Join a spectacular expedition to the rarely navigated waters of the remote Ross Sea. Witness wildlife and soak up scenery that precious few have ever experienced before. Immerse yourself in history, as you set foot on lands made famous by legendary stories of expedition heroes of the past. Continue sailing across Amundsen Sea and on to the Antarctic Peninsula, offering dramatic scenery and a stunning variety of wildlife.
Continue sailing across Amundsen Sea and on to the Antarctic Peninsula, offering dramatic scenery and a stunning variety of wildlife.
Itinerary
- All voyage itineraries are intended as a guideline only – embracing the unexpected is part of the legacy of expedition travel. Actual routes and landings will be dependent on weather, sea and ice conditions. A degree of flexibility is essential in the polar regions!
Begin your journey in Dunedin, New Zealand’s southernmost city and often referred to as the Edinburgh of New Zealand. Overnight at your hotel in Dunedin.
Spend the morning discovering then city. This afternoon you will embark on your expedition voyage.
Sea days are a wonderful opportunity to relax, meet your fellow travellers and learn about the history, environment, and local wildlife in this fascinating corner of the globe. Make the most of the many services and activities on board and keep your eyes peeled for seabirds as you cruise toward New Zealand’s Subantarctic Islands.
First visited by Māori navigators centuries ago, these islands are of great significance to Ngāi Tahu, the indigenous peoples of New Zealand’s South Island. Their natural beauty and incredible biodiversity are recognised globally, but few have had the privilege to visit them. Southern royal, wandering, Campbell, grey-headed, black-browed, and lightmantled albatross may be spotted. Three penguin species – eastern rockhopper, erect-crested and yellow-eyed – also breed here.
Plot a course for Macquarie Island, again accompanied by circling seabirds overhead. Keep watch for graceful grey-headed, black-browed, and light-mantled albatross, which may venture from their nests to welcome visitors to the island.
Macquarie Island is a Tasmanian State Reserve that in 1997 became a World Heritage Site. The Australian Antarctic Division has its permanent base on this island at Buckles Bay, which Australian sealer Frederick Hasselborough discovered while searching for new sealing grounds. The island supports one of the highest concentrations of wildlife in the Southern Ocean. Vast colonies of king, gentoo, and southern rockhopper penguins – as well as almost one million breeding pairs of the endemic royal penguin can be found on the island. Elephant seals and various fur seal species, such as the New Zealand fur seal, are also present.
Continue across the expanse of the Southern Ocean. Along the way your Expedition Team will provide lectures and presentations to prepare you for what lies ahead. Make the most of the many services and activities on board. Visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. Keep watch for porpoising penguins, flocks of Antarctic petrels, or perhaps the more solitary snow petrel.
Explore the highlights of the Ross Sea. Many factors play a role in shaping the expedition’s itinerary here, including sea, ice, and weather conditions. Each day will be different. There will be plenty of opportunities to explore local bays in search of uniquely adapted Antarctic wildlife. Look out for Ross Sea orcas, Antarctic petrels, and South Pacific Weddell seals. The area is also home to Antarctica’s largest Adélie penguin colony, and many of the largest emperor penguin colonies.
The human heritage of the Ross Sea coast is just as impressive. Since James Clark Ross discovered the region in 1841, countless expeditions have built base camps, leaving equipment and huts behind. You may have the opportunity to explore some of these historic sites.
Sail through the Amundsen Sea along and through the outer fringes of the pack-ice, taking advantage of the Antarctic coastal current. The journey is lively and sightings of single straggling emperor penguins, groups of seals on ice-floes, and orca and minke whales are possible.
Continue sailing through the Bellingshausen Sea, bound for the Antarctic Peninsula.
Explore the highlights of the Antarctic Peninsula. Many factors play a role in shaping the expedition’s itinerary, including sea, ice and weather conditions, but the plan is to take Zodiac excursions from the ship at least twice a day. You will have the opportunity to explore local bays, channels and landing sites. Visit penguin rookeries, scout for humpback and minke whales, and search for a number of southern seal species, including the cunning leopard seal.
Sail north across the infamous Drake Passage as you bid farewell to Antarctica at last and start to make your way back to civilisation.
Arrive in Ushuaia where your expedition ends.
Prices
What's Included
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One night pre-expedition hotel accommodation in Dunedin, with ship transfer
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Shipboard accommodation
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All breakfasts, lunches & dinners on board
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Tea & coffee available around the clock
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All Zodiac transfers, cruising & shore landings
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Presentations by the Expedition Team and guest speakers
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Loan of rubber boots during voyage
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All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges
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24 hour emergency assistance from our team during your holiday
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No surcharge guarantee
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Full financial protection
From £35036 Excluding Flights
33 Nights
Feb
Make this trip yours
Every trip you see here can be adapted to suit you using inside-out knowledge to create one-off experiences created just for you.
Jo
4
Arctic cruises
20
Species of whales & dolphins seen
2025 departure & price guide
Prices are per person, based on a twin cabin. They do not reflect any applicable special offers or discounts. Single, triple and quad cabins are also available. Please get in touch for a tailored quote based on the best available price for your preferred voyage and cabin type.
We create holidays that are as individual as you are. And we’ve been doing it for 40 years, crafting each and every holiday using our in-depth knowledge and enthusiasm for our destinations. Whatever your brief, we’ll create an amazing trip for you to get excited about. That might mean adapting one of our existing itineraries or we’ll build you one from scratch.
Experts with real experience
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Dawn
Head of Customer Experience
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Darren
Travel Specialist
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Rosie
Travel Specialist
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Jenna
Travel Specialist
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Eric
Travel Specialist
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Freya
Travel Specialist
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Gary
Travel Specialist
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Kieran
Travel Specialist
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Doug
Travel Specialist
