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January 14 – 25, 2011
A pod of humpback whales breaching the icy floes; a wandering albatross lifting enormous wings to take flight; raucous rookeries of penguins unafraid and unperturbed by your presence, offer nature’s abundance of wildlife in the white continent. Every scene will take your breath away.
Equally thrilling is the sense of adventure. You will explore in the wake and the spirit of historic trail blazers like Sir Ernest Shackleton, Robert Falcon Scott and Roald Amundsen, enjoying the creature comforts of SILVERSEA’S 132-guest, Prince Albert II.
The flexible itinerary takes advantage of favorable ice and weather conditions. We will search for whales, seals, and penguins. Shore walks and Zodiac landings will bring us up close to the mystical settings and passing icebergs. Each day the Expedition Leader and Captain will determine the best course, depending on ice conditions and the wildlife we encounter.
Special Guest Lecturer, Dr. Alex Filippenko
Tour
includes:
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Roundtrip air from Los Angeles/Buenos Aires
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Roundtrip Charter flight Buenos Aires/Ushuaia
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11 days/10 nights aboard 132-guest Expedition Ship, Prince Albert II
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Complimentary charter flight roundtrip Buenos Aires to/from Ushuaia
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Complimentary hosted adventures ashore with all Zodiac excursions included
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Complimentary parka
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Complimentary fine wines, champagnes and spirits throughout the ship
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Shipboard gratuities included
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In-room beverage cabinet stocked with your complimentary selections
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Country Club Casual/informal attire – no formal nights
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Open-seating dining
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Expedition team of the highest caliber
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Popular astronomy lecturer, Dr. Alex Filippenko
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Elephant Island where Shackleton’s men spent 105 days
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Antarctic Sound and Iceberg Alley
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Dip in thermal waters of Pendulum Cove
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Explore breathtaking Lemaire Channel
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Boots and binoculars are provided free of charge while on board
ITINERARY
January 14/15, 2011 —USA/Buenos Aires/Ushuaia, Argentina
Depart your home city for Buenos Aires where you will join the complimentary charter to Ushuaia. Drive along the steep streets of the southernmost city in the world before boarding the Prince Albert II and settle in for our first night on board. Meet and mingle with the expedition team and fellow guests. Take advantage of the austral summer daylight to toast a bon voyage out on deck as we set sail past the cormorant and seal colonies. (D)
January 16, 2011 —At Sea
As we cruise towards Antarctica, our team of experts begins their discussions on the fauna, flora and history of Antarctic exploration. Our itinerary is unstructured by design, following only a tentative schedule allows for moment-to-moment flexibility. We can stay longer at sites of particular interest; make detours whenever weather or curiosity dictates. (B/L/D)
January 17 – 22, 2011—Exploring the Antarctica Peninsula
Our days at sea are as exciting as our days ashore, as we look for whales and seals, giant albatross and blue-eyed shags.
As the Antarctic Peninsula appears on the horizon, excitement mounts. Landing might include Livingston Island with is enormous rookeries of squawking, waddling and remarkably social penguins, and Deception Island where the most adventurous may choose to go “swimming” oin the thermal springs. We will sail across the Antarctic Sound, sometimes known as Iceberg Alley, and transit the Lemaire and Neumayer channels filled with some of the most dramatic and humbling landscapes imaginable. In Paradise Bay, we may try Zodiac cruising for a view of the various seals and penguins resting on ice floes, and go sliding on the hill behind the historic research station at Port Lockroy. (B/L/D)
January 23 - 24, 2011 —Cruise Drake Passage and Cape Horn
In 1578 cruising Cape Horn aboard the Golden Hind, Francis Drake and his crew encountered a tremendous storm which blew them southwest around Tierra del Fuego, proving that it was separated from any southern continent, and the passageway came to be known as the Drake Passage. This remote 600-mile stretch teems with wildlife at this time of year, when the warm waters of the north converge with the icy waters of Antarctica, creating a nutrient-rich feeding ground of krill and plankton for multitudes of seabirds and whales. The awe that travelers feel when encountering Cape Horn is inspired by its unique location at the confluence of the two greatest oceans on earth, the Atlantic and the Pacific. (B/L/D)
January 25, 2011 —Ushuaia – Buenos Aires
Today we disembark for our charter flight to Buenos Aires to catch connecting flights home or extend your stay in our two-night IguaÃu Falls package. (B/L)
For
a general interest form, and registration, please contact MWT Associates
at tours@melitatrips.com
or visit their website at www.melitatrips.com
Please
note, individuals who sign up for a trip with reference to
the ASP will be added to our mailing list unless you email
us with a request to be removed. You can also view our
privacy policy for additional
information.
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