Antarctica Cruise : Atlantic Odyssey A (Part I: Ushuaia- Ascension Island), 31 days/30 nights
Designed as an ice-strength vessel, the Molchanov was built in 1983 as an oceanographic research ship. Since then, the ship has been transformed into a passenger vessel great for polar exploration. You will be accompanied by an excellent staff of nature and hictorical lecturers which will fill you in both on the ship and during your many landings and wildlife sightings.
Triple with Shared Facilities
Located on Deck 3 with two lower and one upper berth, a desk, a small washbasin, storage and hanging space and portholes. Shared shower and toilet facilities are conveniently located on the same deck.
This trip will take you through such popular Antarctic destinations as the Weddell Sea, the South Orkney Islands, and South Georgia while continuing north into the South Atlantic Ocean. Here we will visit Gough Island, the Tristan da Cunha Archipelago, St. Helena, and Ascension Island. You will fall in love with the rich wildlife and scenery in the area of the world!
Day 01 : Embarkation
In the afternoon we will embark from Ushuaia and sail through the Beagle Channel
Days 02-03 : Sailing the Drake Passage
As we pass through the Drake Passage we will joined by various sea birds such as albatross, petrels, and fulmars.
Day 04 : Hope Bay/Brown Bluff
At Hope Bay and Brown Bluff we plan to set foot on the Antarctic Continent. Here we will have a good chance to encounter Gentoo Penguins, Weddell Seals, Leopard Seals and Orcas.
Day 05 : Larsen Ice Shelf/Paulet Island
As we arrive at Devil Island near the tip of the Weddell Sea we will be surrounded by huge table icebergs of the Larsen Ice Shelf. We will climb one of the hills to get an impressive view of the surrounding area. At Paulet Island we will observe a large Adelie Penguin colony near the ruins of the early nineteenth century Nordenskiöld Expedition
Days 06-07 : South Orkneys
We will continue at sea along the sea ice drifting north out of the Weddell Sea. We will likely see various Emperor Penguins on the ice drifts. We plan to visit the South Orkneys as well as the Argentinean base located there.
Day 08 : Sailing to South Georgia
We will again be joined by the various sea birds as we sail toward South Georgia.
Days 09-11 : South Georgia
In South Georgia we will pay a visit to the abandoned whaling settlements of Grytviken, where the penguins now walk through the streets, and King Edwards Point home of the grave of Shackleton. We will walk near the big King Penguin colony on Salisbury Plain and the breeding area of the Wandering Albatrosses on Prion Island in the Bay of Isles. We will spend our last day in South Georgia at Cooper Bay where we will observe Chinstrap Penguins, Macaroni Penguins, and Light-Mantled Sooty Albatrosses. Later we intend to sail to Gold Harbour to visit another King Penguin colony and to see the many Elephant Seals and Fur Seals. This is a great area for long walks. We conclude our visit with zodiac excursions to the magnificent Drygalski Fjord and Larsen Harbour.
Days 12-16 : Sailing the Atlantic
As we pass through the Westerlies we should encounter a pleasant tail wind. On both sides of the Atlantic Convergence we will again observe various species of Atlantic sea birds.
Day 17 : Gough Island
Today we expect to arrive at Gough Island and take a zodiac cruise around the island as long as the weather stays in our favor. In the past we have been able to circumnavigate nearly the entire island observing various species of wildlife, so let’s hope for great weather as this is a very rewarding experience.
Days 18-20 : Tristan da Cunha/Nightingale Island
We will arrive at the west settlement of the Tristan da Cunha archipelago. We will do our best to head to shore at Nightingale Island, home to millions of seabirds ranging from Yellow-nosed Albatrosses to Brown Noddies.
Days 21-24 : Sailing the Sub-Tropics
We will continue sailing through sub-tropical waters, home to various new unique species of sea birds and dolphins.
Days 25-27 : St. Helena
St. Helena has a good anchorage and landing site. On this island, we will have ample opportunities to enjoy local culture, pleasant climate, and endemic plants and birds. We will visit the place where Napoleon once lived in exile. There will be opportunities to explore the Island on your own and for snorkeling in the shallow surf near a wreck where various marine life have taken refuge.
Days 28-29 : Sailing Toward Ascension Island
We continue at sea toward Ascension Island.
Days 30-31 : Ascension Island
Ascension Island is a dry volcanic island with a moist and richly vegetated peak. The Sooty Tern (wide-awake) colony sometimes consists of more than one million breeding pairs. We will try to climb the moist summit of Ascension Island and make a zodiac cruise around Boatswain Bird Island offering great opportunities for snorkeling. We may witness sea turtles coming ashore at night to lay their eggs. Some of our passengers may disembark and fly with the scheduled Royal Air Force flight to Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, UK. Others may proceed their voyage to Cape Verdes.
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