| Cruise Line |
Hurtigruten |
| Ship |
Roald Amundsen |
| Destination |
Antarctica |
| Nights |
19 |
| Departure Date |
28 Feb 2021 |
| Description |
18 Night Cruise sailing from Punta Arenas roundtrip aboard Roald Amundsen. Hotel stay pre-cruise in Santiago.
Hurtigruten offers unique expedition cruises to some of the most remote and pristine waters of the world. As with all expeditions; nature prevails. Weather, and ice and sea conditions, sets the final framework for all Hurtigruten’s operations. Safety and unparalleled guest experiences are at all times our top priorities. All our indicative itineraries are continuously evaluated for adaptions, whether this is due to constraints the elements unexpectedly presents – or exciting possibilities nature and wildlife offer. That is why we call it an expedition.
Day 1 Santiago de Chile - Hotel
Exciting and Diverse
Your adventure starts with an overnight stay in Santiago, the exciting and diverse capital of Chile. There is much to discover here, from Andean glaciers at the city borders, to skyscrapers in the centre, to lovely colonial architecture, to the shores of the fast-flowing Mapacho River. Why not extend your expedition by adding an optional Pre-programme adventure to the amazing Atacama Desert?
Day 2 Santiago / Punta Arenas
Embarking the Expedition
You fly early in the morning to Punta Arenas where MS Roald Amundsen awaits, ready for your expedition cruise to Antarctica.
Day 3 Chilean Fjords - Patagonia
Beagle Channel
Enjoy cruising through scenic Beagle Channel, with fjords surrounded by mountains plunging straight into icy waters. This wild area seems almost untouched by humans. It is an ice-carved landscape that features lovely islands and serene bays in a lush setting.
Day 4-5 Drake Passage - At sea
Cape Horn and the Famed Drake Passage
As the southernmost point of South America, Cape Horn ranks among the most iconic places on Earth. If conditions allow, we will make a landing here before crossing famed Drake Passage to Antarctica. Enjoy lectures in our Science Center and all the amenities on our advanced hybrid-powered expedition ship during the crossing.
Day 6-14 Antarctica
Antarctica never fails to inspire awe and wonder. Ninety percent of the world´s ice is here, in some places up to more than 13,000 ft thick, covering the landmass. In winter, sea ice virtually doubles the size of the continent. In summer, it is a fertile breeding ground for millions of penguins, seals and whales.
As outlined in the Antarctic Treaty, this is a continent dedicated to peace, science and tourism. No human activity is permitted that alters the perfect natural balance that has evolved through millennia without interference. That´s why we follow very strict environmental rules. We want to leave nothing but our footprints and take nothing but pictures!
This is true wilderness, so our experienced captain works with the conditions to create the best possible itinerary for your adventure.
We will attempt landings on several sites in the South Shetlands and Antarctic Peninsula to show you the diversity of the region’s wildlife and landscape.
On this special voyage, we hope to cross the Polar Circle at 66°33’ south, far beyond the limit of most cruises in Antarctica and far into areas permanently locked in ice and not navigable during winter.
Whenever opportunities arise, our expedition team will take you for landings and ice cruising to get close to the surreal beauty of Antarctica.
Below, you will find a selection of some of the possible landing sites in Antarctica:
Deception Island, South Shetland Islands
One of the highlights of the South Shetlands, Deception Island is a distinctive ring-shaped volcanic caldera, a portion of which has collapsed and created a navigable opening into the flooded interior. The natural harbor within includes Whalers Bay, home to an abandoned whaling station known as Hektor, as well as a derelict British base.
Half Moon Island, South Shetland Islands
Staggeringly photogenic and blessed with some of the most spectacular Antarctic scenery imaginable, Half Moon Island is a glittering gem amongst these island treasures. Its serrated and creviced cliffs are home to a large colony of chinstrap penguins, as well as Antarctic terns, kelp gulls, snowy sheathbills, Wilson’s storm petrels, and several species of seals who are regular visitors to the island.
Yankee Harbor, South Shetland Islands
Early sealers in the area used Yankee Harbor on Greenwich Island as a frequent base of operations, its remarkable setting providing a natural safe haven for the sailors. Remnants of those early days can still be seen littering the shoreline, but the big draw for visitors here is the large colony of gentoo penguins, whose numbers are estimated to be around 4,000 breeding pairs.
Cuverville Island
Situated in the scenic Errera Channel, Cuverville Island boasts the largest known colony of gentoo penguins. The narrow Errera Channel offers a spectacular passage to and from Cuverville as icebergs become trapped and grounded in the nearby shallows. Watching from the observation decks, as our navigators weave the ship carefully between the icebergs, is as exciting as being surrounded by the throngs of nesting penguins onshore.
Neko Harbor
Neko Harbor, home to another gentoo penguin colony, lies nestled in Andvord Bay, surrounded by the mountains and high glacier walls of the peninsula. Named after a factory whaling ship from the early 1900s, Neko is one of the rare places in this area where you may land on the Antarctic mainland.
Paradise Bay
The harbor is paradise not only in name, but in splendor and scenery, as well. Protected from the winds of the nearby Gerlache Strait, Paradise Harbor offers another rare opportunity for a mainland landing and some of the finest vistas the Peninsula has to offer. Here, you can find the Argentine base Almirante Brown and the Chilean base Gonzalez Videla, as well as colonies of neighboring penguins.
Day 15-16 At sea
Lectures and Observing Wildlife on Deck
After exploring this unforgettable continent, we set course for the Falkland Islands, which consist of two large islands and around 700 smaller isles. There is fascinating history here. English Captain John Strong of HMS Welfare made the first recorded landing in 1690. Our expedition team will hold fascinating lectures in our Science Center, and point out wildlife from the outside decks.
Day 17-18 Edge of Antarctica
Our arrival at the colorful English town of Stanley - with its red phone booths and buses and cozy old pubs - is a powerful contrast to icy white Antarctica. Stanley is inviting and the ideal size for roaming the streets on foot. Or, you can join an excursion to explore wilderness and wildlife in the surrounding area.
The Falklands are teeming with wonders of nature, fantastically clear blue skies, vast horizons and stunning white sandy beaches. Bird lovers will appreciate West Point Island, an avian paradise with penguins, albatrosses and geese.
Day 19 At sea
The Magellan Strait
As we complete the loop of the Magellan Strait, we recap everything we have experienced on this expedition cruise in the Science Center. Make sure you spend some time on deck looking for wildlife.
Day 20 Punta Arenas/Santiago de Chile
The End of the Expedition
We arrive back in Punta Arenas in the morning. After the flight back to Santiago de Chile, you can extend your vacation with a post-cruise Land Adventure to experience even more of this impressive region.
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| Itinerary |
Cruise Itinerary
| Day | Date | Activity | Arrive | Depart |
|---|
| 1 |
28/02 |
Santiago, Chile |
|
Hotel |
| 2 |
01/03 |
Santiago, Chile |
|
Flight to Punta Arenas |
| 2 |
01/03 |
Punta Arenas, Chile |
Embark |
|
| 3 |
02/03 |
Chilean Fjords |
|
|
| 4 |
03/03 |
Drake Passage |
|
|
| 5 |
04/03 |
Drake Passage |
|
|
| 6 |
05/03 |
Antarctic Peninsula |
|
|
| 7 |
06/03 |
Deception Island, Antarctica |
|
|
| 8 |
07/03 |
Antarctic Peninsula |
|
|
| 9 |
08/03 |
Half Moon Island, South Shetland Islands |
|
|
| 10 |
09/03 |
Antarctic Peninsula |
|
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| 11 |
10/03 |
Cuverville Island, Antarctica |
|
|
| 12 |
11/03 |
Antarctic Peninsula |
|
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| 13 |
12/03 |
Antarctic Peninsula |
|
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| 14 |
13/03 |
Antarctic Peninsula |
|
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| 15 |
14/03 |
At sea |
|
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| 16 |
15/03 |
At sea |
|
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| 17 |
16/03 |
Port Stanley, Falkland Islands |
|
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| 18 |
17/03 |
Falkland Islands |
|
|
| 19 |
18/03 |
Straits Of Magellan, Chile |
|
|
| 20 |
19/03 |
Punta Arenas, Chile |
Disembark |
Flight to Santiago |
| 20 |
19/03 |
Santiago, Chile |
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All itineraries and ports of call at the discretion of the cruise line subject to local weather conditions and may change without notice.
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