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Antarctica - Alumni Travel

January 19 - February 1, 2007

Antarctica is the opposite of the world as you know it. “Terra Incognita Australis,” as the old maps labeled it—“the unknown land to the south.” You couldn’t survive on your own; it is not a place for human beings. Then why visit? In this overbuilt, overscheduled world, Antarctica is an entire continent virtually devoid of human influence. The nations of the Earth have agreed. Study. Admire. And let be.

During the brief Austral summer, penguins, gulls, skuas, and other nesting birds return in the thousands to nest on the few scraps of exposed ground. Antarctic fur seals return to breed, leopard seals cruise among the ice floes, and whales migrate to the ice from their breeding grounds in the equatorial latitudes. Scientists return too. The scenery is fantastic. And it’s not even all that cold along the Antarctic Peninsula.

THE VOYAGE SOUTH
On the way south from Tierra del Fuego, we have time to relax and prepare for the days ahead. Anticipation builds. An abrupt change in sea surface temperature, a band of fog, a squadron of wandering albatross up above— these are the signs we’ve been waiting for. We’ve crossed the Antarctic Convergence and entered Antarctic waters, via the Drake Passage. Located between the tip of South America and the tongue of the Antarctic Peninsula, it's the shortest distance between the civilized world and the continent (about 500 miles). These productive waters are what protect and nurture Antarctica. Soon the ship will sail the protected channels and waterways of the Antarctic Peninsula and its sheltering archipelagos. Here we navigate a flooded geologic fault between towering mountains, taking in the ever-increasing spectacle of snow and ice and wildlife, and marveling at the changing light. Even if you never get off the vessel, you’ll have the time of your life.

SEIZING THE DAY
With almost perpetual daylight in Antarctica, we could launch the versatile Zodiac landing craft practically anytime. Depending on the voyage, you might enjoy a Zodiac cruise before breakfast or head out after dinner to land on a quiet cobble beach covered with penguins and seals.

          Zodiac Landing Craft

Each evening, your expedition leader will sketch the following day’s adventures. In this land without piers or ports or typical infrastructure, actual landings depend upon the local weather, vagaries of the sea and ice, and unplanned events—like a group of breaching humpback whales, seals cavorting on an ice floe, or an especially picturesque iceberg.

Antarctica is a surprising place where the weather is as much a feature of the experience as the wildlife and landscapes. A single day can bring calm, warm weather with sunny skies, snow flurries, a sudden squall, and atmospheric fog and mist. No single voyage, and no day, is alike. That’s one reason why so many people fall in love with the place, and return. Be warned: a trip to Antarctica could change your life.

Since education is a core part of our travel offerings, so we are very pleased to be accompanied on our trip by Paul Volcker, former Chairman of the Federal Reserve, who will speak on the topics Economic Challenges Ahead; Global Warming and Economic Challenges; and The Future of the United Nations. Complimenting Paul’s presence will be Middlebury Scholar in Residence Bill McKibben, a noted environmentalist, and Bob Dodson of the American Geographical Society who first explored the Antarctic in 1947.

Pricing (not including airfare).
Cabin Type E: $7,995
Cabin Type D: $8,795
Cabin Type C: $9,695
Cabin Type B: $10,495
Cabin Type A: $11,195
Cabin Type AA: $11,995
Cabin Type VS: $13,995
Cabin Type PHS: $14,995

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