E-mail a friendShip: Polar Pioneer
Itinerary: Antarctic Peninsula & Weddell Sea
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Enjoy a spectacular sunset on the Lemaire Channel during your Antarctica expedition cruise
cabins & deck plans | additional itineraries | cancellation policy | Testimonials
| Day 1 : | Embark in Ushuaia |
|---|---|
| Day 2 : | Drake Passage |
| Day 3 : | Enroute to South Shetland Islands |
| Day 4 : | Antarctic Sound |
| Days 5-7 : | Weddell Sea |
| Days 8-9 : | Antarctic Peninsula |
| Days 10-11 : | Drake Passage |
| Day 12 : | Disembark in Ushuaia |
| Click for full itinerary |
| Days | Dates | Deck + Cabin Type | ||||
| Triple Shared | Twin Shared | Twin Private | Mini Suite | Suite | ||
| 12 | Jan 26, 2009 | $5,790 | $7,190 | $8,090 | $8,990 | $9,790 |
| 12 | Jan 25, 2010 | $6,090 | $7,590 | $8,590 | $9,590 | $10,390 |
| Destinations : Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, Weddell Sea Activities : Nature Viewing, Photography, Whale Watching |
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You never know what we're going to discover when we set course for the Weddell Sea. It is a wild and exciting area, alive with wildlife and offering great scope for exploration. The day-to-day itinerary of this voyage is dependent on weather and ice conditions prevailing in the vicinity of the mighty Riser Larsen Iceshelf. Having travelled through the iceberg canyons of Antarctic Sound, we enter the Northern Weddell Sea. Nestled amongst ice floes is the little-known Seymour Island whose fossil rich rocks conceal the story of the disappearance of the dinosaurs and the collapse of the mythical Gondwana. The aim of this voyage is to explore these fossil beds under the watchful eye of Dr. Paul Willis, as well as to enjoy the wildlife treasure chest of the northern Weddell Sea. We also hope to follow the incredible, compelling story of Swedish explorer Otto Nordenskjold and his men (1901 - 1903). We will travel in Zodiacs around the icebergs an wildlife havens of this lesser known part of the Antarctic Peninsula, and spend a few days on it's better known west coast.
Day 1 : Embark in Ushuaia
Board our ship Polar Pioneer in the afternoon. We set sail along the Beagle Channel then turn south towards Antarctica.
Day 2 : Drake Passage
As we cross the Drake Passage, the temperature begins to fall. We are busy with lectures and safety briefings in preparation for our first landing.
Day 3 : Enroute to South Shetland Islands
By mid-afternoon we should be in iceberg waters. If all goes well we may encounter our first penguin on one of the South Shetland Islands.
Day 4 : Antarctic Sound
In the early hours of the morning we hope to be among the towering corridors of icebergs in Antarctic Sound. A narrow passage, alive with penguins, guards the entrance to the Weddell Sea.
Days 5-7 : Weddell Sea
Three days of exploring in the whale- and seal-rich Weddell Sea, where our activities will be controlled by the movement of ice. Huge glaciers pour down between the mountains from the polar plateau, and the surface of the ocean is covered with plates of ice the size of city blocks. One of our aims is to visit the fossil-rich shores of Seymour Island.
Days 8-9 : Antarctic Peninsula
We plan to visit the beautiful western flanks of the Antarctic Peninsula, exploring the Gerlache Strait, Neumayer Channel, and Paradise Harbour area.
Days 10-11 : Drake Passage
We will cross the Drake Passage with magnificent albatrosses in our wake. The last shipboard lectures give us time to polish our Antarctic education before making a ceremonial rounding of Cape Horn.
Day 12 : Disembark in Ushuaia
We cruise up the Beagle Channel in the early morning before docking in Ushuaia. After transferring to a city hotel there is time to explore the central town area, or perhaps visit the nearby Tierra del Fuego mountains.
-A fuel surcharge of $50/person/day applies to all Antarctic departures, Nov 2008-Feb 2009.
-Kayaking Options: US$825 $1,045 for Nov 10)
-Diving Options: US$700
-Alpine Crossing Options: US$700
-Climbing Options: US$250
-Camping Option: There is no supplementary charge for this option. Participation will be confirmed at booking on a first come, first served basis.
-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 costs are 1.7 times the twin rate
Prices are based on a 3% cash discount.
Ship Description: Polar Pioneer
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Polar Pioneer
Polar Pioneer was built in Finland in 1985 as an ice-strengthened research ship, and for many years she plied the treacherous waters of the USSR's northern coast. In 2000 she was refurbished in St Petersburg to provide comfortable accommodation for 54 passengers. A combined bar/lounge/library area (stocked with a good collection of polar books) was also created by simple internal restructuring - inviting surroundsing for your Antarctica travel.
This class of vessel has a fine reputation for polar expedition cruising, due to its strength, manoeuvrability and small number of cabins. All cabins have outside portholes plus ample storage space. The Russian captain and crew are among the most experienced ice navigators in the world and their enthusiasm is legendary.
The spacious bridge is always open to us and the decks are ideal for viewing. The chefs are European, and the dining room is attended by Russian stewardesses.
Polar Pioneer is not a luxury vessel as such, but this is a most popular ship for travel to the Polar regions. The accommodation is simple yet comfortable, and the meals are wholesome and uncomplicated. A small fleet of inflatable Zodiacs with outboard motors enable us to travel from ship to shore.
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Triple Shared Triple Cabins have two lower and one upper berth, a desk, a small washbasin, storage and hanging space and portholes. Showers and toilets are very close by and are shared with other Main Deck cabins. |
Twin SharedTwin Shared Cabins have two lower bunks, a desk, small washbasin, ample storage and hanging space and portholes. Showers and toilets are very close by and are shared with other Main Deck cabins. |
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Twin Private Twin Private Cabins have two lower bunks, a desk, windows, and a private bathroom with shower, toilet and washbasin. Two cabins have upper and lower bunks (cabins 402 and 403). |
Mini Suite Mini Suites have a separate small bedroom with double bed, a sofabed in the main room, a desk, video player and TV, windows and a private bathroom with shower, toilet and washbasin. |
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Suite The Suite features a large lounge area, a separate small bedroom with double bed, a sofabed in the main room, a video player and TV, refrigerator, large forward and side facing windows, and a private bathroom with shower, toilet and washbasin. |
