Antarctica has produced more than its fair share of heroes. It is a land that has consistently challenged and inspired men of extraordinary character to deeds requiring extreme courage. The expeditions of Scott, Amundsen, Shackleton, Ross, Byrd and many others are a shining example of honour, strength and perseverance which today still inspire us and it will be a privilege to explore these same waters aboard the 118-passenger MS Island Sky. Our expedition combines the wonders of the Antarctic Peninsula with the Falkland Islands and magnificent South Georgia.
Even today after many decades of exploration, Antarctica still remains a world apart, a majestic last frontier surpassing even the most jaded of travellers’ expectations. It is hard to put into words the sheer grandeur of an Antarctic landscape. This most southern of continents, this desert of ice, is so unique and uncommon to man’s experience, that even the most dramatic of photographs pale into insignificance when one is confronted by the sheer magnitude, beauty and wonder of an Antarctic landscape. Enormous icebergs rise from the sea, hillsides are covered with thousands of penguins and seals bask on icebergs dotted in the ocean; the sights, sounds and emotions will stay with you forever.
Our expedition begins with two days in the Falkland Islands, a truly enchanting place with a unique character and staggering wildlife. This is the last sanctuary of the elegant albatross which soars graciously against the blue sky, with colonies of elephant seals basking at the foot of vertiginous cliffs. We continue to South Georgia where you will experience one of the world’s natural wonders, the ‘Alps in mid-ocean’, offering remarkable concentrations of wildlife against a backdrop of glaciers and snowcovered mountains. Hugging the coast to the wildest reaches of the island we will land on beaches alive with rampaging fur seals, somnolent elephant seals and truly astonishing numbers of King penguins. We have three days of exploration in this unique animal paradise and using the Zodiacs there will be landings each day allowing you the optimum time ashore to experience this rich animal kingdom. The final landings of our expedition will be on the Antarctic Peninsula where we have ample time to discover the icy wonders and wonderful array of wildlife before we sail to Ushuaia.
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What to Expect
In Antarctica there is no such thing as a “typical” day. Flexibility is the key and sometimes the whole day’s schedule will be changed to maximise your experience. Each day holds something new and below are some extracts from a previous log from the MS Island Sky which will provide you with an idea of what to expect if you choose to join this Antarctic adventure.
Antarctic Sound & Brown Bluff: Ahead of us to starboard was the northern end of the Antarctic Peninsula and on the other side were some large, ice-covered islands. There was lots of ice in the water too – brash ice, ice floes and icebergs of many shapes and sizes. Continuing southwards, it wasn’t long before an interesting spot was noticed so the ship stopped and the Zodiacs were lowered. We were off on a Zodiac cruise amongst the pack ice and huge icebergs. The ship then headed further south still and eventually went in the direction of Brown Bluff, a favourite landing place. The scenery was stunning – geology on the one hand and sea and ice on the other. By now the sun had been out for some time, which added to both the ‘warmth’ and the colours all around us. Another very significant thing about Brown Bluff is that it is part of the continent itself so we could truly say that we had ‘arrived’. For some it was their seventh continent too. The Adelie penguins were a big attraction, being the first ones that many of us had seen.
Salisbury Plain, South Georgia: From the ship we could see the huge extent of the king penguin colony, as well as a myriad of cigar-shaped rocks. The rocks were, of course, hundreds of seals of the elephant and fur kind. By the landing spot there was a group of elephants, including a pup that was still suckling. In addition, there were tiny fur seal pups around as well, which looked adorable. The male fur seals often huge and intimidating were not a problem today. A route parallel to the beach had been flagged for us by the expedition team so it was a simple matter to get to and from the king colony in small groups. The birds were so curious that if we stopped they would often come sidling up towards us, to get a better look. In their black, white, grey and orange plumage the kings looked both regal and resplendent.
Elephant Island: Elephant Island came into sight at midday but at first it was indistinct, as it blended in with the murk so well. More and more of it became apparent as we got closer but it looked pretty daunting – largely snow-covered cliffs that disappeared up into the clouds. Every now and then along the inhospitable coast there was a grounded iceberg. The captain did an excellent job of getting us into the relatively sheltered bay opposite the bust of Captain Pardo who was in command of the rescue vessel that eventually, with Worsley’s knowledge, managed to get all of Shackleton’s men off.
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Small Ship Cruising at its Best
Antarctica is to be experienced, not just to be seen, and we believe the only way to do this is on board a small ship in order to maximise the time spent ashore. To enjoy the wonders of this icy paradise in the company of a small and enthusiastic party is the perfect way to achieve the most from a visit to this extraordinary place and travelling with you on board will be polar expedition experts and naturalists with many years of experience in Antarctica who will add immeasurably to your experience. In between our landings and while at sea, you can pass the time on deck looking for wildlife, attend the series of lectures by members of the expedition team and simply relax on board. There are ships in Antarctica carrying higher numbers of passengers than the 100 guests on board the MS Island Sky, however due to the restrictions placed on vessels as to how many passengers may land at any one time, the larger vessels can only offer very restricted landings, whereas with the MS Island Sky, we are able to follow the strict Antarctic rules and yet have all guests ashore at the same time. For most travellers, the Antarctic experience is a once in a lifetime visit, it is therefore important that the trip should be as rewarding as possible and our expedition aboard the MS Island Sky will certainly be so both in terms of the educational experience on board and the number of opportunities to go ashore.
Island Sky
The MS Island Sky is one of our two flag ships and sister vessel to the MS Hebridean Sky. Both vessels were built in the same ship yard in Italy at similar times and share the same excellent attributes that make them two of the finest small ships in the world.
Itinerary
Please note that flexibility is key to a successful expedition in Antarctica. Although we have outlined an itinerary below, this is only a preliminary plan, our exact route will depend on ice, weather conditions and the wildlife we encounter.
Day 1 London to Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Fly by scheduled flight.
Day 2 Buenos Aires.
Arrive this morning and transfer to our centrally located hotel for an overnight stay. This afternoon is free to relax or join an orientation tour of the city including the Plaza de Mayo, the Cathedral and the Cabildo before we continue towards the most traditional neighbourhood of Buenos Aires, San Telmo which is characterised by its old colonial houses and the cobblestoned streets. Our guided tour will end in La Boca where we will see the colourful zinc houses which used to be the refuge and home for the first immigrants and popular artists.
Day 3 Buenos Aires to Puerto Madryn.
After breakfast in the hotel we will transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight to Trelew and transfer to the MS Island Sky moored in Puerto Madryn. Enjoy welcome drinks and dinner as we sail this evening.
Days 4 & 5 En-Route to the Falkland Islands.
Among the wildlife spotting opportunities as we sail south are albatrosses, The Itinerary Antarctic landscape Chinstrap penguin Antarctic dolphin prions and petrels that frequently follow the ship. Our expedition team will be out on deck looking for whales and dolphins that may also be seen in the area. During our two days of sailing, our onboard experts will begin their presentations with informative and entertaining talks on the wildlife, history and geology of the Falkland Islands and the Southern Ocean. We hope to arrive in the Falkland Islands in the evening of Day 5 and if time permits make our first landing ashore.
Days 6 & 7 Falkland Islands.
The Falkland Islands are isolated and windswept, a haven for wildlife. Weather and wind conditions allowing, we may land on Steeple Jason, the north western outpost with the world’s largest colony of black-browed albatross. See the rockhopper penguin colony and black-browed albatross on West Point Island whilst Grave Cove is home to the largest colony of gentoo penguins in the Falkland Islands. We also plan to call at Port Stanley, the charming capital of the Falkland Islands, and discover some of the historic sites there from the museums to the battlefields.
Days 8 & 9 The Southern Ocean.
As we cruise towards South Georgia the richness of these waters will be evident in the marine mammal life, especially the Weddell seals on fishing forays. We have a good chance of spotting whales such as fins and humpback whilst the birds circling our stern will be outstanding, especially the large albatrosses and numerous breeds of petrels.
Days 10 to 12 South Georgia.
We have three days of expedition cruising in and around South Georgia, a paradise island with snow-clad mountain peaks rising 9000 feet and with 165 glaciers tumbling down towards the sea. We arrive early in the season when parts of the island will still be covered by a thin layer of snow. For anyone interested in wildlife, South Georgia is a true oasis. The beaches will be covered by elephant seal bulls and females with feeding pups. They share the beach with a myriad of nesting king penguins. Most of the other sea birds will have arrived and begun nesting whilst millions of Weddell seals return to the beaches to breed. During our time here we hope to visit Salisbury Plain where we will find enormous elephant seals which crowd the beaches alongside thousands of pairs of king penguins. Meanwhile in Grytviken we will visit the old whaling station and of course pay our respect at the grave of ‘the boss’ – Ernest Shackleton.
Days 13 & 14 At sea.
The waters between South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula are rich with fin whales, where in good conditions we have seen as many as a hundred in a day. If not whale watching, lookout for Antarctic petrel and one of the most beautiful birds of the Southern Ocean, the snow petrel. The icebergs will also become more plentiful as we sail south. During our time at sea you can also join the lecture programme to learn more about the wildlife and history of the region.
Days 15 to 19 Antarctic Peninsula & South Shetland Islands.
We have five days of exploration around the Peninsula which will include many of the best places for wildlife and magnificent scenery. Whilst we arrive with a planned itinerary the final schedule will be determined by our Captain and the Expedition Leader based on sea, weather and ice conditions. Using our Zodiacs we hope to make daily landings for unique close encounters with animals such as chinstrap and gentoo penguins, fur seals and petrels. We hope to visit the collapsed volcanic cone of Deception Island for a chance to visit Whalers Bay, Petermann Island, picturesque Neko Harbour, the Lemaire Channel where towering icebergs rise from the sea and Half Moon Island with its rookery of chinstrap penguins. We also hope to sail through the breathtaking Antarctic Sound, also known as ‘iceberg alley’, where massive icebergs drift north from the continent.
Days 20 & 21 The Drake Passage.
Two days to relax on board and reminisce with your fellow travellers about all you have seen and experienced during our expedition. Enjoy a lecture, look for wildlife or simply relax as we make our way across the Drake Passage toward Ushuaia. Named after the 16th century English seaman, Sir Francis Drake, the Drake Passage separates the southernmost tip of South America from Antarctica. This is a particularly good area to spot royal albatross and blue petrel and we will also be on the lookout for many species of seabirds. We will arrive on the final evening in Ushuaia and berth overnight.
Day 22 Ushuaia to Buenos Aires.
Disembark after breakfast and transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight to Buenos Aires. On arrival transfer to our hotel for an overnight stay. This evening we will attend a tango show with dinner.
Day 23 Buenos Aires to London.
After breakfast in the hotel we will transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight to London.
Day 24 London.
Arrive this morning.
Dates and Prices
20 December 2024 to 12 January 2025 | ||
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Category | Price | |
Magellan Deck Standard Suites | Fully Booked | |
Columbus Deck Superior Suites | Fully Booked | |
Marco Polo Deck Premium Suites | Fully Booked | |
Marco Polo Deck Corner Suites | Fully Booked | |
Erikson Deck Deluxe Balcony Suites | Fully Booked | |
Explorer Deck Owner's Balcony Suite | Fully Booked | |
Explorer Deck Island Suite | Fully Booked | |
Magellan Deck Standard for sole occupancy | Fully Booked | |
Columbus Deck Superior for sole occupancy | Fully Booked |
Tour Reference Code: SCISK201224
PRICE INCLUDES: Economy class scheduled air travel • Two nights hotel accommodation in Buenos Aires with breakfast • 19 nights aboard the MS Island Sky on a full board basis • House wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch & dinner • Noble Caledonia expedition team • Buenos Aires city tour • Dinner & tango show in Buenos Aires • Shore Excursions • Gratuities • Transfers • Airport taxes • Port taxes • Use of parka jacket & rubber boots on board the MS Island Sky.
Not Included: Travel insurance.
During this expedition you will be visiting out of the way destinations and will be accompanied by an expedition team. Landings and excursions will be made by Zodiac landing craft. The use of Zodiacs will be key to the operation of the itinerary as shown. If you have any queries pertaining to the use of Zodiacs or the level of fitness required for this voyage, please do not hesitate to ask one of our experienced travel consultants.
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Deckplan
Island Sky
The MS Island Sky is one of our two flag ships and sister vessel to the MS Hebridean Sky. Both vessels were built in the same ship yard in Italy at similar times and share the same excellent attributes that make them two of the finest small ships in the world.
Skys Video Tour
What to Expect
In Antarctica there is no such thing as a “typical” day. Flexibility is the key and sometimes the whole day’s schedule will be changed to maximise your experience. Each day holds something new and below are some extracts from a previous log from the MS Island Sky which will provide you with an idea of what to expect if you choose to join this Antarctic adventure.
Antarctic Sound & Brown Bluff: Ahead of us to starboard was the northern end of the Antarctic Peninsula and on the other side were some large, ice-covered islands. There was lots of ice in the water too – brash ice, ice floes and icebergs of many shapes and sizes. Continuing southwards, it wasn’t long before an interesting spot was noticed so the ship stopped and the Zodiacs were lowered. We were off on a Zodiac cruise amongst the pack ice and huge icebergs. The ship then headed further south still and eventually went in the direction of Brown Bluff, a favourite landing place. The scenery was stunning – geology on the one hand and sea and ice on the other. By now the sun had been out for some time, which added to both the ‘warmth’ and the colours all around us. Another very significant thing about Brown Bluff is that it is part of the continent itself so we could truly say that we had ‘arrived’. For some it was their seventh continent too. The Adelie penguins were a big attraction, being the first ones that many of us had seen.
Salisbury Plain, South Georgia: From the ship we could see the huge extent of the king penguin colony, as well as a myriad of cigar-shaped rocks. The rocks were, of course, hundreds of seals of the elephant and fur kind. By the landing spot there was a group of elephants, including a pup that was still suckling. In addition, there were tiny fur seal pups around as well, which looked adorable. The male fur seals often huge and intimidating were not a problem today. A route parallel to the beach had been flagged for us by the expedition team so it was a simple matter to get to and from the king colony in small groups. The birds were so curious that if we stopped they would often come sidling up towards us, to get a better look. In their black, white, grey and orange plumage the kings looked both regal and resplendent.
Elephant Island: Elephant Island came into sight at midday but at first it was indistinct, as it blended in with the murk so well. More and more of it became apparent as we got closer but it looked pretty daunting – largely snow-covered cliffs that disappeared up into the clouds. Every now and then along the inhospitable coast there was a grounded iceberg. The captain did an excellent job of getting us into the relatively sheltered bay opposite the bust of Captain Pardo who was in command of the rescue vessel that eventually, with Worsley’s knowledge, managed to get all of Shackleton’s men off.
Small Ship Cruising at its Best
Antarctica is to be experienced, not just to be seen, and we believe the only way to do this is on board a small ship in order to maximise the time spent ashore. To enjoy the wonders of this icy paradise in the company of a small and enthusiastic party is the perfect way to achieve the most from a visit to this extraordinary place and travelling with you on board will be polar expedition experts and naturalists with many years of experience in Antarctica who will add immeasurably to your experience. In between our landings and while at sea, you can pass the time on deck looking for wildlife, attend the series of lectures by members of the expedition team and simply relax on board. There are ships in Antarctica carrying higher numbers of passengers than the 100 guests on board the MS Island Sky, however due to the restrictions placed on vessels as to how many passengers may land at any one time, the larger vessels can only offer very restricted landings, whereas with the MS Island Sky, we are able to follow the strict Antarctic rules and yet have all guests ashore at the same time. For most travellers, the Antarctic experience is a once in a lifetime visit, it is therefore important that the trip should be as rewarding as possible and our expedition aboard the MS Island Sky will certainly be so both in terms of the educational experience on board and the number of opportunities to go ashore.
Also of Interest
In the Wake of Shackleton
Discover the Wonders of the Falkland Islands, South Georgia & the Antarctic Peninsula aboard the MS Island Sky
Island Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Buenos Aires / Ushuaia / Falkland Islands / The Southern Ocean / South Georgia / Antarctic Peninsula / South Shetland Islands / The Drake Passage / Ushuaia / Buenos Aires
The Great White Continent
An Expedition to the Antarctic Peninsula aboard the MS Island Sky
Island Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Buenos Aires / Ushuaia / Antarctic Peninsula / South Shetland Islands / Ushuaia / Buenos Aires
Antarctica, South Georgia & the Falklands
An expedition to the Great White Continent aboard the Hanseatic Inspiration
Hanseatic Inspiration
Itinerary at a glance
- Buenos Aires / Ushuaia / Falkland Islands / South Georgia / South Orkney Islands / South Shetland Islands / Antarctic Peninsula / Drake Passage / Ushuaia / Buenos Aires
Book with Confidence
Speak to one of our advisors on 020 7752 0000