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Dec 19-29/08 11 Days/10 Nights $4,300
Itinerary | Vessels | Special Notes
All itineraries are for guidance only. Programs may vary depending on local ice and weather conditions and in order to take advantage of opportunities to see wildlife. The Expedition Leader and the Captain on board will determine the final itinerary for each voyage. Flexibility is paramount for expedition cruises.
Extend our classic Antarctic Peninsula Journey on a quest for the Antarctic Circle. Few people in the world can claim to have crossed this latitude, voyage through spectacular channels and bays of icebergs, seals, penguins and more. Be one of the few to set foot on the continent of Antarctica and beyond to the Polar Circle! Itineraries may vary from 15 days Circle Quest to 12 days Circle Quest.
For an extra cost, certain departures offer adventure options of kayaking, mountaineering and scuba diving, which are available on a first-come, first served basis. Camping is also available on some departures at no extra cost and for all passengers aboard willing to sleep on ice. Contact us for more information on which departures are available for these adventures.
Day 1 - Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina
Transfer to the pear in late afternoon to join other adventurers on deck as we sail through the Beagle Channel.
Days 2-3 - The Drake Passage
During these two days we will sail across the Drake Passage. The Drake is legendary for its high winds and rolling seas, but you may be lucky and get calm weather. We'll keep you busy on deck, on the bridge, and in the presentation room with educative yet entertaining informal lectures about the white continent. When we cross the Antarctic Convergence, we may meet wandering albatrosses and other sea birds. Near the South Shetland Islands, we will glimpse at the first icebergs.
Day 4 - South Shetland Islands
If conditions permit we may stop at the South Shetland Islands. We may land at a number of well-known landing sites at the South Shetland archipelago, where we may find a nice variety of gentoo penguins, chinstraps and southern giant petrels, as well as elephant seals hauling out on the beach. Deception Island is one of the most popular sites, with its subducted crater, which opens into the sea, creating a natural harbor for the ship. Here we find hot springs, an abandoned whaling station, thousands of cape petrels, skuas and Antarctic Terns. Wilson's Storm Petrels and black-bellied storm petrels nest in the ruins of the whaling station in Whalers Bay.
Days 5-8 - Antarctic Peninsula
The ultimate objective of this expedition is to cross the Antarctic Circle. En route, the Expedition Team will attempt a number of shore landings in the Peninsula. The Captain and Expedition Leader will make adjustments to the program, taking advantage of local conditions.
While traveling along side the Peninsula, with its myriad icebergs and deep cut fjords, we may have the opportunity to set foot on the Antarctic Continent. We shall have the opportunity for zodiac cruising between the icebergs in the inner parts of the fjords and bays. We may sail through some of the most spectacular Channels of the Peninsula, offering the best opportunities for wildlife watching and photographing. We also try to land at several penguin rockeries with fair chances to encounter seals and humpback and minke whales.
Days 9-10 - The Antarctic Circle
We may head south along the Argentine Islands to Crystal Sound, south of the polar circle. The landscape is very impressive with very high mountains and huge glaciers. Ice condition permitting, we may land at Fish Islands at one of the southernmost adélie penguin and blue-eyed shag colonies in the Antarctic Peninsula. Celebrate with a well-earned glass of champagne, raising your glass to the intrepid explorers who have gone before.
Days 11-12 - The Drake Passage
The journey continues back across the Drake where we have time to reflect on what we have experienced, looking through our photos and talking with the naturalists about all the wildlife and history of Antarctica.
Day 13 - Ushuaia, Argentina
We arrive in the morning in Ushuaia and disembark.
Vessels
This Antarctic Circle Quest Cruise Itinerary operates on variety different vessels. Click vessel links below for individual vessel descriptions. Vessels accommodate between 46 - 110 passengers and have ice-strengthened hulls designed specifically for polar travel.
Akademik Ioffe
Akademik Shokalskiy
Akademik Vavilov
Antarctic Dream
Clipper Adventurer
M/V Minerva (ex Explorer II)
Ocean Nova
M/V Orlova
Polar Star
Professor Multanovskiy
M/V Ushuaia
Notes on Itinerary: Read this itinerary as a guide only; our exact route and program varies according to ice and weather conditions - and the wildlife we encounter. Flexibility is the key to the success of this expedition. Visits to research stations depend on final permission.
Single Travelers: Solo travelers willing to share can reserve a triple or twin-shared cabin, where you will be matched with a person of the same gender. If the other cabin berth goes unsold, you will not be penalized. For those who desire single occupancy, cabins are available for single occupancy.
Not Included: Airfares to the embarkation point and from the disembarkation point; adventure options of kayaking or diving; passport and visa expenses; government arrival and departure taxes; hotel accommodations; supplement for single hotel accommodations; meals while in Ushuaia; Trip Cancellation Insurance with emergency medical evacuation insurance (required); and all items of a personal nature while aboard the vessel, such as laundry, bar and beverage charges and telecommunication charges; and the customary gratuity at the end of the voyage for those who have served you aboard (guidelines will be provided).
Fuel Supplement: Note: Should the price of marine fuel increase dramatically, we may have to institute a fuel surcharge.
Trip Insurance: Passengers traveling to these remote destinations are required to be covered by a travel insurance policy that includes emergency evacuation coverage.
Qualifications: This trip will be enjoyed by anyone who is in good health, has full mobility, and leads an active life. The expedition is ship-based and physically not very demanding. Although we spend as much time as possible ashore, you are welcome to remain aboard the ship if you like. To join any off-vessel excursions, passengers must be able to navigate the steep, 30-stair, gang-way, un-assisted both down and up. Daily excursions from the boat will be made in Zodiacs. Trip members will take excursions to specific areas for wildlife observation. Hiking time for most landings will be a couple of hours roundtrip with lots of time to stop to study, photograph and enjoy the flora and fauna. Some landings are dry but many are "wet", requiring cautious footing on slippery rocks. The boat staff will be on hand to assist. You are traveling in remote areas without access to sophisticated medical facilities, so you must not join this expedition if you have a life-threatening condition, or need daily medical treatment.