This expedition is named after Captain James Weddell, who in 1823 discovered the sea that bears his name. Reaching a latitude of 74° south, he had achieved something that no human had ever accomplished before. Experience the wonder of the last unspoiled wilderness as you venture to the Weddell Sea on your unforgettable Antarctic expedition. Sail the Drake Passage to the magnificent Antarctic Peninsula, home to abundant summer wildlife of seals, penguins, and whales. Enter the Antarctic Sound and sail into the Northern part of the Weddell Sea where you experience some unforgettable encounters with huge tabular icebergs.

Day 1: Buenos Aires/Ushuaia
Depart Buenos Aires on your charter flight to the southernmost city in the world, Ushuaia for your embarkation aboard the MS Fram. An informative welcome meeting will be held as you begin your Weddell Sea, Antarctic expedition.

Day 2-3: Drake Passage
Just under two days will be spent crossing the Drake Passage. During the crossing to the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands, enjoy onboard lectures about the history and mystery of Antarctica's environment and wildlife.

Day 3-10: Antarctic Expedition
The "White Continent," more than half the size of North America, is an endless wilderness. On this portion of your Antarctic tour, your ship will try to reach as far into the Weddell Sea as it can, retracing the steps of the 1901-1904 Swedish Antarctic Expedition led by Otto Nordenskiold. Weather, wind, and ice conditions will determine the program and schedule, but highlights should include:

- Deception Island — a flooded volcanic caldera in the South Shetland Islands that's home to Whaler's Bay, an abandoned whaling station and former U.K. base.
- Half Moon Island, where the cliffs house Chinstrap penguins, Antarctic terns, Kelp gulls, other birds.
- Yankee Harbour, rife with seals and about 4,000 breeding pairs of Gentoo penguins.
- Brown Bluff, a 2,450-foot-high cliff at the tip of the peninsula that draws Adelie and Gentoo penguins, Kelp gulls and Weddell seals.
- Snow Hill Island was used as a base by Nordenskiold in the winters of 1901-1903.
- James Ross Island, named by Nordenskiold after U.K. explorer Sir James Clark Ross, rises to 5,347 feet.
- Vega Island has a rich trove of Cretaceous and Paleogene fossils. The first dinosaur discovered in Antarctica was an armored ankylosaurian, discovered in 1986 on James Ross Island. The second was discovered on Vega Island in 1986.
- Trinity Peninsula is the extreme northeast portion of the Antarctic Peninsula, extending northeastward for about 80 miles.
- The Prince Gustav Channel was named in 1903 after Crown Prince Gustav of Sweden by Nordenskiöld.
- Cuverville Island, with the largest known colony of Gentoos in Antarctica.
- Neko Harbour, a favorite Minke whale feeding ground.
- Paradise Harbour, named for its beauty and home to Gentoos and Chinstraps as well as Argentine and Chilean bases.
- Lemaire Channel, considered one of the most beautiful passages in Antarctica. Humpback and Killer whales, Elephant seals and all types of penguins are common sights.
- Petermann Island, favored by the southernmost Gentoo colony as well as Blue-eyed shags (Imperial cormorants) and Adelie penguins.

Other highlights of this Antarctic expedition include:
- Port Lockroy, where you can visit a museum run by the Antarctic Heritage Trust and mail postcards stamped and canceled with rare Antarctic stamps and frank.
- Wilhelmina Bay, scenic resting place of Norwegian whaling ship Guvernoren, which ran aground and burned here in 1915.
- The 30-mile-long Antarctic Sound — dubbed "Iceberg Alley," it's a startling assortment of floating ice, including mile-long tabular icebergs.

On this particular voyage we may also attempt landings at:

Snow Hill Island
Discovered by James Clark Ross in 1843, SnowHill was named on account of the stark contrast it created against the barren rock of nearby Seymour Island. The Swedish explorer Otto Nordenskiöld spent the winters of 1901, 1902, and 1903 here, during which he discovered the largest penguin fossils ever found.

James Ross Island
Separated from the Antarctic Peninsula by the Prince Gustav Channel, James Ross Island is a large island lying off the peninsula’s southeastern edge, close to its northeastern extremity.

Photo courtesy: Antarctica traveler Christina Lim

Vega Island
The Vega Island fossils show signs of the K-Pg
extinction event some 65 million years ago, which wiped out all non-avian dinosaurs. The findings here have documented this event in better detail than most other places on Earth. From the ship’s deck you may also be able to observe the unique sight of Antarctica’s only waterfalls as they cascade down the dramatic cliff faces.

Trinity Peninsula/Prince Gustav Channel
Trinity Peninsula makes up the extreme northeastern portion of the Antarctic Peninsula, extending north-eastward for about 80 miles. The Prince Gustav Channel was named in 1903 by Otto Nordenskiöld of the Swedish Antarctic Expedition, in honor of Crown Prince Gustav of Sweden.

Day 11-12: Drake Passage
With the bow pointed north you will enjoy unforgettable images and experiences as you cross the 600-mile-plus Drake Passage back to Ushuaia. During the 40 hours or so of sailing time, enjoy more lectures recapping your Weddell Sea and Antarctic tour experiences.

Day 13: Ushuaia/Buenos Aires
Disembark in Ushuaia after breakfast for your flight to Buenos Aires. Enjoy the rest of the day in Buenos Aires at your leisure.

January 20 - February 1, 2013:
Early booking rate from US$6998 per person based on double occupancy in an inside cabin, including Buenos Aires - Ushuaia - Buenos Aires charter flights.

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MS Fram deck plan

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