Overview
An expedition cruise for adventurers! M/V Ortelius becomes your base camp for this Antarctica cruise. 'Activity modules' are offered which go beyond a normal Antarctic shore program. In this adventurous multi-activity voyage, we visit Antarctica’s Anvers Island and Flandres Bay, where you can learn to chart and make depth measurements while exploring in our Zodiac boats and kayaks. Camping, navigation workshops, and fascinating presentations about historic Antarctic voyages are also part of this immersive expedition.
Exploring and charting Anvers Island and Flandres Bay: Be part of a
true polar expedition! During this adventurous basecamp voyage, we
will visit Antarctica’s remote Anvers Island and Flandres Bay,
charting and making depth measurements while we explore the area in
our Zodiac boats and kayaks. Camping, navigation workshops, and
presentations about the legendary Antarctic voyages of history are all
part of this exciting activity-based expedition.
Day 1: Ushuaia - End of the world, start of a journey
Your voyage begins where the world drops off. Ushuaia, Argentina,
reputed to be the southernmost city on the planet, is located on the
far southern tip of South America. Starting in the afternoon, you
embark from this small resort town on Tierra del Fuego, nicknamed “The
End of the World,” and sail the mountain-fringed Beagle Channel for
the remainder of the evening.
Day 2 – 3: Drake Passage, Path of the polar explorers
Over the next two days on the Drake Passage, you enjoy some of the
same experiences encountered by the great polar explorers who first
charted these regions: cool salt breezes, rolling seas, maybe even a
fin whale spouting up sea spray. After passing the Antarctic
Convergence – Antarctica’s natural boundary, formed when north-flowing
cold waters collide with warmer sub-Antarctic seas – you are in the
circum-Antarctic upwelling zone. Not only does the marine life change,
the avian life changes too. Wandering albatrosses, grey-headed
albatrosses, black-browed albatrosses, light-mantled sooty
albatrosses, Cape petrels, southern fulmars, Wilson’s storm petrels,
blue petrels, and Antarctic petrels are a few of the birds you might
see.
Day 4: The first glimpses of Antarctica
As we head toward Antarctica, our first stop is the impressive Spert
Island, where you can enjoy views of its towering cliffs and canyons
from our Zodiacs and kayaks. After an exhilarating morning, we head to
Mikklesen Harbor, where the goal is to land at the tiny D’Hainaut
Island. Gentoo penguins can be seen on this island, which is
surrounded by awe-inspiring glaciers and mountains welcoming us to
Antarctica.
Day 5: Dobrowolski Island
Today we visit Dobrowolski Island. Landings here can be tricky, but
the reward is a beautiful island that is seldom visited, with a range
of penguins and seals that rest on the rocks. A channel around the
island offers kayakers a pleasant view of the terrain and wildlife.
This is also where we’ve had the most luck seeing hauled-out leopard
seals on the ice floes in recent years. Naturally, we cannot guarantee
you will see any, but keep your fingers crossed!
Day 6: Exploring and charting Flandres Bay
Today we head to the area of Flandres Bay, an uncharted area that
will provide you the opportunity to see how we use technology to read
the sea bed for navigational purposes. We hope to find new information
about the coastline as well as finding new landing sites. This is a
real expedition day, so flexibility is key, and venturing into the
unknown is our aim.
Day 7: Anvers Island
We begin the day on the south side of Anvers Island, in Neumayer
Channel, and hope to land at Damoy Point. This is a favorite of our
program, with the secluded Dorian Bay nearby and the chance to
snowshoe to a ridge that was once used as a ski-way for aircrafts.
After a well-deserved lunch, we head along the Neumayer Channel to
Börgen Bay and explore this dramatic area of coastline. Weather
permitting, we might alternately visit Access Point, once used by John
Biscoe to land on Anvers Island, and re-trace his historic footsteps.
Day 8: Pléneau & Petermann Islands
If the ice allows it, you can sail through the Lemaire Channel in
search of Adélie penguins and blue-eyed shags. There’s also a good
chance you’ll encounter humpback and minke whales here, as well as
leopard seals.
Day 9: Paradise Bay and Brown Station
Today you may be able to take a Zodiac cruise in these sprawling,
ice-flecked waters, where there’s a good chance we will encounter
humpback and minke whales. We might also be able to make a stop at
Brown Station (Almirante Brown), an Argentine research facility with
nearby nesting gentoos. A short hike up the hill behind the station
offers exceptional views across Paradise Bay.
Day 10: Melchior Islands
These islands offer a beautiful landscape rich with icebergs. Leopard
seals, crabeater seals, and whales are found here, and there are
excellent opportunities for kayaking as well as shore-based
activities.
Day 11 – 12: Drake Passage
Your return voyage is far from lonely. While crossing the Drake, we
are again greeted by the vast array of seabirds remembered from the
passage south. But they seem a little more familiar to you now, and
you to them.
Day 13: Ushuaia
Every adventure, no matter how great, must eventually come to an end.
It’s now time to disembark in Ushuaia with memories that will
accompany you wherever your next journey leads.
Note
All itineraries are for guidance only. Programs may vary depending
on ice, weather, and wildlife conditions. Landings are subject to
site availabilities, permissions, and environmental concerns per
IAATO regulations. Official sailing plans and landing slots are
scheduled with IAATO prior to the start of the season, but the
expedition leader determines the final plan. Flexibility is
paramount for expedition cruises. The average cruising speed for our
vessel is 10.5 knots.
Exploring and charting Anvers Island and Flandres Bay: Be part of a
true polar expedition! During this adventurous basecamp voyage, we
will visit Antarctica’s remote Anvers Island and Flandres Bay,
charting and making depth measurements while we explore the area in
our Zodiac boats and kayaks. Camping, navigation workshops, and
presentations about the legendary Antarctic voyages of history are all
part of this exciting activity-based expedition.
Day 1: Ushuaia - End of the world, start of a journey
Your voyage begins where the world drops off. Ushuaia, Argentina,
reputed to be the southernmost city on the planet, is located on the
far southern tip of South America. Starting in the afternoon, you
embark from this small resort town on Tierra del Fuego, nicknamed “The
End of the World,” and sail the mountain-fringed Beagle Channel for
the remainder of the evening.
Day 2 – 3: Drake Passage, Path of the polar explorers
Over the next two days on the Drake Passage, you enjoy some of the
same experiences encountered by the great polar explorers who first
charted these regions: cool salt breezes, rolling seas, maybe even a
fin whale spouting up sea spray. After passing the Antarctic
Convergence – Antarctica’s natural boundary, formed when north-flowing
cold waters collide with warmer sub-Antarctic seas – you are in the
circum-Antarctic upwelling zone. Not only does the marine life change,
the avian life changes too. Wandering albatrosses, grey-headed
albatrosses, black-browed albatrosses, light-mantled sooty
albatrosses, Cape petrels, southern fulmars, Wilson’s storm petrels,
blue petrels, and Antarctic petrels are a few of the birds you might
see.
Day 4: The first glimpses of Antarctica
As we head toward Antarctica, our first stop is the impressive Spert
Island, where you can enjoy views of its towering cliffs and canyons
from our Zodiacs and kayaks. After an exhilarating morning, we head to
Mikklesen Harbor, where the goal is to land at the tiny D’Hainaut
Island. Gentoo penguins can be seen on this island, which is
surrounded by awe-inspiring glaciers and mountains welcoming us to
Antarctica.
Day 5: Dobrowolski Island
Today we visit Dobrowolski Island. Landings here can be tricky, but
the reward is a beautiful island that is seldom visited, with a range
of penguins and seals that rest on the rocks. A channel around the
island offers kayakers a pleasant view of the terrain and wildlife.
This is also where we’ve had the most luck seeing hauled-out leopard
seals on the ice floes in recent years. Naturally, we cannot guarantee
you will see any, but keep your fingers crossed!
Day 6: Exploring and charting Flandres Bay
Today we head to the area of Flandres Bay, an uncharted area that
will provide you the opportunity to see how we use technology to read
the sea bed for navigational purposes. We hope to find new information
about the coastline as well as finding new landing sites. This is a
real expedition day, so flexibility is key, and venturing into the
unknown is our aim.
Day 7: Anvers Island
We begin the day on the south side of Anvers Island, in Neumayer
Channel, and hope to land at Damoy Point. This is a favorite of our
program, with the secluded Dorian Bay nearby and the chance to
snowshoe to a ridge that was once used as a ski-way for aircrafts.
After a well-deserved lunch, we head along the Neumayer Channel to
Börgen Bay and explore this dramatic area of coastline. Weather
permitting, we might alternately visit Access Point, once used by John
Biscoe to land on Anvers Island, and re-trace his historic footsteps.
Day 8: Pléneau & Petermann Islands
If the ice allows it, you can sail through the Lemaire Channel in
search of Adélie penguins and blue-eyed shags. There’s also a good
chance you’ll encounter humpback and minke whales here, as well as
leopard seals.
Day 9: Paradise Bay and Brown Station
Today you may be able to take a Zodiac cruise in these sprawling,
ice-flecked waters, where there’s a good chance we will encounter
humpback and minke whales. We might also be able to make a stop at
Brown Station (Almirante Brown), an Argentine research facility with
nearby nesting gentoos. A short hike up the hill behind the station
offers exceptional views across Paradise Bay.
Day 10: Melchior Islands
These islands offer a beautiful landscape rich with icebergs. Leopard
seals, crabeater seals, and whales are found here, and there are
excellent opportunities for kayaking as well as shore-based
activities.
Day 11 – 12: Drake Passage
Your return voyage is far from lonely. While crossing the Drake, we
are again greeted by the vast array of seabirds remembered from the
passage south. But they seem a little more familiar to you now, and
you to them.
Day 13: Ushuaia
Every adventure, no matter how great, must eventually come to an end.
It’s now time to disembark in Ushuaia with memories that will
accompany you wherever your next journey leads.
Note
All itineraries are for guidance only. Programs may vary depending
on ice, weather, and wildlife conditions. Landings are subject to
site availabilities, permissions, and environmental concerns per
IAATO regulations. Official sailing plans and landing slots are
scheduled with IAATO prior to the start of the season, but the
expedition leader determines the final plan. Flexibility is
paramount for expedition cruises. The average cruising speed for our
vessel is 10.5 knots.