E-mail a friendShip: Polar Star
Itinerary: Antarctic Peninsula
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Seals relaxing on shore
cabins & deck plans | additional itineraries | cancellation policy | Testimonials
| Day 1 : | Ushuaia, Argentina |
|---|---|
| Days 2-3 : | Drake Passage and Antarctic Convergence |
| Days 4-6 : | Antarctic Peninsula |
| Days 7-8 : | South Shetland Islands |
| Days 9-10 : | Drake Passage and Beagle Channel |
| Day 11 : | Ushuaia, Argentina |
| Click for full itinerary |
| Days | Dates | Deck + Cabin Type | |||||||
| K1-Triple | K1-Double | K2 | K3 | K4-Triple | K4-Double | K6 | K7 | ||
| 11 | Dec 9, 2009 | $5,830 | $7,060 | $8,290 | $8,695 | $7,470 | $9,520 | $9,995 | $10,915 |
| Expedition shell and boot rental cost included in price. | |||||||||
| Destinations : Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica Activities : Nature Viewing, Photography, Whale Watching |
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Day 1 : Ushuaia, Argentina
Our journey begins in the Tierra del Fuego city of Ushuaia, Argentina. Some call it "the end of the earth"! From this charming city, we board the M/V Polar Star and head down the Beagle Channel.
Days 2-3 : Drake Passage and Antarctic Convergence
Our two-day open sea voyage is across the famed Drake Passage, escorted by petrels and albatrosses. Once past the Antarctic Convergence and into colder waters we begin to see the splendid icebergs sailing by. By late afternoon, with amenable weather, we hope to have our first landing in the South Shetland Islands.
Days 4-6 : Antarctic Peninsula
With a background of high ice-capped mountains, crevassed glaciers and endless white expanses we will cruise the ice-filled fjords of the Antarctic Peninsula and its surrounding islands. We plan for two Zodiac landings each day accompanied by our specialist lecture staff who can help us understand and appreciate our experiences to the fullest. All of this area has rugged and dramatic scenery. There are many sites with an abundance of wildlife, especially the penguin rookeries, primarily Adelie, Gentoo and Chinstrap. As we travel by Zodiacs to shore, and cruise among the icebergs, we hope to see seals in the water and basking on the ice, the most common being leopard, crabeater, weddell and elephant seals. The waters around the Peninsula are rich in food for all of the seals, penguins and other seabirds that breed here. These waters, rich in krill, also feed the whales, and we have a good chance of close encounters with minkes and humpbacks, among others. As always in Antarctica, the choice of places to visit is weather dependent, but some of the favourites include Deception Island, King George Island, the Gerlache Strait, the Neumayer Channel, Paradise Bay, Petermann Island, The Lemaire Channel, the Antarctic Sound, and research or historic stations such as Port Lockroy and Vernadsky. At the end of day 6, we leave this spectacular area of natural beauty and activity to head for the Drake Passage.
Days 7-8 : South Shetland Islands
These islands are volcanic in origin with striking features. On Deception Island, a landing at Whalers Bay is often shrouded in fog from the hot black sand beach.
Days 9-10 : Drake Passage and Beagle Channel
We now head back across the Drake Passage and weather permitting, will pass Cape Horn. We then turn back up the Beagle Channel arriving in Ushuaia to depart the ship after breakfast.
Day 11 : Ushuaia, Argentina
We return to Ushuaia to close out our trip.
-Additional fuel surcharge of $15/person/night for the 2008-2009 season (Nov-Nov). This surcharge is subject to possible increases depending on the price of fuel.
-A provisional fuel surcharge of $14/person/night has been set for the 2009-2010 season, subject to change depending on the price of fuel.
-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.
-Standard Twin Cabins are available for single occupancy at 1.6 times the shared price.
-Emergency medical evacuation coverage for a minimum of US$50,000 per person required. Contact us for details on arranging travel insurance.
-All onboard gratuities are included for the 2008-2009 season.
15+ months prior to departure - SAVE 5%
Ship Description: Polar Star
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Polar Star
The Polar Star was built in Finland and served in the Swedish Maritime Administration's fleet of icebreakers under the name of Njord. In 2000 she underwent complete retrofit and upgrades. She was renamed M/V Polar Star after her namesake that served Karlsen's Arctic cruise program. Karlsen Shipping, is an old Norwegian family business originally from the northwestern coast of Norway and now headquartered in Halifax, Canada. With over 100 years experience in many aspects of the marine industry, Karlsen has operated primarily in the Polar Regions.
The M/V Polar Star is one of the most safe and comfortable ice class vessels with safety standards exceeding requirements for several years to come. The ship is certified for worldwide international voyages, complying with the latest SOLAS and IMF regulations for safety and the environment. We take up to 105 passengers on expedition cruises that by definition are to remote destinations. For shore excursions, we are equipped with 10 16-man zodiacs.
The M/V Polar Star is large enough to voyage to remote areas in comfort and small enough to enter out of the way destinations that other vessels can only sail by. We explore nature's most breathtaking wonders up close and our voyages offer magnificent wildlife on a journey that is spirited with adventure.
Polar Star has some of the "industry bests" on board including a very spacious bridge with an open bridge policy, large observation lounge/lecture hall with seating for all passengers, one of the best standard cabins (our K3) and a superior amount of outside viewing areas. Additional common areas include a shop, sumptuous library, bar, fitness facility and a dining room that seats all passengers in one sitting. Our varied international menu is prepared fresh onboard. Our 45 cabins include 31 doubles, 4 superior cabins and 6 suites (all with private facilities), plus an additional 4 cabins with shared facilities.
Our Cabins
All cabins are outside cabins. K1 categories have shared facilities with the next cabin. Our K3s, K4s, K6s and K7s all have private facilities with sink, shower and toilet. Each cabin is equipped with a wardrobe for each person and a writing desk. (The figure in brackets below indicates the number of cabins in each category available for passengers.)
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K1-Triple Two lower and one upper berths sold as triple. Sharing toilet / showers shared with cabin next door. Approx.100 sq. feet/10 sq. meters. Windows or portholes. |
K1-Double Two lower and one upper berths sold as double. Sharing toilet / showers shared with cabin next door. Approx.100 sq. feet/10 sq. meters. Windows or portholes. |
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K2 Two lower beds. Private bathroom with shower, toilet and washbasin. Approx. 115 sq. feet / 11.5 sq. meters. Large windows. K2 cabins on deck 3 have a partially obstructed view and one window opens. K2 cabins on deck 4 have non-opening windows. |
K3 Two lower beds. Private bathroom with shower, toilet and washbasin. Approx. 115 sq. feet / 11.5 sq. meters. Large windows, one opens. |
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K4-Triple Double bed, couch can be made up as bed. Approx. 140 sq. feet / 14 sq. meters. Side and aft facing windows. |
K4-Double Double bed, couch can be made up as bed. Approx. 140 sq. feet / 14 sq. meters. Side and aft facing windows. |
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K6 Double bed in alcove, couch can be made up as bed. Approx. 180 sq. feet / 18 sq. meters. Large windows. |
K7 Sleeping area in separate room (double bed in 501 and 2-singles in 401), couch in living room can be made up as bed. Approx. 250 sq. feet / 25 sq. meters. Forward and side facing windows. |
