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The fly-cruise advantage

There was a time when, to reach the Antarctic peninsula there was only one option, sailing across the infamous Drake Passage, with all its downsides – several unproductive days at sea, more time off work or away from home, and the potential of the notoriously stormy “Drake” making for an extremely unpleasant and uncomfortable crossing.

Now there’s another choice: flying over “The Drake” and boarding the ship on the other side. The flight from Punta Arenas, in Chile, takes just 2-hours, with stunning aerial views of Antarctica thrown in for good measure. We land on King George Island, in the South Shetland Islands, from where we board the ship. It’s a far better use of time and avoids all the potential hazards and unpleasantries of a sea crossing.

Magellan Explorer

Magellan Explorer is a brand new, custom-built luxury expedition vessel, designed for small-group adventures, with a maximum capacity of just 69 guests.

There are five main categories of cabin, plus one triple suite, all of which have a large window with private balcony (except Porthole Cabin), a seating area (all suites have a separate seating area), private shower room, individually-controlled heating and king-size or twin beds.

Porthole cabin: 20m sq. 1 King or 2 twin beds, seating are and private shower room.

Veranda Cabin: 20m sq. 1 King or 2 twin beds, large window with private balcony, seating area and private shower room.

Deluxe Veranda Cabin: 1 King or 2 twin beds, large window with private balcony, seating area, snacks and mini-bar restocked daily, and private shower room.

Penthouse Suite: 30m sq. 1 King or 2 twin beds, large window with private balcony, separate seating area, snacks and mini-bar restocked daily, and private shower room.

Grand Suite: 40m sq. 1 King or 2 twin beds, large window with private balcony, separate seating area, snacks and mini-bar restocked daily, and two private shower rooms.

Triple Suite: 40m sq. 1 queen double and 2 twin beds, large window with two private balconies, seating area, snacks and mini-bar restocked daily, and two private shower rooms.

In the public areas, the ship features a glass-enclosed observation lounge and multi-media presentation room with state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment (for photographic lectures and presentations), library, meeting room, gym and sauna, and a medical clinic.

There is a spacious and stylish dining room with a well-stocked bar and al-fresco dining (weather permitting). Breakfast and lunch are buffet style, dinner is al a carte with table service. Premium Chilean wines are served with lunch and dinner.

There is an onboard intranet service and satellite internet (chargeable). The forward-facing observation deck leads to the bow of the ship, which is accessible to guests to offer proximity to marine wildlife.

Our group will have its own private Zodiac for peninsula landings and photographic excursions, giving us autonomy and dedicated photographic time.

Pricing Chart

Safety & Comfort

The ship is being built to the latest Polar Code specifications and carries a Polar Class 6 ice-class (Lloyd’s Register PC6). For comfortable navigation, the ship features stabilizers; for maneuverability, she features bow and stern thrusters. For safety in navigation, there is an ice-detecting radar. And
to reduce the environmental footprint, the vessel is equipped with an energy-recovery system that recycles the heat produced by the engines to warm up the ship and its water supply.

Wildlife

Antarctica is the last great wilderness and wildlife thrives here. There are four main species of penguin on the peninsula: chinstrap, gentoo, macaroni and adelie, seen alone, in small groups or vast colonies as they make their way from sea to land and back again; Whale species include humpback, orca and minke; There are four species of seal: elephant, leopard, Weddel and crab eater; and many varieties of sea birds, including albatross, skua, shag and petrels, fly overhead.

Sites of Interest

While it’s impossible to predict exact landing points, our expedition may include some of the following areas of interest:

Aitcho Island – Aitcho is located near the north entrance of the English Strait, in the South Shetland Islands, between Greenwich and Robert Islands. The main attractions here are the large colonies of chinstrap and gentoo penguins that cover the area. It is also possible to find great quantities of Antarctic giant petrels and some protected animals, such as the Weddell seal.

Lemaire Channel – Known for being one of the most beautiful spots in the area and this is why it is also known as the “Kodak Gap,” due to the impression it produces among photographers. If the weather allows and the channel is not blocked by the ice that is typical of this inhospitable corner of the world, you will see playful seals that rest on wandering icebergs, as well as minke whales that are frequently found in these cold waters.

Petermann Island – Petermann island is endowed with a unique beauty due to its immense granite walls and the abundant snow that composes the scenery. It also has the largest and southernmost colony of Adelie and gentoo penguins, migratory species typical of Antarctica. On Petermann Island you will be able to see a colony of Antarctic blue-eyed shag, a species much appreciated for its solemn stance and singular presence. During the summer, elephant seals come out in groups to enjoy the sun, basking on their sides over the rocks of the island.

Port Lockroy – Port Lockroy is a wide bay located on the southwestern point of Wiencke Island. This site was used by whalers almost one century ago. There is an old British scientific base which is now a museum. Nowadays it is not unusual to see minke and humpback whales cruising along the coast.

Livingstone Island – The beauty of this remote destination is created by its imposing glaciers, magnificent channels and the impressive fauna that inhabits the area. Livingston Island is a surprising spot where you will find a great variety of species – your attention will be captivated by chinstrap, gentoo and the magnificent macaroni penguins, with their distinctive orange/yellow crests. Elephant seals, Antarctic giant petrels and snowy sheathbill are also to be seen.