Antarctic Express: Fly the Drake
Discover the main polar attractions in this Antarctic Express Cruise aboard the World Explorer
From: USD 12,415
Antarctic Express: Fly the Drake
A 8-day long expedition cruise
A 8-day long Cruise
The Trip Highlights
Experience amazing wildlife animals
Spot seals and whales in their natural habitats
Step a foot on the 7th continent
Cross the drake passage in only a few hours!
Your Polartours 'Plus' Experience
Hike up a sparkling glacier
Experience the chill of a polar plunge
Your trip is 100% carbon offset
Learn from Polar experts
Don't waste any time and fly over the infamous Drake Passage by charter plane and land on King George Island before starting your polar adventure. Antarctica will enchant you with its breathtaking scenery, snow-capped peaks and huge icebergs. Get to know the local wildlife: walk among the famous king penguins, watch whales and photograph thousands of seabirds. Explore historic sites, climb a sparkling iceberg and make the most of your landmark visit to the 7th continent.
Your ship: World Explorer
Welcome aboard the World Explorer! Distinct and comfortable, refined and roomy—these attributes and more describe World Explorer. Every cabin has a private walk-out or French balcony for direct ocean views. World Explorer also delivers spacious public lounge spaces to unwind after a day outdoors, including the glass-domed Observation Lounge, the Explorer Lounge, and a dedicated presentation theater. Health and wellness facilities feature an outdoor walking track, a fitness center, and a spa, plus a sauna with a change room and shower.
For the active adventurers, add-ons include kayaking, camp … Read more about World Explorer
Amenities
Fitness Center
Mudroom
Expedition Parka
Lecture Theater
Observation Deck
Pool
Observation Lounge
Spa
Gift Shop
Sauna
Medical Services
Library
Open Bridge Policy
Food & Drinks
There is one dining room located on Deck 4 which offers three meals per day. While mealtimes may change due to landings and wildlife encounters, you’ll always be assured of excellent quality food during our time on World Explorer.
There is one seating for all passengers at breakfast, lunch, and dinner and the restaurant has an open seating policy that encourages passengers to mingle with like-minded Antarctic explorers and share their experiences.
An assortment of freshly baked cookies and/or pastries are offered each afternoon. There is also a selection of hot and cold snacks available in the lounge during cocktail hour, expedition activities permitting.
Breakfasts and lunches are normally served buffet-style, while dinners are served plated. À la carte meals are made at the time of your order, allowing the chefs to prepare each dish to your individual needs. Working in a small kitchen, the chefs are able to monitor and control the quality of food being served, ensuring you receive top-quality meals during the course of your expedition.
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Select Tour Dates
Adventure Options
Optional activities during your cruise
Day 1 • Your incredible Antarctic Express adventure starts in Punta Arenas
By early afternoon, your Polar guide will meet you at the official starting point hotel, where you’ll enjoy a welcome dinner and be briefed about preparing for your embarkation day.
Day 2 • Board the plane for King George Island where you will embark on your journey to the Antarctic Peninsula
The largest of the South Shetland Islands, King George Island lies only 75 miles from the coast of the Antarctic continent. With historical claims made by Britain, Chile and Argentina, the island is also known as Isla Rey Jorge and Isla 25 de Mayo.
The importance of King George Island to many Antarctic bases is the 1,300m long airstrip maintained by the permanently occupied Chilean Base Presidente Eduardo Frei Montalva. This provides a lifeline as an airbridge for personnel and supplies for many other Antarctic bases and research stations.
The presence of the airstrip allows King George Island to be used as a "fly-cruise" destination. Flying from Chile across the Drake Passage saves up to 3 days at sea, allowing Antarctic exploration for those with less time to take a full cruise.
Day 3-6 • Set foot on the Antarctic Continent
The North-West portion of the Antarctic Peninsula is the most frequently visited by expedition cruises and is home to many of the most popular landing sites. The Gerlache Strait is renowned for the stunning scenery with the snow covered mountains, as if covered in icing sugar, with numerous glaciers tumbling down to the sea.
Being the most northerly part of the whole continent, the Peninsula enjoys the mildest Antarctic condition, with temperatures in winter averaging a balmy -20 degrees C (-4 degrees F)! In the summer, things warm up to an average of just above freezing. Large areas of this part of the peninsula are ice-free in the early season, being important breeding and feeding grounds for many iconic Antarctic species.
It's here that many of the historic Antarctic expeditions began, and where early military and scientific bases were first established, some of which you will be able to visit if conditions allow. These remarkable artefacts have been left as time capsules, their contents showing remarkable levels of preservation thanks to the dry and cold climate.
Day 7 • Travel back north to King George Island
After your week of exploration, you’ll say goodbye to your Expedition Team and disembark at King George Island. Your two-hour flight across the Drake Passage to Punta Arenas, Chile, brings your adventure to an end. After your group transfer to the hotel, you are free to explore and enjoy an evening on your own, in the city or at the hotel to reminisce about the sights and sounds of Antarctica.
The largest of the South Shetland Islands, King George Island lies only 75 miles from the coast of the Antarctic continent. With historical claims made by Britain, Chile and Argentina, the island is also known as Isla Rey Jorge and Isla 25 de Mayo.
The importance of King George Island to many Antarctic bases is the 1,300m long airstrip maintained by the permanently occupied Chilean Base Presidente Eduardo Frei Montalva. This provides a lifeline as an airbridge for personnel and supplies for many other Antarctic bases and research stations.
The presence of the airstrip allows King George Island to be used as a "fly-cruise" destination. Flying from Chile across the Drake Passage saves up to 3 days at sea, allowing Antarctic exploration for those with less time to take a full cruise.
Day 8 • Your unforgettable Antarctic cruise comes to an end in Punta Arenas
After breakfast, you are welcome to continue on your own travels or make your way to the Punta Arenas airport for your homeward flights.
Reviews
Deanna Rieden
May 2022
This was the trip of a lifetime. Our final continent. Once we arrived in Punta Arenas, we were met at the airport by Paula from Aurora who took us to hotel. My baggage was lost by airline and she gave me a coat to wear immediately. Shout out to Paula and Michael for tracking my Luggage. Once we transferred to Antarctica we were met by ship crew with drinks and smiles. The week was packed with excursions and amazing information presented by scientists in different aspects of expertise. The ship staff was friendly, personable making the trip an amazing adventure. The fly and cruise is the way to go!
Marion K
May 2022
It was an AMAZING journey through one of the most spectacular landscapes I have ever scene (if not the most). The boat was top of the line, the professional crew incredibly professional, knowledgeable and fun to hang out with. The service crew took well care of us during all the journey. The kayak pack is specially recommended and if you are lucky you will also a face to face hunch whale experience you will remember as your top wildlife adventure for life (copied from Trip Advisor)
Doug Beham
May 2022
Couldn't be better! This company checks all the boxes: well-planned expeditions, pristine ship, and skilled & courteous service from all the employees. Best cruise company I have traveled with by far. (Copied from Google)
Cristian Coudeu
May 2022
Impressive trip, a beautiful destination that thanks to A21 becomes unforgettable. The concern for every detail, the professional level of the team, the joy with which they do their work make this experience something unique. Discovering Antarctica with A21 is a dream that we should all have. (copied from Trip Advisor)
Till K
April 2022
We booked the 2.5 week trip incl. Antarctic peninsula and South Georgia. We received good information on clothing, recommended literature, itinerary etc. previously. The one night in Punta Arenas extended due to fog around the antarctic landing strip to three days, with an OK emergency program. The difficulty to get to Antarctica shows that it a somehow adventurous place and not normal tourism. Once arrived on board, we were welcomed nicely and shown the beautiful new vessel, the Magellan Explorer. The expedition staff and the crew are very friendly and professional. The cabins and excellent, all have balconies, mini bars are refilled all the time. Food on boards in really good and varied every day. Wine is OK. The expeditions are what you came for. Protocols are very strict, in order to protect wild life. Whats you see is totally amazing, in Antarctica the icebergs and white sceneries, later on in South Georgia the immense amount of king penguins, seals with puppies, etc. During the days of pure navigation, you can spot whales, albatrosses etc., and get very interesting lectures of Antarctic related topics (history, political situation, animals, etc.). Lecturers are excellent professionals, some are also funny. What could be improved? On our specific trip, the three days lost in the beginning were cut off just from the Antarctic peninsula part of the trip, nothing from South Georgia. Could have been more balanced. And in general, on zodiac tours without landing, people could be grouped by interest (photographers have other needs than the rest, some older people get cold earlier than some younger, etc.). Overall… a trip of the lifetime. I intend to do the pure Antarctic trip with the same company and the same vessel. (Copied from Trip Advisor)