|
  Antarctica Basecamp - The Best activity voyage in Antarctica! A 13-day gay group cruise along the waterways of the Antarctic Peninsula: rugged, savage, and teeming with extensive wildlife. Sail the Beagle Channel and Drake Passage, seeing icebergs, massive mountains and ice shelves. Step onto the continent, itself, and live an explorer's dream. The Antarctic Peninsula Basecamp cruise offers you a myriad of ways to explore and enjoy the Antarctic Region. This expedition allows you to hike, snowshoe, kayak, go mountaineering, and even camp out under the Southern Polar skies.
Starting in Ushuaia, we head to the world's most remote continent: Antarctica! For thirteen days, we'll sail along the waterways of the Antarctic Peninsula, exploring the bays and trekking onto the continent, as often as possible. We'll sail down the Beagle Channel accompanied by albatross, then head across the Drake Passage toward the mainland. Along the way, we'll see the most stunning wilderness areas on earth, rugged and savage, teeming with extensive wildlife. We'll watch for Weddell seals, Elephant seals and rookeries of penguins. Along the coast, we'll see icebergs, massive mountains and ice shelves. On land we'll explore an old whaling station on Deception Island, and perhaps take a thermal dip in the waters at Pendulum Cove. Our ship is the mv Ortelius, a 108-passenger ship. This is not a private charter, but it should be a fun, friendly group from around the world. This is truly a voyage of a lifetime during which, weather and ice conditions permitting, you will encounter the ever-changing world of Antarctica.
Your experience visiting the Antarctic Peninsula may vary depending on local ice and weather conditions, the availability of landing sites and opportunities to see wildlife. The final itinerary will be determined by the Expedition Leader on board. Flexibility is paramount for expedition cruises.
Our trip starts in Ushuaia, Argentina, the southernmost city in the world and the capital of the province of Tierra del Fuego, Antarctica and Southern Atlantic Islands. For those arriving early you may want to check out a number of activities including: horseback riding, hiking, wind sailing, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, and diving. You may want to visit the nearby Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego, or Lago Escondido and Fagnano (lakes). The official tour starts when we board our ship on Day 1, but we highly recommend arriving in Ushuaia at least one day before sailing to minimize risk of travel problems impacting your cruise.
• Journey to Earth's most remote continent!
• See some of the most stunning wilderness on earth.
• View extraordinary concentrations of versatile wildlife such as penguins, seals and giant petrels.
• Glide alongside icebergs, as glacier fields rise up to rugged mountains.
• Ride a Zodiac raft to shore, then walk on the continent, a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
• Travel on the m/v Ortelius, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, the World Travel Award winner for Polar Expeditions.
• Enjoy this once in a lifetime trek with a friendly group of gay men, lesbians and friends. (Please note that this is not a charter, so our group will be among other passengers on this 108-passenger ship.)
Day 1 -
 Your voyage begins where the world drops off. Ushuaia, Argentina, reputed to be the southernmost city on the planet, is located on the far southern tip of South America. After a leisurely day in Ushuaia to get last-minute provisions, walk over to the pier to board our ship in mid-afternoon.
Starting in the afternoon, you embark from this small resort town on Tierra del Fuego, nicknamed “The End of the World,” and sail the mountain-fringed Beagle Channel for the remainder of the evening.
Days 2 - 3 -
 Over the next two days on the Drake Passage, you enjoy some of the same experiences encountered by the great polar explorers who first charted these regions: cool salt breezes, rolling seas, maybe even a fin whale spouting up sea spray. After passing the Antarctic Convergence – Antarctica’s natural boundary, formed when north-flowing cold waters collide with warmer sub-Antarctic seas – you are in the circum-Antarctic upwelling zone. Not only does the marine life change, the avian life changes too. Wandering albatrosses, grey-headed albatrosses, black-browed albatrosses, light-mantled sooty albatrosses, cape pigeons, southern fulmars, Wilson’s storm petrels, blue petrels, and Antarctic petrels are a few of the birds you might see.
Days 4 - 10 -
 Gray stone peaks sketched with snow, towers of broken blue-white ice, and dramatically different wildlife below and above. You first pass the snow-capped Melchior Islands and Schollaert Channel, sailing between Brabant and Anvers Islands.
Places you might visit includes:
Neumayer Channel
The vessel may position itself here, launching its multiple basecamp activities from the protected waters around Wiencke Island. You can enjoy the splendors of this alpine environment at sea with Zodiac and kayaking trips, or if you’re in the mood for a walk, there are possible snowshoe hikes and soft-climb mountaineering options farther inland. Naturally, favorable weather conditions determine the possible activities.
Port Lockroy
After sailing through the Neumayer Channel, you may get a chance to visit the former British research station – now a museum and post office – of Port Lockroy on Goudier Island. You may also be able to partake in activities around Jougla Point, meeting gentoo penguins and blue-eyed shags. At the nearby sites, such as Damoy Point there may be the opportunity for snowshoeing to the old ski-way, this is also one of our favourite camping sites.
Pléneau & Petermann Islands
If the ice allows it, you can sail through the Lemaire Channel in search of Adélie penguins and blue-eyed shags. There’s also a good chance you’ll encounter humpback and minke whales here, as well as leopard seals. Kayaking, glacier walks, and more ambitious mountaineering trips are the potential activities of this location.
 Neko Harbour
An epic landscape of mammoth glaciers and endless wind-carved snow, Neko Harbour offers opportunities for a Zodiac cruise and landing that afford the closest views of the surrounding alpine peaks.
Paradise Bay
You have the chance to make camp here like a true polar explorer, enjoying a supreme overnight Antarctic adventure.
Errera Channel
Possible sites in this area include Danco Island and Cuverville Island, but also the lesser known (though equally picturesque) Orne Island and Georges Point on Rongé Island.
On your last day of near-shore activities, you pass the Melchior Islands toward the open sea. Keep a sharp lookout for humpback whales in Dallmann Bay. You might also shoot for Half Moon Island, in the South Shetlands, with further chances for activities.
Days 11 - 12 -
 After several exhilarating days exploring the ice-covered land of Antarctica, we start our way back across the Drake Passage. Your return voyage is far from lonely. While crossing the Drake, you’re again greeted by the vast array of seabirds remembered from the passage south. But they seem a little more familiar to you now, and you to them.
Day 13 -
Our journey ends with early morning arrival in Ushuaia Harbor. A mid-morning transfer will be provided to Ushuaia Airport for flights around noon or later, or you can stay in downtown Ushuaia to begin your next adventure.
Ortelius was originally the Marina Svetaeva. Built in Gdynia, Poland in 1989, it served as a special-purpose vessel for the Russian Academy of Science. Later it was re-flagged and renamed after the Dutch/Flemish cartographer Abraham Ortelius (1527 – 1598), who in 1570 published the first modern world atlas: Theatrum Orbis Terrarum or Theater of the World. At that time his atlas was the most expensive book ever printed. Ortelius is classed by Lloyd’s Register in London and flies the Dutch flag.
The vessel has the highest ice-class notation (UL1, equivalent to 1A) and is therefor suitable to navigate in solid one-year sea ice as well as loose multi-year pack ice. Ortelius can accommodate up to 108 passengers and has an abundance of open-deck spaces. It is manned by 24 highly experienced nautical crew members, 20 hotel staff, eight expedition specialists (one expedition leader, one assistant, and six lecturer-guides), and one doctor.
Please be aware that a small number of cabins may have a partially obstructed view due to the size of the windows and the design requirements of the ship. For example, some windows may be partly obstructed in the lower half by a gangway. The best view is always on the outer deck or the bridge. Though our voyages are primarily meant to offer our passengers an exploratory wildlife program with as much time ashore as possible, Ortelius offers all the comforts of a standard hotel - along with a bar and lecture room. Flexibility assures maximum wildlife opportunities. As such, Ortelius carries 10 Zodiacs with 60hp Yamaha engines.
Passengers on a typical voyage range from in their 30s to their 80s, with the majority usually between 45 - 65. Our expeditions attract independent travelers from around the globe who are characterized by a strong interest in exploring remote regions. The camaraderie that develops on board is an important part of the Oceanwide experience, and passenger group include several nationalities.
In keeping with the spirit of expedition, dress on board is informal. Bring casual and comfortable clothing for all activities, and keep in mind that much of the scenery can be appreciated from deck - which can be slippery. Bring sturdy shoes with no-slip soles, and make sure your parka is never far away in case one of our crew shouts “Whales!” over the loudspeaker and you have to dash outside in a moment’s notice. Opt for layers, as it is comfortably warm aboard the ship though often cold on deck.
|
|
• Voyage aboard the m/v Ortelius vessel as indicated in the itinerary
• Shared accommodations aboard our Expedition ship;
• All meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee and tea;
• All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac;
• Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff
• Free use of rubber boots and snowshoes;
• Luggage transfer from pick-up point to the vessel on the day of embarkation, in Ushuaia;
• Pre-scheduled group transfer from the vessel to the airport in Ushuaia (directly after disembarkation);
• All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the programme;
• Comprehensive pre-departure material
• During our "Basecamp" departure, all offered activities (including camping, kayaking, snowshoe/hiking, mountaineering, photo workshop) as well as our standard included shore excursions and zodiac cruises) are free of charge;
• Lectures, videos, slide and film shows;
• Resident on-board medical officer;
• Gay group host (pending minimum participation) and assistance from local guides;
• Assistance with flights and extra nights in Buenos Aires or Ushuaia available upon request;
• We provide complimentary Medical & Evacuation Insurance for every US Resident on our group tours who does not have other coverage.
• Airfare to and from Ushuaia (we strongly suggest arriving at least one day, and preferably two days before sailing and departing 12:00 noon or later on final tour day);
• Visa, entry fee and passport fees (US, Canadian and Australian citizens must pay a Reciprocity Fee BEFORE departure from home; citizens of most other countries do not need visas);
• Airport departure taxes;
• Transfers from Ushuaia Airport to hotel and from hotel in Ushuaia to ship;
• Hotel nights in Ushuaia, Buenos Aires or other locations in Argentina;
• Warm weather clothing other than rubber boots and showshoes that the ship loans while on board;
• Alcoholic drinks;
• Meals ashore
• Excess baggage charges and all items of a personal nature such as laundry, bar, beverage charges and telecommunication charges;
•The customary gratuity at the end of the voyages for stewards and other service personnel aboard (guidelines will be provided);
• FUEL SURCHARGE: Oceanwide Expeditions reserves the right to levy a fuel surcharge if world fuel prices are significantly higher than budgeted when cruise prices were put in place.
The cruise starts and ends in the southernmost city in the world, the Beagle Channel port of Ushuaia, Argentina and the cruise dates are the date that the ship departs from Ushuaia and the date it returns to the port.
We strongly urge you to arrive in Ushuaia one or two days before the tour starts, since it is nearly impossible to catch up to the cruise if you miss the sailing. There is lots to do around Ushuaia in your extra time.
For those arriving early, we offer an optional afternoon guided tour to the “end of the world” monument in Tierra del Fuego National Park.
Most travelers will fly between their home airport and Buenos Aires (the international airport is EZE). Aerolineas Argentinas, American Airlines and LAN Argentina fly non-stop between Miami and Buenos Aires several times a week, and various other North American and European carriers fly to Buenos Aires from other hub airports. Most flights between North America and Argentina are overnight in both directions, but there are now a handful of morning departures from each end.
Within Argentina, all travelers will need to fly the four-hour flight between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia, at the southern tip of the country. At this time, Aerolineas Argentinas is the main airline flying this route, but LanArgentina flies this route once or twice a day.
Anyone visiting Iguazu Falls before the cruise will also need to reserve the two-hour flight between Buenos Aires and Iguazu.
Flights are not included in the tour package, but we would be happy to assist with flights.
Since nearly everyone will need to take a long flight to Buenos Aires, then a 4-hour flight to Ushuaia, we encourage you to consider spending at least a day or two in Argentina's vibrant capital while you are passing through. You may also want to take a few more days and take in the amazing waterfalls of Iguazu Falls. Please contact us if you'd like suggestions about how best to plan extra time to explore more of Argentina.
Antarctica is a challenging and remote destination. You should be physically fit and ready to deal with uncertain weather and seas, able to hike comfortably and able to deal with extremes in temperature.
So are most of the people who travel with us. You do not need to pay extra to travel by yourself. Prices are per-person, and the single supplement applies only if you'd like a room by yourself.
There are several cabin types on this ship. We are holding several TWIN PRIVATE WINDOW cabins for our group, with upgrades to Superior and reductions for Twin Porthole cabins available. Prices per person based on double occupancy. Please note that for guests asking us to match them with a roommate or roommates to share a cabin, roommates are matched by gender, but may or may not be traveling as part of gay group.
Our cruise offers an exciting 'open air' camping option, providing an intensive experience of the Antarctic wilderness for a limited number of participants. The camping is on the Antarctic Peninsula or nearby islands. The camping group will be taken ashore after dinner, and returns to the ship just before breakfast. We'll be ashore up to 10 hours, but it will never get completely dark during December-February cruises.
Polar sleeping bags and sleeping mattresses will keep campers dry, warm and comfortable during the night in the open air of Antarctica. Depending on the weather, you will have the option of sleeping in a 3-person tent or using individual waterproof, breathable bivouac bags (lightweight alternative to tents) to sleep under the open sky.
Our Basecamp cruises include one night on the ice for all interested participants, at no additional charge. For other cruises, one night on the ice can be reserved in advance (subject to availability), but the expedition team will offer more camping occasions when the ship will remain close to shore overnight and weather conditions permit. On shore a camp will be made in a place where wildlife will not be disturbed.
According to international regulations we are not allowed to take stoves, fuel nor food ashore, in order to prevent the spreading of diseases and seeds of alien plant species. (The exception is that our guides are able to carry emergency rations and survival gear, drinking water and medical supplies.) Toilet facilities are extremely limited since everything must be taken back to the ship. Details will be sent to those who select this option. Upon departure everything that was carried ashore must be returned to the ship.
Our tour director on a recent cruise said: "Camping on the Antarctic Continent is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. If you've never tried winter camping, this will definitely be a unique experience in many ways. (In December) there was daylight for about 20 hours, with a dusk-like darkness for the other 4 hours.
You have the choice of sleeping under the sky (no stars) or in tents. Most folks on a clear night choose to sleep out in the open providing it is not too windy.
The ship provides all the necessary equipment to provide comfort – a warm sleeping bag and a sleeping pad. The excursion starts after dinner and you will be back on the ship in time for breakfast the next morning around 7:30. There is nothing quite like the stillness and sheer beauty of a night out in the Antarctic wilderness. It's a special experience and one you will remember forever."
 
|
|
