The Polar Star was built in Finland and served in the Swedish Maritime Administration's fleet of icebreakers under the name of Njord. In 2000 she underwent complete retrofit and upgrades. She was renamed M/V Polar Star after her namesake that served Karlsen's Arctic cruise program. Karlsen Shipping, is an old Norwegian family business originally from the northwestern coast of Norway and now headquartered in Halifax, Canada. With over 100 years experience in many aspects of the marine industry, Karlsen has operated primarily in the Polar Regions.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Embark in Ushuaia
Embark in Ushuaia and sail through the Beagle Channel.
Days 2-3: Across the Drake Passage
During these two days we will sail across the Drake Passage. When we cross the Antarctic Convergence, we arrive in the circum-Antarctic up welling zone. A host of seabirds welcome us into the region - Wandering Albatrosses, Grey Headed Albatrosses, Black-browed Albatrosses, Light-mantled Sooty Albatrosses, Cape Pigeons, Southern Fulmars, Wilson's Storm Petrels, Blue Petrels and Antarctic Petrels. Near the South Shetland Islands, we glimpse at the first icebergs.
Days 4-9: Antarctic Peninsula and the Polar Circle
We will try to land at Baily Head at Deception Island. This region is home to a colony of ten thousands of Chinstrap Penguins. Deception itself is a sub ducted crater, which opens into the sea, creating a natural harbour for the ship. Here we find hot springs, an abandoned whaling station, thousands of Cape pigeons and many Dominican gulls, Brown and South Polar Skuas and Antarctic Terns. Wilson's Storm Petrels and Black-bellied Storm Petrels nest in the ruins of the whaling station in Whalers Bay. Good walkers may hike from Baily Head over the ridge of the crater into Whalers Bay, while our ship braves its entrance into the crater through the spectacular Neptune's Bellow into the ring of Deception Island.
On our way to the south sailing through the Gerlache Strait we will have great chances to see many Humpback Whales and Minke Whales. In Neko Harbour and Paradise Bay with its myriad icebergs and deep cut fjords, we have the opportunity to set foot on the Antarctic Continent. We shall have the opportunity for zodiac cruising between the icebergs in the inner parts of the fjords.
We sail through the spectacular Lemaire Channel to Petermann Island offering Adelie Penguins and Blue-eyed Shags. We also try to land at Pleneau Island with Elephant Seals. In this area there are good chances to encounter Humpback Whales, Minke Whales and Fin Whales.
We head south along the Argentine Islands to Crystal Sound, south of the polar circle. The landscape is very impressive with very high mountains and huge glaciers. At the Fish Islands we land at one of the southernmost Adelie Penguin and Blue-eyed Shag colonies in the Antarctic Peninsula. At Detaille Island, south of the Polar Circle, in Crystal Sound we reach probably our farthest south.
Sailing north through Neumayer Channel and Gerlache Strait, we arrive at Inverleith Harbour, where we may have our last zodiac cruises of the voyage.
Days 10-11: Drake Passage
In the Drake Passage we have again a chance of seeing many seabirds.
Day 12: Disembark in Ushuaia
Departure Date: Mar 10, 2008, Feb 28, 2008 (Ship: Grigoriy Mikheev)
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
We arrive in the morning and disembark in Ushuaia.
- Twin non-private and private cabins are available for single occupancy at 1.7 times the share price for the 206-2007 season and 1.8 times the share price for the 2007-2008 season (2 times for Superior cabins).
-Solo Travelers: Request the Twin Share Program where you can be matched with a cabin mate of the same gender. Even if a cabin mate is not found for you, no single supplement will be charged.
-Rates are quoted in U.S. dollars and represent costs per person, double occupancy.
Prices are based on a 3% cash discount.
Also see tour packages in:
Antarctica
Antarctica
Boating and Sailing
Glacier Tours
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