Antarctica Cruise : Ross Sea Explorer, 26 days / 25 nights
Named for one of Russia’s most famous 20th century poets, Marina Svetaeva was built in 1989 in Poland’s famous Gdynia shipyards. Originally an ice strengthened passenger vessel, she spent many years plying the frozen waters of the Arctic and northern Pacific Oceans. She was refurbished in early 2005 to provide comfortable but not luxurious accommodations for 100 passengers and 41 Russian crew. A helideck was added so that 2 helicopters could provide the magical key to unlock the secrets of the more remote corners of the globe. Impressively stable at sea, Svetaeva is a robust vessel yet still small enough to explore places beyond the reach of bigger ships. The spacious bridge is always open to us and the decks are ideal for viewing. A large lecture room allows Aurora’s team of experienced naturalists, historians and special guest lecturers to share their knowledge with passengers. The chefs are European, and the dining room is attended by Russian stewardesses. A fleet of inflatable Zodiacs with outboard motors enable us to travel from ship to shore.
Triple
Two lower and one upper berth, a desk, wardrobes and washbasin. Showers and toilets are located just outside the cabin, and are shared with other cabins
The Ross Sea may bask in sunshine from time-to-time, but we must be prepared for blizzards, katabatic winds and heavy ice that may block our passage. This itinerary is at best a guide to our intentions.
Day 1 :
Depart Bluff - Expedition members gather in Invercargill prior to boarding late morning in Bluff. After a warm welcome on board Marina Svetaeva, we depart Bluff Harbour and travel through Foveaux Strait past Stewart Island.
Day 2 :
Tasman Sea - Our first day at sea is busy, with Zodiac and environmental briefings to prepare us for landings on New Zealand's subantarctic islands, and our shipboard lecture series commences. Soaring albatross, shearwaters and flighty petrels provide hours of relaxed viewing from the bridge and outer decks.
Day 3 :
Auckland Islands - Home to an extraordinary array of wildlife - royal albatross, Hooker sea lions, yellow-eyed penguins and - in winter - a growing population of southern right whales, the Auckland Islands are incredibly rich in life for their tiny size. Landings depend on sea and weather conditions.
Day 4 :
Campbell Island - A stepping stone to Antarctica since its 1810 discovery, the island's seabird and seal population has sustained many castaways, including a shipwrecked party that spent four years here in the 1830s.Today it's home to the largest population of royal albatross, five penguin species and an astounding diversity of other bird life.
Days 5 - 7 :
Southern Ocean - Excitement rises as we follow the track of so many great Antarctic explorers. Our guest historian shares tales of heroism and tragedy, from Scott and Amundsen to Shackleton's "forgotten Argonauts". Our naturalists host entertaining talks on Antarctica's natural history. Below the Antarctic Convergence, we spot our first iceberg then celebrate our crossing of the Antarctic Circle.
Day 8 :
Cape Adare - At the mouth of the Ross Sea is home to the world's largest Adélie penguin rookery - some 300,000 birds. If the weather is clear we can see inland to dramatic ridges on Mount Sabine and Mount Minto. We hope to visit the hut built in February 1899 to house Antarctica's first winter expedition, led by Norwegian-Australian, Carsten Borchgrevink.
Day 9 :
Cape Hallett - The spectacular 3500-metre flank of the Admiralty Mountains forms the perfect backdrop to this small spit of land - home to about 250,000 Adélie penguins and an abandoned US/NZ scientific station.
Day 10 :
Terra Nova Bay - Discovered by Scott's British National Antarctic Expedition 1901-04, Terra Nova Bay off Cape Washington is home to an Italian summer research station. Nearby is the dramatic Drygalski Ice Tongue.
Days 11 - 12 :
McMurdo Sound - This often ice-choked waterway between Ross Island and the Transantarctic Mountains is an historian's dream. Conditions permitting, we attempt visits to Shackleton's hut on Cape Royds, Scott's Hut at Cape Evans and Discovery Hut at Hut Point. In the shadow of Mt Erebus, New Zealand's Scott Base and America's McMurdo Station buzz with activity.
Day 13 :
Ross Ice Shelf - As with any true voyage of discovery, we allow time to make the most of the weather and ice conditions to determine our exploration schedule. Leaving Ross Island, we sail along "the Barrier" for some time, giving us a taste of its vastness before returning west, passing dramatic Franklin Island.
Days 14 - 16 :
Ross Sea Coast - We'll attempt to park the ship in the fast ice of New Harbour and take our helicopters into the spectacular Royal Society Range. We hope to land in the Dry Valleys, and surreal landscape of hypersaline lakes, hanging glaciers and wind-sculpted granite boulders.
Day 17 :
At sea - Sweeping north of the Pennell Coast to avoid dense pack ice, we relax for a day, enjoying the passing parade of animals that come to the ice edge for food and rest.
Day 18 :
Balleny Islands - Heavily glaciated and often shrouded in cloud, this 190km chain of three main volcanic islands was named by sealer John Balleny in 839. Dr David Lewis made the first seaborne landing on Sturge Island. In January 1978 from his yacht Solo. If conditions permit, we may attempt a landing using Zodiacs or helicopters.
Days 19 - 21 :
Southern Ocean - As we head north, we welcome our time at sea to process the rich experiences of the past few weeks. Our naturalists will begin preparing us for our final landings on Australia's remote sanctuary of Macquarie Island.
Days 22 - 23 :
Macquarie Island - A jewel in the crown of the Southern Ocean, Macquarie Island is a World Heritage site. Scattered along the shore are reminders of the island's grim past. Rusting condensers where penguins were rendered for oil and weathered hulls of sealing boats are now commandeered by thousands of king penguins. We'll see vast colonies of the endemic Royal penguin, frisky fur seals and massive elephant seals.
Days 24 - 25 :
Tasman Sea - Time to recap and share our feelings about what we've experienced during the past three weeks. Entertaining talks help consolidate what we've seen and felt as we tune into the rhythms of the Southern Ocean once again.
Day 26 :
Hobart, Tasmania - In the early hours we make our way up the Derwent River and plan to dock in Hobart in the morning. After clearing Customs we bid farewell to Svetaeva and her crew.
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