Useful Information about
Antarctic CruisesPlease go to the 2006 cruises index
This information relates to cruises onboard Akademik Shokalskiy,
Professor Molchanov, Professor Multanovskiy and MV Orlova
Imagine a comfortable hotel with almost as many staff as
guests, spectacular views out of every window, superb international
cuisine, and a range of modern facilities. Then imagine the
hotel in a new wild and remote location every day, add a team
of international experts on everything from polar exploration
to birds and marine mammals then throw in once-in-a-lifetime
experiences such as a whale breaching alongside your Zodiac.
| About
these Antarctic Cruises
operated by QEI and SEL |
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Travel with Polar Professionals
You will travel in the company of a carefully chosen team
of dedicated and enthusiastic expedition staff, many of
whom return with us each season. These polar professionals
are selected for their local knowledge and wealth of experience,
as well as their great love of the Antarctic.
Support Environmentally Responsible Tourism
Our cruise company (QEI) cares about maintaining the well-being
of the Antarctic environment. Through its membership in
the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators
(IAATO), it leads the development of policies that ensure
expeditions are environmentally responsible. We are all
privileged visitors to Antarctica and we are committed
to the preservation of this extraordinary icy realm.
Interact with Naturalists and Historians
We are committed to enriching your Antarctic experience
through interaction with expert naturalists and historians.
You will share their insights and knowledge through formal
and informal presentations covering ornithology, marine
biology, geology, the environment, and much more.
Travel Safely
Expedition cruising is adventurous by nature and the safety
of our passengers and staff is paramount. Our ships are
equipped and maintained to cope with the most challenging
conditions and are manned by experienced and conscientious
officers, crew and expedition staff. On board, passengers
are fully briefed on safety issues and our environmental
policy, and receive appropriate and detailed briefings
before every landing. The Zodiac landing craft used for
our shore landings are rugged and versatile and are operated
by experienced drivers in a responsible manner. Our priority
is to provide exciting, enjoyable and safe adventures.
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Morning Activities
A typical day on a QEI ship – if, indeed, there
is a typical day – begins with a friendly wake-up
call and breakfast. You will have been briefed the night
before, and a detailed daily program will have been delivered
to your cabin, so this morning talk is of the adventures
ahead. Your first activity might be an entertaining presentation
by a world-renowned expert, or a chance to watch as the
ship navigates through the polar landscape. Next, you
respond to the call to prepare for the first shore landing
of the day.
Zodiac Cruising and Shore Transfers
Every ship carries a fleet of sturdy Zodiacs to transfer
you, your fellow travellers, and the expedition staff
quickly and safely to otherwise inaccessible shores where
you encounter wildlife, and visit historical sites.You
may stay ashore for the maximum allotted time –
typically from two to four hours depending on the day's
itinerary – or you may be ready to return to the
ship sooner. Wherever possible, your Expedition Leader
tailors excursions to several levels of activity, offering
options for long visits, short walks, or Zodiac cruises.
Afternoon Activities
You have time to change and refresh before lunch, while
the vessel positions to the next spectacular site. From
the deck you are treated to an ever-changing landscape.
Your afternoon activities might be another shore landing,
or a Zodiac cruise through a beautiful icescape, past
seals sleeping on ice floes or among whales. By evening
the talk is lively and animated as fellow passengers share
the day's experiences.
Evening in Antarctica
Evenings are for relaxing, should you choose. Curl up
with a good book, spend a few hours chatting in the bar,
or watch a movie. However, exhilarating alternatives may
occupy you during the extended hours of an austral summer
day. Participate in another shore landing or Zodiac cruise.
Interact with one of our experts making a presentation
or spend a few more hours on the deck, looking for one
more iceberg.
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Call us to check availability:
UK: 0845 226 2475
Overseas: +44 1756 693609
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| Voyage during the austral summer –
November through February when the continent is at its
most spectacular and accessible. Each month has its
own special highlights, outlined below to help you plan
your trip.
During the spring and summer, average coastal temperatures
along the Antarctic Peninsula are seldom far from the
freezing point.
November (late spring - early summer)
The most adventurous and awe-inspiring time to visit
- Huge volumes of ice and pristine
snow
- Courtship displays in the penguin
rookeries (see penguins build nests and steal stones)
- Scientists at the research stations
welcome the first visitors of the season
- Fur seal courtship most active on
South Georgia
- Spring flowers bloom on the Falkland
Islands
December - January (full summer)
Antarctica's warmest months when wildlife activities
are in full swing
- Longer days with more daylight -
take stunning photos at midnight
- The opportunity to spend an unforgettable
holiday season in Antarctica
- In December the first penguin chicks
hatch on South Georgia and the Falkland Islands followed
by the first chicks hatching in Antarctica
- Seal pups are visible on South Georgia
February - March (late summer)
This is the best time for whale-watching
- Ice allows exploration further south
along the Antarctic Peninsula
- Penguin rookeries at their busiest,
with the adult birds fetching krill and feeding their
chicks
- Fur seals most common along the Antarctic
Peninsula and young fur seals at their most playful
on South Georgia
- Penguin chicks begin to fledge late
February/early March
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Perhaps you note the sinuous line of
a penguin profile and the sharp contrast of its black
and white coat, reminding you of the work of an artist,
but which one?
Through our Artist-in-Residence Programme, available on
board select M/V Orlova voyages, you learn to see the
Antarctic Peninsula in an entirely new way through presentations,
and hands-on workshops led by a professional artist. |
View information about
Akademik Shokalskiy, Professor Molchanov, Professor Multanovskiy
ships
View information about
MV Orlova
 Back
to the Antarctic Cruises index
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