Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falklands (2009/2010)

Travel in the wake of the world's greatest explorers, including Magellan, Darwin, Drake, de Gerlache and Shackleton, on this voyage to the far southern reaches of the world. While the itinerary in Antarctica is flexible to account for changing weather and ice conditions, planned destinations include King George Island, Paradise Bay, Deception Island and Lemaire Channel. You also call at Elephant Island, where Sir Ernest Shackleton?s men sought refuge; spectacularly scenic South Georgia, Shackleton?s final resting place; the South Orkney Islands, with their profusion of penguins and petrels; and the isolated Falkland Islands. Throughout your voyage, you'll benefit from the insight and expertise of your onboard expedition leader, guest lecturers and accompanying naturalists.

Itinerary

Day 1: Depart the U.S.

Fly from the United States to Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Day 2: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Arrive in Buenos Aires, Argentina?s capital and one of South America?s most beautiful cities, and transfer to the Palacio Duhau - Park Hyatt Buenos Aires for the night. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Evening cocktail reception at the hotel.

Day 3: Buenos Aires / Ushuaia / Embark

Fly from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia, a Patagonian city set on the Beagle Channel and surrounded by the Darwin Cordillera and forests of southern beech. Upon arrival, transfer to the ship. Enjoy a spectacular vista of glaciers and greenmisted mountains as Clelia II navigates the Beagle Channel.

Day 4: At Sea

Enjoy a day at sea, listening to lectures and relaxing as Clelia II cruises to the Falkland Islands.

Days 5-6: Exploring the Falkland Islands

Spend the day exploring the Falkland Islands, including Westpoint Island, where you?ll walk across the moors to a busy rookery of elegant black-browed albatross and raucous rockhopper penguins. On nearby Saunders Island, explore the dramatic beaches, teeming with Gentoo and Magellanic penguins, as well as cormorant and black-browed albatross
colonies before continuing to the quaint capital of the isalnds, Port Stanely.

Days 7-8: At Sea

Cruise toward South Georgia.

Days 9-11: Exploring South Georgia

Spend three days exploring the rugged, ice-bound islands of South Georgia. Once ravaged by the South Atlantic whaling industry, the waters of South Georgia are now strictly protected and harbor abundant numbers of elephant
seals, fur seals and king penguins. Your visit may include the Bay of Isles, home to a massive rookery of king penguins; Albatross Island, a paradise for grayheaded,
black-browed, light-mantled sooty and wandering albatross; and the town of Grytviken, where Sir Ernest Shackleton is buried in a small cemetery beyond the abandoned whaling station.

Day 12: Sailing the Scotia Sea

Attend onboard lectures and watch for whales and seabirds as Clelia II cruises the Scotia Sea.

Day 13: South Orkney Islands

A vista of enormous grounded icebergs is visible as Clelia II approaches the South Orkney Islands to call at Coronation Island. In the company of British scientists from Signy Station, visit the rookeries of penguins and snow and cape petrels that populate the island.

Days 14-17: Antarctic Peninsula and its Islands

Enjoy four days exploring the pristine wilderness of the Antarctic Peninsula, a narrow finger of land that separates the ice-choked waters of the Weddell and Bellingshausen Seas. As Clelia II sails through scenic waterways, witness a breathtaking panorama of icebergs, blue glaciers and jagged, snowcapped mountains. Aboard the ship?s fleet of Zodiacs, cruise among ice floes, land at penguin rookeries and visit with scientists at research stations. Our first day in this incredible region will be at Elephant Island, where in 1916 Sir Ernest Shackleton?s Endurance was stranded, forcing Shackleton and five of his men to undertake a thousand-mile rescue mission on a 20-foot whaleboat to secure help. Although the itinerary varies according to local ice and wind conditions, you also may land at such places as Petermann Island, where humpback and minke whales are often sighted offshore; Paradise Bay, the habitat of gentoo and chinstrap penguins and the blubbery Weddell seal; Deception Island, whose waters are often warm enough for swimming; and King George Island, home to several research stations. Voyages through the magnificent Lemaire, Neumeyer, Errata and other protected channels are also planned?and never to be forgotten.

Days 18-19: At Sea

Attend lectures by naturalists and study leaders as Clelia II crosses the Antarctic Convergence, where the warm waters of the north override the colder waters of the Southern Ocean. Then sail through the Drake Passage. Albatross and cape petrels are among the birds that company the ship on its passage.

Day 20: Ushuaia / Disembark / Buenos Aires, Argentina / U.S.

Disembark in Ushuaia and transfer to the airport for the flight to Buenos Aires. Upon arrival in Buenos Aires connect with flights to the U.S.

Day 21: Arrive in U.S.

Today, arrive back in the United States.