The trip of the M/V Ushuaia to the enigmatic and mythical South Georgia Islands, previously visiting the Falkland Islands and its capital Puerto Argentino, then already on the South Georgia Island we know the Elsehul and Ballena Franca bays. Then we go to Salisbury Plain, called the South Serengeti and Prion Island, to later approach Grytviken, the old whaling station where the remains of the great english navigator Ernest Shackleton, famous for achieving the most important human survival feat of the history. Then the cove of Godthul, St Andrews and Cooper Bays and the Drygaslki Fjord awaits us. After crossing the Scotia Sea we reach the Elephant Island, finally we arrive at the Peninsula by the Antarctic Strait to know the Argentine base Esperanza and Brown Bluff. In the South Shetland, we pass through the Gerlache Strait, Cuverville Island and Deception Island to the Crescent Island.
South Georgia in the M/V Ushuaia
In the South Georgia Islands we can impact with the unique landscapes, sight wildlife never seen, empathize with the history of Ernest Shackleton, and even know islands so remote and untouched, a privileged area of the planet.>When we think of islands, we think of something tiny, but in South Georgia, everything is different. The mountains captivate us with their fantastic landscape. We discovered valleys fed with meltwater streams, tussock pastures and glacial moraines that give us a sense of what wildlife is like in this remote region. The glaciers shelter the mountain ranges and the monumental tabular icebergs that fall from the ice shelves, hit the island's shores highlighting the magnanimous figure of the Antarctic landscape.
We are going to visit the islands at the height of the summer, the best time to visit South Georgia, a time when numerous sea lion pups are found along the entire Georgian coast. As it is not a breeding season, the sea lions do not defend their territory so much and the females go to the sea in search of food. When they return from the sea, they stay in the coastal zone nursing their babies.The best image of the island is completed by the slender presence of king penguins. Its reproduction cycle of 14 months, for this reason it is common to see groups of king penguins at the time of breeding. But they will not be alone, we see yellow tufted penguins settled for the same purpose. Their reddish eyes and golden crests are very striking. They make a great sacrifice by leaving the sea to rise to the slopes with steep slopes, with their small, bright pink legs.
The wildlife landscape is completed with black-browed albatrosses, gray-headed albatrosses and dark, light-mantled albatrosses that are protecting their nests. The wandering albatrosses have been nesting since the previous months, that is why we see their young waiting for their parents to bring food. The critical area where the wandering albatross nests is Prion Island, a place we visit so as not to miss its majestic presence.
20 days - 19 nights
Day 1 - Ushuaia
Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world, receives us with its picturesque image and its impressive view of the Beagle Channel and its excellent gastronomic proposals. A welcome cocktail will be given and then there will be a presentation of the crew and the ship's expeditionary staff. In the afternoon we start our Antarctic itinerary heading towards the Falkland Islands.
Day 2 - Sailing to the Falkland Islands
The policy of "open bridge" offered on board the M/V USHUAIA gives us the opportunity to accompany the officers on the bridge of the ship in order to make whale watching or enjoy the panoramic views from a strategic point of the cruise. We observe seabirds such as albatrosses or petrels that travel next to the vessel. It is an ideal day to take advantage of our specialists and naturalists to see birds and marine fauna, such as killer whales and dolphins. The expeditionary team's conferences prepare us for our first stop: The Falklands Islands.
Day 3 - Islands of the extreme West of Malvinas: Great Malvina
Today we will explore Isla Remolinos and Isla del Rosario, better known as West Point Island and Carcass Island. Isla Remolinos is located on the northwestern tip of the Gran Malvina Island. The interesting ranch house, which is located next to the port in the east of the island, are protected by the Black Bog and Michael mountains. The valley in the middle of these two mountains extends through the center of the island to the Devil's Nose cliff, one of the most impressive tourist spots. Cliff Mountain views are a dream, being the highest peak of the island with 380 meters high and the cliffs are the highest in the Falkland Islands (Malvinas). It is a habitat for colonies of yellow tufted penguins and black-browed albatrosses.
The Isla del Rosario, on the other hand, is located northwest of the Malvinas archipelago (Falklands). The place has a high density of tussock pastures and Mount Jason stands out. There is a large population of birds and it is a nesting area for Papuan and Magellanic penguins. Peale´s and Commerson´s dolphins complete the coastal fauna. The settlement has beautiful gardens, where you can have a tea and enjoy the tranquility and natural sound of the environment. At night we will go towards the capital of Malvinas: Puerto Argentino.
Day 4 - Isla Soledad
In the morning, we will walk the picturesque and small town of Puerto Argentino and go to visit the Museum, souvenir shops and pubs. The town dates from the beginning of 1840, the life of the initial inhabitants was not easy due to the isolation and climatic conditions, its adaptation took several years. They grew gradually and suffered the impact of the two world wars.
Above the urban area stands out the diversity of wildlife found in the surroundings of the island. It is common to observe the beautiful coastal flight of Southern Giant Petrels. The endemic Falkland Steamer Ducks abound on the shorelines while Kelp Gulls can often be seen flying together with Dolphin Gulls. But the sighting is even greater thanks to the presence of Black-crowned Night Herons, Red-backed Hawks and Peregrine Falcons. Turkey Vultures are regularly seen on top of any prominent building. Many pairs of Upland Geese frequent the park and it might be nice to take a stroll around the gardens of town to see some of the singing birds as well. In the late afternoon, we said goodbye to the Falkland Islands to sail in a downward direction towards the South Georgia Islands.
Day 5 to 6 - On the way to South Georgia Island
At this stage of the Antarctic trip we will be nourished by knowledge about the South Pole with the conferences we have on board. Scientists and naturalists give us their knowledge of the fauna and ecosystems unique to the region. South Georgia is considered one of the most beautiful and inspiring places on earth, with one of the greatest biodiversity on the planet.
Day 7 - South Georgia
South Georgia will be detected by our pupils !!! Although it is a very isolated region, the island gives us a mountainous landscape, with monumental glaciers, deep fjords and meadows of little bearing. Our intention is to visit some places that stand out:
Elsehul Bay: located to the northwest of the islands, on the east sector of the serrated peaks of the Parydian Peninsula, Elsehul is a small and picturesque port. It is the only tourist site on the island, where it hosts colonies of black-browed albatrosses and gray-headed albatross, you can see them while sailing in the Zodiac boats.
Right Whale Bay: a bay of 2,400 meters wide, between points 'Craigie' and 'No Name' is, along the north coast of South Georgia. Its name dates back to 1922, when South Georgia was the whaling center of excellence. Today it is inhabited by a colony of king penguins, sharing the habitat with giant petrels, gulls and elephant seals with their young on the beach of black ash.
Day 8 to 11 - South Georgia
Our itinerary will be determined by local conditions at sea and on land. The following destinations are some of the ones we hope to explore:
Salisbury Plain: Some know it as the "Serengeti of the South", Salisbury Plain is a place incomparable for its fauna. The impressive glaciers create a dramatic backdrop for the ten thousand king penguins that nest in the tussock grassland in this unique ecosystem. The wide beaches invite us to take a walk to see the colonies, where we will be surrounded by the overwhelming amount of penguins. There are also sea lions, southern giant petrels and if luck is on our side, we can see the gentoo penguins. Baby penguins can usually be seen playing on the coast.
Prion Island and the Wandering Albatross: On this islet covered with tussock grasslands we would love to show you a breeding colony of wandering albatrosses. We will ascend to the top of the island through a coastal path to get closer to the nests and enjoy the view from comfortable platforms.
Grytviken: Located in King Edward Cove, on the edge of Hope Point and Hobart Rock, on the west coast of the East Cumberland Bay. The ruins of the old whaling station are located on a plain at the head of the cove, surrounded by mountains of steep slopes. Today it is the Museum of South Georgia, the whaling station is the main point of interest for passengers, where the remains of the famous English navigator Ernest Shackleton rest in peace, in the cemetery of the whalers and their commemorative cross in Hope Point . The landscape in this area is of exceptional beauty even for the parameters of South Georgia. The glaciers and snow-capped mountains of the Allardyce Chain - with their Sugartop, Paget, Roots, Nordenskjöld, Kling and Brooker mountains - define a magnificent framework for the cove, with the views from King Edward Point, the most beautiful on earth.
Godthul: It is a cove of 3,000 meters long, which we find 9 km east of Cumberland Bay on the east coast of the Barff Peninsula, between Cape George and Punta Long. Over the tussock grasslands and cliffs live the gentoo penguins and dark, light-mantled albatrosses. Between 1908 and 1929, this area was the base of the factory ships of the whaling companies. A small shed that is next to a stream to the southeast of the port was a support center for whaling activities. Today the barrels are rusted by the passage of time, the refuge and the wooden boats are witnesses of the whaling era, as the collection of bones of whales and elephant seals distributed throughout the beach.
St Andrews Bay: The coast of St. Andrews Bay, which supports the constant waves, extends north-south along 3,000 meters of fine dark sands. There is a presence of penguins and elephant seals, and inside it is surrounded by the Cook, Buxton and Heaney glaciers. In this bay is the largest king penguin colony of South Georgia. When the summer season begins, the beach is full of sea lions and elephant seals. Such a wildlife congregation attracts a train of voracious scavengers. The Antarctic dove rushes quickly into the penguin colony; mottled petrels nest less in the cliffs north of St. Andrews Bay. Leopard seals guard the rocks at this end of the beach, from where penguins hunt next to brown macroalgae. Some large black shearwaters and dark albatrosses with a light mantle form their nests in the grasslands of the hillsides. The escúas and the Antarctic seagulls reproduce in the glacifluvial deposits and on the slopes at the north end of the island, defending their nests with the hustle and bustle that characterizes them.
Cooper Bay: Located in the southeastern tip of South Georgia. Chinstrap penguins and papua and maybe one or two penguins with yellow plumes we can see on the slopes full of tussock grasslands, there is also a colony of sea lions on its beaches. The volcanic rocks impact, which guard the tiny fjords and we take advantage to navigate the coast to appreciate all the fauna.
The Drygalski Fjord: is located at the southeastern end of the island. Although the glaciers that constitute this fjord have regressed notably in recent years, it remains one of the main attractions of the coast, especially the Risting and Jenkins glaciers..
Day 12 to 13 - Navigation
We will start crossing the Scotia Sea towards the Antarctic Peninsula. The days in the open sea offer excellent opportunities to be out on deck, read, review and edit photographs, or reflect on the fantastic experience we experience in South Georgia. During these two days we will offer lectures and activities.
Day 14 - Elephant Island, South Shetland Islands
We are looking for the enigmatic and mythical Elephant Island. Those who have read the feat made by Ernest Shackleton will not need introduction to this historic island (we recommend watching the video about Shackleton's trip to Antarctica, as it is one of the survival feats ever seen in the history of humanity ). In 1916 Shackleton was forced to leave 22 of his men helpless on these shores, while he and five friends embarked on an incredible and desperate search for help. What followed is one of the greatest rescue stories of all time. Each passenger will return with a greater knowledge of this exciting adventure story in a truly extraordinary region.
Day 15 - Navigation - Antarctic Peninsula: Antarctic Strait:
Our expedition staff will prepare you for a new experience in the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands. Once on land we will go through the scenic area of the Antarctic Strait, disembarking in some places in particular:
Base Argentina Esperanza: We will try to navigate through the passage located east of the Antarctic Peninsula, which crosses the Antarctic Strait and runs from northwest to southeast. Esperanza Bay and Esperanza's Argentine base are to the west of it.
Brown Bluff: It is a red promontory that is located in the Tabarín Peninsula, south of Esperanza Bay. We can not stop going to visit this lovely place. The Weddell Sea is the site par excellence of the Adélie penguin population of the Peninsula.
Day 16 to 17 - Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands
In the Antarctic Strait area, we hope to explore the following sites:
Gerlache Strait: Famous for its charming canals, islands with high peaks, bays sheltered from the wind and steps of reduced size. The peaks never reached by man and the great glaciers, which inexorably decant their waters to the sea, are the points of interest in the area.
Hydrurga Rocks: This is a handful of islands that are located east of the Dos Mogotes Island in the Palmer Archipelago, at the northern entrance of the Gerlache Strait. It is a breeding area for chinstrap penguins, Antarctic cormorants and cook gulls.
Cuverville Island: We could also visit Cuverville Island, which is located on the scenic Errera Channel, central point of the Gerlache Strait. An elevated beach is the nesting area of Gentoo penguins. We go north to explore the South Shetland Islands.
Deception Island: is the largest recent volcanic center in the South Shetland Islands. The navigation through the narrow entrance to the flooded caldera is fantastic. Once inside, you can go trekking along the edge of the volcano covered with black ash to reach the panoramic point.
Medialuna Island Located at the entrance to Moon Bay, between the Greenwich and Livingston islands, it is possible to spot chinstrap penguins.
Day 18 to 19 - Sailing to the Drake Passage
We said goodbye to the Antarctic Peninsula to cross the Drake Passage. It is time, together with our staff, to identify sea birds and whales from the ship's bridge. The last conferences of the trip will be offered.
Day 20 - Arrival to the port of Ushuaia
In the first hours of the morning we will disembark in the port of the city of Ushuaia, previously we will enjoy the last breakfast on board.
N.B: The itinerary described above is only a guide. Our exact route and program may vary to take advantage of local weather, ice conditions and wildlife viewing opportunities. The changes will be made by the captain and the expedition leader to facilitate the best results with the prevailing conditions. A daily program will be published on board. Flexibility is the key to success.
Map of Route
Services
The described rates are per person, in American dollars, and in separate cabins. The double cabins can be sold as single cabins with an increment of 50% of the single cabin price. For the suites that can be occupied by a single person the increase is 100%. Of the available cabin suites there are two that can occupy a third person and can be reserved for an extra 50% of the per person price for a double cabin. For those people that wish to sail alone but wish to share a cabin please consult the company as regards this possibility.
The rates can be subject to increases and the ship's company reserves the right to do so without previous notification.
Services include:
The cruise with selected cabin requirement on board the M/V Ushuaia
Food
Entry into the ObservatioN
RoomUse of the Conference Room equipped with multimedia facilities, the library and the hospital
Excursions in the Zodiac boats and all landings and activities that are made during the Antarctic expedition
Conferences by the ship's on board experts on the Antarctic and the environment
The port taxes and chargesInformation material that is at the disposition of the clients
Daily diary that includes all of the day's activities
Services not included:
Air tickets
Services before or after the voyage
Transfers In/Out of the boat
Costs of visas or passports
Government arrival and departure taxes
Food outside of the M/V Ushuaia
Insurance of personal baggageCosts of cancellation. It is advised to take out an insurance for this
Baggage excess
Personal consumption in the bar, telephone calls, internet, tips. It is recommended to give the tips at the end of the cruise
Deposit and payment
A deposit of 30% per person for the elected cabin facilities is required at the time of booking with the remainder paid 90 Days before sailing. The payments cannot be made by credit card.
Cancellations
Without exception, all notifications have to be made in writing. Bear in mind that the cancellations more than 90 Days before sailing will be mostly returned apart from a discount of US$600 per person for all of the operative and administrative costs realised. On the other hand there will not be returns for those cancellations made within 89 Days of sailing (without elimination of the day of sailing). In the case that there was not the full payment before the 89 Days then the cancellation penalty will be adjusted to the full payment and it has to be paid immediately. We suggest that a cancellation insurance is taken out to prevent the loss of money. Moreover, an important point is that the company can cancel whichever of its voyages before sailing and that the company will return the client payments without indemnification.
Contracting a cancellation insurance
We recommend to contract an insurance that covers medical evacuation and repatriation and cancellation of the voyage. The ship's company does not accept any responsibility in case of a passenger accident, nor in the loss or damage to personal objects. In the case of required medical attention during the cruise and anything that provokes evacuation costs, the use of airplanes or body repatriation etc. all the costs we be the responsibility of the affected passenger. Even if the company is not responsible it is legally responsible and can be exposed to the justice system.
Cruise contract
Every passenger is obliged to sign a cruise contract in which he accepts all of the terms and conditions imposed by the shipping company. When the passenger gives in the cruise voucher he approves all of the terms and conditions. Apart from this contract, the sailing company cannot negate its legal responsibility that it assumes and is vigil in the protection of the passengers during the cruise.
Time of embarkation and disembarkation
The transfer to and from the boat has to be paid for by the passenger and is not covered by the shipping company. The time of embarkation is 16.00 hrs on the day of sailing. It is always recommended to arrive in Ushuaia one day before sailing in order to avoid any possible delays and reprogramming of flights or loss of baggage. It is important to be punctual and the boat begins its voyage at 18.00 hrs and cannot wait under any circumstances for the delays of passengers.
Check-in at the port of Ushuaia
The Port of the City of Ushuaia is situated in the Avenida Maipú but the entry is in the calle Lassere. It is only 15 minutes from the airport assuming normal conditions. The Port entry opens at 15.30 hrs and the embarkation is 30 minutes later at 16.00 hrs. At boarding time you need to have all of the required documentation. Each passenger has to have a passport or DNI together with the voucher containing the cruise details.
In case there is a problem and you have lost your voucher you need to go to the shipping offices in Avenida Gobernador Paz 633 1st Floor or also can call +54(2901)433636/436747. At the port entry all of the baggage is scanned and once the check-in is complete, and you have boarded, it is not possible to disembark except in the case of need for personal reasons. On the last day of the expedition the boat arrives at 7.00 hrs and check-out and disembarkation is between 8 and 8.30 hrs.
General information
How to communicate on board the M/V Ushuaia?
The communications are not of the highest quality and can be unstable because they are subject to satellite coverage and the climate conditions. The ship could be staying outside of the satellite range limit of 70-74 degrees South. In the M/V Ushuaia it is possible to send and receive email messages, fax and telex, there will be a charge for these services.
How to contact the ship?
The M/V Ushuaia has a mailbox: ushuaia@skyfile.com If you want to send emails, you should avoid sending attachments to the services, it´s not as expensive and doesn´t delay.
In reference to the well being of children on the M/V Ushuaia, the parents are responsible for taking care of their children on and off board. To be precise the parents are the persons in charge of the supervision of their children. It is not prohibited to run inside and outside of the cabins if there is a responsible person present. For the younger children they need to be accompanied by their parents and wear a harness when on deck. Depending on the climatic conditions it is the Captain who decides whether the children can disembark for land expeditions. Always the security is to the utmost importance. This type of boat does not cater for children and therefore there are not children's toys or books on board. For this reason our advice to the parents is to bring what they believe necessary to occupy them in their free time. Moreover one must not forget all the children's medicines that may be required for the trip. There is no special tariff discount for children.
Air conditioning and heating
There is climate conditioning and each cabin has its own heating
Library
The boat has a library that can be found in cabin F where there are books on the Antarctic for the use of the passengers.
