ANTARCTICA AND THE CHILEAN FJORDS CRUISE/TOUR
Sailing on the MS NORDNORGE of Norwegian Coastal Voyages
February 12-March 2, 2003
Complete cruise/tour including round-trip air from New York from $4340.00.
The legendary coastal ships of Norway are specially built for the demanding waters of the Polar Regions. Now, for the first time, a ship of this legendary service visits the southern hemisphere, sailing to Antarctica! The comfortable MS NORDNORGE is our home for an extraordinary voyage along the fjord-dotted coast of Chile, through the Straits of Magellan, around Cape Horn, and across the Drake Passage to the vast ?white continent? of Antarctica. Weather permitting, the program includes landings on the Antarctic Peninsula and a complete program of shore excursions and tours. Rates include all shipboard meals, transfers, pre- and post-cruise hotel accommodations in Santiago and Buenos Aires, and round-trip air from New York with air add-ons available from many other U.S. cities.
Our February sailing offers high summer weather with a good chance of sunny days and untroubled seas. The long days of the polar summer ensure virtually continuous daylight off Antarctica. The MS NORDNORGE was built for the demanding ocean conditions that can occur in polar waters. Built in 1997, she is one of the ?New Generation? of Norwegian coastal steamers. The MS NORDNORGE is 404 feet long, with a beam of 64 feet. She is fully stabilized and has six passenger decks. Although normal berth capacity is 464, only 350 beds will be sold on this voyage to ensure an uncrowded passage. On-board facilities include an elegant dining room; the Panorama Lounge; a Club Bar; library; fitness room; boutique; unusually large areas of covered, heated seating facing panoramic picture windows, and expansive open decks. The decks normally reserved for cars in Norway provide space for specially built zodiac boats used for landings in Antarctica. Registry and crew are Norwegian.
The truly compelling reason to take this cruise/tour is to see some of the most sublime scenery and wildlife on earth on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure! The program begins with included flights to Santiago, Chile, where we begin with an included hotel stay and tour. We then fly to Puerto Montt and tour this center of the Chilean Lake District before boarding the MS NORDNORGE for our 14-day cruise.
The southern coast of Chile presents waters reminiscent of Alaska and Norway. The peaks of the Andes hug a shore incised by deep fjords and marked by a myriad of offshore islands. As Cape Horn approaches, the scene expands to one of awesome majesty as the mountains literally plunge into the sea. We round the legendary Straits of Magellan before crossing the Drake Passage to view the icy immensity of Antarctica.
Four days are devoted to exploring the northern Antarctic Peninsula. Weather permitting, daylight cruising and zodiac landings are planned at Half Moon Island, the Lemaire and Neumayer Channels, Port Lockroy and Paradise Harbor. Great colonies of penguins, kelp gulls, arctic terns, killer and humpback whales and elephant seals are likely to be seen. After recrossing the Drake Strait, we disembark at Ushuaia, Argentina, the ?town at the end of the world?. We fly to Buenos Aires for a brief tour and final hotel night before taking our included return flights to the United States. Complete details follow. Call us soon to ensure space on this extraordinary voyage!
Your Itinerary
Day 1:
Day One, Wednesday, February 12 (D on the flight)
Fly to Santiago, Chile. Our included Lan Chile flights depart New York for the overnight service to Santiago, Chile. Flights also are available from Los Angeles at a slightly higher cost, and add-on fares are available from many other cities.
(D)
Day 2:
Day Two, Thursday, February 13 (B on the flight)
Free day in Santiago. Flights arrive in Santiago this morning. We transfer to our hotel, with the balance of the day at leisure to rest after the flight. An afternoon optional tour is available for those who prefer sightseeing.
(B)
Day 3:
Day Three, Friday, February 14 (B,L,D)
Tour Santiago and Puerto Montt; board MS NORDNORGE. We enjoy free time this morning for optional tours of Santiago, discovering Chile?s beautiful capital city. Next we fly to Puerto Montt, gateway to the renowned Chilean Lake District, where we enjoy an afternoon tour. Towering volcanoes and beautiful waters surround Puerto Montt. This evening we board the MS NORDNORGE, enjoying dinner and a lecture on Chiloe Island, tomorrow?s first port call.
(B) (L) (D)
Day 4:
Day Four, Saturday, February 15 (B,L,D)
Call at Castro on Chiloe Island. This morning we arrive at Castro, the main port on beautiful Chiloe Island. The city has a distinctly Spanish feeling, which we discover on our included shore tour. This afternoon?s on-board lecture explains the beguiling local myths and culture.
(B) (L) (D)
Day 5:
Day Five, Sunday, February 16 (B,L,D)
Call at Puerto Chacabuco; inland lake/waterfall tour to the ?Country behind the Mountains?. We call at Puerto Chacabuco and enjoy an overland tour to the magnificent ?Country behind the Mountains?, a region of shimmering lakes, waterfalls and high peaks. We also visit the largest town in the region, Coyhaique, noted for its fine seafood.
(B) (L) (D)
Day 6:
Day Six, Monday, February 17 (B,L,D)
Sail past Puerto Eden; call at Caleta Tortel. Today is spent sailing along the rugged coast past Puerto Eden. This region is one of the few areas of Chile mainly populated by native Indians. Weather permitting, we use our zodiacs for a visit to an isolated village, Caleta Tortel, noted for its unique elevated wooden roads and walks.
(B) (L) (D)
Day 7:
Day Seven, Tuesday, February 18 (B,L,D)
The Straits of Magellan. Views of fantastic sounds, fjords and mountains surround us as we circuit the legendary Straits of Magellan. Wind and weather permitting, zodiacs are used for a landing to explore the unique flora and fauna on shore. Our on-board lectures focus on the long history of this demanding passage and on its extraordinary geology.
(B) (L) (D)
Day 8:
Day Eight, Wednesday, February 19 (B,L,D)
Call at Punta Arenas. We call at Punta Arenas, Chile?s southern-most port. Shore excursions are not included here; but an interesting selection of tours are offered. These include a trip to visit the inland farms of the ?pampas? region and a tour of the 19th century city of Punta Arenas, which has a distinctly ?Dickensian? feeling.
(B) (L) (D)
Day 9:
Day Nine, Thursday, February 20 (B,L,D)
Sail the Beagle Channel and ?round? Cape Horn. We sail through narrow sounds beneath towering mountains, and pass into the Beagle Channel, named for the flagship of Captain Cook. We marvel at the grandeur of the peaks of Patagonia rising heroically above the sea. This evening we cross the Moroy Channel past Cape Horn, the southern tip of South America. Here the South Pacific and South Atlantic Oceans join.
(B) (L) (D)
Day 10:
Days Ten and Eleven, Friday and Saturday, February 21, 22 (B,L,D)
Drake Passage. As we cross the open waters of the Drake Passage, we enjoy on-board lectures on Antarctica, the vast southern continent.
(B) (L) (D)
Day 11:
Days Ten and Eleven, Friday and Saturday, February 21, 22 (B,L,D)
Drake Passage. As we cross the open waters of the Drake Passage, we enjoy on-board lectures on Antarctica, the vast southern continent.
(B) (L) (D)
Day 12:
Days Twelve, Thirteen, Fourteen and Fifteen, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, February 23, 24, 25, 26 (B,L,D)
Cruising Antarctica. Over the next four days weather, ice and sea conditions will dictate our exact agenda. Stops noted below could be skipped or changed if required for the safety of the ship or the comfort of the passengers.
The vast ?White Continent? of Antarctica is more than half the size of North America. While enjoying four days along its coast, we focus on the scenic grandeur of the northern Antarctic Peninsula and near-by islands and scenic passages. Planned visits (with zodiac landings when possible) include Half Moon Island, an area noted for its penguins, kelp gulls and Antarctic terns. We sail the glacier-lined Lemaire Channel, perhaps the most beautiful passage in Antarctica. Humpback and killer whales are common here, as are penguins and elephant seals. The voyage continues with a passage of the Neumayer Channel, with majestic cliffs and a stop at Port Lockroy. Gentoo penguins and blue-eyed cormorants are common here. Finally we call at Paradise Harbor, renowned for ice-cliffs, floating icebergs and penguin colonies.
(B) (L) (D)
Day 13:
Days Twelve, Thirteen, Fourteen and Fifteen, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, February 23, 24, 25, 26 (B,L,D)
Cruising Antarctica. Over the next four days weather, ice and sea conditions will dictate our exact agenda. Stops noted below could be skipped or changed if required for the safety of the ship or the comfort of the passengers.
The vast ?White Continent? of Antarctica is more than half the size of North America. While enjoying four days along its coast, we focus on the scenic grandeur of the northern Antarctic Peninsula and near-by islands and scenic passages. Planned visits (with zodiac landings when possible) include Half Moon Island, an area noted for its penguins, kelp gulls and Antarctic terns. We sail the glacier-lined Lemaire Channel, perhaps the most beautiful passage in Antarctica. Humpback and killer whales are common here, as are penguins and elephant seals. The voyage continues with a passage of the Neumayer Channel, with majestic cliffs and a stop at Port Lockroy. Gentoo penguins and blue-eyed cormorants are common here. Finally we call at Paradise Harbor, renowned for ice-cliffs, floating icebergs and penguin colonies.
(B) (L) (D)
Day 14:
Days Twelve, Thirteen, Fourteen and Fifteen, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, February 23, 24, 25, 26 (B,L,D)
Cruising Antarctica. Over the next four days weather, ice and sea conditions will dictate our exact agenda. Stops noted below could be skipped or changed if required for the safety of the ship or the comfort of the passengers.
The vast ?White Continent? of Antarctica is more than half the size of North America. While enjoying four days along its coast, we focus on the scenic grandeur of the northern Antarctic Peninsula and near-by islands and scenic passages. Planned visits (with zodiac landings when possible) include Half Moon Island, an area noted for its penguins, kelp gulls and Antarctic terns. We sail the glacier-lined Lemaire Channel, perhaps the most beautiful passage in Antarctica. Humpback and killer whales are common here, as are penguins and elephant seals. The voyage continues with a passage of the Neumayer Channel, with majestic cliffs and a stop at Port Lockroy. Gentoo penguins and blue-eyed cormorants are common here. Finally we call at Paradise Harbor, renowned for ice-cliffs, floating icebergs and penguin colonies.
(B) (L) (D)
Day 15:
Days Twelve, Thirteen, Fourteen and Fifteen, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, February 23, 24, 25, 26 (B,L,D)
Cruising Antarctica. Over the next four days weather, ice and sea conditions will dictate our exact agenda. Stops noted below could be skipped or changed if required for the safety of the ship or the comfort of the passengers.
The vast ?White Continent? of Antarctica is more than half the size of North America. While enjoying four days along its coast, we focus on the scenic grandeur of the northern Antarctic Peninsula and near-by islands and scenic passages. Planned visits (with zodiac landings when possible) include Half Moon Island, an area noted for its penguins, kelp gulls and Antarctic terns. We sail the glacier-lined Lemaire Channel, perhaps the most beautiful passage in Antarctica. Humpback and killer whales are common here, as are penguins and elephant seals. The voyage continues with a passage of the Neumayer Channel, with majestic cliffs and a stop at Port Lockroy. Gentoo penguins and blue-eyed cormorants are common here. Finally we call at Paradise Harbor, renowned for ice-cliffs, floating icebergs and penguin colonies.
(B) (L) (D)
Day 16:
Day Sixteen, Thursday, February 27 (B,L,D)
Drake Passage. As we re-cross the Drake Passage, our on-board lectures focus on the geography, history and culture of Argentina.
(B) (L) (D)
Day 17:
Day Seventeen, Friday, February 28 (B)
Tour Ushuaia, Argentina; fly to Buenos Aires. We arrive in Ushuaia, Argentina this morning and disembark the ship. We tour this ?town at the end of the world? before flying north to cosmopolitan Buenos Aires, where we enjoy a final night at our hotel before tomorrow?s flights back to the United States.
(B)
Day 18:
Day Eighteen, Saturday, March 1 (D on the flight)
Tour Buenos Aires; flight to the United States. We enjoy a morning tour of Argentina?s vibrant capital, Buenos Aires, before boarding our overnight flight to the United States.
(D)
Day 19:
Day Nineteen, Sunday, March 2 (B on the flight)
Arrive New York. Our wonderful cruise/tour ends this morning with our arrival back into New York. As noted under Day One, flights also are available to Los Angeles and many inland U.S. cities at an added cost.
CRUISE/TOUR FARES INCLUDE round-trip air from New York, cabin in the category selected, all on-ship meals, shore excursions except in Punta Arenas, hotel accommodations for one night each in Santiago and Buenos Aires, city tours at those points, transfers, guide services provided by Norwegian Coastal voyages, on-board lectures, and zodiac landings (when safely available). All taxes are included. Not included are optional additional city tours/shows in Santiago, Punta Arenas and Buenos Aires; drinks; souvenirs and tips. Ask us about additional add-on airfare cost from other U.S. cities. All staterooms in our cabin block offer twin lower berths and shower/bath.
(B)
Notes:
Airfare is included in the tour price.
Cabin Category Per Person, Single Occupancy
Double Occupancy
I Inside Stateroom $4340.00 $5340.00
L Outside Stateroom $5115.00 $6245.00
N Outside Stateroom $5300.00 $7390.00
P Outside Stateroom $5590.00 $7830.00
K Outside Stateroom $5670.00 Not Available
Q Outside Junior Suite $6700.00 Not Available
M Outside Suite $7290.00 Not Available
Also see tour packages in:
Antarctica
Antarctica
China
Argentina
Boating and Sailing
Wildlife Viewing
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