Antarctica – Discovery and learning voyage – Ortelius, Jan. 2024

Antarctica – Discovery and learning voyage – Ortelius, Jan. 2024

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Trip Summary

Dates: Jan 5, 2024 – Jan 15, 2024
Duration: 11 Days
Ship: Ortelius
Starting at $8,650.00View Prices

About the Antarctica Classic (11 days) Itinerary

Perfect for first time visitors to Antarctica Witness and explore the highlights of the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands Learn about the environment and wildlife from onboard lecturers and specialists Witness the abundant wildlife – penguins, seals, whales and more! * Itineraries on our website are intended only as a guide and you should […]

Itinerary Map

Pricing Information

$8,650 - Quad Porthole
$10,700 - Triple Porthole
$10,700 - Twin Porthole
$11,150 - Twin Window
$11,800 - Twin Deluxe
$12,650 - Superior

About the Antarctica Classic (11 days) Itinerary

  • Perfect for first time visitors to Antarctica
  • Witness and explore the highlights of the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands
  • Learn about the environment and wildlife from onboard lecturers and specialists
  • Witness the abundant wildlife – penguins, seals, whales and more!
* Itineraries on our website are intended only as a guide and you should consult our team for detailed itineraries on specific voyages.

Detailed Itinerary

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Day 1: Embarkation

Arriving at the ship in the afternoon, you will be greeted by Expedition Team and ships’ officers at a safety and orientation briefing followed by the Captain’s welcome dinner. After dinner, relax and take in the mountainous scenery on our early evening sail down the Beagle Channel past Magellanic Penguin, Rock Cormorant, and Sea Lion colonies.


Days 2-3: Drake Passage

Among the wildlife spotting opportunities as we sail south are the Albatrosses, Prions, and Petrels that frequently follow the ship. The Expedition Team will be out on deck as well, looking for the Whales and Dolphins that may also be seen in the area. The team will begin presentations with informative and entertaining lectures on the wildlife, history, and geology of Antarctica. Helpful briefings on environmental regulations and expedition safety will also be held.


Days 4-8: Antarctic Peninsula & South Shetland Islands

Arrival to the White Continent, the land of extremes! The most common first reaction to the white continent is a sense of reverence and awe. The experience is hard to put into words, as few places are as untouched, unique and enduring as Antarctica. The Expedition Leader and Captain will create a flexible itinerary based on weather, ice, and opportunity. The route will stress the most scenic bays and channels of the Peninsula with stops at penguin rookeries, seal wallows, bird colonies and whale feeding areas. Guided hikes with the Expedition Team will have you trekking up a glacier, visiting a research station, or consorting with penguin colonies. Chinstrap, Gentoo and Adélie penguins are found here, along with Fur, Weddell, Crabeater and Leopard Seals. Curious whales, such as Minkes and Humpbacks, are often attracted to Zodiacs as well, giving you a chance to get within reaching distance of these majestic animals. Each day and each landing will present a new collection of creatures to entertain you and keep your camera shutter busy.

The trip may include picturesque Neko Harbor, sheltered Paradise Harbor, the Humpback Whale favored Wilhelmina Bay, the striking Lemaire Channel, the wildlife-filled Penola Channel, or the majestic Neumayer Channel. A visit may be possible to an active scientific base such as Ukraine’s Vernadsky as well as an historic base such as U.K.’s Port Lockroy or Wordie House.


Days 9-10: Drake Passage

The lecture series and wildlife spotting will continue on the return trip to Ushuaia and while the team will reflect on beautiful Antarctica and its fragile future.


Day 11: Disembarkation

Morning disembarkation allows you catch a flight to Buenos Aires or stay in Ushuaia for more sights and adventure.


Welcome Aboard the Ortelius


The ice-strengthened vessel Ortelius is an excellent vessel for Polar expedition cruises in the Arctic and Antarctica, capable of visiting  remote locations such as the Ross Sea and Franz Josef Land in the Arctic. Ortelius was built in Poland in 1989 and worked as a special purpose vessel for the Russian Academy of Science.

The vessel has the highest ice-class notation (UL1 equivalent to 1A) and is therefore very suitable to navigate in solid one-year sea ice and loose multi-year pack ice. Ortelius is a great expedition vessel for 100 passengers with lots of open-deck spaces and a very large bridge which is accessible to the passengers. Ortelius offers a comfortable hotel standard, with two restaurants, a bar, lecture room and a sauna.

Though our voyages are primarily meant to offer our passengers an exploratory wildlife program with as much time ashore as possible, Ortelius offers all the comforts of a standard hotel ― along with a bar and lecture room. Flexibility assures maximum wildlife opportunities. As such, Ortelius carries 10 Zodiacs with 60hp Yamaha engines.

Technical Specs

  • Passengers: 116
  • Staff & Crew: 47
  • Length: 91.25 meters
  • Breadth: 17.61 meters
  • Draft: 5.8 meters
  • Ice class: UL1 (equivalent to 1A)
  • Displacement: 4575 tonnes
  • Engines: 6 ZL 40/48 SULZER
  • Speed: 12 knots (14.3 knots max)

Ortelius can accommodate up to 116-123 passengers and has an abundance of open-deck spaces. It is manned by 22 highly experienced nautical crew members, 19 hotel staff, eight expedition specialists (one expedition leader, one assistant, and six lecturer-guides), and one doctor.

Cabins & Amenities

  • Two restaurants with open seating
  • Bar / observation lounge
  • Elevator
  • Internet access
  • Private facilities – sink, toilet shower, hairdryer and bathrobes in every cabin
  • Multi-purpose presentation room with state-of-the-art equipment
  • Stabilizers for smooth sailing
  • 10 zodiacs onboard

Notes

  • Rates are per person, based on twin share. Single Supplement for twin cabins is 1.7 times the twin rate.
  • Mandatory Emergency Evacuation insurance is required on all trips.
  • Camping – From USD$190 per night, max 30 people
  • Kayaking – From USD$465 per trip, max 14 people
  • Snowshoe – no charge but sign up required
  • Adventure Activities for the “Base Camp” voyages are free of charge
  • There is always a possibility of an added fuel surcharge if marine oil prices raise significantly.

SHIP CAPACITY UPDATE: Starting with 2020 Arctic & 2020-2021 Antarctica Season, the ship capacity will be reduced to 108 passengers  & no triple cabins will be available. We can accommodate three passengers traveling together in a Superior Cabin + a sofa bed.

Book now for early bird discounts on the 2024-25 season

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