Experience the magic of a place unlike any other. The Antarctic Peninsula holds real fascination and promises its visitors unforgettable moments. Throughout your adventure in this icy realm, you will find yourself in the heart of a spectacular landscape in subtle shades of blue and white, surrounded by exceptional wildlife. Penguins, humpback whales, seals and giant petrels are at home here, as are elephant seals, fur seals, Antarctic minke whales and orcas.
Travel with Peggy Sloan, Shedd’s Chief Animal Officer, to the southernmost continent during the austral summer, when the days are long and relatively mild, when seabirds are courting, and massive icebergs thaw into sculptures of brilliant form and color. We can’t wait to show you the wonders of this frigid environment rich with breathtaking scenery and animals to observe.
Ways to Register
Email Shannon Fuller for more information at [email protected] OR call PONANT at 1-833-889-0800 to sign up. Reference the Shedd Aquarium group when booking.
Limited Capacity
We have limited spots available with no single supplement! We recommend booking before they sell out.
Space is limited to our specified group room allotment, and this Shedd Adventure will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
Dates
February 20 – March 3, 2023
Ushuaia – Ushuaia – 12 days/11 nights includes one pre-cruise hotel night in Buenos Aires
Cost
Starting from $10,970 per person
Ship
Aboard Le Lyrial
Highlights
Explore the magic of Antarctica on an unforgettable 11-day voyage
Encounter Gentoo, Adélie and Chinstrap penguins, humpback whales, seals and seabirds
Discover incredible landscapes from glaciers to ice floes and snow-covered mountains
Explore the breathtaking peninsula during daily outings and shore visits in Zodiac inflatables with a team of experienced naturalist guides
Enjoy private group lectures with Peggy Sloan, Shedd’s Chief Animal Officer, as well as discussions with other experts on board including naturalist guides and Smithsonian Journeys experts. Topics include wildlife, history, geopolitics, the great explorers, climate and environmental protection.
Peggy Sloan, Shedd Aquarium’s Chief Animal Officer, recognizes the unique role of a world class aquarium to advance durable solutions for the dual and intersecting global threats of climate change and biodiversity loss. Sloan oversees an integrated team of animal care experts, scientists and research biologists working to not only provide outstanding animal care that is at the foundation of everything the aquarium does, but also to better understand wild animals and their habitats while helping us work with partners to build management strategies to protect them. On this journey to Antarctica, Peggy looks forward to connecting people with animals and creating moments of wonder and awe with you in this precious and unique peninsula at the southernmost tip of the natural world.
Arrive in Buenos Aires and transfer to the Hotel Madero (or similar)
Tuesday, February 21
Buenos Aires/Ushuaia/Embark
Transfer to the airport for the flight to Ushuaia. Upon arrival, join an excursion to Tierra del Fuego National Park. Created in 1960, the park is famous for its mountainous landscapes, lagoons, bogs and rivers. If you are lucky, you may encounter beaver dams, birds, wild orchids and more. Lunch will be in a restaurant within the park. Continue to the pier in Ushuaia to embark Le Lyrial in late afternoon. (B,L,D)
Wednesday, February 22 and Thursday, February 23
Crossing the Drake Passage
Your days crossing the Drake Passage on the way to the Antarctic Peninsula will allow you to get to know the ship and learn about Zodiac operations, as well as rules of conduct ashore and bio-security protocols. This will also be a time for discussions with the expedition staff about the history, geology, flora and fauna of the Antarctic. As a Shedd Aquarium adventurer, you will also be privy to formal and informal discussions with your host, Peggy Sloan, Shedd’s Chief Animal Officer, throughout the expedition. From the ship’s bridge, experience exceptional sailing moments before joining the naturalist guides on the exterior decks to look out for albatrosses, Cape petrels and other seabirds flying over the Drake Passage. (B,L,D)
The Antarctic Peninsula is a place of wonder and fascination, promising visitors unforgettable moments. Throughout your adventure in this icy realm, you will find yourself in the heart of a spectacular environment of subtle shades of blue and white, surrounded by exceptional wildlife. Penguins, humpback whales, seals and giant petrels are at home here, as are elephant seals, fur seals, Antarctic minke whales and orcas. Each day, based on ice conditions, the captain and the expedition leader will suggest Zodiac outings or landings to discover the infinite riches of the Antarctic Peninsula. Glaciers, ice floe, tabletop icebergs, mountain peaks that plunge straight into the sea, volcanic beaches, research stations, enchanting bays and vestiges of the whaling industry: these are the faces of the Antarctic that we will witness. Sail in the wake of Jean-Baptiste Charcot, Adrien de Gerlache and Sir Ernest Shackleton, the great Antarctic explorers who first explored these remote and uninhabited lands. (B,L,D)
Wednesday, March 1 and Thursday, March 2
Crossing the Drake Passage
Situated at the latitude of the infamous Furious Fifties winds, between Cape Horn and the South Shetland Islands, the Drake Passage is the shortest route between Antarctica and South America. At the Antarctic convergence, where cold currents rise up from the South Pole meet warmer, equatorial water masses, the Drake is home to diverse marine fauna, including the albatross and Cape petrels that will follow your ship as you head north. (B,L,D)
First introduced in 2015, Le Lyrial is the very embodiment of this new generation of intimately sized cruise ships. Its exterior and interior lines, all sober understatement and refinement, make it a yacht of a rare and innovative kind. Le Lyrial has 122 staterooms and a crew of 145. Guests will enjoy attentive service, gourmet French-inspired cuisine and a relaxed, congenial ambiance. Call PONANT at 1-833-889-0800 to choose your state room.
Getting there and getting home
You will need to make your own travel arrangements to and from Buenos Aires. PONANT has arranged all accommodations and airfare from the first night in Buenos Aires, until your return to Buenos Aires on March 3 (return hotel night not included).
Cancellations and refunds
From confirmation of booking date up to 91 days prior to departure: 10% of full fare to be kept by PONANT
90-61 days prior to departure: 50% of full fare to be kept by PONANT
Within 60 days prior to departure: 100% of full fare to be kept by PONANT
*We recommend travel insurance in the event of unforeseen circumstances and can make recommendations if requested.
Questions?
Email Shannon Fuller at [email protected] for more information or call PONANT at 1-833-889-0800 to sign up. Reference the Shedd Aquarium group when booking.
