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Snow Hill to the Peninsula: Shackleton's Emperors
18-day expedition from Buenos Aires to Snow Hill and the eastern Antarctic Peninsula aboard Ultramarine.
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Best Price Guarantee
Best Price Guarantee
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Length
18 Days
Ship category
Luxury
Ship type
Large Ship
Capacity
199 Passengers
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Ultramarine is the ship we recommend when you want your polar voyage to feel genuinely ambitious. Its two twin-engine helicopters, 20 Zodiacs and water-level embarkation area turn the ship into an expedition base: on the right itinerary and in the right conditions, you can reach viewpoints and landing areas that a conventional cruise program cannot offer. Whether the route leads through Antarctica, Greenland, Svalbard or the Northwest Passage, the big attraction is how quickly the day moves from briefing room to real exploration.
Our clients often come back to us talking about two things: the … Read more about Ultramarine
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Fitness Center
Mudroom
Lecture Theater
Observation Deck
Zodiac Fleet
Observation Lounge
Spa
Gift Shop
Sauna
Medical Services
Library
Meals on Ultramarine are designed around expedition days, so timings can move when a landing or wildlife encounter deserves more time. Balena on Deck 5 is the main restaurant, with sea views and tables for roughly two to ten; breakfast and lunch are generally buffet-style, while dinner is plated. Bistro 487 on Deck 7 offers a more relaxed alternative, including indoor and outdoor seating when conditions allow.
Our clients frequently praise both the food and the care taken with dietary requirements. Early-riser breakfast, afternoon tea, late snacks and 24-hour coffee, tea, cocoa and water help when the polar day starts before the formal meal schedule. The atmosphere is expedition-casual rather than formal. Please confirm dietary needs and the precise beverage inclusions for your departure before booking.
From
Until
Info
Availability
Price
30
Oct
2028
• 18 days
• Discounts apply if the total is paid in full within 7 days
From
USD 28,731
USD 33,370
30
Oct
2028
16
Nov
2028
•
Discounts apply if the total is paid in full within 7 days
USD 28,731
USD 33,370
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.
An official Quark Expeditions parka to keep.
Expedition leadership, scheduled shore landings and included activities.
Scheduled Zodiac transfers and cruises.
Shipboard accommodation with daily housekeeping.
All meals, snacks, soft drinks and juices aboard.
Selected beer, wines and cocktails during bar service hours and dinner.
Coffee, tea and cocoa around the clock.
Scheduled presentations by the expedition team and guest speakers.
A photographic expedition journal.
Waterproof expedition boots on loan for landings and Zodiac excursions.
Hair dryer and bathrobes in every cabin.
Basic Wi-Fi on one device, subject to polar connectivity.
Service taxes, port charges and luggage handling aboard.
Included helicopter flightseeing when scheduled and conditions permit.
One pre-expedition hotel night in Buenos Aires with breakfast, group flights between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia, and the specified group transfers.
International airfare.
Transfers not listed in the Charter Flight & Hotel Package, including the arrival transfer to the Buenos Aires hotel.
Passport and visa expenses.
Government arrival and departure taxes not expressly listed.
Meals ashore unless specified.
Travel insurance, including baggage, cancellation, interruption and medical cover.
Excess-baggage fees.
Mandatory waterproof trousers and other personal equipment not listed as included.
Laundry, spa, phone and other personal charges unless specified.
Voluntary gratuities for the expedition team and crew.
Additional accommodation not expressly listed.
Adventure options not listed as included activities.
Access is conditional: The Snow Hill colony visit depends on sea ice, weather, helicopter operations and wildlife protection; it is never guaranteed.
Flexible daily plan: Days 6-10 and 11-15 are operating windows. The expedition leader may change the sequence, activity or landing site at short notice.
Reduced capacity: Quark caps this specific departure at 150 guests, below Ultramarine's published ship capacity of 199.
Optional activities: Paddling and Stand-up Paddleboarding have limited capacity and remain subject to local conditions.
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 6.26 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
(14)
Price
From
USD 28,731
No dates selected
From
14 Reviews
Snow Hill sea ice: A shifting landscape of pressure ice and tabular bergs around the colony's operating area.
Emperor penguins: Adults and chicks may be observed from a protected distance if the colony can be reached.
Antarctic Sound: The route enters the Weddell Sea through waters known for large floes and flat-topped icebergs.
Eastern Peninsula sites: Paulet Island, Brown Bluff, the James Ross archipelago and the South Shetlands are possibilities, never fixed calls.
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.
Snow Hill is one of Antarctica's most demanding wildlife objectives. This 18-day expedition gives the captain and expedition leader five days to work with sea ice, wind and visibility in an attempt to reach the emperor penguin colony south of Snow Hill Island. Ultramarine's helicopters extend the operating range beyond the ship, but access and wildlife encounters can never be guaranteed. The route then devotes a further five days to the rarely visited eastern Antarctic Peninsula. Depending on conditions, the team may use helicopters, Zodiacs and shore landings around Antarctic Sound, the Weddell Sea and the South Shetland Islands. Choose this voyage for a serious, flexible expedition with a singular wildlife goal, not for a fixed daily schedule.
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 in Buenos Aires and make your own way to the designated group hotel. The hotel night and breakfast are included in the Charter Flight & Hotel Package; the airport-to-hotel transfer is not. Use the evening to settle in and check the final charter arrangements.
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After breakfast, transfer with the group to Buenos Aires' domestic airport and board the private charter flight to Ushuaia. On arrival, there is time in the city before the designated meeting point and late-afternoon embarkation. Ultramarine then sails through the Beagle Channel toward the Drake Passage.
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Begin the 800-kilometre crossing between South America and Antarctica. The sea can be calm or rough where the Pacific, Atlantic and Southern oceans meet. Watch for seabirds, meet the expedition team and begin the briefings that prepare you for Antarctic operations.
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Continue across the Drake Passage as the expedition team monitors the route ahead. Presentations introduce Antarctic wildlife, ice and the practical procedures for Zodiac and helicopter operations. The changing light, seabirds and first ice are part of the transition into expedition mode.
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Enter Antarctic Sound, the channel between the northern Peninsula and the Weddell Sea. Large floes and flat-topped icebergs can drift through this narrow route from the Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf. The onboard experts use the day to explain sea ice, emperor penguins and the exploration history of the Weddell Sea.
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The captain and expedition leader begin the five-day Snow Hill operating window. Weather reports, visibility and sea-ice thickness determine how close Ultramarine can safely approach. Plans remain deliberately fluid while the team positions the ship and prepares possible helicopter rotations.
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If conditions align on this or another day in the window, the helicopters can carry small groups from Ultramarine toward a remote landing zone. The intended route continues on foot across sea ice toward the colony, always at a protected distance. Wind, visibility, ice and wildlife welfare can postpone or cancel the operation.
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The colony on the sea ice south of Snow Hill Island is the expedition's central objective. If access succeeds, guides supervise the walk and the observation area while keeping disturbance to a minimum. There is time to watch the adults and chicks as a community, but the visit is never treated as guaranteed.
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The operating window allows the team to continue or complete guest rotations when conditions permit. If Snow Hill cannot be reached, the day follows the safest available alternative, which may include ice observation, presentations or another expedition activity. The daily briefing explains the decision and the evidence behind it.
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Use the final scheduled day around Snow Hill for the best remaining safe opportunity. Guests who have already visited may join other activities if offered, while those still waiting remain subject to the same operational limits. The route then turns toward the eastern Antarctic Peninsula.
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Begin five flexible days along the rarely visited eastern Antarctic Peninsula. Included helicopter flightseeing may reveal ice, rock, coast and sea beyond the ship, while Zodiacs and landings are selected from local conditions. Antarctic Sound, Erebus and Terror Gulf and the northwestern Weddell Sea form the wider operating area.
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One possible plan is Paulet Island, a volcanic island with a large Adélie penguin colony and the remains of a hut from the Swedish Antarctic Expedition. The route may instead follow another safe opportunity in Antarctic Sound. Ice and weather decide whether the day is spent ashore, in a Zodiac or observing from the ship.
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The team may target Brown Bluff on the Antarctic continent or the striking Madder Cliffs of Joinville Island. Brown Bluff's exposed volcanic layers rise above Adélie and gentoo penguin rookeries. Any landing or Zodiac route depends on surf, ice, wildlife and the expedition leader's assessment.
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The James Ross Island archipelago and Vega Island offer a geological counterpoint to the wildlife days. Possible observations include fossils, wind-polished rocks and volcanic forms around Devil Island. The exact site is chosen on the day, and sensitive material remains protected under the team's guidance.
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Before turning north, the intended plan looks for a final landing in the South Shetland Islands. Livingston Island and Deception Island are among the possibilities, with mountains, volcanic shores, historic remains and chinstrap penguin colonies. Conditions and site availability determine the actual finale.
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Begin the return crossing through the Southern Ocean. Spend time on deck watching for seabirds and whales, or join the expedition team's final presentations. The open-water day also gives space to absorb the scale of the ice and wildlife experienced farther south.
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Continue north toward Tierra del Fuego while the team reviews the voyage and shares the final briefings. Wildlife watching remains worthwhile, but sea conditions set the rhythm. Prepare for the morning arrival and disembarkation in Ushuaia.
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Arrive in Ushuaia in the morning and disembark after breakfast. Transfer with the group to the charter flight and return to Buenos Aires under the included package arrangements. The passenger journey ends in Buenos Aires, while Ultramarine's voyage ends in Ushuaia.
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