Bouvet Island - Solar Eclipse
Aboard the Aleksey Maryshev
 The first part of our voyage is south from Ushuaia to the Falkland Islands where we shall visit New Island, where we see Black-browed Albatrosses, Rockhopper Penguins and Sea Lions and the charming capital of Port Stanley. On our way to South Georgia we sail by the South Orkneys, where the Scotsman Bruce once wintered. At sea, we spot a multitude of albatrosses, petrels and fulmars. We call at Grytviken, a former Norwegian whaling station, where you may visit the excellent whaling museum and Sir Ernest Shackleton's grave. From South Georgia we sail to Bouvet Island, a volcano topped by an icecap and rich in seabirds and seals, where we will attempt to land. We then sail to Tristan da Cunha, followed constantly by many seabirds around the ship. Tristan has a small village and, on nearby Nightingale Island, albatrosses, petrels and millions of shearwaters, as well as Fur Seals and Elephant Seals can be seen. Now accompanied by flying fish, as well as birds and dolphins, we visit St. Helena where Napoleon lived in exile, and continue to Ascension Island, where we visit a Sooty Tern colony with over a million birds. Around these tropical islands there are great opportunities for snorkelling. We will witness a total Eclipse of the Sun, which will be visible from within a narrow corridor of about 160 km, before crossing the Equator. The Cape Verde Islands offer a great variety of natural attractions, including volcanoes, and are home to very friendly people.
Itinerary
Day 1 (24 Feb): Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina
This afternoon we embark from Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, the southernmost city in the world located in the shadow of the Andes and right at the Beagle Channel shore. We sail through this scenic waterway during the afternoon.
 Day 2: At sea
At sea, in the westerlies the ship is followed by several species of albatrosses and petrels.
Day 3: Falkland Islands
We spend the whole day on New Island, with among others, large colonies of Black-browed Albatrosses, Rockhopper Penguins and Sea Lions.
Day 4: Falkland Islands
Today we reach Port Stanley, the beautiful capital of the Falkland Islands. We can experience Falkland culture, which has some South-American characteristics as well as Victorian charm. In Stanley and surrounding area we can see an important number of stranded clippers from a century ago.
Days 5-6: At sea
At sea, on our way to South Georgia we will cross the Antarctic Convergence. Entering Antarctic waters, the temperature will drop as much as 10 degrees C. Near the Convergence we will see a multitude of southern seabirds near the ship.
Days 7-9: South Georgia
In South Georgia, we shall visit Elsehul, with its very active Fur Seal breeding beach, or Right Whale Bay. At Grytviken, an abandoned whaling village, where penguins now walk in the streets, we will also offer a visit to the Whaling History Museum, as well as to Shackleton's grave at King Edwards Point.
We will land in Royal Bay near a large colony of King Penguins and the remains of the German International Geophysical Year Station from the 19th century, later we intend to sail to Gold harbour to visit another King Penguin colony and to see many Elephant Seals and Fur Seals. We conclude our visit with a zodiac cruise in the magnificent Drygalskii Fjord and Larsen Harbour.
Day 10: At sea
Our vessel now takes us to the South Sandwich Islands.
 Day 11: South Sandwich Islands
In the rarely visited and uninhabited South Sandwich Islands (British), we will try to land on Zavadovski Island, and Visokoi Island, with names which bear memory to the Russian explorer Bellingshausen. These volcanic islands with an ice cap on the top are windswept and often shrouded in mist and fog, but do offer subtle pleasures. There is a nice variety of flora (mosses, lichens and flowering grasses) and fauna, such as Gentoo Penguins, Chinstrap penguins and Southern Giant Petrels. Elephant Seals and Fur Seals may also haul out at the beaches.
Days 12 – 14: At sea
In the westerlies we have a pleasant tailwind. Near the Antarctic Convergence, we observe many species and great numbers of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic seabirds.
Days 15 – 16: Bouvet Island
We will allocate these two days for landings at Bouvet Island. Due to the unpredictability of landings, we are allocating 48 hours to have multiple opportunities to land at Bouvet Island (Norwegian territory), another volcano in Antarctic waters topped by an ice-cap, with a rich fauna of seabirds and seals near the coasts. At the southwest side of the island we should have the best opportunities to land at Larsöya and Kapp Norvegia, which have some protection from the swell from the west. A third possibility is at Nyröysa, but this area is more exposed and partly out of bounds, as it is a nature reserve.
Days 17 – 20: At sea
In the westerlies we have side winds, which may slow us down. On both sides of the Antarctic Convergence, we observe many species and great numbers of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic seabirds. We also enter more temperate waters, with their own brand of species.
Day 21: Gough Island
Today we plan to approach the unique Gough Island, or do some zodiac cruising around the island, weather permitting. In 2004 we nearly circumnavigated the island, saw spectacular scenery and an unprecedented abundance of wildlife.
Days 22-23: Tristan da Cunha archipelago
In the Tristan da Cunha archipelago we call at the settlement on the west side of the main island. We will also try to make landings at Nightingale Island, with millions of seabirds, ranging from Yellow-nosed Albatrosses to Brown Noddies.
Days 24-27: At sea
We now enter sub-tropical waters with their own brand of seabirds and dolphins.
Day 28: St. Helena
We sail to St Helena where there is a good anchorage and a landing site. On this island, we will have ample opportunities to enjoy local culture, pleasant climate, endemic plants and birds. We will visit the site where Napoleon lived in exile. There will be opportunities to explore the Island on your own.
Days 29-30: At sea
As we head north we are for these two days cruising the tropical Atlantic Ocean.
Days 31-32: Ascension Island
Ascension Island – here we come! This British territory 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 take a zodiac-cruise around Boatswain Bird Island, where there is some fantastic snorkelling. We may also witness egg-laying sea turtles coming ashore at night.
Day 33: At sea
At sea.
Day 34 (29 Mar): Solar Eclipse - Equator
This day a total Eclipse of the Sun will be visible from within a narrow corridor of about 160 km, which traverses half the Earth. The path of the Moon's umbral shadow begins in Brazil and extends across the Tropical Atlantic to North Africa. In the morning (at 8.45 UTC) our ship will be positioned at the centre of the moon shadow at 2 degrees, 21 minutes, 6 seconds Southern Latitude / 16 degrees, 7 minutes, 2 seconds Western Longitude. The total Eclipse will last for 2 minutes, 40 seconds at an altitude of 24 Degrees in an area with virtually guaranteed open sky. In the evening we cross the Equator and have to pay our duties to Neptune.
Days 35-37: At sea
We witness the northbound spring migration of northern birds such as Arctic Terns and Long-tailed Skuas.
Day 38: Cape Verde Islands
The Cape Verde Islands offer a variety of natural phenomena and have friendly people. We land at Praia, on the main island Sao Tiago, where we will explore the island by bus. In the evening we will have the opportunity to visit a café in Praia, with Cape Verdian music and other expressions of local culture.
Day 39 (3 April): Sal, Cape Verde Islands
In the early morning, we plan to sail by Boavista with its satellite islets Curral Velho and Baluarte, breeding places for Magnificent Frigate-birds, Brown Boobies, and several species of procellariiformes. In the afternoon, we disembark on Sal, an extension of the Sahara desert, where we make a bus excursion to the southern coast of the island. At midnight (4 April, Day 40) we fly to Lisboa, or on 3 or 4 April, directly to the USA. Alternatively passengers can stay onboard and continue (without expedition staff and programme) to the Netherlands.
Note: All itineraries are for guidance only. Programmes may vary depending on local ice and weather conditions and in order to take advantage of opportunities to see wildlife. The final itinerary for each voyage will be determined by the Expedition Leader on board. Flexibility is paramount for expedition cruises.
Prices and departure dates
All prices are in Pounds Sterling.
Please enquire for prices and departures.
Note: The voyage might also be carried out by a similar sister vessel. Dates are subject to change.
Notes
All rates are quoted per person in Pounds Sterling, based on twin occupancy. Twin non private and Twin private cabins are available for single occupancy at 1.7 times the shared price.
A 5% discount will be granted for bookings for one or more consecutive voyages.
Prices include:
- Voyage aboard the vessel 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.
- Programme of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff.
- All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the programme.
- Comprehensive pre-departure material.
Prices do not include:
Any airfare, whether on scheduled or charter flights; pre and post land arrangements; transfers to / from the vessel; passport and visa expenses; Government arrival and departure taxes; meals ashore; baggage, cancellation and personal insurance; 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).
Please note that all dates & rates are subject to change. All voyages will operate subject to a minimum of 30 participants.
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