WONDERS OF THE ROSS SEA
December 28, 2005 - January 21, 2006
Antarctica is a continent of
superlatives. It is the coldest, windiest, driest, iciest and highest of all the
major landmasses in the world. It is the continent with the longest nights and
the longest days and it is home to the world’s greatest concentration of
wildlife. It is also one of the last true wilderness areas left on earth –
largely unchanged since the early explorers and whalers first landed on its
inhospitable shores less than two centuries ago.
Considerably larger than either
the United States or Europe, and twice the size of Australia, the continent is
surrounded by a frozen sea that varies from one million square miles in summer
to 7.3 million square miles in winter. Beyond the ice are the waters of the vast
Southern Ocean that encircles Antarctica in a continuous ring several hundred
miles wide. The Southern Ocean isolates the continent from the warmer waters of
the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic Oceans to the north and this meeting point,
called the Antarctic Convergence, is the ecologically defined northern boundary
of the region.
Our journeys occur at the peak
of the summer wildlife season. Bathed in long hours of daylight, the area will
be erupting with wildlife activity. Millions of penguins gather to tend their
fast-growing chicks; whales are seen in great numbers, seals haul out onto ice
floes and beaches, and numerous albatrosses and other seabirds trail in our
wake. We explore historic sites from the Heroic Age of early Antarctic
exploration and visit scientists working in modern research bases. And there is
plenty of time to enjoy the sheer beauty and the breathtaking scenery of
ice-choked waterways, blue and white icebergs, impressive glaciers and rugged
snow-capped mountains.
This fabulous New Year expedition takes us to the
ice-choked Ross Sea – to within a mere 730 miles of the South Pole. We will
see the majestic snow-capped volcano of Mount Erebus, explore the immense
400-mile-long Ross Ice Shelf and visit world-renowned McMurdo Station.
We look for Orcas and Minke whales as they feed along the
edge of the permanent fast ice, experience enormous Adélie Penguin rookeries;
explore the seldom-visited Dry Valleys, an amazing landscape of wind-eroded
rocks unlike anywhere else in the world and much more.
This is a sample
itinerary only. Our exact route and program varies according to ice and weather
conditions – and the wildlife we encounter. Flexibility is the key to the
success of this expedition.
Day 1. Hobart, Tasmania
Join fellow adventurers in
Hobart, on the island of Tasmania. Stay overnight at the Hotel Grand Chancellor
or a similar centrally located hotel.
Day
2. Depart Hobart
Board the icebreaker Kapitan
Khlebnikov in the afternoon. Settle into your cabin then attend a welcome
briefing where you are introduced to ins and outs of expedition cruising.
Day 3-4. Tasman Sea
Our ship is escorted by a variety of different
seabirds such as the wandering, royal, black-browed and light-mantled sooty
albatrosses. En route to Macquarie Island watch for whales and dolphins from the
deck or join our Expedition Team in the lecture room for entertaining and
informative presentations on the unique wildlife, geology, glaciology,
oceanography and history of the Far South. The New Year is marked by a special
celebration in the dining room.
Day 5-6. Macquarie
Island
Over 100,000 King Penguins
herald the approach to Macquarie, a remote island sanctuary recently classified
by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Large groups of elephant seals slumber on
sandy beaches along with a multitude of King Penguins – and the entire world’s
estimated population (3 million) of royal penguins. Macquarie Island is
certainly the most varied single wildlife area on this voyage. Landings depend
on permissions, as well as local weather and sea conditions.
Day
7-8. The Southern Ocean
Soaring albatrosses and petrels
fly around the ship as the vessel sails in the wake of Scott, Mawson, Shackleton
and others south toward the Antarctic Circle and the Ross Sea. Encounter a
dramatic drop in water temperature when you cross the Antarctic Convergence.
This is the area where icebergs are portents of the frozen splendor of
Antarctica ahead. Shipboard naturalists help you spot and identify seabirds and
marine mammals that are indigenous to these waters. The ship’s historian
recounts the heroic tales of the Ross Sea and Antarctica.
Day
9-10. Pack Ice and the Balleny Islands
At this time of year, a band of pack ice guards the entrance to the Ross Sea.
Watching the Kapitan Khlebnikov and her crew negotiate these ice-choked waters
is an experience no one ever forgets and, as we learn how it is done, we keep
watch for Weddell, leopard and crabeater seals, and even Ross seals.
A special celebration marks the crossing of the Antarctic Circle. We also
pass the rugged, remote Balleny Islands, seldom accessible to conventional
passenger vessels. Conditions permitting, you board a helicopter for a thrilling
view of the dramatic cliffs and glaciers. As the ship continues south, sea ice,
marine mammals and seabirds tempt you to the deck once again.
Day 11-16. Ross Sea
region
Explore the Ross Sea region for five incredible days. There is so much to see
and do here that, if the weather is favorable, landings are scheduled at any
time of day or night. The program alternates wildlife viewing with visits to
scientific bases and historic sites, and plenty of time to enjoy the
breathtaking scenery. From the deck, keep watch for seals on the ice floes. You
may also sight pods of killer whales.
Weather, sea and ice conditions will determine our Ross Sea adventure, but
here are a few of our possible landing sites and penguin rookeries:
Cape Adare: Views of the 4,000-meter Admiralty Range herald your
arrival at Cape Adare, discovered in 1841 by Captain James Ross. Behind the
broad open beach, you see the 1899 hut where Carsten Borchgrevink was the leader
of the first expedition to over-winter on the Antarctic Continent. Cape Adare is
home to 260,000 pairs of Adélie Penguins, the largest rookery anywhere of this
species - an absolutely staggering sight.
Terra Nova Bay and Drygalski Ice Tongue: Located between Cape
Washington and the Drygalski Ice Tongue, Terra Nova Bay was discovered by Scott
in 1901-04. It is the site of the Mario Zuchelli Station, an Italian summer
research station. The icebreaker navigates the spectacular Drygalski Ice Tongue,
a 30-mile extension of the David Glacier. Franklin Island: With a backdrop of
high volcanic cliffs, the landing site at Franklin Island is truly spectacular
– the expedition geologist talks about the fascinating rock formations that
resulted from ancient volcanic activity. The island is also home to some 55,000
pairs of Adélie Penguins and a sizeable population of breeding skuas.
Dry Valleys: Weather and ice conditions permitting, you enjoy a
helicopter flight to one of the most spectacular and seldomvisited areas of
Antarctica - the Dry Valleys. This remote area offers an amazing, otherworldly
landscape of wind-eroded rocks and desert scenery more reminiscent of Mars than
Earth.
Cape Royds: Visit the site of Sir Ernest Shackleton's hut, built
during his ‘Nimrod’ polar expedition in 1907-1909. Our onboard lecturers
discuss Shackleton's amazing expeditions. He was arguably one of the greatest
and most heroic of all the Antarctic explorers. Shackleton and his compatriots
are long gone, but their hut is far from deserted. The vicinity has been
reclaimed by the original inhabitants of the area - thousands of Adélie
Penguins - in the world's southernmost penguin rookery.
Cape Evans: At Cape Evans, visit the hut of Scott of the Antarctic
that has been splendidly preserved by the Antarctic Heritage Trust. It stands as
testimony to the rigors faced by pioneering explorers. Under the supervision of
the New Zealand staff, you witness the living conditions almost exactly as they
were when Scott, Wilson and Ponting occupied the quarters nearly a century ago.
Mount Erebus with a plume of steam looms behind the hut.
Ross Ice Shelf: At the Ross Ice Shelf, which is roughly the same size
as France, if conditions permit, the ship will sail between massive tabular
icebergs, some nearly 60 miles long. You may have an opportunity to land by
helicopter on top of an incredible 30-meter high ice barrier and navigate
between 30 to 100 mile-long tabular icebergs calved by this remarkable
glaciological feature.
McMurdo Sound: We anchor along the ice fronting McMurdo Station, the
sprawling American facility in the shadow of Mount Erebus. Subject to
permission, you tour the station that surrounds Scott’s remarkably preserved
1901-1904 Discovery Hut. Depending on their busy schedule, New Zealand
researchers may permit a tour of Scott Base, their station on the other side of
the bay.
Cape Hallett: Dense pack ice will challenge the icebreaker at Cape
Hallett, once the site of a research base established by the United States and
New Zealand, during the 1957-58 International Geophysical Year. The scenery here
is wild and spectacular. One intended landing site is near the former base,
which is surrounded by over 55,000 pairs of Adélie Penguins. Weather
permitting, board a helicopter for flight-seeing around Edisto Inlet, an
amphitheater of glaciers and mountains.
Day 17-18. Pack Ice
This is your final opportunity to photograph the
icebreaker as she negotiates the pack ice, capture images of birds on the wing
or snap panoramic views.
Day 19-20. Southern Ocean
As always on these sea crossings, whales, dolphins and seabirds continually
lure passengers to the decks. Meanwhile, lecturers recap the memorable and
fascinating adventures of our 8500-kilometer journey to the Southern Ocean,
Antarctica and the subantarctic islands.
Day 21. Campbell Island
Sail into Perseverance Harbor, a sunken volcanic caldera that cuts across the
island. Transfer by Zodiac to a small, unstaffed New Zealand meteorological
station. Follow a boardwalk from the station over tussock grass to the hilltop
lookouts where you may observe the courtship and nesting behavior of the huge
Royal Albatross. Each austral summer, 15,000 of these magnificent birds nest
among clusters of brightly colored megaherbs on Campbell Island.
Day 22. The Auckland
Islands
The Auckland Islands are densely covered with southern rata forest, lichens,
moss and ferns. Bird song fills the air of this enchanting volcanic archipelago.
Favorite landing sites are Enderby Island, Port Ross or Carnley Harbour. All
landings are subject to wind weather and permissions to land. From the Zodiacs
you may see rare Hooker’s sea lions joust and spar on the wide, sandy beaches
or frolicking in the harbor.
Day 23-24. At sea
Day 25. Lyttleton, New
Zealand
Bid farewell to the Kapitan Khlebnikov, the crew and the friends you have
made.
Kapitan Khlebnikov
A Day Onboard Kapitan Khlebnikov
SUMMARY
Inclusions:
