South Georgia Cruises
Follow in Shackleton’s footsteps on our Exclusively South Georgia cruise.
South Georgia is one of the world’s natural wonders, the’ Alps in mid-ocean’, offering remarkable concentrations of birds and other wildlife against a backdrop of glaciers and snow-covered mountains.
On this South Georgia cruise, which is operated by our partner company, Oceanwide Expeditions, there is an opportunity to truly follow in the footsteps of Shackleton by joining a ski trek across the island covering some 50km, much of which retraces Shackleton’s original route in May 1916. Those that stay on board the South Georgia cruise circumnavigate the island and meet up with the skiers at Stromness Bay on the north coast.
During this time, there are many zodiac landings and opportunities to view all sorts of wildlife such as elephant and fur seals, king and macaroni penguins, light mantled and sooty albatrosses and introduced reindeer. At Grytviken, once the hub of the South Atlantic whaling industry, king penguins now walk the streets and seals have taken over the ramshackle buildings. Here there is a Whaling History Museum and travellers will also pay homage at Shackleton’s grave. The South Georgia cruises continue to Prion Island where there are breeding colonies of the huge wandering albatross and on to Salisbury Plain to see the second largest king penguin colony as well as elephant seals and more and more seabirds.
Exclusive South Georgia Cruise
Sail with on board the MV Plancius, flagship of our partner operator, Oceanwide Expeditions. Plancius was built as an oceanographic research vessel for the Dutch navy and has now been completely refurbished as a comfortable expedition ship accommodating a maximum of 114 passengers. There are large open deck areas for scenery and wildlife viewing and 10 zodiacs for fast transfer to shore and close-up wildlife encounters.
On the Exclusive South Georgia cruise expedition, Plancius will take you to coves and inlets around the island to see myriads of birdlife, including penguin colonies galore and lots of basking seals. There’s even the chance to leave the ship and ski-trek across the island following in the steps of the famous explorer, Ernest Shackleton.
The Shackleton Route
This is the name given to the itinerary operated by a number of our Antarctic cruise and South Georgia cruises partners. Embarkation is in Ushuaia on the tip of Tierra del Fuego and then to the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and on to the Antarctic peninsula and South Shetland Islands..
Shackleton would wonder at the comfort enjoyed by even the most intrepid of travellers to Antarctica nowadays. Our Falkland and South Georgia cruises include 18 nights full board accommodation on board ship including shore excursions and all the services of expedition leaders and experts. Nothing is left to chance and safety and security measures are just as important as passenger comfort.
The Falkland Islands are a magnificent, wild destination where travellers land and view wildlife in remote bays as well visiting the charming small city of Port Stanley, the islands’ capital. Then across the South Atlantic to South Georgia and on to the Antarctic peninsula.
The Shackleton Route in Luxury with Silversea
Prince Albert II is a luxurious expedition ship designed specifically for navigating the waters in some of the world’s most remote areas, especially the polar regions. It is operated by Silversea Cruises, renowned as one of the best six-star cruise lines and offers unparalleled standards of expedition service. The ship is 6,072-tons and boasts a strengthened hull with a Lloyd’s Register ice-class classification 1A for passenger ships. On polar expeditions, passenger numbers do not exceed 123 and with eight zodiacs on board, this means that all have opportunities for maximum shore landings and cruising around remote inlets before returning to the pampered surroundings on board. This is a truly unique luxury adventure experience.