DRAKE STRAIT CRUISE

Duration: 7 nights Dates: 01.12.2023 – 08.12.2023; 12/26/2023 – 01/02/2024; 01/31/2024 – 02/7/2024; 02/11/2024 – 02/18/2024

Price: $13,995

Route: Punta Arenas, Chile – o. King George, Antarctica – Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands – King George Island – Puta Arenas

ICE-CLASS EXPEDITION VESSEL MAGELLAN EXPLORER

You can reach Antarctica in just a few hours and spend the time saved on the road exploring the treasures of the white continent. The flight allows you to avoid long sea crossings in choppy waters, which is suitable for travelers suffering from seasickness.

Route by day

Day 1. Arrival in Punta Arenas, Chile

Your adventure begins in the most populated city in southern Patagonia. Rising above the Strait of Magellan, Punta Arenas stands on one of the most famous historical trade routes and preserves the legacy of Chile’s rich history.

In the afternoon you will receive a briefing on the upcoming flight.

Day 2. Flight to King George Island and boarding the ship

We will cross the legendary Drake Passage in just a few hours, while the sea crossing would take several days. Our plane will begin to descend over the South Shetland Islands, and you will have the chance to admire the Antarctic landscapes from the air. After landing, we will stretch our legs a bit and explore the island, which houses several research stations, including the Russian one. Then you will board the Zodiac boats and transfer to the ship, which is ready to sail to the shores of the Antarctic Peninsula.

Day 3-6. Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands

We have to explore the western coast of the peninsula with its relatively ice-free waters. As we get closer to the White Continent, the views will become more and more breathtaking – sharp rocks, endless expanses of snow, sparkling ice taking on a wide variety of forms: from gigantic massive layers of glaciers to bizarre graceful icebergs refracting the light at the most unexpected photogenic angles. Antarctica is truly one of the few places in the world that sinks into the soul and remains in the memory for a lifetime… And due to the express flight, our cruise offers you to focus on the main thing, spending the maximum amount of time exploring the riches of this region.

Lots of activities await you both on board and off the ship. The captain and expedition crew will be on the lookout for whales and seabirds and will advise passengers of new sightings. And our lecturers will help make your acquaintance with Antarctica deeper and more interesting, expanding your knowledge about the peculiarities of local geology, history and wildlife.

But undoubtedly the highlight will be the daily excursions and landings on Zodiac boats, which are the best and perhaps most intimate way to experience the nature of the deep south. You’ll walk along beaches strewn with penguins and seals, cruise on Zodiacs among icebergs and through narrow, ice-bound straits, track whales that swim to the very surface of the water in search of food, watch leopard seals hunt penguins, see thousands of seabirds , visit historical sites associated with the names of the first explorers.

Day 7. King George Island – Puta Arenas

Landing on King George Island followed by a charter flight to Punta Arenas.

Day 8. Punta Arenas

If you have not planned to spend some more time in Chile for independent travel, then after breakfast the transfer will take you to the airport for your flight.

The description of this route is a general plan of the expedition. The route may change under the influence of external factors: weather, ice conditions, etc.

Included in the price:

Transfer from the airport to the hotel on 1 day;
Overnight at a hotel in Punta Arenas with breakfast;
Welcome dinner on day 1;
Transfer hotel – airport – hotel;
Flight Punta Arenas – King George – Punta Arenas;
Cruise to the Antarctic Peninsula;
Full board on board;
Wine, beer, juices and soft drinks during lunch and dinner;
Water, tea, coffee, cocoa and snacks at any time;
All landings and shore excursions;
Scientific and educational program on board;
Rubber boots for rent for landings on the shore.

Not included in the price

International air travel;
Visa support (if required);
Personal expenses: bar, communication, laundry;
Tip;
Any shore activities before and after the cruise;
Compulsory medical insurance covering evacuation from hard-to-reach places – $19.80 per person per day
Kayaking – $895 per person.

ICE-CLASS EXPEDITION VESSEL MAGELLAN EXPLORER

TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Length – 90.7 m
Width – 16.2 m
Draft – 4.3 m
Speed – 14 knots
Ice class – LR PC6
Crew – 60 people
Passengers – 100 people
Year of construction – 2019

“Magellan Explorer” is the first expedition ship in the world that was designed specifically for combined Antarctic programs (cruises with a flight through the Drake Passage). This luxurious vessel combines excellent expedition capabilities with boutique hotel ambiance.

Several international experts in the field of polar expeditions took part in its creation. Working in a team with designers, engineers, and shipbuilders, they found a number of technical solutions to make the expedition experience of passengers even more vivid. Magellan Explorer was built in Chile in 2019 in accordance with the latest Polar Code requirements. We invite you to take an Air Cruise on Magellan Explorer.

Interior, everything for passenger comfort

The elegant interior of the vessel was designed by renowned interior design studio Enrique Concha & Co., located in Santiago de Chile. Every detail, from colors to materials, has been carefully considered to make the boating experience unforgettable. The result is a modern space that combines comfort, style and functionality.

Vessel characteristics

The vessel is built to the latest Polar Code requirements and complies with Polar Ice Class 6 (Lloyd’s Register PC 6). Magellan Explorer is equipped with stabilizers for comfortable navigation, as well as bow and stern thrusters for greater maneuverability. To reduce its environmental impact, the ship is equipped with an energy recovery system that uses heat generated by the engines to heat the ship and provide hot water on board.

Public areas

Bar with a selection of local Chilean and foreign drinks
Gym and sauna
Well-stocked library with a collection of books on Antarctica in various languages
Local network with daily programs, international news, etc. with wireless access throughout the ship
Meeting room with multimedia resources and interactive science laboratory
Satellite internet is available at an additional cost, with wireless access throughout the ship
Front observation deck with bow access
The Zodiac boarding area is equipped with hangers, lockers and seating

Restaurants

The main restaurant serves buffet breakfast and lunch and à la carte dinner
There is an outdoor restaurant on the BBQ deck (weather permitting)
Express lunch available every day in the library
Premium Chilean wines are served during lunch and dinner
Snacks and drinks during the welcome and farewell celebrations
Stands with coffee, tea, chocolate and water in the library and bar 24/7 free of charge

Technical characteristics

Retractable stabilizers
Double body design
Teardrop-shaped vessel for polar navigation
Bow and stern thrusters
Modern navigation equipment
Ice radar with the latest technology
Two central ladders for operations on Zodiacs
Large warehouse for expedition equipment
Compliant with Tier III, the most stringent emission standard for toxic substances
Energy regeneration system
Fleet of 10 Zodiac boats

Photo gallery of the expedition

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