Antarctica
Wild Antarctica featuring the Weddell Sea
Welcome to Aurora Expeditions’ special edition Wild Antarctica featuring the Weddell Sea Fly/Sail expedition, in partnership with New Scientist Discovery Tours. The Weddell Sea is renowned for its vast amounts of ice - sea ice, pack ice and gigantic icebergs. It is the perfect setting for a voyage in partnership with New Scientist Discovery Tours. For those with an interest in history, the Weddell Sea was central to Ernest Shackleton’s well-known expedition when the Endurance became trapped in the ice. In addition to ice-watching opportunities, the area is also rich in wildlife, geology, and palaeontology. We hope to see a variety of ice seals. On shore, you can search for ancient fossils of gastropods, large clams, and spiral-shaped ammonites. This is the perfect time of year to see curious whales, who are feeding before they begin their migration north to warmer waters. This unique cruise will be hosted aboard a new, state-of-the-art polar expedition vessel, the Sylvia Earle (built 2022). The Sylvia Earle is one of a handful of passenger ships to feature the revolutionary Ulstein X-BOW, reducing fuel consumption and allowing a sleeker cruising experience. With no more than 130 guests, an amazing viewing space and a ship-build designed to minimise negative environmental impacts, the Sylvia Earle guarantees a far more enjoyable guest experience than the other older and larger expedition ships.
Route Map
Gallery
6 photos
Voyage Overview
Welcome to Aurora Expeditions’ special edition Wild Antarctica featuring the Weddell Sea Fly/Sail expedition, in partnership with New Scientist Discovery Tours. The Weddell Sea is renowned for its vast amounts of ice - sea ice, pack ice and gigantic icebergs. It is the perfect setting for a voyage in partnership with New Scientist Discovery Tours. For those with an interest in history, the Weddell Sea was central to Ernest Shackleton’s well-known expedition when the Endurance became trapped in the ice. In addition to ice-watching opportunities, the area is also rich in wildlife, geology, and palaeontology. We hope to see a variety of ice seals. On shore, you can search for ancient fossils of gastropods, large clams, and spiral-shaped ammonites. This is the perfect time of year to see curious whales, who are feeding before they begin their migration north to warmer waters. This unique cruise will be hosted aboard a new, state-of-the-art polar expedition vessel, the Sylvia Earle (built 2022). The Sylvia Earle is one of a handful of passenger ships to feature the revolutionary Ulstein X-BOW, reducing fuel consumption and allowing a sleeker cruising experience. With no more than 130 guests, an amazing viewing space and a ship-build designed to minimise negative environmental impacts, the Sylvia Earle guarantees a far more enjoyable guest experience than the other older and larger expedition ships.
Highlight
- Be awestruck by the array of wildlife that hunt and play in the Antarctic Sound, as the humpback whale migration begins
- Marvel at gigantic tabular icebergs in the Weddell Sea
- Learn about the incredible fossil-rich volcanic islands from our onboard experts
- Hear tales of heroic exploration, tragedy and triumph in the Weddell region
