Antarctica, Patagonia, Chilean Fjords - Exploration of the Southern Highlights (Southbound)

17 nights from £7,512pp departing Tuesday 2nd Nov 2021

This expedition cruise takes you from the beauty of the Chilean coast to magical Antarctica. Experience the beauty of the Chilean fjords before sailing past Cape Horn to the southern reaches of the Earth for amazing polar adventures like ice-cruising and landings where you can explore the landscape and observe the wildlife and natural beauty of Antarctica.

Itinerary

Map

					Arrive	Depart
	2nd02	NovNov	202121	Valparaiso, Chile, embark on the MS Fridtjof Nansen		22:00
Valparaíso's dramatic topography—45 cerros, or hills, overlooking the ocean—requires the use of winding pathways and wooden ascensores (funiculars) to get up many of the grades. The slopes are covered by candy-color houses—there are almost no apartments in the city—most of which have exteriors of corrugated metal peeled from shipping containers decades ago. Valparaíso has served as Santiago's port for centuries. Before the Panama Canal opened, Valparaíso was the busiest port in South America. Harsh realities—changing trade routes, industrial decline—have diminished its importance, but it remains Chile's principal port. Most shops, banks, restaurants, bars, and other businesses cluster along the handful of streets called El Plan (the flat area) that are closest to the shoreline. Porteños (which means "the residents of the port") live in the surrounding hills in an undulating array of colorful abodes. At the top of any of the dozens of stairways, the paseos (promenades) have spectacular views; many are named after prominent Yugoslavian, Basque, and German immigrants. Neighborhoods are named for the hills they cover. With the jumble of power lines overhead and the hundreds of buses that slow down—but never completely stop—to pick up agile riders, it's hard to forget you're in a city. Still, walking is the best way to experience Valparaíso. Be careful where you step, though—locals aren't very conscientious about curbing their dogs.
	3rd03	NovNov	202121	At Sea
	4th04	NovNov	202121	At Sea
	5th05	NovNov	202121	Castro, Chile	08:00	17:00
Bright, wooden huts teeter on stilts over Castro's estuary waterfront, inviting you into a patchwork of colour that’s sure to brighten any day. These traditional palafitos give the warmest of welcomes, as you prepare to experience Chile at its most vibrant. Castro has faced something of a tumultuous past, having been hit by a by a succession of earthquakes and fires - the most recent a devastating earthquake in 1960. But this city is incredibly resilient, and today the capital of Chiloe Island makes for a fantastic base for exploring the archipelago that surrounds it.
	6th06	NovNov	202121	At Sea
	7th07	NovNov	202121	Puerto Edén, Chile	08:00	14:00
	8th08	NovNov	202121	Puerto Natales, Chile	10:00	17:00
With a population of roughly 18,000, Puerto Natales is the capital of the Ultima Esperanza Province. Founded in 1911, it quickly developed into a major residential center and shipping port for the area’s products. Nestled on a gently-sloping point amid spectacular scenery, the town overlooks the Ultima Esperanza Gulf and has a nice view of the Balmaceda Mountain. It provides services for the region’s intense livestock activity. Many of its inhabitants work at the Argentinian coal mines in Rio Turbio and return home over the weekend. A growing number of tourists are using the town as a jumping-off point for visiting the spectacular Torres del Paine and Balmaceda National Parks, and the nearby fjords. In 1892 and 1897, two geographic surveyors mapped the area and ascertained its potential for livestock farming. The first expedition was led by Capt. Eberhard, while the second, a Swedish one, was led by Otto Nordenskjöld. Eberhard discovered the Milodón Cave and was one of the first settlers in the area. A German-born immigrant in transit along the Strait of Magellan, he disembarked in Punta Arenas and decided to stay in this area. His brother continued to California, their original destination, where he later founded the renowned Eberhard Faber pencil making company. When the area opened to settlement in 1893, the lands lying along the coast were occupied mostly by German and English settlers who had previously come to Punta Arenas. There still remain a few interesting buildings dating from the estancia heydays. Pier Information The ship will remain at anchor. Guests will be brought ashore by ship’s tenders to the jetty located close to the center of town, which can be reached on foot. Shopping The main shopping area is located about 11 blocks from the landing jetty. Cuisine Two of the better restaurants in town are Tranquera and Circulo Español. Other Sites Cerro DoroteaA walk up this hill rewards with superb views of the whole Ultima Esperanza Sound.Milodón Cave National MonumentAbout 15 miles out of Puerto Natales stands this monument near the cave, where in 1895 Capt. Eberhard found the nearly intact remains of a prehistoric animal called milodón, a type of ground sloth. The finding caused such a stir that Wellington Furlog, a scientiest at Cornell University, set out in 1907 to comb Patagonia in search of living specimens of this species.
	9th09	NovNov	202121	At Sea
	10th10	NovNov	202121	At Sea
	11th11	NovNov	202121	Puerto Williams, Chile	07:00	08:00
	11th11	NovNov	202121	Cape Horn, Chile	14:00	20:00
	12th12	NovNov	202121	At Sea
	13th13	NovNov	202121	Half Moon Island, Antarctica	10:00	18:00
	14th14	NovNov	202121	Pléneau Island, Antarctica	09:00	18:00
	15th15	NovNov	202121	Cuverville Island, Antarctica	08:00	16:00
	16th16	NovNov	202121	Whalers Bay, Deception Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica	08:00	14:00
	17th17	NovNov	202121	At Sea
	18th18	NovNov	202121	At Sea
	19th19	NovNov	202121	Ushuaia, Argentina, disembark the MS Fridtjof Nansen	06:00
At 55 degrees latitude south, Ushuaia (pronounced oo-swy-ah) is closer to the South Pole than to Argentina's northern border with Bolivia. It is the capital and tourism base for Tierra del Fuego, the island at the southernmost tip of Argentina.Although its stark physical beauty is striking, Tierra del Fuego's historical allure is based more on its mythical past than on rugged reality. The island was inhabited for 6,000 years by Yámana, Haush, Selk'nam, and Alakaluf Indians. But in 1902 Argentina, eager to populate Patagonia to bolster its territorial claims, moved to initiate an Ushuaian penal colony, establishing the permanent settlement of its most southern territories and, by implication, everything in between.When the prison closed in 1947, Ushuaia had a population of about 3,000, made up mainly of former inmates and prison staff. Today the Indians of Darwin's "missing link" theory are long gone—wiped out by diseases brought by settlers and by indifference to their plight—and the 60,000 residents of Ushuaia are hitching their star to tourism.The city rightly (if perhaps too loudly) promotes itself as the southernmost city in the world (Puerto Williams, a few miles south on the Chilean side of the Beagle Channel, is a small town). You can make your way to the tourism office to get your clichéd, but oh-so-necessary, "Southernmost City in the World" passport stamp. Ushuaia feels like a frontier boomtown, at heart still a rugged, weather-beaten fishing village, but exhibiting the frayed edges of a city that quadrupled in size in the '70s and '80s and just keeps growing. Unpaved portions of Ruta 3, the last stretch of the Pan-American Highway, which connects Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, are finally being paved. The summer months (December through March) draw more than 120,000 visitors, and dozens of cruise ships. The city is trying to extend those visits with events like March's Marathon at the End of the World and by increasing the gamut of winter activities buoyed by the excellent snow conditions.A terrific trail winds through the town up to the Martial Glacier, where a ski lift can help cut down a steep kilometer of your journey. The chaotic and contradictory urban landscape includes a handful of luxury hotels amid the concrete of public housing projects. Scores of "sled houses" (wooden shacks) sit precariously on upright piers, ready for speedy displacement to a different site. But there are also many small, picturesque homes with tiny, carefully tended gardens. Many of the newer homes are built in a Swiss-chalet style, reinforcing the idea that this is a town into which tourism has breathed new life. At the same time, the weather-worn pastel colors that dominate the town's landscape remind you that Ushuaia was once just a tiny fishing village, snuggled at the end of the Earth.As you stand on the banks of the Canal Beagle (Beagle Channel) near Ushuaia, the spirit of the farthest corner of the world takes hold. What stands out is the light: at sundown the landscape is cast in a subdued, sensual tone; everything feels closer, softer, and more human in dimension despite the vastness of the setting. The snowcapped mountains reflect the setting sun back onto a stream rolling into the channel, as nearby peaks echo their image—on a windless day—in the still waters.Above the city rise the last mountains of the Andean Cordillera, and just south and west of Ushuaia they finally vanish into the often-stormy sea. Snow whitens the peaks well into summer. Nature is the principal attraction here, with trekking, fishing, horseback riding, wildlife spotting, and sailing among the most rewarding activities, especially in the Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego (Tierra del Fuego National Park).

MS Fridtjof Nansen

Launch Year

2020

Tonnage

20,889

Capacity

530

Cabins

265

Accessible

Deck 11

Deck 10

Deck 9

Deck 8

Deck 7

Deck 6

Deck 5

Deck 4

Deck 3

The images shown are for illustration purposes only and may not be an exact representation of what you find on the ship.

Arctic Superior - Outside cabin on lower/middle deck

Large cabins without balcony. Lower/middle decks, flexible sleeping arrangements, sofabed, TV, kettle, tea and coffee.

Arctic Superior - Outside cabin on middle deck

Large accessible cabins without balcony. Middle decks, flexible sleeping arrangements, TV, kettle, tea and coffee.

Arctic Superior - Outside cabin on upper deck

Price guides

Grade Code		From	To
XT	Arctic Superior: Spacious Outside Cabin with Balcony	£9,104	£9,104

High deck cabins with balcony. Spacious cabins, different sizes, flexible sleeping arrangements, some with sofabed, TV, kettle, tea and coffee.

Arctic Superior - Outside cabin on upper deck

Price guides

Grade Code		From	To
XY	Arctic Superior: Outside Cabin with Balcony (Wheelchair Accessible)	£9,104	£9,104

High deck cabins with balcony. Spacious cabins, different sizes, double bed, some with sofabed, TV, kettle, tea and coffee.

Arctic Superior - Outside cabin on upper deck

High deck cabins with balcony. Spacious cabins, different sizes, double bed, some with sofabed, TV, kettle, tea and coffee.

Arctic Superior - Outside cabin with balcony

High deck cabins with balcony. Spacious cabins, different sizes, flexible sleeping arrangements, some with sofabed, TV, kettle, tea and coffee. With limited view.

Expedition Suite - Corner suite

Corner cabin with large windows. Flexible sleeping arrangements, TV, minibar, bathrobe, kettle, tea and coffee, espresso maker. Without balcony.

Expedition Suite - Corner suite with balcony

Price guides

Grade Code		From	To
MC	Expedition Suite: Corner Suite with Private Balcony	£14,643	£14,643

Aft Corner Suite with private balcony and hot tub. Various sizes, large windows, flexible sleeping arrangements, some with sofa, TV, minibar, bathrobe, kettle, tea and coffee, espresso maker.

Expedition Suite - Large suite with balcony

Large Corner Suite with private balcony, flexible sleeping arrangements, sofabed, TV, minibar, bathrobe, kettle, espresso maker. Adapted for guests with wheelchair.

Expedition Suite - Suite with balcony

Price guides

Grade Code		From	To
ME	Expedition Suite with Private Balcony	£10,759	£10,759

Suites with private balcony, different sizes, top-high decks, flexible sleeping arrangements, some with sofabed, TV, minibar, bathrobe, kettle, tea and coffee, espresso maker.

Expedition Suite - XL suite with balcony

Price guides

Grade Code		From	To
MA	Expedition Suite: XL Corner Suite with Private Balcony	£18,718	£18,718

Extra Large Corner Suite with private balcony. Ship’s most spacious cabins with large windows, flexible sleeping arrangements, sofa bed, TV, minibar, bathrobe, kettle, tea and coffee, espresso maker.

Expedition Suite - XL suite without balcony

Price guides

Grade Code		From	To
MB	Expedition Suite: XL Corner Suite	£14,261	£14,261

Extra Large Corner Suite without balcony. Aft corner suite with sofabed, flexible sleeping arrangements, large windows, TV, minibar, bathrobe, kettle, tea and coffee, espresso maker.

Polar Outside (RR)

Price guides

Grade Code		From	To
RR	Polar Outside: Large Outside Cabin (Middle Decks)	£7,512	£7,512

Larger cabins on middle decks. Most 20 square meters, flexible sleeping arrangements, some with sofabed, TV. Please note: This cabin is automatically made with a double bed. To order twin beds, please notify us at time of booking.

Polar Outside - Outside cabin on lower/middle deck

Cabins on lower/middle decks. Double bed, TV.

The images shown are for illustration purposes only and may not be an exact representation of what you find on the ship.

Aune Restaurant

Visiting 34 ports, Hurtigruten have an exceptional∘ opportunity to get fresh produce from local suppliers everyday. This means delicious new and fresh ingredients, both from coastal and inland areas. Whether enjoying your meal at Aune Main Dining, Fredheim – the informal international meeting place, or the specialty restaurant Lindstrøm, you will indulge in low key yet refined, modern Norwegian Nordic cooking – where our honest and delicious cuisine reflects our destinations.

The images shown are for illustration purposes only and may not be an exact representation of what you find on the ship.

Young Explorers’ Programme

Young Explorer is a complimentary, year-round programme on selected Hurtigruten ships for curious and active youth aged 7-13 years of age.

The children will learn about other cultures, the importance of nature in our daily lives, and the impact humans have on our delicate and beautiful planet. The Young Explorers’ Programme makes it easier to meet other children on board, bond over common activities and form lasting friendships.

A dedicated Young Explorer host and daily on-board activities

A dedicated host will plan and organise∘ all the activities, which focus on fun and eco-friendly learning events, tailor-made to awaken a sense of adventure. All Young Explorers will get a starter pack containing a t-shirt and activity book at the beginning of their voyage. Activity book assignments are related to the different exploration topics.

There will be daily on-board activities related to different Young Explorers’ topics. Through the Young Explorers’ Programme, children will get a deeper understanding of nature, climate and culture. Depending on seasons and destinations, they will also be introduced to topics∘ like wildlife, local food, environmental protection and famous explorers. This will give the children a sense of what it is like to be a real explorer in beautiful, untouched surroundings.

Beach clean-ups

During each Classic Round Voyage in the summer on the Norwegian Coast, we will do a beach clean-up, teach the kids about the fragile balance that exists in the natural environment, and what we can do to protect it. This is done in cooperation with the Hurtigruten Foundation and Keep Norway Beautiful. Please note that beach clean-ups can’t be conducted if it’s snowy or icy.

The images shown are for illustration purposes only and may not be an exact representation of what you find on the ship.

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Holiday Summary

	17 nights aboard the MS Fridtjof Nansen
	Full-board dining included
	Wine, beer & soft drinks included with lunch & dinner
	Complimentary tea and coffee
	Range of included excursions
	No gratuities
	Complimentary Wi-Fi on board
	Engaging onboard activities and lectures
	Port Taxes and Fees
	ABTA and ATOL Protection*