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Peregrine Travel Centre

Christmas & New Year in the Chilean Fjords & Antarctica (Island Sky)

Christmas & New Year in the Chilean Fjords & Antarctica (Island Sky)

From GBP £10,995

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Description

In today’s highly accessible world there are few places that still hold the power to enthral and enchant. Antarctica is certainly one of these. No amount of travel books or films can prepare you for Antarctica. It is somewhere that has to be seen to be believed. Enormous icebergs rise from the sea, hillsides are covered with thousands of penguins and seals bask on icebergs dotted in the ocean; the sights, sounds and emotions will stay with you forever.

For most travellers Antarctica is a once in a lifetime visit, it is therefore important that the trip should be as rewarding as possible and the MS Island Sky is the perfect vessel both in terms of the educational opportunities on board and the number of occasions to go ashore. Antarctica is to be experienced, not just to be seen, and we believe the only way to do this is on board a small ship. To enjoy the wonders of this icy paradise in the company of a small and enthusiastic party is the perfect way to achieve the most from a visit to this extraordinary place. Our highly adaptable Zodiac craft will allow us to enter tiny inlets, explore fjords and marvel at some truly wondrous sites. Whilst at sea or in between our landings you can pass the time looking for wildlife on deck, attending the series of lectures by our expert expedition team or simply relaxing on board.

We are combining our exploration of the Antarctic Peninsula with a few days on the Falkland Islands which makes for an interesting contrast. The wildlife on the 420 rocky islands is staggering and it really is an enchanting place with a unique character, a true outpost and particularly fascinating for the British. Rolling hills are interspersed with bogs and small lakes, creating a habitat for penguins and seabirds which nest among tall tussock grass, while seals and whales cavort along the seacoasts. Leaving the Falkland Islands on Christmas Day we will make our way across to the Antarctic Peninsula and witness enormous tabular icebergs rise from the sea, hillsides covered with thousands of penguins and seals basking on icebergs.

Trip Name
Christmas & New Year in the Chilean Fjords & Antarctica (Island Sky)
Days
21
Overview
Vessel Type: Luxury Small Ship Length: 90 metres Passenger Capacity: 116  Built / refurbished: 1992 / 2010 / 2017 Sister ship to Hebridean Sky. Island Sky and Hebridean Sky are truly sisters. Built in the same Italian Shipyard, both boast spacious, well-appointed suites, stylish common areas, and redundant core technology that allows them to operate smoothly, even under the most challenging of conditions. Both ships are all-suite, all-inclusive small expedition vessels with touches of elegance throughout. The Island Sky is scheduled for additional upgrades in 2017, including the addition of tinted sliding glass doors to all cabins on the Promenade Deck. Services: World-Class Cuisine Complimentary Wine or Beer with Dinner Live Entertainment Complimentary Coffee/Tea station Voyage Photographer On-board MD and Facilities Dedicated Passenger Service Manager Pre-voyage hotel night Complimentary Expedition Jacket Facilities: Elevator serving all passenger decks Upgraded WIFI Internet Library with computers Panoramic Top Deck Observation Platform Bar/Lounge with Live Entertainment Lounge with Audiovisual Facilities DVD Movie Library Tinted sliding glass doors in all cabins on the Promenade Deck World-Class Cuisine: Great expeditions require great food! Our team of world-class chefs offer breakfast, lunch and dinner menus that change daily. They have boat-loads of creativity, so you are sure to experience a variety of remarkable cuisine throughout your voyage. Accommodations: All Suites Feature: Exterior views Your choice of queen-sized or two twin-sized beds Sitting area with sofa and side chair Flat Screen TV with DVD/CD player Telephone Independent temperature controls Mini-Bar Marble-appointed bathroom with fine toiletries Hair dryer 220 square feet or more Sofa can be converted to bed for third person PLEASE NOTE - DECK PLANS CAN VARY.

Itinerary



Day 1 - Day 1 London to Santiago, Chile.
Fly by scheduled indirect flight.
Day 2 - Day 2 Santiago.
Arrive this morning and transfer to our hotel for an overnight stay. Spend the afternoon and evening at leisure to relax and enjoy the hotel facilities or explore the city independently.
Day 3 - Day 3 Santiago to Punta Arenas.
After breakfast in the hotel we will transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight to Punta Arenas. On arrival transfer to the MS Island Sky and embark. Enjoy welcome drinks and dinner as we sail this evening.
Day 4 - Day 4 Chilean Fjords.
We will spend the day cruising through the spectacular scenery of the Beagle Channel. Here the mountains, still partly unmapped, drop as sheer, densely wooded cliffs into the channel and six glaciers flow from the 8000 foot Mount Darwin into the sea. Flamingos, dolphins and the South American sea lions abound here in the channel. At Puerto Williams we will clear Chilean customs formalities before we start our journey to the Falkland Islands.
Day 5 - Day 5 At sea.
During our day at sea our onboard experts will begin their presentations with informative and entertaining talks on the wildlife, history and geology of the Falkland Islands and Southern Ocean. Among the wildlife spotting opportunities are albatrosses, prions and petrels that frequently follow the ship and our expedition team will be out on deck looking for whales and dolphins that may also be seen in the area.
Day 6 - Days 6 to 9 Falkland Islands.
The Falkland Islands are isolated, windswept and a haven for wildlife. We will spend three and a half days here and hope to include stops at Grave Cove, home to the largest colony of gentoo penguins in the Falklands. See the rockhopper penguin colony and black-browed albatross on West Point Island whilst on Pebble Island we arrive at one of the most important wildfowl breeding areas in the Falklands with penguin colonies, king cormorants and sea lions. At Port Howard we will learn about farming on the islands as well as see the small museum dedicated to the Falklands War before exploring the capital of Stanley on Christmas Eve. Spend Christmas morning on George and Barren Islands with the resident elephant seals, Gentoo and Magellanic penguins before we sail in the afternoon for the Antarctic Peninsula, enjoying a festive afternoon on board.
Day 7 - Day 10 At Sea.
Spend the day at sea, maybe join a lecture or find a spot on deck to watch for wildlife.
Day 8 - Days 11 to 17 Antarctic Peninsula & South Shetland Islands.
We have seven days of exploration around the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands which will include many of the best places for wildlife and magnificent scenery. Whilst we arrive with a planned itinerary the final schedule will be determined by our Captain and the Expedition Leader based on sea, weather and ice conditions. Using our Zodiacs we hope to make daily landings or enjoy Zodiac cruises for unique close encounters with animals such as Adelie and gentoo penguins, fur seals and petrels. Watch avidly from deck as we approach land or sail though breathtaking channels surrounded by lofty peaks looking down on ice-strewn waters where resting crab-eater or leopard seals can be spotted. En-route south we plan to see Elephant Island with its rocky and inhospitable shore where Shackleton’s crew famously survived. We hope to sail past the collapsed volcanic cone of Deception Island for a chance to visit Whalers Bay, Petermann Island, home to numbers of Adelie penguins, picturesque Neko Harbour, the Lemaire Channel where towering icebergs rise from the sea and Half Moon Island with its rookery of chinstrap penguins. We will also endeavour to sail through the breathtaking Antarctic Sound, also known as ‘iceberg alley’, where massive icebergs drift north from the continent. We will ring in the New Year under the light of the summer Antarctic night skies.
Day 9 - Days 18 & 19 At sea.
A final two days to relax on board and reminisce with your fellow travellers about all you have seen and experienced during our expedition. Enjoy a lecture, look for wildlife or simply relax as we make our way across the Drake Passage toward Ushuaia. Named after the 16th century English seaman, Sir Francis Drake, Drake Passage separates the southernmost tip of South America from Antarctica. This is a particularly good area to spot royal albatross and blue petrel and we will also be on the lookout for pods of sperm whales.
Day 10 - Day 20 Ushuaia to Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Disembark after breakfast and transfer to the airport for our scheduled, internal flight to Buenos Aires. On arrival transfer to our hotel for an overnight stay. This afternoon is free to relax before we meet this evening for a tango show and dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 11 - Day 21 Buenos Aires to London.
After breakfast in the hotel, transfer to the airport for our scheduled indirect flight to London.
Day 12 - Day 22 London.
Arrive this morning.
Day 13 - Please Note:
Please note that flexibility is key to a successful expedition in Antarctica. Although we have outlined an itinerary below, this is only a preliminary plan, our exact route will depend on ice, weather conditions and the wildlife we encounter.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
17-12-202007-01-2021GBP £10,995Magellan Deck Standard Suite
17-12-202007-01-2021GBP £11,995Columbus Deck Superior Suite
17-12-202007-01-2021GBP £12,995Marco Polo Deck Premium Suite
17-12-202007-01-2021GBP £13,595Marco Polo Deck Corner Suite
17-12-202007-01-2021GBP £14,995Magellan Deck Standard Single
17-12-202007-01-2021GBP £15,295Erikson Deck Deluxe Balcony Suite
17-12-202007-01-2021GBP £16,495Explorer Deck Owner's Balcony Suite
17-12-202007-01-2021GBP £16,995Columbus Deck Superior Single
17-12-202007-01-2021GBP £17,995Explorer Deck Island Suite

Inclusions

    • Cruise Chilean Fjords & Falkland Islands
    • Explore Antarctic Peninsula & South Shetland Islands

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