Antarctic Dream Expedition

Discovering the White Continent 11 days

Antarctica Shipping's classic Antarctic Expedition of 11 days and 10 nights departs and returns from Ushuaia, Argentina.

We make an exciting crossing of the legendary Drake Passage to arrive in the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula.
 

Itinerary *

Day 1- Ushuaia, Argentina

Passengers board the M/V Antarctic Dream where you will be greeted by our Expedition Leader and staff and shown to your cabin. Check-in will begin at 4:00 PM on departure day.

 

Day 2 to 3 - Drake Passage

Wandering albatrosses, storm petrels and other seabirds will escort the vessel as we sail south across this famous passage named after Sir Francis Drake, the 16th-century English navigator. We will continue towards the Antarctic Convergence, a biological barrier where cold polar waters sink beneath the warmer waters of the more temperate zone. In 1819, the British explorer William Smith described the South Shetland Islands as "barren and covered with snow, with seals in abundance".

 

Day 4 - Aitcho Island

Aitcho Island will give us an early taste of what the Antarctic really is. Aitcho is the biggest island of the South Shetlands. In the afternoon we will disembark at Aitcho Island which is in between Greenwich and Robert Islands. We will continue with the crossing of the Bransfield and Gerlache Straits to enter Andvord Bay where we find Neko Bay.

 

Day 5 - Antarctic Peninsula & Neko Bay

Besides the magnificent scenery of mountains, snow and ice, in Antarctica you can expect to see a wide variety of the native wildlife. Other birds to look out for are blue-eyed shags, gulls, cape petrels, skuas, snowy sheathbills and antarctic terns. Marine mammals that you are likely to see include Weddell crab-eaters and leopard seals, while orcas, humpback and mink whales may be spotted at close range.

The program includes our first landing on the White Continent (Neko Bay) and another at Port Lockroy (Gaudier Island). Neko Bay was discovered by Adrian de Gerlache, a Belgian explorer. Port Lockroy is close to Wiencke Island in the Antarctic Peninsula and was the main base of the 1944 Tabarin Operation - the scientific research included the Antarctic's first ionosphere measurements and also the first recording of an atmospheric whistle.

 

Day 6 - Paradise Bay & Cuverville Island

At this point of our program we will begin our return voyage. During the morning and, stressing again that if weather permits, we will disembark or use our zodiacs in Paradise Bay. In the evening we will visit Cuverville Island. Beside its dramatic scenery it is home to one of the largest colonies of Gentoo penguins and skuas. We will continue with the crossing of Bransfield and Gerlache Straits to enter Andvord Bay where we find Neko Bay.

 

Day 7 - Pleneau & Petermann Island

We sail south through the narrow Lemaire Channel. We will be able to visit Petermann Island which is the most southern land point of our expedition. Here we will disembark and will be able to see the most southern colony of Gentoo penguins which nest near our landing spot. On this island we will also be able to see a colony of beautiful Adelei penguins, skuas and blue-eyed shags. At Pleneau we will visit impressive ice formations.

 

Day 8 - Deception Island, Whaler's Bay & Pendulum Cove

We continue sailing to Deception Island which is the largest active volcano in the area at the northwest side of the Peninsula. During the morning we will try to disembark in Whaler's Bay and Pendulum Cove where you can esperience the unique experience of swimming Antarctic water. In the afternoon we will disembark at Hannah Point (Livingstone Island). This is one of the best places in the Antarctic to see fauna and we should see Chinstrap and Gentoo penguins, giant petrels, Wilson petrels, skuas and blue-eyed shags. With luck, we should also see sea elephants.

 

Days 9 and 10 - Drake Passage

Today, we will leave Antarctica and head north back across the Drake Passage. Now is the chance to compare and revise notes and dwell on the adventures of the past week, to take in the final lectures and to enjoy the delicious gastronomy on board as you return to Ushuaia.

 

Day 11 - Ushuaia, Argentina

After an early breakfast we will land at 9:00 AM and bid farewell to our guests. Thus ends an incredible and unique expedition.

* Please note that you should regard this itinerary as a guide only. Our exact route and program varies according to the weather conditions we encounter. Flexibility is the key to success for all expeditions of the M/V Antarctic Dream.