- Join this expedition cruise exploring the Antarctica and South Shetland
- Superb wildlife viewing opportunities on land and at sea
- Enjoy the freedom of being in the vast, ice-sculpted Antarctic wilderness

Drake Passage
From Ushuaia we navigate the Beagle Channel then head south across the turbulent Drake Passage and across the waters of the Antarctic Convergence. This meeting of cold polar water flowing north and warmer equatorial water moving south pushes nutrient rich waters to the surface, attracting a variety of seabirds, whales and other species.

Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland
Ice-capped mountains, crevassed glaciers and endless white expanses herald our arrival in Antarctica. The ship begins exploration of the coastal and island waters of the Antarctic Peninsula with landings and Zodiac cruising at historic and wildlife sites such as the Gerlache Strait, Port Lockroy, Neumeyer Channel, Neko Harbour and Paradise Bay. Conditions permitting, we'll attempt two excursions per day to watch for Chinstrap, Adelie and Gentoo penguins, various seal species including Leopard seals, a multitude of seabirds overhead and hopefully whales in the waters we navigate. Enormous icebergs and the sheer walls of their glacial parents provide virtually limitless photo opportunities. Later, reaching land at the South Shetland Islands we hope to sail into the flooded volcanic caldera of Deception Island and make a second landing at Half Moon Island.

MV POLAR STAR
Our ship is the first icebreaker to be fully converted and upgraded for expedition cruising and is renowned for being one of the safest and most comfortable ice class vessels available for polar cruising today. With its ice-breaking capabilities, M/V Polar Star can safely explore areas that can't be reached by most other Polar operators.

M/V Polar Star, member of the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO), meets and exceeds the latest SOLAS, ISM & MARPOL regulations for safety and the environment. The vessel can comfortably carry 100 passengers and is equipped with ten 16-man Zodiacs (sturdy inflatable boats) for excursions. The space available on board, and the organisation of the trip allows the sense of intimacy in keeping with our "small group" philosophy.

Life onboard
Excellent onboard facilities include: large panoramic lounge/lecture room affording fine views; library; shop; laundry; gym; bar; comfortable restaurant serving superb variety of international cuisine; friendly and attentive hospitality staff; onboard team of expert guides. The ship's "open bridge" policy offers general freedom of access on board throughout our voyage. The ship is informal, so casual, comfortable dress fine; there is a general no smoking policy on board, with a number of designated smoking areas on deck.

Specialist staff
M/V Polar Star takes pride in the high standard of the staff onboard, including: highly experienced ship crew; welcoming hotel staff; on-board physician; team of specialist expedition staff. En route, travellers will be rewarded with a comprehensive series of informative talks, lectures and discussions on subjects such as the natural environment, wildlife and regional heritage. Our on-board team are experts in their field, actively involved in current and contemporary research.

Excursions
When possible we plan at least two excursions each day. Some will be land based, with the opportunity to discover the surprisingly diverse flora and fauna of the area; others will be water-based exploration by Zodiac, perhaps cruising amongst icebergs or along coastlines marvelling at the marine life and dramatic landscapes around us. We only try to take a maximum of 12 passengers per 16-person zodiac, so that there's more room for comfortably taking pictures.

Cabins
Prices are based on the use of outward-facing, twin-share (K1) cabins. These are cosy and comfortable with two beds(one of which is a bunk, but the upper bed is not used), a porthole and share a toilet/shower with one other cabin. It may be possible to upgrade to a superior cabin with private facilities or single occupancy. Prices and availability on request.

Itinerary:

Day

Accommodation:
Transport: M/V Polar Star - an icebreaking ship that carries passengers to the ends of the earth in comfort with an informal, intimate style. It is compliant with all the necessary Maritime regulations and is a proud member of IAATO, the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators.
Comment: Travel in these extreme regions means that itineraries can and do change to take into account local weather, sea and ice conditions. Flexibility and a sense of adventure are the key to getting the most from expedition cruising.
Group: M/V Polar Star can comfortably carry just over 100 passengers, and Zodiac boats can carry up to 16 p
Staff: Our strong team of expert lecturers, specialist crew and ship staff ensure that we are looked after and well informed throughout the voyage. Their relaxed enthusiasm and expertise makes for a very informal and enjoyable experience!
Trip Reference: PSS2010