50 Degrees North offers unique, small-group expedition voyages to the Antarctic that allow you to enjoy the natural wildlife and scenery of some of the world’s most spectacular and pristine shorelines. This trip is a bird-lovers fantasy trip as it follows the birds and islands up the Atlantic Ocean.

Deckplan
Click here to view deck plan for the Plancius

Countries visited

• Antarctic Peninsula

Places visited

• Ushuaia
• South Georgia
• Weddell Sea
• The Antarctic Peninsula
• Geogh Island
• St.Helena

Transportation

M/v Plancius was built in 1976 as an oceanographic research vessel for the Royal Dutch Navy, and sailed for the Navy until 2004. She was completely rebuilt as a passenger vessel in 2009. M/v Plancius accommodates 114 passengers in 53 passenger cabins with private toilet and shower. All cabins offer comfortable lower berths (except for the 4 quadruple cabins). The vessel has a restaurant/lecture room, a spacious observation lounge (with bar), large open deck space (with full walk-around possibilities), and is equipped with 10 zodiacs for off ship and shore excursions. M/v Plancius was built for ice conditions, and has a strengthened bow and stern.

Included In Price

Voyage aboard the indicated vessel as indicated in the itinerary.
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 on Plancius
All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the programme.
IAATO fees and governmental taxes.
Comprehensive pre-departure material.

Meals Included

This tour includes 92 meals; 31 breakfasts 30 lunches 31 dinners

Not Included In Price

Any airfare, 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).

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

Important Information

2011/2012 Departures: Ninety days before the beginning of our first voyage (01 November 2011), the price of a barrel Brent Crude oil was 116 US $ (01 August 2011). We have been prudent about levying these surcharges, and have therefore closely monitored the fuel prices and hoped for a considerable price-decrease (*). Unfortunately the prices remained the same during this Summer and yesterday a barrel Brent Crude Oil was still 111 US $. It does not seem likely that for the coming Antarctic season, 2011-12 the fuel price will dip under 80 US $ again. Therefore we regrettably have to inform you that we will levy a non-commissionable a fixed fuel surcharge of US $ 400 per person for the Atlantic Odyssey voyage.

Day 1: Start Ushuaia

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In the afternoon, we embark in Ushuaia and sail through the Beagle Channel.

Accommodation

m/v Plancius

Meals Included

1 x Dinners

Day 2 to 3: Sail the Drake's passge

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In the Drake Passage we witness a multitude of Albatrosses, Petrels and Fulmars.

Accommodation

m/v Plancius

Meals Included

2 x Breakfasts
2 x Lunches
2 x Dinners

Day 4: Deception Island

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At Deception Island, we will try to land at Baily Head home to a colony of ten thousands Chinstrap Penguins (please note this landing is not always guaranteed and is only possible in good weather conditions). Good walkers may hike from Baily Head over the ridge of the crater into Whalers Bay, while our ship braves its entrance into the crater through the spectacular Neptune’s Bellow into the ring of Deception Island. Deception itself is a sub-ducted crater, which opens into the sea, creating a natural harbour for the ship. Here we find hot springs, an abandoned whaling station, many Dominican Gulls, Brown Skuas and Antarctic Terns. Wilson’s Storm Petrels and Black-bellied Storm Petrels nest in the ruins of the whaling station in Whalers Bay.

Accommodation

m/v Plancius

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 5: Set foot on the Antarctic Continent at Hope Bay

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At Hope Bay and Brown Bluff we hope to set foot on the Antarctic Continent. In this area chances are good for encounters with Gentoo Penguins, Weddell Seals, Leopard Seals and Orcas.

Accommodation

m/v Plancius

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 6: Be surrounded by huge table icebergs of the Larsen Ice Shelf

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From Devil Island at the tip of the Weddell Sea, we will be surrounded by huge table icebergs of the Larsen Ice Shelf. We will climb a hill with a gentle slope from where we have a great view on the surroundings. At Paulet Island we will observe the last individuals of a large Adelie Penguin colony near the ruins of the Nordenskiöld Expedition from the beginning of the 20th century.

Accommodation

m/v Plancius

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 7: Float the sea ice out of the Weddell Sea

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At sea we will probably sail along the sea ice drifting north out of the Weddell Sea. On the floes we may see some juvenile Emperor Penguins.

Accommodation

m/v Plancius

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 8: Visit the South Orkney Islands

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On our way north we plan to visit South Orkneys, where the Scotsman Bruce once wintered and where we now may visit the friendly people of an Argentinean base.

Accommodation

m/v Plancius

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 9 : At sea heading towards South Georgia

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At sea, on our way to South Georgia, we witness a multitude of Albatrosses, Petrels and Fulmars.

Accommodation

m/v Plancius

Meals Included

3 x Breakfasts
3 x Lunches
3 x Dinners

Day 10 to 12: Explore South Georgia, nature's paradise

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In South Georgia we begin our visit with zodiac excursions in the magnificent Drygalski Fjord and Larsen Harbour. In Cooper Bay we will observe Chinstrap Penguins and Macaroni Penguins and breeding Light-mantled Sooty Albatrosses.

On Salisbury Plain we will see a huge King Penguin colony, elephant seals and fur seals. On Prion Island in the Bay of Isles we can see breeding Wandering Albatrosses. At the end of our time in South Georgia we will visit the abandoned whaling settlement in Grytviken, where now the penguins walk through the streets, and King Edwards Point where the grave of Shackleton lies.

Accommodation

m/v Plancius

Meals Included

4 x Breakfasts
4 x Lunches
4 x Dinners

Day 13 to 17: Sail the Westerlies, crossing the Antarctic Converence

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In the westerlies we have a pleasant tailwind. On both sides of the Antarctic Convergence, we observe many species and great numbers of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic seabirds.

Accommodation

m/v Plancius

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 18 : Visit the unique Gough Islands

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Today we plan to approach the unique Gough Island for zodiac cruising around the island, as always weather permitting. In previous years we managed to circumnavigate all but four miles of the 33 mile circumference of the island in the ship, saw spectacular scenery and an unprecedented abundance of wildlife. We felt very privileged to be among the few visitors who have been able to experience Gough and in particular, to see it at such close quarters and in such favourable conditions. We hope to be lucky to repeat this unique experience with you.

Accommodation

m/v Plancius

Meals Included

3 x Breakfasts
3 x Lunches
3 x Dinners

Day 19 to 21: Visit the Tristan da Cunha Archipelago

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In the Tristan da Cunha archipelago we plan to call on the settlement at the west side of the main island. We will also try to make landings at Nightingale Island and Inaccessable Island with millions of seabirds ranging from Yellow-nosed Albatrosses to Brown Noddies. We allow one day in reserve for bad weather. Please note that we will try and approach for landings, however due to the weather conditions this is not always possible.

Since we began our Atlantic Odyssey's (1998) we failed during 30% of the voyages to make landings in the Tristan da Cunha archipelago, due to adverse weather.

Accommodation

m/v Plancius

Meals Included

4 x Breakfasts
4 x Lunches
4 x Dinners

Day 22 to 25: At sea entering sub-tropical waters

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At sea, we now enter sub-tropical waters with their own species of seabirds and dolphins.

Accommodation

m/v Plancius

Meals Included

3 x Breakfasts
3 x Lunches
3 x Dinners

Day 26 to 28: Enjoy the local culture at St. Helena

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St. Helena has a good anchorage and landing site. On this island, we will have ample opportunities to enjoy local culture, pleasant climate and endemic plants and birds. We will visit the place where Napoleon lived in exile. There will be opportunities to explore the Island on your own and for snorkelling in the shallow surf near a wreck where we can find a lot of fishes.

Accommodation

m/v Plancius

Meals Included

3 x Breakfasts
3 x Lunches
3 x Dinners

Day 29 to 30: At sea

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At Sea heading towards Ascension Islands

Accommodation

m/v Plancius

Meals Included

2 x Breakfasts
2 x Lunches
2 x Dinners

Day 31: Finish Ascension Island

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Ascension Island is a dry volcanic island with a moist and richly vegetated top. The Sooty Tern (wide-awake) colony sometimes consists of more than 1 million breeding pairs. We will try to climb the moist summit of Ascension Island and make a zodiac-cruise around Boatswain Bird Island offering also great opportunities for snorkelling. We may witness egg-laying sea turtles coming ashore at night.

Some of our passengers may disembark and fly with the scheduled RAF (Royal Air Force) flight to Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, UK. Others may continue their voyage to Cape Verdes.

Accommodation

end of trip

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts