Antarctica Citizen Science Penguin, Leopard Seal, and Orca Expedition 2027
March 2nd – 12th, 2027
Duration
11 days / 10 nights
Location/Type
Antarctica Liveaboard
Tour type
Penguin and Seal Tours
Diving Type
Polar Drysuit Diving
ABOUT THE TRIP
“Apex Ocean Travel Group Expedition: Weddell Sea Explorer (Diving – OPTIONAL ACTIVITY)
Penguins, Leopard Seals, and the biggest aggregation of Fin Whales on the planet!
Embark on the Ultimate Adventure—For Divers and Non-Divers Alike
Join Apex Ocean Travel for a once-in-a-lifetime group expedition to the spectacular Antarctic Peninsula and Weddell Sea! This 10-night voyage is designed for explorers of all interests, with a special emphasis on immersive, non-diving experiences—making it perfect for couples, friends, and families with mixed activity levels. Optional scuba diving is available for experienced dry suit divers, but the heart of this journey is the thrill of discovery on land and sea.
Trip Highlights
Spectacular Scenery: Sail through a dramatic world of towering glaciers, pure white snowfields, and rugged black rock—an untouched wilderness unlike anywhere else on Earth.
Wildlife Encounters: Witness thousands of penguins, lounging seals, and the awe-inspiring spectacle of whales breaching in icy waters. Birdwatchers will delight in spotting blue-eyed shags and other rare seabirds. This is the best time of year to watch the fin whale aggregation and leopard seals hunting.
Zodiac Cruises: Glide among sculpted icebergs and get up-close with wildlife on guided Zodiac excursions—an exhilarating way to experience Antarctica’s grandeur.
Guided Landings & Hikes: Step ashore at legendary sites like Devil Island (famous for penguins), elephant island.
Enriching Activities: Learn from expert guides about Antarctic ecology, geology, and history. Participate in educational lectures and hands-on exploration.
Flexible Adventure: All activities are tailored to weather and wildlife conditions, ensuring every day brings new surprises and unforgettable moments.
Who Should Join?
Non-Divers: This expedition is packed with enriching activities—land tours, wildlife viewing, hiking, birdwatching, Zodiac cruises, and cultural visits—that require no prior experience and are suitable for all fitness levels.
Divers: Experienced dry suit divers can opt-in for the rare chance to explore Antarctica’s underwater world (minimum of 30 dry suit dives required)
Science: Lectures & Learning
One deck is dedicated to multi-language lectures and presentations by expert guides, making the educational component a highlight of the voyage.
Join the Apex Ocean Travel family and embark on an epic adventure with us to discover one of the least visited parts of our planet! Secure your spot with Apex Ocean Travel and experience the magic of the White Continent—whether you’re a diver, a wildlife enthusiast, or simply a lover of wild places. This is more than a trip; it’s an expedition you’ll remember forever
Pricing
$9650-$17500
Special Offer
Whale Watching
Book your spot!
Trip Leader
Itinerary
Know More about the days
All itineraries are for guidance only. Programs may vary depending on ice, weather, and wildlife conditions. Landings are subject to site availabilities, permissions, and environmental concerns per IAATO regulations. Official sailing plans and landing slots are scheduled with IAATO prior to the start of the season, but the expedition leader determines the final plan. Flexibility is paramount for expedition cruises. The average cruising speed for our vessel is 10.5 knots
Day 1
End of the world, start of a journey
- We ask that all passengers arrive the night prior to departure in Ushuaia to avoid any delays from flights or lost luggage. Hotel night is not included. Transfers from airport to hotel and from hotel to the pier are not included. On day of embarkation, luggage should be dropped off in the morning between 8:00am and 11:30am at a pre-determined location to be advised at time of final documents.
- Passengers are asked to make their own way to the port on day of embarkation. It is not allowed to board the ship before 4:00pm (unless mentioned otherwise) as the crew is getting the ship ready for their arrival.
- Your voyage begins where the world drops off. Ushuaia, Argentina, reputed to be the southernmost city on the planet, is located on the far southern tip of South America. Starting in the afternoon, you embark from this small resort town on Tierra del Fuego, nicknamed “The End of the World,” and sail the mountain-fringed Beagle Channel for the remainder of the evening.
Day 2 -3
Path of the polar explorers
- Over the next two days on the Drake Passage, you enjoy some of the same experiences encountered by the great polar explorers who first charted these regions: cool salt breezes, rolling seas, maybe even a fin whale spouting up sea spray. After passing the Antarctic Convergence – Antarctica’s natural boundary, formed when north-flowing cold waters collide with warmer sub-Antarctic seas – you are in the circum Antarctic upwelling zone. Not only does the marine life change, the avian life changes too. Wandering albatrosses, grey-headed albatrosses, black-browed albatrosses, light-mantled sooty albatrosses, cape pigeons, southern fulmars, Wilson’s storm petrels, blue petrels, and Antarctic petrels are a few of the birds you might see.
Day 4
Day 5-8
Entering the Weddell Sea
The great Weddell Sea features massive tabular icebergs, wildly dramatic landscapes, and fascinating historical sites. It is also one of the best places in Antarctica for viewing iconic wildlife like whales, seals, and rarely seen seabirds.
We may visit the following locations, depending on local conditions:
Antarctic Sound – Antarctic Sound is nicknamed “Iceberg Alley,” as we often see enormous tabular icebergs here.
Brown Bluff – Possibly the most scenic location in the northern Antarctic Continent, Brown Bluff is characterized by sheer canyon walls, fallen boulders, and beautiful volcanic creations capped with ice.
Herbert Sound – We will focus our attention on the visually impressive areas of Naze Peninsula and Comb Ridge.
Devil Island – This island offers a magnificent vantage point for hikers willing to foot it to the top of the hill. Melting ice sometimes forms a waterfall dropping from the cliffs close to Cape Well-met.
Erebus and Terror Gulf – Here we look for new activity opportunities and may visit Vega Island, experiencing the wilderness of Antarctica in its most remote places.
Day 9-10
- Your return voyage is far from lonely. While crossing the Drake, you’re again greeted by the vast array of seabirds remembered from the passage south. But they seem a little more familiar to you now, and you to them.
Day 11
There and back again
- Every adventure, no matter how grand, must eventually come to an end. It’s now time to disembark in Ushuaia, but with memories that will accompany you wherever your next adventure lies.
- Disembarkation is between 8:30 am – 9:00 am on day of return to port. The transfer from the ship to the airport is included in the cruise rate. Guests can catch a flight out of Ushuaia any time after 12:00 Noon on that day.
- Voyage aboard Hondius as indicated in the itinerary
- Accommodations
- 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.
- Photo and video package
- Free use of rubber boots and snowshoes.
- Luggage transfer from pick-up point to the vessel on the day of embarkation, in Ushuaia.
- Pre-scheduled group transfer from the vessel to the airport in Ushuaia (directly after disembarkation).
- All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program.
- Comprehensive pre-departure material.
- Any airfare, whether on scheduled or charter flights
- Pre- and post- land arrangements (hotels not included)
- Passport and visa expenses.
- Government arrival and departure taxes. Meals ashore.
- Diving add-on cost ($880)
- Diving Gear (must bring own gear - no rentals)
- Antarctic Clothing Gear besides rubber boots and snowshoes (rentals available in advance)
- Dive and travel insurance
- 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.
- The customary gratuity at the end of the voyages for stewards and other service personnel aboard (guidelines will be provided).
Vessel
Wildlife
Cabins
$9650
$11,900
$11,900
$12,350
$13600
$14350
About the Operator
M/V Plancius
M/v “Plancius” accommodates 108 passengers with private toilet and shower in 4 quadruple porthole cabins, 9 twin porthole cabins, 25 twin cabins with window and 2 twin deluxe cabins, all (ca. 12,5 square meters) and 10 twin superior cabins (ca. 21 square meters). All cabins offer lower berths (one queen-size bed in the superior cabins and two single beds in the twin cabins), except for the 4 quadruple cabins (for 4 persons in 2x upper and lower beds).
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which airport should I fly into?
Most guests fly into Buenos Aires (EZE or AEP airports) and then take a domestic flight to Ushuaia (USH). Arriving at least one day before embarkation is strongly recommended to allow for flight delays, lost luggage, or other travel disruptions.
Can non-divers join?
What kind of food is served?
What payment methods are acceptable on board Hondius?
Accepted forms of payment: Visa, MasterCard, Diners Club/Discover, and Union Pay credit cards are accepted, as well as cash in Euros or US Dollars.
Currency: All prices and charges are in Euros, but USD is accepted for settling your bill.
What safety equipment is on board?
Polar Class 6 rating: Hondius is the world’s first civilian ship with this classification, exceeding international safety standards for polar cruising.
Advanced safety systems: Includes state-of-the-art navigation, stabilizers for rough seas, lifeboats, safety lockers, and a dedicated safety center.
Environmentally conscious: Uses biodegradable paints and lubricants, LED lighting, steam heating, and advanced power management to minimize environmental impact.
Medical staff: There is an infirmary and a doctor on board for emergencies
What kinds of animals can we see?
No wildlife encounters are ever guaranteed. Here are some common animal sightings on these trips:
Penguins: gentoo, Adélie, and chinstrap penguins in large colonies.
Seals: Weddell, crabeater, leopard, elephant, and Antarctic fur seals are commonly spotted.
Whales: Humpback and minke whales are frequently seen, with chances for orcas, fin, blue, and sei whales.
Birds: Skuas, terns, giant petrels, and blue-eyed shags are highlights for birdwatchers
What type of outlets are on the ship?
Is there WiFi?
Internet: Complimentary daily allowance (1.5GB), with more data available for purchase
When does the boat embark/disembark?
Standard embarkation is between 4:00 pm and 5:00 pm. Check in and drop your luggage with the operator on the morning of departure. All guests should arrive before the day of departure to be safe.
Disembark is 8:30am-9:00am on the last day of the trip. Transfers back to the airport are included.