic and warmer sub-antarctic waters. By Day 4 we should reach the South Shetland Islands, where we plan to visit penguin rookeries and walk remote beaches sighting Antarctic fur seals and southern elephant seals. We also hope to visit one of the archipelago's many research bases. Conditions permitting, the Captain will try to sail through a narrow passage into the sunken volcanic caldera of Deception Island, where you can test the thermal waters of Pendulum Cove.
Days 6-9 : Antarctic Peninsula
There will be many unforgettable closeups in the days ahead, but if you painted the broader canvas of your Peninsula experience it would begin with endless vistas of windswept ice; jagged mountain peaks crowned with snow; massive glaciers descending into the sea; and our ship winding through deep blue waters dotted with floating icebergs. Then there is the wildlife: Gentoo, Chinstrap and Adelie Penguins; Weddell, crabeater and leopard seals; orcas; humpback and Minke whales; and every kind of bird, from Blue-eyed Shags and Snowy Sheathbills to Kelp Gulls, Cape Petrels and Antarctic Terns. With this as an overture, let's look at a few highlights: We typically sail first to Paradise Bay or nearby Neko Harbor, each home to penguins and seals - before continuing on to the large Gentoo Penguin colonies at Port Lockroy. Close by is one of the world's most out-of-the-way museums: established in 1944 as a secret wartime outpost by James Marr (who as a Boy Scout explored Antarctica with Sir Ernest Shackleton), the former British scientific station includes a post office from which you can mail cards home. Around this point in the journey, those who opted for polar camping will set off with their expedition tents for an unforgettable night on the ice. Next, if conditions allow, we navigate the Neumayer and Lemaire Channels, taking in stunning views as the ship passes between towering rock faces and spectacular glaciers. Travelers who've chosen the sea-kayaking option enjoy an even more dramatic perspective as they paddle among the icebergs. Often we make a Zodiac landing on Petermann Island, a nesting area for Adelie and Gentoo Penguins, skuas and Blue-eyed Shags. Weather permitting, we may also sail up to the Peninsula's northern tip into Iceberg Alley - where massive pieces of the ice shelf have calved into the Antarctic Sound - and land on Paulet Island to visit its Adelie Penguin rookery.
Days 10-12 : Back across the Drake to Ushuaia
Leaving the Peninsula, we sail back across the Drake Passage, keeping an eye out for whales, penguins, seals and myriad species of bird. When not out on deck, you can enjoy more presentations, compare notes and digital photos, or simply relax in the ship's lounge chatting over drinks with other travelers and the Expedition Team. After a last breakfast aboard, transfer to town or head directly to Ushuaia airport to catch your outbound flight.
-Sea Kayaking Supplement is $695 per person for Antarctic voyages ($795 per person for 2009-2010 Antarctic)
-Camping is complimentary for 2008-2009 season and $195 per person for 2009-2010
-Fuel surcharge (subject to change) of $58/night on ship, per person, for Antarctic departures, Oct 2008 - Mar 2009.
-Single Travelers: OPTIONAL single supplement of 70% for Standard Twins. There is no single supplement for travelers willing to share.
- All of the Akademik Shokalskiy's departures include optional sea kayaking. Sea Kayaking Supplement is $695 per person for Antarctic voyages ($795 per person for 2009-2010 Antarctic) and $495 per person for Arctic voyages
-Emergency medical evacuation coverage for a minimum of US$100,000 per person required. Contact us for details on arranging travel insurance.
Prices are based on a 3% cash discount.
Ship Description: Akademik Shokalskiy
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Cruising around icebergs in the Arctic
Akademik Shokalskiy is a terrific expedition ship, sister ship to the Polar Pioneer. Built in Finland in 1983, she is ice-strengthened and has stabilizers for more comfortable travel. In 1998 she was refurbished to provide comfortable accommodation for 46 passengers, an ideal number for expedition cruising. On board are a combined bar/lounge and a dedicated lecture room/library (stocked with a good collection of reference books and videos). All cabins have outside portholes, plus ample storage space. The spacious bridge (always open to us) and the decks are ideal for viewing during your Antarctica travel.
The Russian captain and crew are among the most experienced navigators in the world and their enthusiasm for exploration is legendary. Akademik Shokalskiy is not a luxury vessel. Accommodation is simple yet comfortable and the meals, prepared by European chefs and served by Russian stewardesses, are wholesome and uncomplicated. A small fleet of inflatable Naiads with outboard motors enables us to make landings and explore magnificent places where few others have ever been.
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Triple Shared Bath 2 cabins with 2 lower and 1 upper berth, shared facilities, sink in the cabin and porthole window |
Twin Shared 8 cabins with shared baths (106-124 sq. ft.) Cabins have two lower berths (except for 315 which has 2 lower, 1 upper), sofa, writing desk, bookshelf, 2 wardrobes, cabinets, and 1 square window/ porthole |
Twin Private12 cabins with private bath with shower (100-125 sq. ft.) Cabins have one lower and one upper berth (Some cabins have 2 lower berths), sofa, drawers, refrigerator, writing desk,bookshelf, 2 wardrobes, and 1 square window/ porthole |
Superior1 cabin (171 sq.ft) with one double bed, 1 sofa bed, private facilities, and 3 opening windows |
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Suite 1 cabin (250 sq.ft) with one double bed, 1 sofa bed, private facilities, and 5 opening windows |
