A Trip of a Lifetime

Antarctica Photo Tour

Antarctica is a trip of a lifetime. For those who want to see and experience the great outdoors in a way that few have had the opportunity to do, this trip is for you.

There will be opportunities to get up close and personal with penguins, seals and hopefully even whales. Our days in Antarctica will be long, with no real sunsets or sunrises. There will certainly be opportunities to photograph the landscape in perfect and not so perfect lighting conditions. You should be prepared for everything on this adventure, because it is sure to be an adventure.

The cruise is being managed by Polar Latitudes, a company known for promoting responsible tourism and environmental education. They are committed to giving you as much time as possible off the ship, anywhere between 6-8 hours a day, so that you will be totally immersed in all that is Antarctica. There's even an overnight campout on the ice where you will have the opportunity to do some long exposure photography. But don't plan on shooting the night sky as there will be no “night” on this journey. The darkest you can expect is twilight.
You will also have the opportunity to kayak through fields of glaciers. [Cost of overnight camping and kayaking is included; $550 value]
In between landings and on our way to and from Antarctica, there will be lots of opportunities to review images, go over camera settings and post processing. So bring your laptops to get the most out of this experience. Plus the views from the ship as it navigates between our land exccurisions will be spectacular
For those who are tagging along, Polar Latitudes has a optional Citizen Scientist Program. They have teamed up with researchers from around the world to help collect important data and you can participate by helping them. There will also be science lectures on board to help you better understand all that is Antarctica.

Although the Polar Latitudes ship is not a gigantic cruise ship capable of hosting thousands of passengers, you can expect fine dining and 4 star accommodations. And because it can only host a total of 155 passengers, you will not be fighting a thousand people to get your shot. Antarctica also regulates that only 150 people are allowed to land on any given day, so space is limited.

And the cool red jacket is yours to keep!

Accommodations

This trip is priced per person. If you are traveling alone you will be paired with another passenger for accommodations. If you would like a room to yourself the price will be multiplied by x1.7 (there is limited availability for this). Those traveling in pairs will be roomed together, unless you request otherwise.

The price depends on the type of accommodation you request. Please see below.
Porthole = $10,375(sold out)
Window = $11,700
Veranda = $26,750 (must be booked as a double)
Owners = $33,000(must be booked as a double)

Ship Specifications:
Maximum Passengers: 155
Builder: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries > Year built: 1990 > Flag: Cyprus
Class: DNV-GL > Ice Rating: E4/ICE - 1A
Length (LOA): 111 m / 364 ft > Beam (width): 17 m / 56 ft
Itinerary

Day 1
Ushuaia:
After a friendly welcome at the airport and a transfer to the Arakur Resort & Spa, you will have some time on your own to unwind or explore the southernmost city in the world, Ushuaia. There will be an evening briefing at the Arakur with an opportunity to ask questions and meet fellow passengers.
Day 2
Spend your morning relaxing at the hotel or exploring Ushuaia, before boarding our ship mid-afternoon. The Expedition Team and ship staff will welcome you on board, followed by a safety and orientation briefing and our Captain’s welcome dinner. We’re on our way to Antarctica!
Day 3-4
Drake Passage:
Join the Polar Experts as they share their vast knowledge of Antarctica, from its enchanting wildlife to its bold history. We'll also have the opportunity to discuss the technical aspects of photography as well as do some work in Photoshop and Lightroom. You may also opt to participate in the Citizen Science program on board or sit back and take in this fabled journey while catching glimpses of rarely seen wildlife. We'll always be on the look out for the many seabirds that escort our ship as we cross the Antarctic Convergence into Antarctica’s waters and noticeably cooler temperatures.
Day 5
South Shetland Islands:
Over time, the volcanic activity of the South Shetland Islands has created a geology unlike any other. We'll settle into our Zodiacs and spend most of our day exploring. You can expect a spectacular display of mountains, glaciers, and wildlife including Chinstrap and Gentoo penguins; and it’s not uncommon to share the water’s edge with Elephant and Fur seals. Whales are often spotted as well. All of the wildlife will be ready for their photographic debut, and we'll be there ready to take advantage! For kayakers, it’s time to get your first taste of gliding just inches off the pristine Antarctic water. Whether on land or sea, in Zodiac or kayak, be prepared for a fully immersive introduction to this incomparable part of the world.

Day 6-9
Exploring Antarctica:
It’s time to slow our ship down, to better explore the dreamlike world all around us and let the power of this amazing place sink in. Now is your opportunity to get up close and personal to all that is Antarctica. Here you'll have the opportunity to camp out for a night where we'll do long exposures of the landscape, but don't expect the sun to set or rise this time of year; instead we'll only get sunlight and twighlight. Be sure to have enough batteries and memory cards available as penguins, seals and whale sightings are all part of this incredible experience. And a passing iceberg, its magical blue light seeming to glow from within, is something you’ll want to share with friends back home. For those engaged in our Citizen Science Program, the important work of understanding and documenting this fragile environment continues.

Day 10-11
Drake Passage:
Time to leave this magical place inspired, exhausted, and most likely changed forever. As we make our way north, once again crossing the legendary Drake Passage, we'll take advantage of the time to review images, do a critique and talk about how to enhance them in post process.
Day 12
Ushuaia Disembarkation:
We disembark in the morning, with options to catch a flight to Buenos Aires or stay in
Ushuaia for more sights and adventure.
Meals

Once aboard the SS Seaventure all of your meals will be included along with soft drinks, wine and beer. Top shelf alcohol will be made available but not included in the price.
Medical

Other than being in good health, there are no immunizations or other medical requirements for this journey. A medical doctor will be on board the SS Seaventure for the duration of the voyage. Please take note that medical care is limited on this journey. Antarctica is the definition of "the middle of no where".
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