• Expert Expedition staff
• All accommodation
• All meals whilst on board and B&B whilst in Ushuaia
• All shore excursions and Zodiac cruises with expert expedition team
• All multi-activities and equipment including: Kayaking / snowshoeing / Mountaineering / Camping / Photo-workshops
• Waterproof boots supplied (men's USA sizes 8-14 and women's USA sizes 3-9)
• Single timed airport transfer Ushuaia Airport on disembarkation
• Fuel Surcharge

• Travel insurance

• Tips for staff

• Airport transfers on arrival in Ushuaia

• Transfers to/from vessel other than as described

• Dinners and lunches whilst in Ushuaia (if applicable)

• Airport departure taxes

• Transfers between airports in Buenos Aires

• Hotel night in Buenos Aires (if applicable),

• Miscellaneous expenses - drinks and souvenirs etc.

On arrival in Ushuaia you will need to take a taxi to the hotel.

We have included a night in Ushuaia for you, if you would like another additional night, just in case of major flight delays please do call us for a quote.

On return to Ushuaia after your voyage you will disembark the ship at approximately 8am. A transfer from the port to the airport is provided after disembarkation between 8-9am. No other transfers are included. You should not book flights before12 midday on this day.

If your flight is in the early hours of the morning on departure we advise that you book a hotel room in Ushuaia. You will need to take a taxi from the port to the hotel and then to the airport for your flight. Please do let us know as soon as possible if you require extra hotel nights.

Hotel and ship contact details and an emergency number will be provided with your booking confirmation.

Breakfast only is included while staying in Ushuaia. All meals while aboard are included in the holiday price. We recommend you allow about US$25 per meal in Ushuaia.

Water from the taps may not be drinkable in all locations on this trip - please check with your guide. We recommend taking water purification tablets and a reusable bottle with a filter such as Water-to-Go, which can both be used to help make safe other water sources. Please note that we do not encourage the purchase of single use plastic bottles.

On board the ship a diverse range of international dishes are available. Meals are prepared and catered by professional chefs and all meals are included in the holiday price. Special dietary requirements, including vegetarianism, can be accommodated with advance notice (please advise at the time of booking). Coffee, tea and water are all provided free of charge. All other beverages, alcoholic and non-alcoholic, are not included and can be prurchased in the dining room or the lounge areas.

During this trip the group will spend 1 night in a hotel in Ushuaia and 10 or 11 nights on board the MV Plancius, the MV Ortelius or the MV Hondius (Depending on departure date). Standard cabins on the MV Plancius, MV Ortelius and MV Hondius are quad berth cabin with porthole. All cabins have en-suite facilities. All accommodation is on a sharing basis. If you are travelling by yourself you will be paired up with another single client of the same sex. Upgrades are available to triple or twin berth with porthole, twin berth with window, and superior/ suite. Depending on availability, it is also possible to arrange a single cabin. Please contact the office for upgrade and single cabin prices. Please note that if you wish to upgrade ensure that you book early to avoid disappointment.

An international team of Polar experts and field guides is enthusiastic about sharing their in depth knowledge with lectures, briefings and field excursions. Lectures are selected and relevant to the destinations we travel to. We cover major topics such as marine biology, geography, geology, glaciology, ornithology and history. Our staff is skilled, trained and qualified in the activity they are in charge of: mountain guiding, photography, kayaking, zodiac driving. Expedition guides organize the informative ship program and actively guide our shore excursions in different languages but always English as well.

Prices onboard are in Euros or US dollars. It is not practical to set a recommended amount for personal spending money on a holiday like this. All meals while on board are included in the trip price. The main extra spend on board will be on drinks and this will very greatly from person to person. A drink onboard costs from Euros 2.50. On board ship, bar bills can be put on a tab and paid at the end of the cruise by credit or debit card or in cash Euros or US dollars You will also need some money for any meals taken in Ushuaia and for tips. As a guide, we recommend you allow $10 - 15 per day for tips to your crew and expedition staff. It is possible to withdraw local currency at ATM’s in Ushuaia, but we recommend that you bring a minimum of US$200 in cash for emergency situations where you are unable to withdraw money from ATMs.

The customary gratuity to the ship’s service personnel is made as a blanket contribution in one envelope at the end of the voyage which is divided among the crew and staff. You will receive detailed guidelines aboard. Tipping is a very personal matter and the amount you wish to give is at your discretion. It is better for the crew and staff, if you can give them cash, either US Dollars or Euros. You may give individually and / or communally as a personal ‘thank you’ to one or more of the ship’s personnel. As a guide, we recommend you allow $15 - 20 per day for tips to your crew and expedition staff.

BASECAMP – OUR ACTIVITIES

ZODIAC CRUISING & SHORE PROGRAM:

This is our core activity: guided shore excursions, walks and wildlife spotting and zodiac cruises are included in the fare and will be offered to all passengers during the voyages. Our voyages are primarily defined as explorations and we spend as much time ashore as possible. We can be flexible, taking advantage of wildlife opportunities by using our zodiacs for both landings and cruises. Our knowledgeable guides assist on these outings, providing detailed information. This is supplemented by lectures on board which covers topics such as wildlife, history and true emotions.

KAYAKING:

We plan to offer 3-4 full days of kayak excursions parallel to all other activities (6-7 outings morning, afternoon or evening). Basic kayak experience, appropriate outdoor clothing and physical fitness is essential. The maximum number is limited to 14 kayakers per outing. Special kayak gear will be provided: single seat and double seat kayaks, neoprene wet suits, life vests. Kayakers will bring

their personal warm and protective clothes. An expedition kayak guide will supervise the activity. The kayakers will be accompanied by a safety zodiac boat.

1 kayak excursion free of charge. Every passenger will be able to take advantage of at least 1 outing but it can be more availability allowing. Kayaking must be pre-booked and you will have the opportunity to do this when you receive your booking confirmation. There are no waitlists for any extra outings that may be offered.

PHOTO WORKSHOP:

During the voyage we offer photo workshops for beginners and advanced photographers under the supervision of a photo expert on board. Everyone is welcome to participate, no previous experience required. The workshop group will be accompanied by the photo expert during activity ashore. The maximum participants per photo workshop is aimed at 20 participants per outing per guide, so maximum attention can be paid to individuals. The work shop group will be taken on shore excursions whenever opportunities arise. Participants with a special interest in photography will bring their personal photo equipment. During cruise days everyone will be able to listen into photo lectures in order to learn more about objects, exposures and photo composition. The workshop intention is not to instruct on how to use specific camera models, but more to give an insight on better photo results by respecting basic rules of photography. Photographers can also take part in other activities of their choice.

The photo workshop must be pre-booked and you will have the opportunity to do this when you receive your booking confirmation.

SNOWSHOEING & HIKING:

We plan to offer several possibilities to become active ashore. There will be easy, moderate and more demanding walks on offer in the vicinity of the landing sites. There are walks on offer which suit everyone’s capability. In the Antarctic we are aiming at two hikes per day, each 2 - 3 hours long during morning and / or afternoon landings (lunches onboard). In the Arctic we offer several full day walks of up to 5-7 hours (with packed lunch). Hikers are recommended to bring a proper pair of hiking sturdy waterproof boots and gaiters. Rubber boots suitable for hiking will be provided. Hikes will be guided by experienced expedition guides.

Snowshoeing:

Especially on early departures at the beginning of the season there are still snow covered areas. Snowshoes are easy to use and don’t require any technical skills. They make it easier and safer to walk on snow surfaces. They are available free of charge for everyone on board, fit all boot sizes and can be used in combination with the Oceanwide rubber boots.

Snowshoeing must be pre-booked and you will have the opportunity to do this when you receive your booking confirmation.

MOUNTAINEERING:

This is technical and more strenuous activity for mountaineers who wish to walk beyond the shore radius in order to reach higher grounds and view points. Mountaineers walk in rope parties under the leadership of a certified mountain guide mostly across glaciated environment in Antarctica. Depending on the landing site, glacier walks can vary from half day to full day outings. In general we plan to offer 4-5 glacier excursions parallel to all other activities. Mountaineering knowledge is preferable, but not required. Physical fitness is essential. The maximum number is limited to 6 mountaineers per rope party. Special glacier equipment will be provided: ropes and carabiners, harnesses, helmets, ice axes and crampons. Participants will bring their personal protective outdoor clothes, mountaineering boots (B2 or B3, leather or plastic) suitable for using crampons. A qualified mountain guide and assistant will supervise and guide the activity for a maximum of 12 mountaineers at a time. Note that you are not allowed to ‘visit the toilet’ whilst on Antarctica (Antactic Treaty/IAATO Regulations). We recommend you bring a ‘pee bottle with a large opening (e.g. Nalgene) for this purpose. For human waste we provide biodegradable poo bags which have to be taken back to the ship for disposal.

1 mountaineering excursion is free of charge. Every mountaineer will be able to take advantage of at least one outing but it can be more. Space is limited to 48-60 participants during the voyage, first come first serve.

Mountaineering must be pre-booked and you will have the opportunity to do this when you receive your booking confirmation.

CAMPING:

We plan to offer 3 - 4 camp nights during the voyages. Everyone can participate, no previous experience is required. The maximum number is limited to 30 persons per night. The camping group will be taken ashore after dinner, and returns to the ship just before breakfast. On shore a camp will be made in a place where wildlife will not be disturbed. Special gear and field equipment will be provided: tents, wind and waterproof bivouac bags, mattresses and polar sleeping bags provide comfort during the night. Campers bring their personal warm and protective clothes. Expedition guides will conduct the activity ashore.

Note that you are not allowed to ‘visit the toilet’ whilst on Antarctica (Antactic Treaty/IAATO Regulations). We provide a portable toilet facility for the night, but we encourage use of the facilities on board and we recommend that you bring a ‘pee bottle’ with large opening to avoid use of the portable toilet during the night.

Camping must be pre-booked and you will have the opportunity to do this when you receive your booking confirmation.

For this holiday you should take one piece of luggage and a daypack. Luggage with wheels is useful for this holiday. For international flights please check your baggage allowance with your airline (the baggage limit on the domestic flight between Buenos Aries and Ushuaia is 15kg). 

Please note that you should be able to carry your own luggage.

For each holiday there is a minimum number of participants required to enable it to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to run'. You can check the trip status for each departure in the ‘Dates and Prices’ table. Other than in exceptional circumstances, we will not cancel a trip once it has achieved this guaranteed to run status so you are free to proceed with your international flight booking and other travel arrangements.