ANTARCTIC 2021.22 CELEBRATING SHACKLETON Journey from Antarctica to South Georgia with flights from Buenos Aires INAUGURAL SEASON Contents 1 Overview 2 Itinerary 6 Arrival and Departure Details 8 Your Ship 10 Included Activities 11 Adventure Options 12 Dates and Rates 13 Inclusions and Exclusions 14 Your Expedition Team 15 Special Guests 16 Extend Your Trip 17 Meals on Board 18 Possible Excursions 22 Packing Checklist Overview Celebrating Shackleton: Journey from Antarctica to South Georgia This brand new itinerary celebrates the life of Sir Ernest Shackleton, whose passing in South Georgia on January 5, 1922, marked the end of the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration. The 20-day itinerary Celebrating Shackleton: Journey from Antarctica to South Georgia (which will coincide with the centenary of Shackleton’s death) not only honors one of Antarctica’s greatest heroes—but also his unwavering spirit of exploration, which Quark Expeditions continues to emulate to this day. Whereas Shackleton and his crew braved the harsh elements of Antarctica aboard Endurance, which had the most basic of amenities, guests on this voyage will sail aboard the brand new ship Ultramarine—during its inaugural Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton Antarctic sailing season. The technologically-advanced vessel will follow the route of Shackleton’s Trans-Antarctic Expedition (1914–1917), allowing EXPEDITION IN BRIEF passengers to experience the full splendor of Antarctica and South Georgia Arrive in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the tango while exploring on Ultramarine’s two twin-engine helicopters and 20 fast- capital of the world, and let us take care of the rest of your journey launching Zodiacs. Guests will cross the Drake Passage to the Antarctic Explore the Antarctic Peninsula by ship, Peninsula, visit the Weddell Sea (where the ill-fated Endurance met its tragic Zodiac and foot end), then onto Elephant Island and, ultimately, wildlife-rich South Georgia, Relive polar history on a visit to Shackleton’s where, if conditions allow, guests will pay homage to Shackleton at his grave at the cemetery in Grytviken grave at Grytviken. Throughout the voyage, passengers will enjoy special Observe wildlife in South Georgia, known as the “Galapagos of the Southern Ocean” presentations by polar experts Tim Jarvis (author of “Chasing Shackleton”) and Dr. Ross MacPhee, curator of the ground-breaking museum exhibit Learn about Antarctica’s unique geology, history and wildlife from our onboard experts “The Endurance: Shackleton’s Legendary Antarctic Expedition.” Enjoy a helicopter tour of the frozen Weddell Sea, where Shackleton’s Endurance lies buried under the ice Mark Ultramarine’s first-ever New Year in the Antarctic 1 Itinerary DAY 1 | ARRIVE IN Embarkation will occur in the late BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA afternoon, after which your vessel will Santiago Buenos Aires You may arrive in Buenos Aires at any sail down the historic Beagle Channel, ARGENTINA time during Day 1 of your itinerary. Upon which transects the Tierra del Fuego arriving in this splendid city, known for its archipelago in the extreme south architecture and rich European heritage, CHILE of South America. Expect an air of Falkland Islands you will independently transfer to your (Islas Malvinas) anticipation as you depart! group hotel (pre-expedition hotel night Atlantic Ocean South Georgia included in mandatory transfer package). DAYS 3 & 4 | CROSSING Punta Arenas THE DRAKE PASSAGE Ushuaia South Elephant DAY 2 | FLY TO USHUAIA & EMBARK Not only will guests experience the Drake Passage Shetland Island Islands After an early breakfast at the hotel, much-anticipated crossing of the Drake the group will transfer to the airport Passage, considered by many to be Lemaire Channel and board our private charter flight to a polar rite of passage, they will also LE IRC C Weddell Sea TIC RC Ushuaia, Argentina. enjoy one-of-a-kind presentations from TA N Antarctic the expedition team members—and A Peninsula Upon arrival, you will be transferred from our two distinguished special from the airport to a central downtown CELEBRATING SHACKLETON guests who have delved deeply into Journey from Antarctica to South Georgia location to have some time on your the life of Sir Ernest Shackleton. In On board the Ultramarine own to explore this quaint port town 2013, environmental scientist, author before making your way to the pier. and explorer Tim Jarvis—with a crew 2 equipped in era-authentic gear—re- DAYS 5 & 6 | ANTARCTIC PENINSULA day and each excursion will present a enacted Shackleton’s 800-mile (1,300 km) The most common reaction upon new collection of creatures to delight journey from Elephant Island to South reaching the White Continent is a sense you and keep your camera busy. Georgia in a replica of the 23- of reverence and awe. The experience As exciting as the Zodiac excursions and foot whaler James Caird. In fact, the is hard to put into words, since few landings are, perhaps you’ll treat yourself foreword to Jarvis’ book, “Chasing places are as untouched and enduring to an extra-special Antarctic experience Shackleton: Re-creating the World’s as Antarctica. by partaking in an optional paddling Greatest Journey of Survival,” was You will discover that Antarctica is a excursion (at an extra cost) or cast reason written by Alexandra Shackleton, land of extremes. At one moment you’ll aside and jump into Antarctic waters for granddaughter of Sir Ernest. Also on be overcome with a feeling of complete the Polar Plunge! board as guest presenter: mammologist, isolation and silence, and at the next paleontologist, anthropologist and polar DAY 7 | WEDDELL SEA moment you’ll be inspired by nature as historian Ross MacPhee, a curator at the The Weddell Sea has profound meaning a calving glacier crashes into a brilliant American Museum of Natural History, for admirers of Shackleton. This is where blue sea or a penguin waddles by to which hosted the ground-breaking the explorer’s ill-fated ship, Endurance, inspect your footwear. exhibit “The Endurance: Shackleton’s crushed by pack ice, disappeared Legendary Antarctic Expedition.” Your Expedition Team will take care of into the harsh waters in 1915. Despite MacPhee is the author of “Race to you at each excursion, whether you are the extreme harsh environment, the The End: Amundsen, Scott, and the Zodiac cruising, visiting a historical site Weddell Sea region is known for its Attainment of the South Pole.” MacPhee, or consorting with penguin colonies. rich wildlife: seals, penguins and baleen who has participated in more than 50 Chinstrap, Adélie and gentoo penguins wheels. Aboard Ultramarine—with its scientific expeditions (including both are found here, along with Weddell, two twin-engine helicopters and 20 Polar Regions), has also researched fur, crabeater and leopard seals. Keep quick-launching Zodiacs—you’ll be able the extinction of early mammals who a lookout for Antarctic whales, such as to explore by sea and air, an experience roamed Antarctica 45 million years ago. minkes, while on a Zodiac cruise. Each never before possible until the launch of this game-changing expedition ship. 3 DAY 8 | AT SEA of the outermost islands of the South we mark the first-ever New Year Throughout the voyage, guests will Shetland Island chain. Arriving here celebration on Ultramarine, the first ship enjoy one-of-a-kind presentations from today, 100 years later, you will see the purposely built for polar exploration. The the expedition team members—and island exactly as Shackleton and his men inaugural season of Ultramarine, much from our two distinguished special first encountered the brutish landscape. like Shackleton’s feats in Antarctica, guests, polar experts Tim Jarvis and Yet to the stranded crew, Elephant Island makes for a memorable moment in polar Ross MacPhee. was a haven, offering vital shelter while history. In addition to the New Year’s they waited anxiously to be rescued. celebrations aboard Ultramarine, your Your days at sea are also perfect for days at sea are filled with presentations experiencing the superb luxury amenities We hope to visit Point Wild, located led by our two special guests and your of Ultramarine, which include a spa and on the northern shores of the island, Expedition Team, who will prepare you a sauna with floor-to-ceiling windows where Shackleton and his men were for the wildlife and landscapes that await that allow guests to stay connected to able to come ashore. This was the you in South Georgia. the polar environments while enjoying location where Shackleton launched relaxing moments onboard the ship. his epic 650-mile (1,046 km) boat journey DAYS 12–15 | SOUTH GEORGIA Ultramarine also has more wildlife aboard the James Caird, and where his South Georgia is one of the most fertile viewing stations than any ship of its size, men waited for his return. If conditions breeding grounds in the world for so you’ll have plenty of opportunity to are ideal, we will launch our Zodiacs to sub-Antarctic wildlife, with beaches stay on the lookout for birds and other get as close as possible to land, where blanketed with penguins and seals. It wildlife while at sea. guests can appreciate the immensity of won’t take you long to realize that you the Shackleton feat. are in a bird paradise, as burrowing DAY 9 | ELEPHANT ISLAND seabirds, albatross and petrels can be On April 9, 1916, after spending 165 days DAYS 10 & 11 | NEW YEAR’S AT SEA seen in abundance. drifting through the hostile ice of the Say goodbye to the Antarctic Peninsula, Weddell Sea, Shackleton and his crew as your next destination is South You’ll find that on South Georgia, once reached remote Elephant Island, one Georgia! We invite you to join us as a popular base for whalers and sealers, EXPEDITION SPIRIT Embracing the unexpected is part of the legacy—and excitement—of expedition travel.