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Falklands, South Georgia & Antarctic Peninsula - M/V Plancius

The best of Antarctica in 19 amazing days.
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Visit the stunning islands of South Georgia, the Antarctic Pennisula and the Falkland Islands.50 Degrees North offers unique, small-group expedition voyages to the Antarctic that allow you to enjoy the natural wildlife and scenery of some of the world’s most spectacular and pristine shorelines.

Deckplan
Click here to view deck plan for the Plancius

Day 1
Embark in Ushuaia
Day 2
Sailing towards the Falkland Islands
Day 3
Explore the Falkland Islands on the western side
Day 4
Visit Port Stanley and enjoy local culture
Day 5 & 6
Sail to South Georgia
Day 7 to 10
Marvel at nature's paradise, South Georgia
Day 11
At sea in search of the Emperor Penguin
Day 12
Visit the South Orkney Islands
Day 13
At sea
Day 14
Sail into the Wendell Sea through the Antarctic Sound.
Day 15
Visit Deception Island
Day 16
Sail to Cuverville Island
Day 17 & 18
Sail the Drake's passge
Day 19
Finish in Ushuaia

Countries visited

Places visited

Transportation

M/v Plancius was built in 1976 as an oceanographic research vessel for the Royal Dutch Navy, and sailed for the Navy until 2004. She was completely rebuilt as a passenger vessel in 2009. M/v Plancius accommodates 114 passengers in 53 passenger cabins with private toilet and shower. All cabins offer comfortable lower berths (except for the 4 quadruple cabins). The vessel has a restaurant/lecture room, a spacious observation lounge (with bar), large open deck space (with full walk-around possibilities), and is equipped with 10 zodiacs for off ship and shore excursions. M/v Plancius was built for ice conditions, and has a strengthened bow and stern.

Click here to see our vessels in the Antarctic

Included In Price

Voyage aboard the indicated vessel as indicated in the itinerary.
All meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee and tea.
All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac.
Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff.
Free use of rubber boots and snowshoes on Plancius
All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the programme.
IAATO fees and governmental taxes.
Comprehensive pre-departure material.

Meals Included

This tour includes 52 meals; 17 breakfasts 17 lunches 18 dinners

Not Included In Price

Any airfare, whether on scheduled or charter flights; pre- and post land arrangements; transfers to the vessel; passport and visa expenses; Government arrival and departure taxes; meals ashore; baggage, cancellation and personal insurance (which is strongly recommended); excess baggage charges and all items of a personal nature such as laundry, bar, beverage charges and telecommunication charges; and the customary gratuity at the end of the voyages for stewards and other service personnel aboard (guidelines will be provided).

Important Information

The itinerary is a typical itinerary in the Falklands – South Georgia, and Antarctic Peninsula and is a sample only; the final itinerary may vary and will be determined by the Expedition Leader on board.

If world fuel prices reach a price of US $ 90 per barrel Brent Crude Oil, Oceanwide Expeditions reserves the right to levy a non-commissionable fuel surcharge of US $ 25 per passenger per night.

Ninety days before the beginning of our first 2012 Antarctica voyage, the price of a barrel Brent Crude oil was 104 US $ (17 July 2012). We have been prudent about levying these surcharges, and have therefore closely monitored the fuel prices and hoped for a considerable price-decrease (*). Unfortunately the prices remained the same during this Summer and mid Sept 2012, a barrel Brent Crude Oil was still 115 US $. It does not seem likely that for the coming Antarctic season, 2012-13 the fuel price will dip under 90 US $ again. Therefore we regrettably have to inform you that we will levy a non-commissionable fuel surcharge of US $ 25 per person per night for all of our coming Antarctica voyages and a fixed fuel surcharge of US $ 400 per person for the Atlantic Odyssey and Ross Sea voyages.

Start End Quad pp Twin Private Porthole Twin Private Window Twin Private Deluxe Superior
3 Nov 2013 22 Nov 2013 AU$ 11500 AU$ 13850 AU$ 14450 AU$ 15500 AU$ 16950
Price in US Dollars. Please note: Birding Special. This departure is 20 days.
NOTE: Prices listed are 1AU$ = 1US$. We honor the US$ price.
2 Dec 2013 20 Dec 2013 AU$ 11500 AU$ 13850 AU$ 14450 AU$ 15500 AU$ 16950
NOTE: Prices listed are 1AU$ = 1US$. We honor the US$ price.
31 Dec 2013 18 Jan 2014 AU$ 13250 AU$ 15900 AU$ 16650 AU$ 17700 AU$ 19700
NOTE: Prices listed are 1AU$ = 1US$. We honor the US$ price.
18 Jan 2014 5 Feb 2014 AU$ 13250 AU$ 15900 AU$ 16650 AU$ 17700 AU$ 19700
NOTE:Price in US Dollars.

Day 1: Embark in Ushuaia

In the afternoon, we embark in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, the southernmost city in the world located in the shadow of the Andes and right at the Beagle Channel shore. We'll sail through this scenic waterway during the afternoon.

Accommodation

2000 m/v Plancius

Meals Included

1 x Dinners

Day 2: Sailing towards the Falkland Islands

At sea, in the wester lies the ship is followed by several species of albatrosses, storm petrels, shearwaters and diving petrels.

Accommodation

m/v Plancius

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 3: Explore the Falkland Islands on the western side

In the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) we plan to spend the whole day on the fascinating western side of the archipelago. A hike along the shore of Carcass Island will give us impressive views of Magellanic and Gentoo-Penguins, as well as close encounters with water fowl and Night herons. In addition, on Saunders we will be able to observe Rockhopper Penguins, Black-browed Albatrosses and King Cormorants.

Accommodation

m/v Plancius

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 4: Visit Port Stanley and enjoy local culture

In Stanley, the capital of the Falklands, we can experience Falkland culture, which has some South- American characteristics as well as Victorian charm. In Stanley and surrounding area we can see a quite important number of stranded clippers from a century ago.

Accommodation

m/v Plancius

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 5 & 6: Sail to South Georgia

At sea, on our way to South Georgia we will cross the Antarctic Convergence. Entering Antarctic waters, the temperature will drop as much as 10 degrees C in the time span of only a few hours. Near the Convergence we will see a multitude of southern seabirds near the ship; several species of Albatrosses, Shearwaters, Petrels, Prions and Skuas.

Accommodation

m/v Plancius

Meals Included

2 x Breakfasts
2 x Lunches
2 x Dinners

Day 7 to 10: Marvel at nature's paradise, South Georgia

In South Georgia we shall visit the bay of Elsehul, with it´s very active fur seal breeding beach. Following this we take course to Right Whale Bay, Salisbury Plain, Gold Harbour and Cooper Bay to give you a good opportunity to see a wide spectrum of landscapes and wildlife, like the introduced Reindeer, Elephant seals, King and Macaroni Penguins. At Fortuna Bay we might try to follow in the footsteps of the great British Explorer Ernest Shackleton and hike over to Stømness Bay. There and at Grytviken we'll see and abandoned whaling village, where King Penguins now walk in the streets and seals have taken over the buildings. At Grytviken we´ll also offer a visit to the Whaling History Museum as well as to Shackleton´s grave nearby. One of the highlights might be our visit to Prion Island, where we will witness the breeding efforts of the huge Wandering Albatross and enjoy watching their displays.

Accommodation

m/v Plancius

Meals Included

4 x Breakfasts
4 x Lunches
4 x Dinners

Day 11: At sea in search of the Emperor Penguin

At sea, where the ship is again followed by a multitude of seabirds. At some point we might encounter sea-ice, and it is at the ice-edge where we might have a chance to see some high-Antarctic species like the Maccormick Skua, Snow Petrel and the elusive Emperor Penguin.

Accommodation

m/v Plancius

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 12: Visit the South Orkney Islands

We are aiming for a visit at Orcadas station, an Argentinean base located in the South Orkney Islands. The friendly base personnel will show us their facilities and we can enjoy the wonderful views of the surrounding glaciers.

Accommodation

m/v Plancius

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 13: At sea

At sea

Accommodation

m/v Plancius

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 14: Sail into the Wendell Sea through the Antarctic Sound.

We will sail into the Weddell Sea through the ice-clogged Antarctic Sound. Huge tabular icebergs will announce our arrival to the eastern side of the Antarctic Peninsula. We plan to visit Paulet Island with a million pairs of Adelie Penguins and the remains of the Nordenskiöld expedition. At Brown Bluff we can put our feet on the continent.

Accommodation

m/v Plancius

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 15: Visit Deception Island

At Deception Island, we will try to land at Baily Head 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. In the afternoon we may land at Half Moon Island, where we can observe Elephant, Weddell and Fur Seals as well as Chinstrap Penguins, Blue-eyed Shags, Wilson's Storm Petrels, Kel 1af4 p Gulls, Snowy Sheatbills, Antarctic Terns and Antarctic Brown Skuas.

Accommodation

m/v Plancius

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 16: Sail to Cuverville Island

On our way West, we sail to Cuverville Island, a small precipitous island, nestled between the mountains of the Antarctic Peninsula. It contains a large colony of Gentoo Penguins and breeding pairs of Brown Skuas. Time and conditions allowing we hope to be able to sail further South to Neko Harbour in Andvord Bay and through Paradise Bay with its myriad icebergs and deep cut fjords, while having chances of seeing large Whales. We will have opportunities for zodiac cruising between the icebergs in the inner parts of the fjords.

Accommodation

m/v Plancius

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 17 & 18: Sail the Drake's passge

On our way north we are again followed by a great selection of seabirds while crossing the Drake Passage.

Accommodation

m/v Plancius

Meals Included

2 x Breakfasts
2 x Lunches
2 x Dinners

Day 19: Finish in Ushuaia

We arrive in the morning in Ushuaia and disembark.

Accommodation

m/v Plancius

Meals Included

none


Trip Map
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Key Details
Trip Name:
Falklands, South Georgia & Antarctic Peninsula - M/V Plancius
Trip Code:
FOC-PFGA
Trip Length:
19 days
Trip Grade:
Easy
Start point:
Ushuaia
Finish point:
Ushuaia
Price from:
AU$11500
Countries visited:
Antarctic Peninsula
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