Argentina Tours and cruises

Best of Patagonia / Hiking the Patagonia Classics / More Patagonia Treks / More Patagonia / Firecrowns & Penguins / Hidden Argentina
Best of Northwest / Buenos Aires / Calafate / Iguazu Falls / Bariloche / Ushuaia / Salta / Mendoza / Ibera Wetlands / Valdes Peninsula
Antarctic Cruises / Expedition Cruises / Iruya Trek / Kayaking / Wine Tours / Uruguay Escapes / Tango, Candombe & Samba

Cruises to Antarctica on the "Plancius"

Winner of the World Travel Award of "World’s Leading Polar Expedition Operator"

Antarctica and the Sub-Antarctic Islands are some of the last truly unspoilt regions of the world. The mysterious White Continent, with its multi-coloured ice caps, glistening glaciers and towering snow-capped mountains, offers unparalleled scenery and photographic opportunities. Enormous numbers of penguins, whales, seals and seabirds congregate in the food-rich waters along the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic shores. The future of Antarctica is crucial to the climate and ecology of the world and on most of our cruises we have an opportunity to visit one of the many scientific bases.

Our small, specially designed expedition ships journey south on Antarctica cruises, taking full advantage of the 24 hours of daylight during the austral summer. Ice-strengthened hulls and state-of-the-art equipment allow us to navigate safely through the pack ice and narrow waterways. Our zodiac excursions, guided by foremost Antarctic experts, offer the freedom to explore remote locations and observe Antarctica’s abundant wildlife.

Our Antarctica cruise itineraries include the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands, Falkland Islands (Malvinas), South Georgia and the South Orkney Islands. Our itineraries have been meticulously researched to offer exciting, rewarding and incredibly varied experiences but above all else the crew and expedition staff believe that flexibility is the key to a successful voyage. By constantly assessing and responding to environmental conditions at the time, they are confident of fulfilling visitors' well-deserved expectations of an experience of a lifetime.

The Antarctic Peninsula offers you the most dramatic scenery and biggest variety of wildlife in Antarctica. In the southern summer large ice-free areas provide breeding grounds for very large numbers of seabirds and seals.

Specials for 2011-2012 Season:

SPECIAL LATE OFFER – 35% OFF NEW BOOKINGS on these 2 departures:
PLA28 Feb 17 – 27, 2012 Antarctic Peninsula with Basecamp Plancius program (Quadruple cabins and twin deluxe cabins are not available anymore.)
PLA31 Mar 20 – 29, 2012 Antarctic Peninsula

2011-2012 Antarctica cruise Departures below on the "Plancius"

Code	Voyage	Nights	Start Dates	End Dates	Quadruple	twin w porthole	twin w window	twin deluxe	superior
PLA20	South Georgia	16	Oct. 16	Nov. 1
PLA21 S	Falklands - S. Georgia - Antarctic Peninsula	19	Nov. 1	Nov. 20	10750	12850	13350	14250	15650
PLA22 S	Weddell Sea & Antarctic Peninsula incl. Falkland Islands	13	Nov. 20	Dec. 3	7950	9290	9790	10350	11390
PLA23 ST	Exclusive South Georgia	14	Dec. 3	Dec. 17	9250	10650	11090	11790	12850
PLA24 S	South Georgia & AntarcticPeninsula	15	Dec. 17	Jan. 1	10450	12250	12850	13550	14990
PLA25 CK	AntarcticPeninsula	9	Jan. 1	Jan. 10	6590	7790	8090	8650	9550
PLA26	Falklands - S. Georgia - Antarctic Peninsula	18	Jan. 10	Jan. 28	12550	14890	15650	16550	18450
PLA27A CK	AntarcticPeninsula	10	Jan. 28	Feb. 7	7290	8650	9050	9550	10650
PLA27B CK	Antarctic Peninsula	10	Feb. 7	Feb. 17	7290	8650	9050	9550	10650
PLA28 CK	Antarctic Peninsula	10	Feb. 17	Feb. 27	7290	8650	9050	9550	10650
PLA29 CHKMP	Weddell Sea, Antarctic Peninsula, Basecamp Plancius	11	Feb. 27	March 9	7050	8350	8750	9290	10190
PLA30 CK	Polar Circle - Antarctic Peninsula	11	March 9	March 20	7050	8350	8750	9290	10190
PLA31 DK	Antarctic Peninsula	9	March 20	March 29	5290	6190	6490	6890	7550

I want to book this!

Including flight: The use of a flight with LAN Chile on voyages PLA22 - PLA24 enables us to limit the number of sea-days, making the voyage shorter, less expensive and yet still offer exactly the same quality voyage including the same number of landing days as on our classical departures.

Including one way flight: On voyage PLA22, a single flight (03 December) with LAN Chile from Port Stanley, Falkland Islands to Santiago de Chile is included in the ship's passage price. On voyage PLA24 a single flight from Santiago de Chile to Port Stanley, Falkland islands (17 December) is included in the price.
Including return flight: On voyage PLA23 a roundtrip flight with LAN Chile is included in the ship's passage price (Santiago de Chile - Port Stanley on 03 December and Port Stanley - Santiago de Chile on 17 December).

"Basecamp Plancius" Departure: During our "Basecamp Plancius" departure (PLA29) all offered activities (including camping, kayaking, snowshoe/hiking, mountaineering, photo workshops as well as our standard included shore excursions and zodiac cruises) are free of charge.

Fares include:
" Voyage aboard the designated vessel as indicated in the itinerary.
" A flight with LAN Chile from Santiago de Chile to Port Stanley, Falkland Islands is included in the ships passage price on voyage PLA22 (single flight Port Stanley - Santiago de Chile on 03 December 2011), voyage PLA24 (single flight Santiago de Chile - Port Stanley on 17 December 2011) and a return flight on voyage PLA23 (Santiago de Chile - Port Stanley on 03 December 2011 and Port Stanley - Santiago de Chile on 17 December 2011).
" All meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee and tea.
" Free use of rubber boots and snowshoes aboard 'Plancius'.
" Pre-scheduled group transfer from the vessel to the airport in Ushuaia (directly after disembarkation).
" All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac.
" Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff.
" All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program.
" Comprehensive pre-departure material.

Not included:
Any airfare (except for the above mentioned included flights on voyages PLA22, PLA23 and PLA24), whether on scheduled or charter flights; pre- and post land arrangements; transfers to the vessel; passport and visa expenses; Government arrival and departure taxes; meals ashore; baggage, cancellation and personal insurance (which is strongly recommended); excess baggage charges and all items of a personal nature such as laundry, bar, beverage charges and telecommunication charges; and the customary gratuity at the end of the voyages for stewards and other service personnel aboard (guidelines will be provided). Fuel surcharge.

Descriptions of Optional Activities

C = with field camping option. Supplement is US$100 per person per night. Max. of 15 campers per night
H= With hiking possibilities. .Daily long hikes of approx. 4-6 hours
K = with kayak option for US$350 supplement, including a dry suit. Min. of 4 (free on PLA 29 departure)
D = with diving option for US$420 supplement. min. of 4
M = mountaineering - free
P = photo workshop - free
S = snowshoe/hiking - free
T = trekking for skiers - min. of 6, max. of 12 - supplement = US$5980 per person

GENERAL NOTES

All rates are quoted per person in US Dollar, based on twin occupancy. US Dollar rates apply for all sales outside Europe. 5% discount will be granted for bookings for one or more consecutive voyages (except on legs within the Atlantic Odyssey). Please note that all dates & rates are subject to change. All voyages aboard 'Plancius' will operate subject to a minimum of 70 participants and aboard 'Quest' subject to a minimum of 35 participants.

Single occupancy: All cabins 1.7 times the share price

It is agreed that if world fuel prices will reach or exceed US Dollar 80 per Barrel Brent 90 days prior to departure operator reserves the right to levy a fuel surcharge of US Dollar 25 per passenger per night, to be paid by the contracting party of operator.

For 2012-2013 reservations made before 01 October 2011 we can offer a 5 % “early booking discount” on all departures except for voyages PLA26, PLA27

2012-2013 Antarctica cruise Departures below on the "Plancius"

Code	Voyage	Nights	Start Dates	End Dates	Quadruple	twin w porthole	twin w window	twin deluxe	superior
PLA20 ST	South Georgia	17	Oct. 17	Nov. 3	8650	10350	10850	11450	12250
PLA21 S	Falklands - S. Georgia - Antarctic Peninsula	19	Nov. 3	Nov. 22	11450	13650	14190	15250	16750
PLA22 CKMPS	Antarctic Peninsula "Basecamp Plancius"	11	Nov. 22	Dec. 3	7390	8790	9190	9790	10850
PLA23 CKS	Antarcic Peninsula with S. Shetland Islands	10	Dec. 3	Dec. 13	6690	8050	8390	8890	9890
PLA24 CKS	Antarcic Peninsula with S. Shetland Islands	9	Dec. 13	Dec. 22	6090	7190	7550	8050	8890
PLA25 CKS	Antarcic Peninsula with S. Shetland Islands	11	Dec. 22	Jan. 2	8050	9590	9990	10550	11750
PLA26	Falklands - S. Georgia - Antarctic Peninsula	18	Jan. 2	Jan. 20	13350	15890	16650	17690	19690
PLA27	Falklands - S. Georgia - Antarctic Peninsula	18	Jan. 20	Feb. 7	13350	15890	16650	17690	19690
PLA28 CK	Antarctic Peninsula	10	Feb. 7	Feb. 17	7650	9050	9490	9990	11150
PLA29 CK	Antarctic Peninsula	9	Feb. 17	Feb. 26	6890	8190	8490	9050	10190
PLA30 CDHKMP	Antarctic Peninsula, Basecamp Plancius	11	Feb. 26	March 9	7390	8790	9190	9790	10850
PLA31 CDK	Polar Circle - Antarctic Peninsula	11	March 9	March 20	7390	8790	9190	9790	10850
PLA32 DKP	Antarctic Peninsula - Whale Watching, Wildlife & Photography Voyage	9	March 20	March 29	5690	6690	6990	7490	8190

"Basecamp Plancius" Departures: During our "Basecamp Plancius" departures (PLA22 and PLA30) all offered activities (including camping, kayaking, snowshoe/hiking, mountaineering, photo workshops as well as our standard included shore shore excursions and zodiac cruises) are free of charge, except for scuba diving .