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New Year’s Eve in Antarctica

New Year’s Eve in Antarctica

From USD $9,700

Description

Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Antarctica with penguins, elephant seals and first-landing buzz. With summer in full swing, penguin highways are busy with traffic between rookeries and beach as parents hurry to fatten up chicks. Glaciers shed ice with an echoing roar and waterways are alive with feeding and breaching whales. Zodiacs whisk us on whalewatching cruises and amongst glorious icebergs. The near-midnight sun powers an explosion of life. What an unforgettable way to start the year!

Your Voyage Includes: Flight from Punta Arenas to Puerto Williams and Flight from King George Island to Punta Arenas.

Trip Name
New Year’s Eve in Antarctica
Days
11
Overview
Vessel Type: Expedition Length: 71 metres Passenger Capacity: 50 Built / refurbished: 1985 / 2000 Polar Pioneer is one of the most popular style of vessels currently used in Antarctica and the Arctic. Originally built as an ice-strengthened research vessel in Finland in 1982, she was refurbished in 2000 and converted into a passenger ship for expeditions to the polar regions. Polar Pioneer’s excellent reputation for polar expedition cruising is due to her strength, maneuverability and size. She is small and nimble, which means she can sail up close to landing sites and venture where other, larger ships can’t. Carrying just 54 passengers, she allows us to offer you a far more personal and intimate experience of the destination we are visiting. Dining Our professional chefs present three healthy, delicious meals daily, with morning and afternoon tea available in the dining rooms in between. All of our produce is sourced locally, with fresh fruit and vegetables, and freshly baked bread and pastries, served wherever possible. We are able to cater for a range of special meal requests, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, lactose free and other allergy specific requirements – please ensure you list this on your personal details form. Observation Decks Our spacious observation decks provide a congenial place to watch for wildlife or follow the ship’s progress on nautical charts. Rug up for unparalleled scenery from the outer decks or flying bridge, where our naturalists help you identify wildlife. Learning and Lectures At sea, join our polar specialists as they entertain and inform us with illustrated talks, and prepare us for making shore visits with mandatory safety and environmental briefings. Captain and Crew Our highly experienced Russian captain and crew are among the best ice navigators in the world. Our efficient stewardesses attend to rooms and serve our meals, whilst the crew work mainly behind-the-scenes to help our expedition leader get the ship to where we want to go. Getting Ashore Polar Pioneer boasts a fleet of Zodiacs that transport us ashore to penguin rookeries, scientific stations and historic sites, and provide us with a platform for photography. Our small excursion crafts take us beyond the reach of giant cruisers, and our philosophy of “getting out amongst it” is put to practice. Medical Clinic A basic medical clinic is managed by our English-speaking Ship’s Doctor, who is available at all times to assist with bouts of sea sickness and other unexpected emergencies. On-board Entertainment From socialising in our fully-stocked lounge bar to enjoying Captain’s drinks, trivia nights and charity auctions, or escaping to the sauna for some R&R; our small ship offers some fun entertainment options for when we’re not out and about. Technology and Connectivity Polar Pioneer has communication services that are available for an additional fee. These include satellite telephone, email and fax. Please note that these services are basic and not suitable for continuous use. Internet access is available on board for an additional cost. Please note that due to the remote nature of our expeditions, connection cannot always be guaranteed. 

Itinerary



Day 1 - Day 1 – Punta Arenas to Puerto Williams
Fly from Punta Arenas to Puerto Williams. Enjoy lunch at a local lodge before a guided tour of the rustic port and beautiful surrounds. Embark Polar Pioneer in the late afternoon and set sail along the Beagle Channel. Additional Information: We recommend you arrive into Punta Arenas at least one day prior to you expedition start date. A transfer to Punta Arenas is included from Aurora Expeditions' preferred hotel on Day 1.
Day 2 - Days 2 to 3 – Drake Passage
Our Drake Passage crossing offers cape petrels darting about the ship, black-browed and wandering albatross soaring, and Wilson’s storm petrels flitting above the sea. Learn about Antarctica from our expert naturalist and safety and environmental guidelines from our expedition team as we prepare for our first landing, possibly late on Day 3.
Day 3 - Days 4 to 9 – Antarctic Peninsula
An overnight passage along Gerlache Strait delivers us to the stunning Antarctic Peninsula, an ethereal wonderland of vast proportions. Aboard Zodiacs, we explore penguin rookeries, historic sites and scientific stations and cruise near exquisite icebergs. Our kayakers glide into secluded bays, enjoying up-close wildlife encounters and appreciating the immense landscape as they float silently in their crafts. Stepping ashore on the continent itself creates an everlasting memory, especially if it involves a bum-slide down a steep snow slope! We immerse ourselves in nature, spontaneity and having fun, making sure to pause and celebrate as we bring in the New Year. We make the most of every day and a fair bit of each night as well. If the weather allows, we’ll have a sleep-out on the ice – reminiscent of explorers past.
Day 4 - Days 10 – King George Island to Punta Arenas
We arrive at mountainous King George Island, the largest of the South Shetlands. Time and weather permitting, we explore Fildes Bay and visit the Russian Orthodox Trinity Church at Bellingshausen Station, before catching our charter flight back to Punta Arenas in Chile and transferring to our hotel.
Day 5 - Day 11 – Punta Arenas
After breakfast, we bid farewell to our new friends, before continuing on with our own arrangements. Additional information: Onward flights from Punta Arenas should not be booked until after 1200.
Day 6 - Please Note:
Please note that all of our itineraries are at the mercy of weather conditions and not all landings are guaranteed. Our itineraries are flexible and will change voyage to voyage, allowing the best chance to make the most of surprising wildlife displays and unexpected opportunities.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
29-12-201808-01-2019USD $0Triple Cabin
29-12-201808-01-2019USD $0Twin Public
29-12-201808-01-2019USD $0Twin Economy Private
29-12-201808-01-2019USD $0Twin Private
29-12-201808-01-2019USD $0Mini Suite
29-12-201808-01-2019USD $0Captain's Suite

Inclusions

    • Sail there, fly back
    • only one sea crossing!
    • Ring in the New Year Antarctica-style!
    • Walk amidst busy penguin rookeries
    • Zodiac cruise past glaciers and icebergs
    • Camp out on the ice under the midnight sun
    • Kayak along penguins, seals and whales

Map