Crossing the Circle

This expedition is for people who enjoy active adventures and hanker to travel south of the Antarctic Circle. It offers an average of three activites off the ship per day while in the Antarctic Peninsula. There is a shipboard education program. Optional adventures - camping and kayaking - are available on selected departures.

There is a photography focus on the February 26, 2011, departure aboard Akademik Sergey Vavilov. Award winning wildlife photographer Paul Goldstein will be the special guest.

Itinerary: Day 1 Overnight Ushuaia, Argentina Day 2 Embarkation Days 3 - 4 The Drake Passage Days 5 -12 Antarctic Peninsula Day 13 - 14 The Drake Passage Day 15 Ushuaia, Argentina

Notes:

Weather, ice or other conditions may require that changes be made to our itinerary and shore excursions.

~ These departures may have limited availability.

* These departures have an option for kayaking or camping

Shipboard Accommodation:
The Ocean Nova was reconfigured in 2008 to operate as an Adventure Ship with clean, crisp Scandinavian styling and a reputation as an excellent ship in the Antarctic. Built to sail the ice-choked waters of Greenland, Ocean Nova's ice-strengthened hull has enabled the ship to park in the ice of the Weddell Sea! On select departure camping, kayaking, cross-country skiing and mountaineering adventure options are offered. Maximum 68 guests.

Finnish-built for the Russian Academy of Science, the Akademik Segey Vavilov was designed to travel quietly, during hydro-acoustic research. The ship is exceptionally stable, yet maneuverable. External stabilizers and a built-in trimming system provide exceptional stability. Akademik Sergey Vavilov has an ice-strengthened hull and a cruising speed in open water of 14.5 knots. Maximum 104 guests.

Inclusions for departures between November 2009 and March 2010:

One night pre-expedition hotel accommodation with breakfast as indicated in the itinerary. (The number of guests per room is the same as cabin occupancy on the ship. Due to limited availability, travelers who reserve a suite on board are accommodated in standard rooms at the hotel.)

Shipboard accommodation with daily housekeeping.

All breakfasts, lunches and dinners on board throughout your voyage. (Please inform us of any dietary requirements as far in advance as possible. Unfortunately, the ships' galleys cannot prepare kosher meals.).

All shore landings and Zodiac excursions per the daily program.

Leadership throughout the voyage by our experienced Expedition Leader, including shore landings and other activities.

Formal and informal presentations by our Expedition Team and guest speakers as scheduled.

Photographic Album on DVD.

A pair of waterproof expedition boots on loan for shore landings

Hair dryer in every cabin.

A Quark Expeditions parka

Coffee, tea, cocoa and bottled water available around the clock.

Comprehensive pre-departure materials, including a map and an informative Antarctic Reader.

Group transfers from the hotel to the ship at the embarkation port, and from the ship to the local airport on disembarkation - plus all baggage handling aboard ship.

All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program.

Emergency Evacuation Insurance for all passengers to a maximum of $100,000 per person.

Trip Code: CC

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