Antarctic Group 2024

Walking poles are not provided but are a good idea to have with you for stability as the snow and ice can be slippery. There is the opportunity to purchase onboard.

You will be asked to choose your favourite pics from all the professional shots taken during the voyage. They will be saved onto a portable device for you to take home with you.

Jackets and boots are fitted and distributed onboard.
Jackets are collected soon after boarding the ship and boots are loaned out prior to each zodiac outing.
 
Boots are collected upon returning from zodiac outings for cleaning and stored in the mud room. As the temperature onboard is warm, jackets will dry quickly in your stateroom.

Throughout the trip, guests will be able to attend lectures and information sessions hosted by our naturalist guides, covering wildlife, history, geopolitics, the great explorers, climate, environmental protection and educational discovery in the respect of environment.
 
Expedition programmes include activities such as zodiac outings and landings (sometimes with “wet landings”), moderate walks to more active hikes, all accompanied by your expedition team of naturalist guides.
 
Two zodiac outings and landings per day are planned subject to weather conditions, which is decided the night before. The Captain and the Expedition Leader may at any time cancel or stop any activity, or even modify the itinerary. The final itinerary will be confirmed by the Captain, who will take into account the touristic quality of the sites and above all, the safety of the passengers. His decision will be based on advice from experts and authorities.

Those arriving in Buenos Aires prior to the 16th of February will need to make their own way to the hotel – Hilton Buenos Aires.
 
Passengers arriving in Buenos Aires on the 16th of February will be met at Ezeiza International airport in the arrival hall. You will be greeted by our local representative holding a PONANT sign and transferred by shuttle to the Hilton Buenos Aires.
 
Hotel check-in is available from 11.00am
 
The remainder of the day is at leisure with dinner provided at the hotel. Individual dinner reservations are to be done by each passenger at check-in.
 
 
On the 17th of February, after an early breakfast, the group will be transferred to the airport for the flight to Ushuaia.
 
• Approximate flight duration is 3 hours and 30 minutes.
• Luggage allowance on the flight is one 23kg checked bag and one 8kg cabin bag per person.
• Meet and greet at the airport in Ushuaia, then transfer to a local restaurant for lunch, where the rest of the afternoon is at leisure before boarding the ship.
• Boarding time is from 4.00pm to 5.00pm with the departure being at 6.00pm.
 
Those who have signed up for the optional excursion to Tierra del Fuego National Park will be transferred upon arrival at Ushuaia airport, and travel towards the park where you will have lunch before starting the tour.
 
The Tierra del Fuego programme includes:
• The excursion by local bus and the entrance fees to the National Park
• The lunch including beverage package.
• The services of a local English-speaking guide

Yes, your Stateroom Officer will be able to take care of your laundry**.

The washing and ironing of your clothes will take between 24 and 48 hours.

Only ironing can be delivered on the same day. As dry-cleaning is not possible on the ship, please only launder clothes that can be washed in water.

**These services are not free of charge and are billed directly to your stateroom account.

Free Wi-Fi internet access is available onboard, in both the staterooms and the communal areas. One or several computers are at your disposal in the recreation centres. Please note that the Wi-Fi connection may be disrupted depending on the navigation area and landscapes that may block the vessel from satellite coverage, especially at high latitudes (no connection possible beyond 80° North or South), or for technical reasons beyond our control.

The currency onboard is the Euro, but the US Dollar is also accepted.
Credit cards (Visa, MasterCard and American Express) and cash (in EUR and USD only) are accepted.
 
There is no Bureau de Change on board the ship.
We advise you to exchange your currency through your bank or at an international airport.
 
You will have a personal account set up with your €200 onboard credit per person. You can use this credit toward activities such as sea kayaking, spa treatments or premium drinks at the bar.
 
You will settle your account prior to disembarking.
 
Please note: As the on-board accounts are closed on the day before disembarkation, any payment after 10:00 pm on this day will have to be made in cash.

There is a doctor onboard available to passengers on the ship.
 
The availability for appointments are listed each day in the logbook (emergency consultation 24/7).
 
There is a fee for consultations onboard. The price may vary according to the time and place of the consultation (hospital or staterooms). Any medication must also be paid for by the passenger.
 
If you take medication on a regular basis make sure to bring adequate supplies for the duration of your cruise.
 
The doctor on board is not authorised to distribute medical certificates or prescriptions. Only accounts and invoices are provided which may be used by the passenger to obtain a refund from his/her health insurance if his/her contract allows.
 
If you suffer from seasickness rest assured that the ship has stabilisers equipped with dynamic fins which adapt to the movements of the ship.
This system allows the ship to anticipate and compensate for the pitching and tossing of the sea to achieve greater stability. Passengers suffering from seasickness will see their symptoms alleviated and be pleasantly surprised to not feel uncomfortable during their journey. However, it is wise to bring travel motion medication with you for peace of mind.

Travelling to polar/isolated regions means that you are far from modern hospitals with full medical facilities, thus evacuation is extremely expensive. Without adequate medical coverage, all expenses will have to be immediately paid for with your personal funds. We urge you to take out full coverage insurance, choose your insurance company very carefully, be extremely vigilant and ensure your insurance is fully comprehensive, especially if you are insured by your credit card.