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Ocean Explorer - 138 Guests

Antarctic Express: Air-Cruise

Fly Across the Drake Passage

Skip the 4 days of Drake Passage crossings and optimize your Antarctica trip by flying! A short 3-hour flight is all it takes each way. Once in Antarctica, you'll waste no time being inundated with the sheer beauty and dramatic landscapes!

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    HIGHLIGHTS

    • Fly over the Drake passage—a 3-hour flight (each way) versus a 2-day crossing by ship—for the quickest, most direct way to visit Antarctica
    • Explore the spectacular Antarctic wilderness onboard the Sea Adventurer in a casual atmosphere of like-minded travelers
    • Experience abundant wildlife including immense penguin colonies and other seabirds, seals  and even some of the great whales at close range
    • Cruise in comfort along towering icebergs, serrated maritime mountains and luminous glaciers
    • Zodiac landing craft allow visitation on remote shorelines and otherwise inaccessible areas
    • Ship allows an "open bridge policy" to observe its sophisticated navigation equipment and provides an excellent location to view wildlife the landscape (subject to weather and critical navigation maneuvers)

    DATES / RATES

    Rates are listed per person
    Start DateEnd DateFrom EURFrom USD
    Jan 09, 2025Jan 16, 202520,995 22,101
    Jan 14, 2025Jan 21, 202520,995 22,101
    Jan 19, 2025Jan 26, 202520,995 22,101
    Jan 04, 2026Jan 11, 202622,595 23,786
    Mar 08, 2026Mar 15, 202620,495 21,575
    Rates are listed per person
    Start DateEnd DateFrom EURFrom USD
    Jan 09, 2025Jan 16, 202520,995 22,101
    Jan 14, 2025Jan 21, 202520,995 22,101
    Jan 19, 2025Jan 26, 202520,995 22,101
    Jan 04, 2026Jan 11, 202622,595 23,786
    Mar 08, 2026Mar 15, 202620,495 21,575


    ITINERARY

    Day 1: Punta Arenas, Chile
    Your adventure begins in Punta Arenas, Chile, the most populated city in Patagonia. If you arrive early, there are many museums, restaurants and shops to keep you busy for days. By early afternoon, a cruise representative will meet you at the official starting point hotel where you’ll enjoy a welcome dinner and be briefed about preparing for your embarkation day.

    Day 2: Embarkation Day
    Your charter flight from Punta Arenas to Antarctica will have you crossing the legendary Drake Passage in only a few hours. Far below, the ship is approaching King George Island for your arrival. Your first glimpse of dramatic Antarctic landscapes will be from a very unique perspective, as your plane descends for landing in the South Shetlands. After landing, stretch your legs and spend time exploring the island before being transferred by Zodiac to your ship to set sail for the Antarctic Peninsula!

    Days 3-6: Antarctic Peninsula & South Shetland Islands
    There are few places in the world as evocative as Antarctica. As we approach the white continent, don't be surprised if you are overcome by feelings of excitement and awe. It is nearly impossible to put into words the size and scale of everything in the Antarctic, you'll be intimidated and mesmerized at the same time.

    As the Captain and Expedition Team keep their eyes out for whales and seabirds, you'll be alerted to any new sightings. Our team of expert lecturers will also provide in-depth explanations of the geology, history and wildlife of the region.

    Even more exciting are your daily excursions to land. Your first Zodiac landing is something you'll never forget! Walking up to a beach that is dotted with penguins and seals is the most intimate way to experience the unique wildlife of Antarctica.

    Each landing is different and is dependent on weather, but every day presents new sightings and photo opportunities and it won’t be long before you can tell the difference between an Adélie, Gentoo or chinstrap penguin.

    You may take a Zodiac cruise in search of whales and icebergs around Pleneau Island one day, followed by a hike to a penguin rookery the next day. From the booming shot of a calving glacier at Neko Harbour to the thrill of watching a leopard seal hunt a penguin, you’ll wake early and welcome each day with a sense of excitement and desire to explore that which is unrivaled by any other travel experience.

    Our Expedition Team will be with you all along, providing insights into the places you visit.

    Day 7: Disembark & Fly to Punta Arenas
    After your week of exploration, you’ll say goodbye to the Expedition Team and disembark at King George Island. Your three-hour flight across the Drake Passage to Punta Arenas, Chile, brings your adventure to an end. After your transfer from the airport to the hotel, you are free to explore and enjoy one final dinner to reminisce about the sights and sounds of Antarctica.

    Day 8: Depart for Home
    After breakfast, you are free to continue on your own travels or make your way to the Punta Arenas airport for your homeward flights.

    Ocean Explorer (Luxury Expedition, 138-guests)

    Ocean Explorer, the newest addition to our fleet, is modern, elegant and purpose-built for polar exploration. The 138-passenger vessel has been designed with the latest in expedition ship technology. One of the ship’s key features is the ULSTEIN X-BOW®, a marine engineering innovation that ensures a comfortable and smooth sailing experience thanks to the inverted bow. Located at the bow is the two-story, light-filled library, which introduces a welcome airiness to the expedition ship.

    (Click image to view Ship details)

    WHAT'S INCLUDED

    • Shipboard accommodation with daily housekeeping
    • All breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks on board
    • Beer and wine served with dinner (2018/19 season only)
    • Soft drinks included at all time (2018/19 season only)
    • All shore landings per the daily program
    • Leadership throughout the voyage by our experienced Expedition Leader
    • All Zodiac transfers and cruising per the daily program
    • Formal and informal presentations by our Expedition Team and special guests as scheduled
    • Photographic journal documenting the expedition
    • Waterproof expedition boots on loan for shore landings
    • An official expedition parka to keep
    • Coffee, tea and cocoa available around the clock
    • Hair dryer and bathrobe in every cabin
    • Comprehensive pre-departure materials, including a map and an informative Antarctic Reader
    • All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program
    • All luggage handling aboard ship
    • Group transfer in Punta Arenas from airport to pre-expedition hotel on Day 1
    • One night pre-expedition hotel accommodation in Punta Arenas with breakfast
    • Briefing dinner on Day 1 in Punta Arenas
    • Group transfer from hotel to airport in Punta Arenas pre-expedition
    • Flights to and from Antarctica
    • Group transfer from airport in Punta Arenas to hotel post-expedition
    • One night post-expedition hotel accommodation in Punta Arenas with breakfast

    Kayaking: USD 995
    Paddling: USD 295

     
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    North America: Text & Mobile: +1 970 227 9767
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    DISCLAIMER: Rates are per person, subject to availability and can change at any time