: Antarctica and South Georgia for explorers

Transcription

1 : Antarctica and South Georgia for explorers Antarctic expedition cruise and NEW: Falkland Islands & South Georgia Dancing Tango in Buenos Aires and on board our expedition cruise ship Reisebeschreibung Discover the last untouched continent on a cruise to the white planet! Antarctica is the planet s last untouched continent. Coming here, seeing the endless white landscape and hearing nothing but nature s silence is a powerful experience. Its oceans are unimaginably rich in bird and marine life and its surreal and haunting landscapes are like nothing else on Earth. No matter where you have been and what you have seen on previous travels: Antarctica is different from anything else you will ever experience. A huge cold-water current encloses this isolated continent. So here in the midst of the great white open, you will find nature at its most sublime and haunting. Our starting point for this marvellous journey begins in Buenos Aires. We can attend Milongas in this cosmopolitan city. In addition to being considered the birthplace of the Tango, Buenos Aires is rich in charm and culture. Enjoy a city walk through the picturesque section of San Telmo, La Boca or shop in View online at Page 1/9

2 the trendy cosmopolitan Palermo Viejo area. You can decide, when you travel to Buenos Aires and how long you want to stay in Buenos Aires. In our package, there is a pre-stay included from December 2019 as well as after the cruise, January December 2019, we will fly together from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia, where our cruise starts. Our journey will take us across the Drake Passage, escorted by albatross and petrels, to the magnificent scenery of the Falkland Islands, to South Georgia and to the Antarctic Peninsula with its abundant summer wildlife of seals, penguins, and whales. Antarctica is an endless white wilderness full of fantastic impressions of nature and wildlife. We sail in the wake of the historical explorers as we journey from Argentina. We will learn the history of these great explorers as we travel in their footsteps and see the landscape as they saw it; unchanged, remote and awe-inspiring. You can explore this last wilderness from MS Fram, one of the most advanced expedition ships ever built. Onboard MS Fram, there is a dance floor, so we can dance Tango while watching the unique scenery! Visiting the white continent, even in the relative luxury of a modern ship, still feels like an expedition - and a rare privilege. Itinerary: Individual flight to Buenos Aires, latest arrival December 29, Day 1: Buenos Aires Our "adventure" starts with an overnight stay in Buenos Aires. As we will fly in the morning, December 30, 2019 from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia, there is booked a hotel in the centre of Buenos Aires, the NH city hotel at Plaza de Mayo. Your arrival should be latest December 29, 2019 and if desired, you can book additional nights. Day 2: Buenos Aires/Ushuaia Flight from Buenos Aires to the southernmost city in the world: Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego. Transfer and short sightseeing tour of Ushuaia on the way to the ship MS Fram for embarkation. The embarkation will be in the afternoon. Once onboard, there will be a welcome meeting and the Captain will present his officers and expedition staff. They will introduce you to the ship s safety procedures and outline the program for the coming days. In the evening we set a course through the scenic Beagle Channel. Day 3: Day at sea We will cross the open sea on our way towards the Falkland Islands. Enjoy lectures and keep an eye out for wildlife from deck. Day 4-6: The Falkland Islands The Falklands Islands are teeming with wonders of wildlife and nature, and offer fantastically clear blue skies, seamless horizons, vast open spaces and stunning white beaches. Here the sheep graze alongside immense colonies of albatross and rockhopper, king and macaroni penguins, while predatory striated caracaras patrol overhead and upland geese forage at the water s edge. In the Falklands, penguins waddle close to take a look at us, then continue on their way, giving you some great photo opportunities! Stanley, the islands capital, makes a wonderful starting point for various excursions in the area. Day 7-8: Day at sea We spend two days cruising southward to beautiful South Georgia. En route you can participate in a View online at Page 2/9

3 number of presentations about the area s wildlife, as well as whaling and polar history. The Expedition team is well versed in every facet of South Georgia, from its geology and glaciology to the mating rituals of the sooty albatross and the legends of the Norwegian whalers. One of the fascinating stories that will be told is that of Sir Ernest Shackleton and the men of the ill-fated Endurance and their amazing feats of bravery. Day 9-13: South Georgia On this specific expedition, you will get even more time to explore the unique beauty and wildlife of South Georgia. The rich history of exploration and whaling lends a great backdrop to its rugged scenery with glaciers and bustling wildlife. It is known as the Serengeti of the Southern Ocean, and is a favoured place for wildlife photographers. South Georgia s unique position inside the Antarctic ecosystem - yet outside the limit of the yearly sea ice - makes it home to tens of millions of breeding penguins, seals and seabirds. We plan to visit Fortuna Bay and some of South Georgia s abandoned whaling stations. During our stay here, you will see elephant seals lounge on the sand, fur seal pups race in and out of the water, albatross soar overhead, and king penguins in the thousands. Another highlight is exploring Gold Harbour. Enjoy the sight of hanging glaciers and cliffs, the lagoons and a large king penguin colony. You will also see a whaling museum, the Norwegian seaman s church, and the tiny graveyard where we can pay our respects to the great Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton. South Georgia also offers some good hiking options, and one of our favourites is walking the last part of the route that Shackleton took on his brave journey across the island s rugged mountains to find help for the 22 men left on the isolated Elephant Island. Day 14: Day at sea As we continue towards Antarctica you can learn more about the wonders of the Deep South, focusing on the history, environment and wildlife of Antarctica. We will cruise by the Washington Strait and Coronation Island before setting course towards Elephant Island and Antarctica. Day 15-20: Antarctica Antarctica is different from anything else you will ever experience! Once we have crossed the Antarctic Convergence, you will start feeling the air getting crisper and colder. You will begin to see Antarctic penguins in the water, and don t forget to be on the lookout for the first iceberg. Among the highlights we might visit during our days in Antarctica is Deception Island, one of the South Shetlands; a distinctive ring-shaped volcanic caldera. This is one of the few places in Antarctica where we can take our backpacks and hike. Being on an active volcano in Antarctica is hardly an everyday experience! Other places we might visit are Half Moon Island, considered a jewel of diversity in the polar landscape, Hanna Point with its diversity of wildlife, and the large Adélie colony at Paulet Island. It can be difficult to navigate through the 30 mile Antarctic Sound due to ice, but it offers the most impressive manifestations of icebergs that we will see on this expedition. On Brown Bluff, Adélie and chinstrap penguins, kelp gulls and cape petrels nest below spectacular cliffs that rise 1,445 feet out of the sea. The stony beach is suitable for shore landings outside of nesting season. We might sail through the narrow Errera Channel, to and from Cuverville, and see the icebergs that have become trapped and grounded in the nearby shallows. Danco Island lies peacefully amongst the icebergs in the Errera Channel, just a few hundred yards from the Antarctic mainland, and is a breeding site for Gentoo penguins. Port Lockroy is a British station from the Second World War that was turned into a museum in It is one of the most popular sites in Antarctica and offers a peek into life on an Antarctic base in the 1950s. Day 21-22: The Drake Passage On our way back to civilisation, we will continue our lecture series and recap our experiences of Antarctica. The voyage from the Antarctic Peninsula to Ushuaia at the southern tip of Argentina is roughly 950 km (600 miles) or 40 hours of sailing time in good weather. View online at Page 3/9

4 Day 23: Ushuaia/Buenos Aires Disembarkation will take place in the morning and flight back to Buenos Aires January 2021 Buenos Aires We spend one more night in Buenos Aires to enjoy that vibrant city with many Milongas, waiting for us... Depending your travel plans, you can book extra nights in Buenos Aires. MS FRAM is an expedition cruise ship of Hurtigruten (Norway). Designed especially for expedition voyaging, she sails since 2007 to the Antarctica. Facilities include bars and restaurants, panorama lounge (with a small dance floor) and lecture rooms as well as Internet Café, Sauna and Jacuzzis. MS Fram is designed for sailing in polar waters, holds the highest safety standards and is the perfect size for optimum nautical manoeuvrability and guests comfort. With space for only 256 guests there is an intimate atmosphere on the MS FRAM. Modern comfortable cabins (approx.10-13qm) are cosy equipped and have two separate beds. During the day, theses beds are converted into sofas and during the night into normal beds. There are different types of cabins, the price depends of the location of the deck. We have already been four times on the MS FRAM in the Antarctica and we feel always very comfortable on this comfortable ship. There is no big Animation as on other cruise ship, so the atmosphere is completely relaxed and you find quiet areas to enjoy the wonderful views into the fantastic landscape of the Antarctica. Aboard the MS FRAM there is a small dance floor with parquet floor. We organise spontaneous View online at Page 4/9

5 milongas, as far as availability, and weather permits. The main focus is the Expedition to the Antarctica. As we are travelling with a small group, we can enrich that unforgettable experience with some Milongas. There are no Tango lesson on board, this would be "waste of time" in the beautiful landscape, after all, it is only once in a lifetime in such a fascinating place. Sailing in such pristine surroundings naturally comes with a huge responsibility. Hurtigruten is committed to the highest standards of seamanship and an environmentally friendly operation. Our activities and reputation rest on our long tradition and experience when it comes to exploring polar waters. Buenos Aires: There are two nights included in your price in the four star in the city centre of Buenos Aires: December 2019 and January Airport Transfers in Buenos Aires must be booked individually, depending of your flight dates. In Buenos Aires, we can attend together some Milongas. Travel to/from South America: We recommend you to book a flight arriving latest 29 December in Buenos Aires, leaving earliest 21 Januar 2020 from Buenos Aires. Since we have visited Antarctica already four times, we can promise: this will be a very special trip which you will always remember. Even if it looks freezing cold: it is a truely unique experience to breathe the wonderful fresh air you only find in this arctic region. See us in Antarctica! View online at Page 5/9

6 Leistung und Preise Price per person in (EURO): Inside stateroom Category I ,- Inside stateroom Category N ,- Outside stateroom Category U ,- Outside stateroom Category F ,- Minisuite Category M ,- on request Final registration: 14 September Early reservation is recommended for cabins in order to take advantage of a central location on the cruise ship. Attention for payment: if you wish to pay in US Dollars: Dollar to the Euro rate fluctuates on a daily basis. Please contact us for USD Payment, if desired. Payment is only possible with bank transfer, not with credit card. Cruise price includes: Domestic charter flights between Buenos Aires - Ushuaia - Buenos Aires Transfers in Ushuaia Cruise onboard MS FRAM in a double cabin Landings with Polarcirkel boats (Zodiacs) and activities onboard and ashore by Hurtigruten Professional English speaking Expedition team (by Hurtigruten) that gives lectures as well as accompany landings and activities Wind and water-resistant jacket Full board (breakfast, lunch, dinner) Free tea and coffee during the cruise Use of on-board facilities i.e. fitness center, sauna Harbor Tax & Fees two overnight stays/breakfast included in a four star Hotel in Buenos Aires Travel guide: Anette Spiegel, Bailando Tours View online at Page 6/9

7 Tango onboard MS FRAM: some Milongas during the cruise, depending of weather conditions and availability Tour operator: Hurtigruten GmbH Not included in the price: beverages, purchases on board, gratuities, transfers and international flights to Buenos Aires, travel insurance, Taxi in Buenos Aires, additional excursions on board. View online at Page 7/9

8 Tango "Tango in the Antarctic": Aboard the MS FRAM there is a small dance floor with parquet floor. We organise spontaneous milongas, as far as availability, and weather permits. The main focus is the Expedition to the Antarctica. As we are travelling with a small group, we can enrich that unforgettable experience with some Milongas. There are no Tango lesson on board, this would be "waste of time" in the beautiful landscape, after all, it is only once in a lifetime in such a fascinating place. This trip is also intended for non-dancers who would like to experience Buenos Aires and the Antarctic together in a small group. View online at Page 8/9

9 Powered by TCPDF ( Antarctica and South Georgia for explorers Anmeldung Registration and information: Registration must be made in writing for double occupancy staterooms. (Single registrations are possible and upon request). A minimum of 25 persons is required for the tango cruise. (Minimum number of participants already reached) For those guests who do not wish to participate in the tango program/tango lessons there are limited spaces which require a separate offer. As with all registrations, contractual agreements will be in place and will adhere to the Royal Caribbean/Celebrity Cruise Line conditions. Participation in the tango program is only possible if booking is made through Bailando Reisen. Reservation: Registration must be completed in writing for double occupancy staterooms. Upon request, single registrations are possible. If you have questions, do not hesitate to send an to Anette Spiegel. info@tango-cruise.com, Tel View online at Page 9/9