Adventure to Antarctica - Highlights of the Frozen Continent (Buenos Aires - Buenos Aires)
About Ushuaia
November - December, 2018
Close Encounters with Antarctic Wildlife
Taking an expedition to Antarctica with MS Midnatsol is sure to rank among the most exciting things you’ll ever do: exploring the most remote place on earth. Join us on this adventure filled with the unparalleled highlights of Antarctica.
A Living Continent of Ice
The adventure starts as we sail the famous Drake Passage before arriving in remote Antarctica. Things quickly become even more interesting – behind every new iceberg a new highlight appears.
The goose bump factor is huge. The wildlife of Antarctica is a chapter in itself. You will see whales, meet thousands of penguins and even some seriously cute seals. And the icebergs drift by in fantastic variety, in all shapes and colors. The horizon seems endless and blue white, the oceans are full of icebergs and whales. Even more awe-inspiring, we will have our first encounters with huge colonies of penguins. Most importantly, you will explore ashore and in small craft through iceberg-rich waters to feel like a real polar explorer.
Back on board, you’ll have fun opportunities to learn and share discoveries with family and new friends in a relaxed way. MS Midnatsol is a ship built and designed to meet the needs of modern explorers – both on and off board. Our explorer deck is where you can meet fellow adventurers for scientific fun with our engaging Expedition Team, no matter what age you are. The media room on board shows the highlights of the day, and if you haven’t joined an excursion or landing, you can see films and photos, and share in the adventures here at the end of each day. The children check out our Young Explorers Program. All scientific content is presented in a lively, fun and easily understood manner: first class edutainment, so to speak.
So join us on a voyage to the extremes of the world, on the adventure of a lifetime.
- Experience glaciers, nature and wildlife
- Come ashore in Antarctica and meet penguins up close
- Explorer room, Science center and lectures on popular topics on board
- Young Explorer program for kids
- Hurtigruten expedition voyage in the cabin category of your choice on a full-board basis (daily buffet breakfast, buffet lunch, and set or buffet dinner)
- One overnight hotel stay in Buenos Aires, including breakfast, before the voyage
- Transfer from hotel to airport in Buenos Aires
- Economy-class flights between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia
- Transfers in Ushuaia, including an orientation tour
- Wind- and water-resistant jacket
- Landings with small boats and activities on board and ashore
- Professional English-speaking expedition team that gives lectures and accompanies landings and activities
- Complimentary tea and coffee
- Complimentary use of Muck Boot rubber boots
- International flights
- Travel insurance
- Luggage handling
- Optional excursions and gratuities
Price Includes:
- Hurtigruten expedition voyage in the cabin category of your choice on a full-board basis (daily buffet breakfast, buffet lunch, and set or buffet dinner)
- One overnight hotel stay in Buenos Aires, including breakfast, before the voyage
- Transfer from hotel to airport in Buenos Aires
- Economy-class flights between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia
- Transfers in Ushuaia, including an orientation tour
- Wind- and water-resistant jacket
- Landings with small boats and activities on board and ashore
- Professional English-speaking expedition team that gives lectures and accompanies landings and activities
- Complimentary tea and coffee
- Complimentary use of Muck Boot rubber boots
Not Included:
- International flights
- Travel insurance
- Luggage handling
- Optional excursions and gratuities
Itinerary
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Cultural and Cool - Buenos Aires
This adventure starts with an overnight stay in Buenos Aires, the bustling capital of Argentina. We offer an optional city tour in the afternoon. Spend the evening at your leisure and discover ´Paris of South America´ for yourself.
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Tierra del Fuego - Buenos Aires/Ushuaia
Fly to Ushuaia, where MS Midnatsol awaits. Once on board, we kick off our journey with a welcome-on-board dinner.
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Crossing the Drake Passage - Drake Passage
Prepare yourself for Antarctica as we cross the infamous Drake Passage, and trust us - it will overwhelm you! MS Midnatsol is designed especially to bring polar exploration to all ages and learning levels. As we cruise south, we start our ´Young Explorers Antarctica´ classes. There will also be several lectures on the environment around us; films about Antarctica and the Explorer room will be buzzing with activity. This will be the heart of the expedition community, where we gather for talks, recaps and spontaneous events, mingle and share stories.
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Antarctica … Another world! - Antarctica
You are now in one of the most remote areas on Earth! There have been spectacular photo opportunities so far, but Antarctica itself is in a whole different category. Come ashore to explore the breath taking Antarctic scenery and to come close to penguins and seals. You will feel like a real explorer from the moment you set foot on the endless expanse of snow and ice. From the deck there will be ample opportunities to sight whales. Enjoy close encounters with wildlife and glaciers, old whaling stations and relics. Trust us when we say that every second of this journey has something new to offer. One of the highlights of the South Shetlands is Deception Island. When we sail into the natural harbor of this volcanic island, you will see an abandoned whaling station known as Hektor and a derelict British base. We are certain you will enjoy a visit to Half Moon Island, a staggeringly photogenic island blessed with some of the most beautiful Antarctic scenery imaginable, or Yankee Harbor, with its large colony of Gentoo penguins, estimated to be 4,000 breeding pairs. Cuverville Island is home to another of the largest known colonies of Gentoo penguins. Neko Harbor is beautifully located in the innermost part of Andvord Bay. Paradise Harbor got its descriptive name from the whalers during the last century. Wilhelmina Bay has stunning scenery and is often called ´Whale-mina Bay,´ because of the large number of humpback whales spotted here in December. We have planned plenty of activities to make you experience Antarctica in the best way. This might mean that one day you will go ashore to see penguins and hear the crackling noise of glaciers. Next day, you get to feel the salt and wind as you cruise between the sea ice, looking for leopard seals taking a snooze on the ice. Third day, kayaking or a longer hike or walk. Back on board we also have activities that will satisfy a whole range of interests in the explorer room. The on-board photographer will show you the basics of expedition photography. Join gatherings where the various members of the expedition team recount the day’s activities, make presentations, and the expedition leader discusses the next day’s plan. These gatherings are great opportunities for sharing and shared memory making and mingling with the expedition community. For our younger guests we have designed the Young Explorers Program. This program is a scientific introduction to biology, history, wildlife and learning more about navigation with lectures, field trips and visits to the science center. Trust us when we say that no expedition day with MS Midnatsol in Antarctica will be the same – or boring!
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Heading Back to Civilization - Drake Passage
After exploring this exhilarating continent, we set course back to civilization. Spend the day at sea recapping your experiences, having fun in the explorer room or just relaxing on deck.
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The End of the Adventure - Ushuaia/Buenos Aires
Sadly, every adventure must come to an end. It is time to say goodbye to the crew and all your new friends when we reach Ushuaia. We transfer you to the airport for your flight back to Buenos Aires. If you haven't had enough adventures, you have the possibility to extend your stay and enjoy our optional post expedition programs.
