The Spirit of Antarctica • 12 Day ItineraryCruise at a Glance:
NOV 12 - Arrive in Ushuaia, transfer to your pre-voyage hotel. NOV 13 - Beagle Channel and Isla de Los Lobos Cruise (sea lion island) catamaran cruise before embarking on the Sylvia Earle. NOV 14 - Drake Passage Crossing NOV 15 - Drake Passage Crossing NOV 16 - Antarctic Peninsula NOV 17 - Antarctic Peninsula NOV 18 - Antarctic Peninsula NOV 19 - Antarctic Peninsula NOV 20 - Antarctic Peninsula NOV 21 - Drake Passage Crossing NOV 22 - Drake Passage Crossing NOV 23 - Disembark in Ushuaia, transfer to the airport Antarctic Peninsula Experience
It is almost impossible to describe the feeling of arriving in Antarctica. Spotting your first iceberg and taking a deep breath of some of the most fresh, crisp air on earth is an experience that will stay with you forever.
Once we arrive, the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands are ours to explore, and we have a host of choices available to us. Because we are so far south, we will experience approximately 18-24 hours of daylight and the days can be as busy as you wish. Your experienced expedition team will use their expertise to design your voyage from day to day, choosing the best options based on the pre-vailing weather, ice conditions and wildlife opportunities. We generally make landings or Zodiac excursions twice a day, along spectacular ice cliffs or among grounded icebergs, keeping watch for whales, seals and porpoising penguins. Zodiacs will also transport you from the ship to land, where you can visit penguin rookeries, discover historic huts and explore some of our favorite spots along the peninsula. While ashore you can wander along pebbly beaches or perhaps up snow-covered ridge-lines to vantage points with mountains towering overhead and ice-speckled oceans below. If you have chosen an optional activity, you will have the option to do participate in the activity whenever conditions allow, and of course keen polar plungers will have the chance to fully immerse themselves in polar waters - conditions permitting! The polar plunge can take place at any time during the voyage, so listen out for the announcement from the expedition team and get ready for the most exhilarating dip of your life! At this time of year, the wildlife is returning in great numbers and preparing for the summer season ahead, mating pairs of penguins, seals hauled out on ice, seabirds foraging in the open ocean and the arrival of gentle giants, the great whales returning to their feeding grounds. It’s a great time to capture those moments as nature re-emerges from its winter slumber. |
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Passports, Visas & Vaccinations
Passports, Visas
A Passport Book is required - please make sure it is valid through the end of May 2025. If required. Visas (including transit visas) and Reciprocity fees (paid prior to departure) are the passengers’ responsibility. Vaccines Vaccinations may be required for the countries you visit. You need to contact your local doctor or a travel doctor who will advise you of these requirements. Please note that vaccinations may be recommended some period in advance of travelling.Aurora Expeditions requires all crew and passengers to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to embarking on any of its cruises. Full vaccinations must occur four weeks prior to the embarkation date of the voyage and proof of vaccination will be required to be provided to Aurora Expeditions in advance of the voyage. As of 5th February 2022, Aurora will require all passengers to have also had a booster vaccination prior to boarding, if more than 5 months have passed after completing your primary COVID-19 vaccination (and at least 2 months after completing a J&J COVID-19 vaccination). It is important to note, that all travelers need to check and comply with the vaccine requirements of the country they are traveling to. Some countries have their own vaccination requirements. Officially certified proof of vaccination and booster will be required ahead of travel and we will require that it be emailed to Aurora no later than 15 days prior to departure. Aurora Expeditions does not require passengers to undergo tests for COVID-19 prior to embarkation or during the voyage. We do not conduct routine COVID-19 testing unless required by the relevant authorities. However, passengers who report symptoms of COVID-19 to the medical team during a voyage will be tested. |
The Sylvia Earle
Aurora's expedition ships are designed for discovery, serve as a base camp for adventure, and are capable of exploring the furthest reaches of the planet. The Sylvia Earle is name after laeding conservationist, marine biologist, oceanographer and explorer, Dr. Sylvia Earle. In 1998, Sylvia Earle was the first person selected as "Hero for the Planet" by Time Magazine and she is dedicated to protecting the world's oceans.
Every stateroom features an ocean view and nearly all include balconies. Staterooms and suites range in size and spaciousness to suit a variety of priorities. And while you are making enriching discoveries and new friends, your ship has everything you need to maximize relaxation and comfort (including heated floors in the bathrooms). The gym, sauna, cozy libary, restaurants, bar and presentation theater all feature floor-to-celing windows. There are outside decks, and also observation wings that extend outwards either side of the ship when something exiting is happening. |
