Atlantic Odyssey

Light-mantled Albatross, Phoebetria palpebrata © David Couve, Far South Expeditions

Atlantic Odyssey

Spectacular Seabird and Marine Mammal Cruise to world’s remotest islands!

Next Departures: March 23 to April 25, 2025 | April 1 to March 4, 2026

Starts: Ushuaia, Argentina - Ends: St. Helena | Aboard M/V Hondius

Atlantic Odyssey Wildlife Cruise. This is truly a unique seafaring expedition, a fantastic exploration of the Southern Ocean and some of its more formidably seabird-rich islands: South Georgia, Gough and Tristan da Cunha. Enjoying the company of Far South Expeditions co-Founder and Chilean ornithologist/author Claudio F. Vidal (for the 2025 cruise), we will explore and discover the nutrient rich waters of the Antarctic and Sub-antarctic to look for a wealth of rare tubenoses and penguins as well as seldom-seen cetaceans.

South Georgia will deliver a great sample of Antarctic seabirds including delicate Light-mantled Sooties, Wanderers, prions and Blue Petrels. Heading north, we will explore some of world’s most remote islands, including Gough and Tristan da Cunha for its Northern Rockhopper penguin and Yellow-nosed Albatross rookeries.

Join Claudio on their quest for the world’s rarest seabirds, learn first-hand from him and share his passion for marine birding on the boat trip of a lifetime. atlantic odyssey wildlife cruise

atlantic odyssey wildlife cruise — Macaroni Penguin © Claudio F. Vidal, Far South Expeditions

wandering albatross — Wandering Albatross, South Georgia © David Couve, Far South Exp

Itinerary in Brief

Day 1 • Ushuaia, Argentina – Cruise starts in the evening

Days 2 to 4 • South Atlantic Ocean – Antarctic Convergence

Days 5 to 7 • Exploring South Georgia Island

Days 8 to 12 • Once More to the Sea – Subtropical Convergence

Day 13 • Gough Island

Days 14 to 17 • Tristan da Cunha, Nightingale and Inaccessible islands

Day 18 to 21 • Subtropical Seas

Days 22 to 24 • St. Helena Island

We suggest to take the optional extension to Cape Verde Islands.

atlantic odyssey wildlife cruise

Trip Map

Detailed Itinerary and Activities

Please note: All itineraries are for guidance only. Programs may vary depending on local ice and weather conditions and in order to take advantage of opportunities to see wildlife. The on-board expedition leader determines the final itinerary. Itineraries may mention places that require permission to land, which must be granted by the relevant national authorities. Such permission is not granted prior to the publishing of these itineraries. Flexibility is paramount for expedition cruises. The average cruising speed of M/V Hondius is 10.5 knots.

The Atlantic Odyssey cruise visits some of the remotest islands in the world, crossing the migratory paths of Arctic Terns, Long-tailed Skuas, other birds, and a variety of whales as they make their annual expeditions north for the breeding season.

Day 1 • Ushuaia, Argentina - Cruise starts in the evening

Your voyage begins where the world drops off: Ushuaia, Argentina, reputed to be the southernmost city on the planet, located on the far southern tip of South America. Starting in the afternoon, you embark from this small resort town on Tierra del Fuego – nicknamed “The End of the World” – and sail the scenic, mountain-fringed Beagle Channel for the rest of the evening.

Days 2-4 • South Atlantic Ocean - Antarctic Convergence

Over the next two days on the Drake Passage, you catch a taste of life from the perspective of the polar explorers who first braved these regions: cool salt breezes, rolling waves, maybe even a fin whale blasting up a column of sea spray. After passing the Antarctic Convergence – Antarctica’s natural boundary, formed when north-flowing cold waters collide with warmer subantarctic seas – you are in the circum-Antarctic upwelling zone. Not only does the marine life change, the avian life changes too: A variety of albatrosses and petrels show up, along with Cape pigeons and southern fulmars.

Days 5-7 • Exploring South Georgia Island

Your aim is to visit some of the world’s top king penguin rookeries. This time of year you have a good chance of seeing these animals nesting on eggs, their chicks close by. The rookeries are overflowing, with waddling rush-hour traffic to and from the beach.

Possible visits include:

Salisbury Plain, St. Andrews Bay, Gold Harbour – Here you see not only the massive king penguin colony, but also elephant seals and limitless fur seal pups playing in the surf.

Prion Island – A great location to watch wandering albatrosses.

Grytviken – You have the opportunity to check out this abandoned whaling station, where king penguins now walk the streets and elephant seals lie around like they own the place – because they just about do. You might also see the South Georgia Museum as well as Shackleton’s grave.

Cooper Bay – A great place for a Zodiac cruise, this bay also houses a rookery of macaroni penguins. King penguins, pintails, and giant petrels may also appear here.

Days 8-12 • Once More to the Sea

A pleasant tailwind often accompanies the vessel through the westerlies, and on both sides of the Convergence fly vast numbers of Antarctic and Subantarctic seabirds.

Day 13 • Gough Island

You first approach Gough Island for a Zodiac cruise in Quest Bay, weather permitting. Northern rockhopper penguins and Subantarctic fur seals are often seen here. In previous years it has been possible for the vessel to circumnavigate all but four miles of the 33-mile circumference of the island, taking in the scenery and unrivalled abundance of wildlife.

Days 14-17 • Tristan da Cunha - Nightingale and Inaccessible islands

These islands are famed for their bird population, which includes rockhopper penguins, several species of albatross, petrels, skuas, terns, and many others. Your aim is to visit the settlement on the west side of this archipelago’s main island but the planned four days here may also allow us to land in Seal Bay on the south side or possibly at Sandy Point on the east side of Tristan da Cunha.

Here we may encounter wildlife such as Yellow-nosed albatrosses and Sub-Antarctic fur seals and otherwise explore a very rarely visited spot. We aim to land at Nightingale and Inaccessible islands, with views of seabirds ranging from yellow-nosed albatrosses to brown noddies.

Two day is reserved in case of bad weather, but please remember that nature determines the itinerary here: Since beginning the Atlantic Odyssey cruise in 1998, adverse weather led to the cancellation of 35% of Tristan da Cunha landings. It is not impossible, but it is difficult.

Days 18-21 • Subtropical Seas

Seabirds and dolphins indigenous to this region often follow the vessel.

Days 22-24 • St. Helena Island

After landing at Jamestown, you have many opportunities to enjoy the local culture, pleasant climate, and endemic birds of this remote island. One such activity is a visit to Longwood House, where Napoleon died in exile. You also have the chance to explore the island on your own – and snorkel the shallows, seeing multitudes of tropical and subtropical fish.

Disembarkation and a flight to Europe is possible from here.

In the evening, the vessel departs for Ascension Island and Praia, Cape Verde via where you may also disembark.

Make sure to book voyage JNS33-22 in order to catch your outbound flight from Praia.

Dates & Rates

March 23 to April 15, 2025 aboard M/V Hondius

Rates in Detail

Quadruple Porthole
	2 portholes 2 upper & lower berths Small sofa Private shower & toilet Flatscreen TV Desk & chair Telephone and WiFi (supplemented) Hair dryer Cabinet Safe deposit box Wardrobe This cabin is suitable for families traveling with children, or passengers who do not require a twin or more luxurious cabin.	Sharing berth Share your cabin with others for the best price	$8,500
		Complete cabin Price for the complete cabin, fully occupied.	$34,000
Triple Porthole
	2 portholes 1 upper berth & 2 lower berths Small sofa Private shower & toilet Flatscreen TV Desk & chair Telephone and WiFi (supplemented) Hair dryer Cabinet Safe deposit box Wardrobe This cabin is suitable for families traveling with children, or passengers who do not require a twin or more luxurious cabin.	Sharing berth Share your cabin with others for the best price	$9,650
		Complete cabin Price for the complete cabin, fully occupied.	$28,950
Twin Porthole
	2 portholes 2 single beds Small sofa Private shower & toilet Flatscreen TV Desk & chair Telephone and WiFi (supplemented) Hair dryer Cabinet Safe deposit box Wardrobe	Sharing berth Share your cabin with others for the best price	$10,600
		Single cabin Price for the complete cabin occupied by 1 person (1.7x the shared rate).	$18,020
		Complete cabin Price for the complete cabin, fully occupied.	$21,200
Twin Window
	1 window 2 single beds Small sofa Private shower & toilet Flatscreen TV Desk & chair Telephone and WiFi (supplemented) Hair dryer Cabinet Safe deposit box Wardrobe Please be aware that the view from some windows might be partly obstructed due to the design requirements of the ship	Sharing berth Share your cabin with others for the best price	$11,150
		Single cabin Price for the complete cabin occupied by 1 person (1.7x the shared rate).	$18,955
		Complete cabin Price for the complete cabin, fully occupied.	$22,300
Twin Deluxe
	2 windows 2 single beds Sofa Private shower & toilet Flatscreen TV Desk & chair Telephone and WiFi (supplemented) Refrigerator Coffee & tea maker Bathrobe Hair dryer Cabinet Safe deposit box Wardrobe	Sharing berth Share your cabin with others for the best price	$11,850
		Single cabin Price for the complete cabin occupied by 1 person (1.7x the shared rate).	$20,145
		Complete cabin Price for the complete cabin, fully occupied.	$23,700
Superior
	2 windows 1 double bed Sofa Private shower & toilet Flatscreen TV Desk & chair Telephone and WiFi (supplemented) Refrigerator Coffee & tea maker Bathrobe Hair dryer Safe deposit box Wardrobe	Single cabin Price for the complete cabin occupied by 1 person (1.7x the shared rate).	$21,505
		Complete cabin Price for the complete cabin, fully occupied.	$25,300
Junior Suite
	1 double window 1 double bed Private shower & toilet Flatscreen TV Desk & chair Telephone and WiFi (supplemented) Refrigerator Coffee & tea maker Bathrobe Hair dryer Cabinet Safe deposit box Wardrobe	Single cabin Price for the complete cabin occupied by 1 person (1.7x the shared rate).	$22,695
		Complete cabin Price for the complete cabin, fully occupied.	$26,700
Grand Suite with Balcony
	1 double window 1 double bed Sofa Private shower & toilet Flatscreen TV Desk & chair Telephone and WiFi (supplemented) Refrigerator Coffee & tea maker Bathrobe Hair dryer Cabinet Safe deposit box Wardrobe	Single cabin Price for the complete cabin occupied by 1 person (1.7x the shared rate).	$26,350
		Complete cabin Price for the complete cabin, fully occupied.	$31,000
Pictures for reference only

Included / Excluded from this Voyage

Included in this voyage

• Voyage aboard the indicated vessel as indicated in the itinerary
• All meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee and tea.
• All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac.
• Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff.
• Free use of rubber boots and snowshoes.
• Luggage transfer from pick-up point to the vessel on the day of embarkation, in Ushuaia.
• All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program.
• Comprehensive pre-departure material.

Excluded from this voyage

• Any airfare, whether on scheduled or charter flights
• Pre- and post- land arrangements.
• Passport and visa expenses.
• Government arrival and departure taxes.
• Meals ashore.
• Baggage, cancellation and personal insurance (which is mandatory).
• Excess baggage charges and all items of a personal nature such as laundry, bar, beverage charges and telecommunication charges.

The customary gratuity at the end of the voyages for stewards and other service personnel aboard (guidelines will be provided). Atlantic Odyssey wildlife cruise

Tour Leader

Claudio F. Vidal

Claudio has been exploring and birding since the age of 12 and currently leads birding / nature tours and photo safaris throughout Patagonia, Chile and South America. He is one of the two founders and original driving forces behind the far South Expeditions concept and company.

He has a particular interest in the seabirds and marine mammals occurring in the Humboldt Current, Patagonia and Antarctica. Botany is also one of his greatest passions, leading him to devote to the photographic documentation of wildflowers of desert and Mediterranean regions of the world, of which he possesses a vast archive.

Claudio is now finishing the writing of a Field Guide to the Birds of Chile together with a team of accomplished field ornithologists, and is co-author of more than 20 books, including the acclaimed Birds of Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego and Antarctic Peninsula. He is actively involved in several ecotourism projects in Chile and is founding partner of Far South Expeditions since 1997. He lives in Punta Arenas.

The Vessel

M/V Hondius

M/V Hondius is the first-registered Polar Class 6 vessel in the world, meeting the latest and highest Lloyd’s Register standards for ice-strengthened cruise ships. Surpassing the requirements of the Polar Code adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), M/V Hondius represents the most flexible, advanced, innovative touring vessel in the polar regions, thoroughly optimized for exploratory voyages that provide you the utmost first-hand contact with the Arctic and Antarctica.

Passengers:	170 in 80 cabins
Year of construction:	2019
Staff & crew:	72
Length:	107.6 meters
Breadth:	17.6 meters
Draft:	5.30 meters
Ice class:	Polar Class 6 (equivalent 1A-Super)
Displacement:	5,590 tonnes
Propulsion:	2 x ABC main engines; total 4,200 kW
Speed max.:	15 knots

Tour Registration

To book this tour, please complete our online registration form. We will process your booking form and will send you (within 24 hours) a note with space confirmation and a deposit invoice with payment instructions. The deposit amount is US$1,000 per person. Full payment of the tour fee is due 90 days prior to tour departure.

Note: Inquires received on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays will be replied during the following working day.

Cancellation Policy

Notice of cancellation can only be accepted in writing from the person who signed the booking form and takes effect on the day such noticed is received by us.

Refunds are made according to the following schedule:

• If cancellation is made 120 days or more before departure date, the deposit less US$ 200 is refundable.

• If cancellation is made between 120 and 60 days before departure, the deposit is not refundable, but any payments covering the balance of the fee will be refunded.

• If cancellation is made fewer than 60 days before departure date, no refund is available.

This policy and fee schedule also applies to pre-trip and post trip extensions, as well as any transfers from one tour to another. We strongly recommend the purchase of trip cancellation insurance to protect yourself.