Day 1/2 - Montevideo, Uruguay: Arrival Day, Followed by Embarkation Day
Enjoy an overnight stay in Montevideo, the vibrant capital of Uruguay, before you explore the city the following day.
Montevideo boasts colourful cultural diversity, with a picturesque blend of colonial Spanish, Italian and Art Deco architectural styles. Enjoy a tour through this vibrant city before embarking on MS Fridtjof Nansen for your polar adventure.
Day 3/4 - At Sea
Enjoy the first day on board! The Expedition team will start the lecture program covering history and the great explorers, marine biology, wildlife, oceanography and climate change. Spend some time on deck and enjoy the sun and the warm temperatures and look out for wildlife as we make our way south.
Day 5 - Puerto Madryn
The first highlight on this expedition is our visit to the Valdez Peninsula. This is a nature reserve that has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. Situated on Argentina's barren eastern Patagonian coast, this oddly shaped peninsula is home to some of the country's most dramatic wildlife habitats, with elephant seals, Magellan penguins, the southern right whale and a great variety of birds. Puerto Madryn is known as the gateway to whales, penguins…and Welsh traditions.
Founded by Welsh immigrants in 1865, it is now one of the most vibrant cities in Patagonia, with a beautiful coastal avenue overlooking the huge natural amphitheatre of Nuevo Gulf. Enjoy our wide variety of excursions like horseback riding, snorkelling with sea lions, kayaking with sea lions, whale watching or visit Estancia San Lorenzo where you will see wildlife including rheas (flightless, ostrich-like birds), guanacos (related to alpacas and llamas) and elephant seals.
Day 6 - At Sea
Enjoy a day at sea, sharing experiences, exchanging stories, photos and films with your fellow adventurers.
Day 7/9 - Falkland Islands
When we arrive the Falkland Islands, you will experience everything from red buses and English pubs in the capital Stanley to penguins, hikes in the hills or along the coastline or kayaking clear waters. New Island is an adorable inlet, with sandy white beaches and turquoise waters. It could easily be mistaken for a Caribbean island, if the sun was a little stronger. We pass an old shipwreck on our way ashore to enjoy a day amongst penguins and seals. While we are here, you can join several excursions like history tours, bird watching tours, nature walks and even a scenic plane tour where you can discover the Falklands by air in a classic island-hopping aircraft.
Please consider tours on the Falkland Islands may be at an additional cost
Day 10/11 - Drake Passage
Days at sea are full of activity. By now, our Expedition team will probably have convinced everybody on board that science is fun! We can promise first class edutainment. Once we have crossed the Antarctic Convergence, you will notice that the air becomes crisper and colder. From deck, you might start seeing icebergs in the water, maybe whales as well.
Day 12/14 - Antarctica
Antarctica is sure to overwhelm your senses, with endless white horizons above oceans full of glorious icebergs and whales. Maybe even more awe-inspiring will be your meeting with the huge colonies of penguins. They are not afraid of humans, so you can look forward to true close encounters with this most charming of bird species as you come ashore to explore the impressive Antarctic scenery. From deck, there are great chances to spot whales. Enjoy close encounters with Antarctic wildlife and glaciers, old whaling stations and relics. You are in one of the most remote areas of the world and the sensations are non-stop.
We will land several times for unforgettable excursions. Among the locations we may visit are Half Moon Island and Cuverville Island, home to a large colony of gentoo penguins. Neko Harbour is beautifully located in the innermost part of Andvord Bay, and Paradise Harbour got its descriptive name from the whalers who came here long ago. When the storms were at their worst, this is where they came to seek shelter. The high glacier walls in Wilhelmina Bay convey the mighty power of ice, from calving glacier fronts to floating ice.
Day 15/16 - Crossing the Drake Strait
After exhilarating days in Antarctica and the Falklands, the final days on board are spent crossing the Drake Passage. Spend time with family, old friends, new friends and our Expedition team, and enjoy the farewell dinner on the last evening.
Day 17 - Ushuaia/Buenos Aires: Disembarkation
Arriving in Ushuaia, it’s time to say goodbye. We transfer you to the airport for your flight back to Buenos Aires. If you want to have a bit more fun before going home, you are more than welcome to join our optional excursions in the post programme.
Please consider that our voyages are expeditionary in nature. This means, that there are no concrete itineraries, your Captain and Expedition Leader will utilise their vast experience to chart the best course for your expedition depending on the climatic and environmental conditions. Mentioned highlights and wildlife cannot be guaranteed.
During January and February Antarctica's babies are born and fledging, its a magical time as new
life comes to Antarctica. The experience of seeing newly hatched penguins and seals pups just days old, is an
experience that will last forever.
Whale numbers swell in Antarctica over the southern summer. Arriving in Antarctica from November onwards, whale numbers reach their peak around December and January. Sightings and particularly breachings reach a pinnacle in February and March, when the Krill is closer to the surface. Some 10 species of whales are found in Antarctic water each summer, with the most abundant species being the Humpack.
Boasting rugged scenery and excellent wildlife opportunities, including the Black-browed albatross, Elephant seals and a number of penguin species not found in Antarctica.
Pre and post-cruise transfers are provided, as well as 1 night post-cruise accommodation in Punta Arenas. A tour of Punta Arenas township is also provide on day 1 of the expedition, prior to boarding your charter flight.
Wind and water resistant jacket
Your voyage includes a one way flight from Ushuaia to Buenis Aires, Argentina at the conclusion of your trip.
FRIDTJOF NANSEN
Named after two of the greatest heroes in Polar history, MS Roald Amundsen and MS Fridtjof Nansen, our new hybrid-powered expedition ships, will combine state of the art technology and premium onboard experience with 125 years of experience and unparalleled destinations. The result: The next generation of adventure travel. With the great explorers deeply rooted in our history and heritage, these ships aim to be one step ahead when exploring the world. They will be moving boundaries for the technology, for the industry and for our guests. Currently under construction at Kleven Yard in Norway, MS Roald Amundsen and MS Fridtjof Nansen will debut in 2018 and 2019 – and has been branded as the world’s greenest, safest and most advanced expedition ships. One of the most eye-catching exterior design features of the ships will be the two-level indoor/outdoor Observation Deck wrapped around the top of the ships’ raked bow. In a vast area behind it, you’ll find the core of the onboard experience: Amundsen Science Center / Nansen Science Center. Packed with state of the art technology and high tech gadgets such as touch screens and science equipment, the immersive edutainment area will be the place guests and staff/crew meet, mingle and create a deeper understanding for the areas they explore. The flexible venue will feature lecture spaces, a small library, and speciality areas for workshops in photography, biology, and more. The area, featuring large windows, will also be the onboard HQ for Hurtigruten’s hand-picked Exedition Team. In addition to vast in- and outdoor Observation Decks, guests can enjoy the scenery and drinks through the large panoramic windows on the forward-facing Explorer Lounge on deck 10. The stunning scenery will be reflected in a rich and comfortable interior design. Scandinavian materials from nature, such as granite, oak, birch and wool will be used to create relaxed and stylish cabins and public areas. All cabins are outside, 50 % will have private balconies, aft suites will feature private outdoor Jacuzzis with spectacular views.
| Luxury star rating: | 5 |
| Guests #: | 500 |
| Crew #: | 151 |
| Ice Class: | PC6 |
| Speed: | 13 |
| Refurbished: |
| Year built: | 2018 |
| Length: | 140m |
| Width: | 24 |
| Draft: | |
| Tonnage: | 20889 |
| Registry: | Norway |
| Elec Outlets: | 2 Round Prongs |
We understand that the trip of a lifetime takes planning, so we make the financial commitments easy to manage.
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1800 960 577
