Waitlist
100
Loading...
Expedition Cruise
Waitlist
100
Setting foot on the 7th Continent is a polar achievement relatively few people experience in their lifetime. Even more rare is the incomparable milestone that’s achieved when a traveler crosses the iconic Antarctic Circle. Navigating south of 66°33' S is—for most guests—the highlight of the 14-day itinerary Crossing the Circle: Southern Expedition, which rewards passengers daily with views of dramatic ice formations, humpback whales swimming alongside the ship, leopard seals diving beneath your Zodiac, penguins sliding off icebergs into crystal waters, or giant petrels soaring above the crackling sea. Guests will enjoy this popular itinerary during Ultramarineʼs inaugural sailing season in the Antarctic. The technologically-advanced Ultramarine, the first ship built specifically for the polar regions, with its two twin-engine helicopters, 20 fast-launching Zodiacs, superior luxury amenities and the most robust portfolio of off-ship adventure options in the industry, completely changes the way guests experience the Antarctic.
Signature Moments
- Be one of the few travelers to venture to 66°33'S
- Visit research stations along the Antarctic Peninsula
- Learn about the environment and wildlife from on-board lecturers and specialists
- Experience abundant wildlife: penguins, seals, whales and more
- Enjoy helicopter flightseeing from Ultramarine for a unique perspective of the Antarctic Peninsula
Enjoy a presentation by our partner Quark Expeditions. Quark specializes in the polar regions and offers amazing adventures to the Arctic and Antarctic. Laura Guignot will is our guest speaker, she presently works in Quark's groups department but previously she was a tour guide and she has some great stories to tell.
You may arrive in Buenos Aires at any
time during Day 1 of your itinerary. Upon
arriving in this splendid city, known
for its architecture and rich European
heritage, you will independently transfer
to your group hotel.
Accommodations: Emperador Hotel Buenos Aires
After an early breakfast at the hotel, the group will transfer to the airport and board our private charter flight to Ushuaia, Argentina.
Upon arrival, you will be transferred
from the airport to a central downtown
location to have some time on your own
to explore this quaint port town before
making your way to the pier.
As the ship sets sail in the late afternoon,
you will begin your Antarctic journey,
passing through the Beagle Channel.
Named after the famed ship on which
Charles Darwin voyaged, the channel
presents great photo opportunities of
landscapes and seabirds. Eventually the
channel opens up to the Southern Ocean,
and onwards to Antarctica.
Accommodations: Ultramarine
Your days at sea are filled with presentations led by your Expedition Team who will prepare you for the wildlife, glaciology and history that will greet you upon your arrival. In between presentations, spend time on deck looking for wildlife or chatting with your shipmates over a drink at the bar.
Accommodations: Ultramarine
Once the Antarctic Convergence is left in our wake, you will truly begin your Antarctic adventure. It is perhaps the first sight of land itself that is embraced as the true beginning of any Antarctic expedition. You will begin to appreciate why this region has long captivated the attention of explorers and travelersalike. Every time we visit Antarctica, we witness something new or unexpected, which means that your expedition will be unlike any other—creating a unique, personal experience.
Each day, you will take Zodiac excursions from the ship to explore local bays, channels and landing sites. With wildlife always at the forefront of our minds, you will visit penguin rookeries, scout for humpback and minke whales, and search for a number of southern seal species, including the cunning leopard seal.
The majesty of the Antarctic Peninsula’s mountains will enchant as you scramble up snowy pathways to vantage points offering you 360° views of your surroundings. One of these in particular, in Danco Island, affords us the opportunity to visit a penguin colony high up on a ridge. Here, you’ll have the choice between hiking to the island`s summit or spending time sitting quietly on a pebbled beach, enjoying the antics of curious penguins. If you’re feeling extra adventurous, participating in the Polar Plunge swim is about as crazy as it gets!
Amid the serene silence of Antarctica, noisy interludes become indelible memories, such as penguins squabbling over prized pebbles, or the boom and crack of a calving glacier in Neko Harbour.
Each day will be different, having been carefully crafted by your Expedition Team to entertain and educate you about this wonderful part of the world.
Accommodations: Ultramarine
Crossing the Antarctic Circle is both a
memorable experience and impressive
achievement, as few travelers reach so
far south. If conditions allow us to cross
this famed line at 66°33´ S, we’ll toast the
first explorers who ventured here, and
you can raise a glass and take pride in
knowing you’ve made it to a part of the
world visited by very few people. This
is raw Antarctica, home of the midnight
sun, Weddell seals, and your best chances
of encountering sea ice – the foundation
of the Antarctic marine ecosystem.
Accommodations: Ultramarine
By now, your knowledge of Adélie,
chinstrap and gentoo penguins will be
matched by your ability to differentiate
between a leopard, fur and Weddell seal.
Terms like ‘bergy bits’ and ‘pancake ice’
will become part of your vocabulary, yet
there are still many tales to be told. As
you head north, Zodiac excursions will
fill your days, and your Expedition Team
will continue looking out for species of
seabirds, seals and whales that may have
eluded you on your journey south.
Accommodations: Ultramarine
As you recross the Drake, Antarctica
fades away, leaving you with a collection
of memories to last a lifetime. Excited
conversations with your newfound
friends will make the crossing fly by,
regardless of weather and sea conditions.
Your Expedition Team will round up its
series of presentations as well, with a
slideshow of the great landing sites and
wildlife you’ve witnessed over the course
of your voyage. Be sure to take some
time to reflect on everything you’ve
experienced so far.
Accommodations: Ultramarine
You will arrive in Ushuaia in the morning and disembark after breakfast. The mandatory transfer package includes a little taste of Patagonia with a Tierra del Fuego National Park tour before transferring to the airport for the return group charter flight to Buenos Aires.
Stepping foot on Antarctica is a moment of pleasure that affects each traveler differently. Your possible landing in Antarctica will take place on the Peninsula, which is an extension of the Transantarctic Mountains chain and is the most northern stretch of Antarctic land. Formed by uplifted submarine troughs that were filled with sediment about 220 million years ago, this is a dynamic land of both desolation and diversity. To the east is the frozen, wild Weddell Sea. To the west, howling winds and warming seas from the Southern Ocean create perfect conditions for whale sightings.
A gentoo penguin rookery is situated on a rocky beach at the north end of the island. Depending on when in the season you arrive, you may see the penguins building nests or attending to their chicks. Giant petrels and kelp gulls breed on the island.
If you are lucky enough to mail a postcard in Antarctica, you’ll likely pass through Damoy Point, the northern entrance to the harbor where Port Lockroy is located.
Home to gentoo penguins, this small island is easy to explore, at only one mile (1.6 km) long. You can visit the marker of a former British Antarctic Survey hut, where you can watch for a variety of seabirds, such as snowy sheathbills, kelp gulls and blue-eyed shags.
Located in Wilhelmina Bay, this island was once used by whalers. A Zodiac cruise around the island passes a wrecked whaling ship.
You’ll see firsthand why this strait, which runs between Booth Island and the Antarctic Peninsula, is one of the most scenic locations on the peninsula’s west coast, especially during sunrise and sunset. The channel may become impassable when ice fills the narrow 6.8-mile (11 km) long passageway, so we’ll hope for clear waters.
This group of low islands in Dallmann Bay is where you may see hauled-out male fur seals as they recuperate from their battles for supremacy at the end of their breeding season.
Little evidence remains that this bay was once used by the floating whale factory ship Neko. You might see whale vertebrae being used by resident gentoo penguins as shelter from the wind. Climb up a steep slope for spectacular views of the glacier-rimmed harbor.
Here, near the Lemaire Channel, you can stand ashore and see the southernmost breeding colony of gentoo penguins. The dome of the island rises 650 feet (200 meters) above the sea, offering a challenging hike for panoramic views. Adélie penguins, shags and south polar skuas also inhabit the island.
**Prices are subject to change and availability. Space is limited and activities and specific hotels are subject to change. Travel insurance is strongly recommended.
Double Balconcy Suite Twin - $18,966 USD
Single Balcony Suite - $37,933 USD
Other higher category cabins may be available upon request. If you would like the double occupancy rate but don't have a roommate we will match you with a suitable roommate. The single occupancy rate will give you your own room. Single occupancy very limited.
Deposit of 20% per person due at time of booking.
Final Payment due - November 1, 2021
*Any payments are non-refundable if you cancel after their date due, we strongly recommend travel insurance. Please see full terms and conditions. Prices are subject to change and availability.
Please note that if travel restrictions related to Covid-19 affect our tour travel plans, do not worry. We will reschedule our trip, free of any additional costs, for as many times as needed on future dates until travel can safely take place. It is also important to note that all our tours comply with the utmost standards of safety and hygiene protocols to ensure your well being during your visit.
Moderate Activity
The included acitivity in this tour is fairly moderate but there are more acitive activities available. You should be able to walk for extended periods of time on uneven and possibly slippery terrain and get in and out of a zodiac easily.
Minimum - 4 ladies
Maximum - 18 ladies
Debbie Groulx
Besides being an excellent tour leader, Debbie is our office manager. She will often be the person helping you with the all the details of your tour. Debbie is equally as organized on tour as she is in the office and will make sure everything is well taken care of.
She loves photography and you will often find her off taking pictures of all the amazing sights you will see.
Once your flights are booked please forward a copy of your itinerary to info@womens-travel-club.com.
Please do not book any flights until tour is confirmed.
Arrive to Buenos Aires (EZE)
Depart from Buenos Aires (EZE)
Out of country medical insurance is required. We strongly recommend that you obtain cancellation and interruption insurance to protect your investment.
Use this link to request an insurance quote.
The newest ship in our fleet, Ultramarine is designed to go beyond the familiar in polar exploration, to discover new places, and to engage you in the best the region has to offer. Equipped with two twin-engine helicopters, Ultramarine offers the most robust portfolio of adventure activities in the industry, and features the category’s most spacious suites, breathtaking public spaces, and more outdoor wildlife viewing spaces than other expedition ships its size, complemented by an innovative mix of sustainability features that exceed all industry standards. With all this and more, Ultramarine is perfectly designed to deliver the ultimate polar expedition experience.
Emperador Hotel Buenos Aires welcomes you to experience a one-of-a-kind union of modern style and 5-star service to create an address of unmatched luxury and high tech connectivity. As one of the best hotels in Buenos Aires, we offer a refined yet casual ambience ideal for business and leisure travel. On your next visit to Buenos Aires, we invite you to experience unparalleled 5-star full service and gracious hospitality at Emperador Hotel Buenos Aires.