Even today after many decades of exploration, Antarctica remains a world apart, a majestic last frontier surpassing even the most jaded of travellers’ expectations. Join us aboard the MS Island Sky and follow in the footsteps of researchers, pioneers, adventurers and discoverers on this expedition cruise to the seventh continent. 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 basking on icebergs dot the channels and straits we will sail though; the sights, sounds and emotions will stay with you forever.
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 the 100-passenger MS Island Sky is the perfect vessel both in terms of the educational experience on board and the number of opportunities to go ashore. 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. Our indepth itinerary allows for ten days of exploration on the Peninsula and has been timed for late summer when whale sightings are at their peak, the penguin chicks begin to fledge and brave their first swim and the snow algae is in bloom. 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 enjoying the facilities.
MS Island Sky – 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. 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.
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 in the hotel or maybe join an orientation tour of the city including the Plaza de Mayo, the Cathedral and the Cabildo (Old City Hall) 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. End the tour in La Boca to look around the colourful zinc houses which used to be the refuge and home for the first immigrants and popular artists. The evening is free for independent exploration.
Day 3 Buenos Aires to Ushuaia.
After breakfast in the hotel we will transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight to Ushuaia. On arrival transfer to the MS Island Sky and start our adventure this evening as we cruise down the Beagle Channel.
Days 4 & 5 At Sea.
Start your voyage with two leisurely days on board. Attend some lectures, look for wildlife or simply relax as we make our way across the Drake Passage towards Antarctica. 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 many species of seabirds including the black-browed albatross, cape petrel and Antarctic prion and we will also be on the lookout for whales.
Days 6 to 15 Antarctic Peninsula & South Shetland Islands.
We have ten days of exploration around the Peninsula which will include many of the best places to see the vast biodiversity of Antarctic species and iconic icy environments from glaciers to enormous tabular icebergs. 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 will make daily landings and we have planned sites to see gentoo, chinstrap and hopefully Adelie penguins, as well as elephant seals, Antarctic fur seals, crabeater seals, Weddell seals and, if we are lucky, the iconic predator leopard seals at this busy time of year when the penguins are fledging. We will weave through the South Shetlands and hope to visit inside the caldera of Deception Island, stopping at Whaler’s Bay with its enormous whale oil storage tanks from its historic heyday. We cross the Bransfield and explore the islands around the Gerlache Strait, a body of water rich in plankton and humpback whales feeding in the summer months. Depending on ice conditions, we hope to travel through the Lemaire Channel down to Peterman Island with a vista that has an edge-of-the-world feeling. We have requested permission to visit a working Antarctic research station and will hopefully have the opportunity to send a postcard from the UK base of Port Lockroy. Through the Errera and Neumayer channels, surrounded by high white peaks, we will search for orcas and enjoy the grandeur of the white wilderness.
Days 16 & 17 At Sea.
Enjoy a final two leisurely days on board and reminisce with your fellow travellers about all you have seen and experienced during our expedition. If we are lucky, we may have albatross and giant petrels scouring our wake.
Day 18 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. The evening is free for independent exploration.
Day 19 Buenos Aires to London.
After breakfast in the hotel we will transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight to London.
Day 20 London.
Arrive this morning.
Dates and Prices
10 February to 1 March 2025 | ||
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Category | Brochure Price | Special Offer Price |
Magellan Deck Standard Suites | £11995 | £10995 |
Columbus Deck Superior Suites | Fully Booked | Fully Booked |
Marco Polo Deck Premium Suites | £12495 | £11495 |
Marco Polo Deck Corner Suites | Fully Booked | Fully Booked |
Erikson Deck Deluxe Balcony Suites | Fully Booked | Fully Booked |
Explorer Deck Owner's Balcony Suite | £13495 | £12495 |
Explorer Deck Island Suite | Fully Booked | Fully Booked |
Magellan Deck Standard for sole occupancy | Fully Booked | Fully Booked |
Columbus Deck Superior for sole occupancy | Fully Booked | Fully Booked |
Tour Reference Code: SCISK100225
PRICE INCLUDES: Economy class scheduled air travel • Two nights accommodation in Buenos Aires with breakfast • 15 nights aboard the MS Island Sky on a full board basis • House wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch & dinner • Noble Caledonia expedition team • Shore excursions • Gratuities • Transfers • Port taxes • Use of parka jacket and waterproof boots on board.
Not Included: Travel insurance.
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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.
Anvers Island & Port Lockroy: During the evening the swell diminished as we approached and rounded the southern end of Anvers Island and by early morning the ship was barely moving in the waves. During breakfast we made an approach to our morning location of Börgen Bay, which is an inlet of the western side of the Neumayer Channel into Anvers Island. Once loaded, the Zodiacs headed off into the snowy landscape and soon encountered floating ice – brash and bergy bits. On the lookout for wildlife, we had glimpses of seals and Gentoo penguins. However, the sculpted ice in myriad shapes and shades of blue was the highlight of this Zodiac cruise, with the fringing ice cliff blanketing the land.
During lunch the ship moved a few miles to Port Lockroy and our event of the afternoon. The weather continued to brighten during the afternoon while the representative from the charity who looks after Port Lockroy and the other British historic sites in Antarctic, the United Kingdom Antarctic Heritage Trust, came aboard after lunch to give us a brief introduction to the work that is done at Port Lockroy. Throughout the afternoon there was a Zodiac shuttle between the ship, Port Lockroy and its shop and museum and the penguins and whale skeletons at Jougla Point. The weather continued to improve throughout the afternoon and both the 4400 feet high Fief Mountains (aka Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs), and the 2825m high Mount Français were visible as a spectacular backdrop as we left the anchorage and headed towards the Gerlache Strait.
Cuverville Island & Orne Harbour: Just before 0630 the Expedition Leader roused everyone with the news that we had humpback whales near to us. We were treated to an adult and calf very close to the ship intent to gorging on the krill soup in which they were swimming. In fact, as we looked around it was obvious that this pair were not alone and that several whales could be seen in the vicinity.
At the start of breakfast at 0700 the ship continued the few miles towards Cuverville Island which could be seen just to the south of our position. At 0830 everyone was ready for the fleet of Zodiacs to transport them to the rocky beach on the island. The main attraction of Cuverville Island were the large numbers of Gentoo penguins. These birds were distributed at either end of the stony beach and indeed up on the crest of the hill well above the beach. We had plenty of time to stop and admire the lives of these enchanting birds as the snow gently fell. On the return to the ship, we went on a short Zodiac cruise round grounded icebergs in the vicinity, with several boats having an encounter with a curious leopard seal that wanted to get a closer look at us.
After lunch, the ship motored into Orne Harbour with light snow falling and a scout boat was put into the water to check a possible landing. This was a chance to land on the continent of Antarctica properly, by actually setting foot on anything other than an offshore island. The steep walk up the hill commanded amazing views of the surrounding area and we also spotted a chinstrap penguin or two and even a fur seal. On the return to the ship, we were surrounded by humpback whales – about 8-10 whales could be spotted within a short distance of the ship. Obviously, the krill hunting was good, and a bonus to those who just happened to be in a Zodiac returning from the landing to be so close to these magnificent creatures.
Tour Extensions
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Before joining our group in Buenos Aires, we are offering the opportunity to visit Iguazu Falls, often considered the most dramatic waterfalls in the world.
The Itinerary
Day 1 London to Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Fly by scheduled flight.
Day 2 Buenos Aires.
Arrive this morning and transfer to our hotel for an overnight stay. The remainder of the day is at leisure.
Day 3 Buenos Aires to Iguazu Falls.
After breakfast in the hotel transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight to Iguazu Falls. On arrival check in to the hotel and this afternoon enjoy a guided tour of the falls. Today we will explore the Brazilian side of the falls walking through the tropical rainforest. (B, L, D)
Day 4 Iguazu Falls.
Enjoy a full day at the Iguazu Falls on a series of guided walks seeing the upper and lower circuits and the triple frontier, the meeting point of Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. A highlight of today will be the 80 metre fall “Garganta del Diablo” (Devil’s Throat). (B, L, D)
Day 5 Iguazu Falls to Buenos Aires.
Return to the airport this morning and join our scheduled flight to Buenos Aires. On arrival transfer to the hotel and follow the main itinerary from day 2. (B)
Prices per person based on double occupancy
7 to 11 February 2025 Category Price Twin £2595 Single £2995 Price Includes: Economy class scheduled air travel, overnight hotel accommodation in Buenos Aires and two nights hotel accommodation in Iguazu Falls, meals as indicated (B – Breakfast, L – Lunch, D – Dinner), guided tours at Iguazu Falls, gratuities, transfers.
Not Included: Travel insurance.
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Book with Confidence
Speak to one of our advisors on 020 7752 0000