Antarctica Cruise: Icebreaker Adventures

Antarctica Cruise: Icebreaker Adventures
Antarctica Cruise: Icebreaker Adventures

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Highlights

Trip Dates:

2011-2012


See Dates & Prices tab.

Price:

See Dates & Prices tab.

Total Days: 29-31
Group Size: Varies by ship

Activities:

  • Wildlife Viewing

Accommodations:

Cruise cabins for length of cruise

antarctica: Antarctica Cruise: Icebreaker Adventures

Antarctica Cruise: Icebreaker Adventures

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Antarctica Cruise: Icebreaker Adventures

Ultimate Antarctica: An Explorer’s Dream. A truly special choice for those who want to gain a deeper understanding of this special place. Wildlife, topography, climate – there's no better way to experience this region. Dig deeper into Antarctica. Choose from the Ross Sea and Antarctica's Far East expeditions.

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"Ross Sea Centennial Voyage: Farewell to the Emperors of Antarctica" Itinerary:

  • Day 1 Christchurch, New Zealand
  • Day 2 Embarkation at Lyttelton, New Zealand
  • Day 3 At Sea
  • Day 4 The Snares
  • Days 5-6 Auckland Islandsa
  • Day 7 Campbell Island
  • Days 8-9 At Sea
  • Day 10 Cape Adare
  • Days 11-21 The Ross Sea
  • Days 22-23 Balleny Islands
  • Day 24 At Sea
  • Days 25-26 Macquarie Island
  • Days 27-28 At Sea
  • Day 29 Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
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"Antarctica's Far East - The Farewell Voyage: Saluting the 100th Anniversary of the Australasia Antarctic Expedition" Itinerary:

  • Day 1 Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
  • Day 2 Embarkation Day
  • Days 3-5 At Sea
  • Days 6-7 Pack Ice
  • Day 8 Casey Station, Antarctica
  • Day 9 Remembering Mawson, Ninnis and Mertz
  • Day 10 Vincennes Bay, Antarctica
  • Days 11-12 Shackleton Ice Shelf
  • Day 13 Mirnyy Base
  • Day 14 Gaussberg
  • Day 15 West Ice Shelf
  • Day 16 Wyatt Earp Islands
  • Day 17 Davis Research Station
  • Day 18 Larsemann Hills
  • Day 19 Amery Ice Shelf
  • Days 20-22 At Sea
  • Days 23-24 Heard Island, Australia
  • Day 25 Kerguelen Islands, France
  • Day 26 At Sea - New Year's Eve
  • Day 27 St. Paul Island
  • Days 28-30 At Sea
  • Day 31 Fremantle, Australia and the End of an Era
Note on Itinerary

Although we do our best to adhere to the schedule listed above, this itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control.

Cruise Cost includes

1 night pre-expedition hotel accommodations, all meals on board, helicopter transfers and aerial sightseeing, shore landings and Zodiac excursions, presentations by our Expedition Team and guest speakers, Polar Arts Program with onboard artist presentations and workshops, CD chronicle of the voyage in narrative, photography and video, a specially designed expedition parka that is yours to keep, a pair of rubber expedition boots on loan for shore landings, comprehensive pre-departure information package, transfer from the hotel to the ship on embarkation and from the ship to the airport on disembarkation and all miscellaneous service taxes and port charges.

Not Included

Airfares to or from the gateway city, whether on scheduled or charter flights; passport and visa expenses; government arrival and departure taxes; any meals ashore with the exception of breakfast at the host hotel and our traditional Argentine asado lunch before embarking from Ushuaia; baggage, cancellation and travel insurance (please note that emergency medical insurance is mandatory when traveling with our partner, Quark Expeditions); excess baggage charges; laundry, bar, beverage and other personal charges; telecommunications charges; and the customary gratuity at the end of the voyage for stewards and other service personnel (guidelines will be provided). On icebreaker expeditions, any possible helicopter flying time in excess of that offered for the group will be charged at an hourly rate to be announced on board.

Weather

The weather in Antarctica is notorious for extreme variability. Although heavy rainfall is unusual, strong winds are fairly common and can greatly affect your comfort during shore landings. Average temperatures on the Antarctic Peninsula during the summer months range from approximately 23º - 41º F. Ushuaia will be slightly warmer but equally unpredictable with regard to sunshine, wind and rain.

Complimentary Handbooks

Your expedition fee includes a trip handbook with detailed information about your trip. It includes the history and politics of the Antarctica region, the explorers, a section on land, water and ice, and of course birds of the region. It's an invaluable tool and serves as a wonderful souvenir of your expedition. This will be sent in your final packet and is designed for you to carry with you on the cruise.

How To Reserve Your Trip

To confirm reservations on Clipper Adventurer, Lyubov Orlova, Ocean Nova, Akademik Ioffe, Akademik Shokalskiy, and Akademik Sergey Vavilov, a deposit of $1,000 per person is required for all trips under $10,000 per person. If the trip is over $10,000 the deposit will be 10% of the cost of the cruise. Final payment is due 130 days prior to departure. Prices and payments are in U.S. dollars. Deposits and payments for pre-expedition and post-expedition services are specific to each item, and are explained and communicated at time of purchase.

Cancellations

All requests for cancellations must be received in writing. Cancellations received up to 180 days prior to departure are refunded less an administrative fee of $750 per person. If cancellation is received between 179 and 121 days prior to departure, the deposit is forfeited. Please note that for cancellations received within 120 days prior to departure, all deposits and tariffs are forfeited. If cancellation occurs within the 120-day period and full payment has not yet been received, the full penalty will still apply and unpaid monies are due immediately. For these and other reasons mentioned below, you are strongly encouraged to obtain trip cancellation insurance. Prices quoted are based on group participation and no refunds will be made for any part of the program in which you choose not to participate, including any helicopter flying time (if applicable and which, at the discretion of the Captain and Expedition Leader, may or may not be utilized). It is understood that refunds cannot be made to passengers who do not complete the services for any reason whatsoever.

Delays

If any trip must be delayed due to bad weather, cancelled or delayed transportation, sickness or any other situation for which REI Adventures catalog information cannot make provisions, all costs incurred during such delays must be borne by trip members.

Equipment

A complete equipment list is sent to all trip members when they sign up. No special gear is required for this trip and you probably own most of it already. The dress code on-board is casual and comfortable. On deck, you need to have a warm polar fleece jacket with a rain shell that fits over it. Layering works best. Pull-on rubber boots (calf to knee high) are a must for landings and are available to borrow on all ships.

Qualifications

The trip is rated easy to moderate [2]. During most shore landings, trip participants will have the opportunity to walk for short distances (less than 1 mile) while visiting penguin rookeries and exploring the landscape. Dependent on location, walks may involve crossing snowfields or bare, rocky terrain. Individuals prone to motion sickness should carry appropriate remedies as high seas may be encountered while crossing the Drake Passage.

Documentation

A valid passport is required for travel to South America. A visa is not required for travel to Antarctica. Extensions may require visas when traveling to additional South American countries.

General Information

This trip is subject to the booking information set forth in the current REI Adventures Reservation Information. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A full gear list and pre-departure information is sent upon sign-up. We highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance through REI Adventures. If coverage is purchased at the time of your initial reservation, the 'Pre-existing Conditions Exclusion' is waived (certain exclusions apply).

We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Why wait? Space is limited, reserve your adventure today.

Antarctica Cruise: Icebreaker Adventures

The key to staying comfortable during this expedition is layering. To get maximum comfort with minimum weight, you need versatile layers that mix and match to create the right amount of insulation, ventilation and weather protection. Trapped air is a very good insulator and you stand a much better chance of staying warm by wearing several thin layers rather one or two heavy items. You will also be able to add or shed layers more easily as the temperature changes.

Weather

The weather in the Antarctica is known for its extreme variability. Although heavy rainfall is unusual, strong winds are fairly common and can greatly affect your comfort during shore landings. Average temperatures on the Antarctic Peninsula during the summer months range approximately: 23°-41°F.

Gear Checklist

Provided Gear
  • Expedition parka for you to keep
  • Rubber boots on loan for shore landings
Official Papers
  • Valid passport
  • Airline tickets
Luggage
  • Duffel bag or soft-sided suitcase (2 maximum)
  • Daypack or fanny pack to carry your camera, water bottle, extra clothing during shore landings
  • Luggage tags and luggage locks
  • Passport pouch or money belt
Outerwear
  • Rain jacket, waterproof and breathable
  • Rain or wind pants, waterproof and breathable, side-zip pants are highly recommended
Clothing
  • Heavyweight fleece top or wool sweater
  • Midweight fleece top
  • Midweight fleece pants
  • Midweight thermal underwear tops and bottom, synthetic or wool
  • Casual shirts/pants for use aboard ship and Ushuaia
  • Hiking socks (for use during shore landings under boots)
  • Casual socks
  • Underwear
Clothing Accessories
  • Wool or fleece hat
  • Wool or fleece gloves
  • Heavier, ski-type gloves
Footwear
  • Waterproof, over-the-calf, rubber boots with non-slip soles if you prefer to bring your own.
  • Comfortable shoes (also for use aboard ship; non-slip soles are best!)
Travel Accessories
  • One-quart water bottle (to stay hydrated during shore landings)
  • Watch with alarm or travel clock
  • Electrical adapter plug
  • Sunglasses and retainer strap
  • Sunblock and lip balm
  • Toiletry kit/toiletries
  • Small personal first-aid kit
Optional Field Gear
  • Camera, film/memory and spare batteries
  • Small binoculars
  • Favorite energy snacks
  • Motion sickness remedies
  • Spare contact lenses or glasses
  • Reading and writing materials

Things to Consider

  • Wind chill can be a significant feature of this trip. When the wind is constant, you can be robbed of body heat quickly. Adequate wind/raingear is vital!
  • Cotton is wonderful in warm weather. However, once it becomes wet, it will drain your body heat. Bring wool or synthetics such as Capilene®, MTS® and Thermax®.
  • Always test your layers before a trip. Your outer layer should fit easily over the inside ones without binding and bunching up.
  • The dress code on board the ship is strictly casual, in the expedition spirit. There is no need to dress formally for meals.
  • Try Eagle Creek's Pack-It-Cubes for easy to find items.
  • A few large zip-lock bags are useful to keep camera equipment dry while riding in the Zodiac and during wet shore landings.
  • Bring more film/memory cards than you think you will need. Certain film types will be difficult to purchase or unavailable once the trip begins.
  • Feel free to give us a call at (800) 622-2236 should you have any questions regarding the gear list. The staffs at our stores or Direct Sales (800-426-4840) are happy to help you with gear questions. Or visit REI's website at www.rei.com. The Expert Advice section has great information to help you prepare for your trip.

Feel free to give us a call at (800) 622-2236 should you have any questions regarding the gear list. The staff at our stores and Direct Sales (800-426-4840) will also be happy to help you with gear questions. Or check out www.rei.com/learn. The Expert Advice section on our "Learn" page has great information to help you prepare for your trip.

Antarctica Cruise: Icebreaker Adventures

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Loyalty Discount
Passengers who have sailed with Quark Expeditions in the past are entitled to a 5% discount on all sailings. REI Adventures honors all Quark discounts and promotions.

If you opt to join us for two (or more) consecutive expeditions we will be pleased to offer a 6% discount off the second expedition (and any additional consecutive expeditions).

2011-2012 Season Dates & Prices:

 Ross Sea Centennial Voyage: Farewell to the Emperors of Antarctica

Aboard icebreaker Kapitan Khlebnikov
DateDaysTripleTwinSuiteCorner Suite
Nov 9 - Dec 7, 201129$35,890$46,390$55,190$58,390



 Antarctica's Far East - The Farewell Voyage: Saluting the 100th Anniversary of the Australasia Antarctic Expedition

Aboard icebreaker Kapitan Khlebnikov
DateDaysTripleTwinSuiteCorner Suite
Dec 6 - Jan 5, 201231$38,490$50,190$59,490$63,190

 

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