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Best Price Guarantee
Best Price Guarantee
Length
20 Days
Ship category
Luxury
Ship type
Large Ship
Capacity
138 Passengers
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Ocean Explorer is a modern, purpose-built expedition ship for up to 138 guests. Its Ulstein X-Bow, 15 Zodiacs, multi-height outdoor decks and light-filled, two-storey library at the bow are designed around polar travel and wildlife viewing. Most cabins have a private veranda.
The Ready Room keeps expedition gear outside the cabin areas. Between outings, guests can use the observation spaces, Tundra Spa & Sauna, gym and two outdoor Jacuzzis. The combination gives guests several places to watch the landscape or step away from busier shared areas between excursions. The veranda-heavy cabin plan … Read more about Ocean Explorer
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Bar
Mudroom
Gym on board
Expedition Parka
Observation Deck
Zodiac Fleet
Kayaks on board
Observation Lounge
Hot Tub
All meals
Interconnecting cabins
Water, Coffee, Tea & fresh juices
Sauna
Medical Services
TV in room
Library
English guides
Internet/Wifi
Restaurant
Ocean Explorer has two main dining venues. The Main Dining Room on Deck 5 seats 144 guests, while the Observation Bistro seats up to 44 and serves lighter fare and grab-and-go snacks.
Breakfast and lunch are normally buffet-style and dinner is plated. Vegetarian and gluten-free options are labelled, and most special dietary requests can be accommodated when declared on the expedition forms. Kosher food cannot be prepared.
From
Until
Info
Availability
Price
13
Oct
2028
• 20 days
• Discounts apply if the total is paid in full within 7 days
From
USD 23,508
USD 29,495
13
Oct
2028
1
Nov
2028
•
Discounts apply if the total is paid in full within 7 days
USD 23,508
USD 29,495
Preferred date unavailable?
When booking online, you can choose the option to "Upgrade to single occupancy". This will guarantee you the whole cabin to yourself, for an additional fee. If you don't select this option, then another traveler of the same sex might be placed into the same cabin with you. Exceptions may apply.
One pre-voyage hotel night in Puerto Madryn with breakfast
Expedition leadership throughout the voyage
All Zodiac transfers, cruises and shore landings included in the programme
Accommodation aboard Ocean Explorer with daily housekeeping
All meals, snacks and non-alcoholic drinks aboard
Complimentary selected beer, wine and cocktails during bar-service hours and dinner, plus coffee, tea and cocoa around the clock
Presentations by the expedition team and a photographic voyage journal
Official Quark Expeditions parka to keep and waterproof boots on loan
Complimentary basic Wi-Fi for one device
Port charges, service taxes and luggage handling aboard
Transfer from the ship to Ushuaia airport on the final day for guests departing as scheduled
International and domestic flights
Transfers, hotels and meals before or after the voyage unless expressly listed as included
Passport, visa, vaccination and other documentation costs
Travel, medical and emergency-evacuation insurance
Sea kayaking, paddling excursion and guided photography unless purchased separately
Laundry, spa treatments, premium Wi-Fi and personal purchases
Beverages not expressly listed as included
Voluntary gratuities for the crew and expedition team
Anything not expressly listed as included
The itinerary is expeditionary. Weather, sea conditions and wildlife determine the final sequence and landing sites.
The included Puerto Madryn hotel night is part of the operator’s charter flight and hotel package for this departure.
Sea kayaking, paddling excursion and guided photography are paid activities and require advance availability.
The voyage ends in Ushuaia; onward travel after the scheduled transfer is arranged independently.
Ocean Explorer carries up to 138 guests on the current official ship specification.
After completing your booking, you will receive an invoice from your travel specialist by email. A deposit of 30% of the trip price is required to secure your booking. Payment can be made through bank transfer or by credit card through a secure payment link.
Full payment is expected 30 days before your trip. Payment can be made in installments.
This trip generates 6 t CO₂e. Polartours regularly measures and monitors the carbon footprint of its journeys and actively reduces emissions through sustainable travel design: no unnecessary flights, fewer feeder flights, integration of rail and public transport, and promoting longer stays for a more balanced relationship between travel distance and impact.
From 2018 to 2024, we supported carbon reduction projects equivalent to the emissions generated. Recognizing the limits of traditional offsetting, we now focus on active environmental protection through our own rainforest project, Forest Guardians.
More information on our climate and environmental responsibility: https://www.venturatravel.org/impact
All cruises in the polar regions operate to itineraries that are more-or-less fixed. We say "more or less", because wildlife (breeding, seasonality) and weather always play an important role in routing. Most cruises will offer a range of land-based and water-based activities that you will enjoy at various points in your cruise, including:
All boats carry English speaking, scientifically trained guides. They will lead you on your excursions, allowing you to learn as much as possible about the unique wildlife and habitats of the Polar Regions.
Choosing the right ship for a cruise to Antarctica or the Arctic seems difficult, but it doesn't have to be. Our fleet is over 30 vessels, we are sure that there is the perfect one for you. Please, follow these simple steps, and you will be able to find your ideal ship:
In addition: We work with responsible partners who provide a great experience for their passengers. All of our providers are committed to sustainability and to preserving the beauty of the polar regions. You don’t need to worry about the impact of your cruise, because we’ve already taken care of it.
We love to help people find their dream vacation to the Arctic and Antarctic. Whether you give us a call, contact us via email, or use our website inquiry form, one of our Polar travel experts will be more than happy to answer any questions, recommend ships and itineraries, and walk you through the whole process!
Step 1: Find your perfect trip. If you have already started looking for Polar Cruises, you will have quickly noticed that the sheer amount of options can be quite overwhelming. To help you navigate the countless departures and itineraries that our fleet offers, we have put together a great filter page for Antarctic and Arctic Expedition Cruises. Use this page to filter all trips by price, date, ship category, and even destinations you wish to visit. We update all dates, prices, and availabilities daily, and are proud to host what is doubtlessly the world's most complete collection of information.
Step 2: Found something you love? We'll hold your spaces, free of charge! If you find a cruise you like, you can either inquire directly with us or make an unbinding booking online. We will then reach out to the shipowners to put a hold on your spaces for a limited time, free of charge. Once we have confirmed your block with the ship, we will send you a written confirmation of your reservation and include full payment details in an invoice. Typically, we are able to hold unpaid reservations for up to 1 week*. This gives us time to clarify all your remaining questions, and also ensures that no other passengers can book your spaces, while we continue our conversation.
Step 3: Confirm your booking. In order to confirm your booking, we ask for a deposit payment. You can pay via bank transfer or credit card. Keep in mind, that we can only hold your spaces for a limited amount of time. If we don't receive your payment after this time, we can no longer guarantee that the places will be available or that the price won't increase. To prevent disappointment, we will automatically cancel your reservation if we don't receive your deposit by the due date stated on your booking reservation.
Step 4: Booking confirmation & Payment. As soon as we have received your deposit and a completed passenger information form, we will be pleased to send your booking confirmation and updated invoice, along with your trip itinerary, important information, and other great tips for your cruise.
Step 5: Final payment. In your initial invoice, we will define a final payment date by when you need to pay us the remaining amount of your trip. Once we have received your final payment we'll send you your cruise documents and voucher. As your trip approaches, we make sure to pass along all necessary information, so you feel super prepared and stress-free.
*For last-minute bookings, we might not be able to hold your spaces for so long. We will also require the full payment of your cruise upon booking.
An expedition cruise to Antarctica or the Arctic is a big deal! Most people plan for this type of trip at least 8 months in advance. This means the earlier you book, the better chance you'll have to reserve your prefered cabins. Early bird discounts are also popular and a great way to get 10-30% off your cruise.
Most expedition cruises offer optional activities like camping and kayaking, but the spaces are limited. A cruise with 120 passengers can have only 10-15 spaces for kayaking. These are reserved on a first come first served basis. The earlier you book, the higher your chance of grabbing a spot.
Even though last minute deals do occur, keep in mind that the airline prices will be much higher if you purchase them last minute. You may save a few hundred on your cruise, but you may end up paying the most for airfare.
4.8
(17)
Price
From
USD 23,508
No dates selected
From
17 Reviews
Black-browed albatrosses and penguins on the outer Falkland Islands.
Grytviken’s whaling history and Shackleton memorial sites.
The vast king penguin colony at St. Andrew’s Bay when conditions allow.
Macaroni penguins at a suitable South Georgia landing site.
Best Price Guarantee: Find a better price elsewhere, and we’ll match it.
Polar Expedition Specialists: We focus exclusively on polar voyages, with advice rooted in real, firsthand expertise.
Travel that gives back: Every booking directly funds our mission to protect and restore global rainforests.
Begin on the Patagonian coast in Puerto Madryn, then sail east aboard Ocean Explorer to the Falkland Islands and South Georgia. This 20-day route is built around wildlife: black-browed albatrosses on remote Falkland shores, king penguin colonies beneath South Georgia’s mountains, and the seabirds and whales of the Southern Ocean.
The expedition team keeps the schedule flexible. Steeple Jason, New Island, Saunders Island, West Point, Carcass Island and Stanley are among the possible Falkland calls; in South Georgia, Grytviken, King Haakon Bay, St. Andrew’s Bay and macaroni-penguin colonies such as Hercules Bay, Royal Bay or Cooper Bay may enter the programme. Every landing depends on conditions.
Ocean Explorer carries you from Puerto Madryn to Ushuaia, with expert interpretation, Zodiac exploration and long days ashore whenever weather and wildlife allow. Choose this voyage for concentrated Falkland and South Georgia wildlife without adding the Antarctic Peninsula.
Keep in mind this is an expedition cruise, so your itinerary will depend greatly on the weather, amount of ice and wildlife breeding behavior.
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Arrive independently in Puerto Madryn on Argentina’s Patagonian coast. Your included hotel night gives you time to settle in before embarkation; the oceanfront setting is an apt introduction to the wildlife journey ahead.
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A day at sea brings the rhythm of expedition life into focus. Join presentations, watch for seabirds from the outer decks and learn how the team will adapt landings to weather, sea and wildlife.
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Continue across the South Atlantic towards the northwest Falkland Islands. Black-browed albatrosses, petrels and shearwaters may accompany the ship, while dolphins are also possible as land draws closer.
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Begin three flexible days in the Falkland Islands. If conditions permit, Steeple Jason offers one of the world’s great black-browed albatross colonies; the expedition team may choose another strong wildlife site when weather or swell requires it.
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Today may bring New Island, Saunders Island or West Point. Walk among coastal landscapes where albatrosses and several penguin species breed, always following local access rules and keeping a respectful distance from wildlife.
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A final flexible Falkland day may lead to Carcass Island or Stanley. The contrast is memorable: remote wildlife shores on one hand, and the archipelago’s compact capital, historic waterfront and distinctive island culture on the other.
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Turn east for South Georgia. Presentations introduce the island’s wildlife and history while the ship crosses productive waters used by albatrosses, petrels and whales.
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Cross the Antarctic Convergence, where colder polar water meets the warmer sub-Antarctic ocean. The change in temperature and nutrients supports abundant marine life and sharpens anticipation for South Georgia.
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Make the first South Georgia landing wherever conditions offer the strongest opportunity. Beaches backed by steep mountains can hold fur seals, elephant seals and penguins, but the precise site and timing remain in the expedition leader’s hands.
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Continue exploring South Georgia by Zodiac and on foot. Vast king penguin gatherings, nesting seabirds and seal-filled beaches may define the day, with the programme shaped by surf, wind and wildlife.
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Visit Grytviken when conditions allow. The former whaling station, museum and cemetery place South Georgia’s human history within a dramatic mountain setting, including the memorials associated with Sir Ernest Shackleton.
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The expedition team may target King Haakon Bay or St. Andrew’s Bay. One is woven into Shackleton’s crossing story; the other is known for an immense king penguin colony. Conditions determine which experience is possible.
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Seek a suitable site for macaroni penguins, potentially Hercules Bay, Royal Bay or Cooper Bay. Zodiac approaches and landings depend on swell and wildlife activity, keeping this as a genuine expedition day rather than a fixed call.
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Use the last day around South Georgia for the best available landing or Zodiac cruise. If weather and ground conditions permit, the team may offer the final section of Shackleton’s route towards Stromness before Ocean Explorer turns west.
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Leave South Georgia behind and begin the long return across the Southern Ocean. Lectures, wildlife watches and time on deck help connect the island’s natural history with the wider sub-Antarctic ecosystem.
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Cross the Antarctic Convergence again on the northbound passage. Watch for albatrosses and petrels riding the wind, and scan the horizon for whales in these nutrient-rich waters.
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The route passes the productive waters around Burwood Bank on the approach to Tierra del Fuego. Seabird and marine-mammal watches continue while the expedition team prepares you for arrival in the Beagle Channel.
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Land returns in the form of Tierra del Fuego’s mountain skyline. Sail through the Beagle Channel towards Ushuaia, sharing final observations and photographs from the Falkland Islands and South Georgia.
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Disembark Ocean Explorer in Ushuaia after breakfast. A transfer to the airport is included for guests departing on the scheduled final day; any further stay or onward journey is arranged independently.