E-mail a friendShip: Aleksey Maryshev
Itinerary: Weddell Sea - In Search of Emperor Penguins
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King Penguin with baby chickPhoto by: Rinie van Meurs
cabins & deck plans | additional itineraries | cancellation policy | Testimonials
| Day 1 : | Embark Ushuaia |
|---|---|
| Days 2-3 : | Drake Passage and Penguin Island |
| Day 4 : | Weddell Sea and Antarctic Peninsula |
| Days 5-6 : | Emperor Penguins |
| Day 7 : | Cuverville Island |
| Day 8 : | Enterprise Island |
| Days 9-10 : | Drake Passage |
| Day 11 : | Disembark Ushuaia |
| Click for full itinerary |
| Days | Dates | Deck + Cabin Type |
| Destinations : Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, Weddell Sea Activities : Modern History, Nature Viewing, Photography, Whale Watching |
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Your unique chance to be part of a true expedition voyage! The Emperor Penguin rookery, as being seen over the last two seasons, is situated south of Snow Hill Island. Although we will not be able to reach that far through the ice, the idea is to situate ourselves between Snow Hill Island and James Ross Island close to the ice-edge and observe the Emperor Penguins on their way to the open water on Day 5. If the weather and / or ice-conditions do not allow this maneuver, we will try again the next day and reschedule our cruise programme. If on the other hand the weather is great, but we can not find any Emperor Penguins, our programme would still unfold on Snow Hill Island with a visit to the historic hut of the Swedish Antarctic Expedition under Otto Nordenskjöld and a visit to Seymour Island in order to see fossils there in the afternoon.
Day 1 : Embark Ushuaia
In the afternoon, we 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.
Days 2-3 : Drake Passage and Penguin Island
During these two days we will 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 meet 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.
In the late afternoon we plan our first Zodiac-landing on Penguin Island, which lies close off the south coast of King George Island. Penguin Island was sighted in 1820 by a British expedition and so named by expedition leader Bransfeld because penguins occupied the shores of the 1 mile long island.
Day 4 : Weddell Sea and Antarctic Peninsula
We will sail into the Weddell Sea through the ice-clogged Antarctic Sound. Huge tabular icebergs will announce our arrival to the eastern side of the Antarctic Peninsula. We plan to visit Paulet Island with a million pairs of Adelie Penguins. In the afternoon we visit Brown Bluff, a ice-capped, flat-topped mountain with a prominent cliff of reddish-brown volcanic rock on the north side.
Days 5-6 : Emperor Penguins
Between Snow Hill Island and James Ross Island we will make our first attempt to observe Emperor Penguins on the ice-edge making their way to open water. In case this should fail we will tray again on day 6. Alternatively we will visit the remains of the Nordenskiöld expedition on Snow Hill Island. We might also visit Seymour Island, where many fossils can be found, the Argentinean station Esperanza on the Antarctic Continent (where we can observe Gentoo Penguins, Cape Petrels, Pale-faced Sheathbills, skuas, Kelp Gulls and Antarctic Terns) and – on our way to the Nortwest Antarctic Peninsula - Astrolabe Island, discovered by the French expedition of captain Jules Dumont d'Urville during 1837-1840 and named by him after his chief expedition ship the "Astrolabe."
Day 7 : Cuverville Island
In the Northwest Peninsula we plan to visit Cuverville Island with the largest colony of Gentoo Penguins in the region and furthermore bird-species such as Southern Giant Petrels, Wilson's Storm-petrels, Antarctic Shags, South Polar Skuas, Kelp Gull and Antarctic Terns. From there we sail through Paradise Bay with its myriad ice-bergs and deep cut fjords. We will have opportunities for Zodiac cruising between the icebergs in the inner parts of the fjords.
Day 8 : Enterprise Island
After a morning visit on Enterprise Island, first charted by the Belgium explorer Gerlache in 1898 and well-known by whalers operating in the area in the early 20th century, we sail to Hannah Point where we can see Chinstrap and Gentoo Penguins and also small numbers of Macaroni Penguins, various other bird-species and Southern Elephant, Weddell and Antarctic Fur Seals.
Days 9-10 : Drake Passage
In the Drake Passage we have again a chance of seeing many seabirds and to take advantage of the knowledge of our lecture team.
Day 11 : Disembark Ushuaia
We arrive in the morning in Ushuaia and disembark.
-Antarctic fuel surcharge: $20/night per person
- Arctic Fuel Surcharge: $50/night for the 2009 season. If, 2 months before departure, the cost per barrel is less than $130, we will discount this fuel surcharge.
- Twin non-private and private cabins are available for single occupancy at 1.8 times the share price (2 times for Superior cabins).
-Solo Travelers: Request the Twin Share Program where you can be 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.
-Rates are quoted in U.S. dollars and represent costs per person, double occupancy.
Prices are based on a 3% cash discount.
Ship Description: Aleksey Maryshev
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Aleksey Maryshev
The 'Aleksey Maryshev' is a modern and comfortable research vessel of the Hydrographic Institute of St. Petersburg and is the sister ship to the 'Grigoriy Mikheev'. Built in 1990 in Finland, and designed as an ice-strengthened vessel and converted in the Netherlands for passenger use, the vessel is ideally suited to expedition cruising and Antarctica travel. She has a range of 70 days independent operation and is ISM certified.
The vessel is strongly built of steel with an ice-strengthened hull, perfect for the polar seas. She is manned by an enthusiastic Russian crew of around 20, all highly experienced in ice navigation. Russian captains are recognized experts in polar navigation.
All our international expedition leaders and lecturers are highly knowledgeable, helpful and dedicated to the protection of the environment.
The 'Aleksey Maryshev' has a large bridge (where you are almost always welcome) and good open deck-viewing areas. She carries a full complement of Zodiac craft, excellent for landings and wildlife viewing opportunities in otherwise in-accessible areas.
Excellent cuisine, prepared by international chefs, is served in the dining room, which also acts as the lecture room. Other public areas include a lounge and bar, small library, infirmary, and sauna. The vessel has email and satellite phone communication available for travelers.
Twin Non PrivateCabins on deck 3 with upper and lower berths, a desk, small washbasin, ample storage and hanging space and portholes. Shared shower and toilet facilities are conveniently located on the same deck. |
Twin Private Cabins on decks 3 & 4 with a private bathroom with shower, washbasin and toilet, upper and lower berths, a desk, ample storage space and windows. |
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Superior Superior cabins on deck 4 with a double bed and a single sofa-bed. A private bathroom with shower, washbasin and toilet. A sitting area with a desk, Coffee and tea facilities, refrigerator and windows |
