Gap Adventures 2011/12 Line-Up Of Polar Cruises

Gap Adventures introduces its 2011/12 Arctic and Antarctica cruise season with a slew of new features. Perfect for the cold weather and adventure enthusiasts, a trip aboard the M/S Expedition delves deep into the vast array of wintry wildlife and breathtaking scenery of narrow waterways, glaciers, icebergs and rugged mountains, which very few people will ever have the opportunity to see.

Gap Adventures is pleased to provide free destination cruising guides, as well as complimentary Wellington boots for the duration of the trip to keep passengers' feet warm and dry. Plus, travellers on select cruises who book category five cabins receive exclusive, complimentary Canada Goose Adventurer jackets. Parkas are also available for purchase online for $269 (approx: £173).

Gap Adventures 2011/12 Polar Cruises

For the ardent adventure-seeking passengers, Gap Adventures now offers sea kayaking in the Arctic and Antarctic - a unique opportunity to get up-close-and-personal with the native wildlife. Following in the footsteps of bold explorers, travellers can also camp and experience the majesty of Antarctica at night. Excursions must be pre-arranged as they are not sold on board.

Travellers with ample holiday time can also enjoy extensions and add-ons pre- or post-cruise. Antarctica extensions allow travellers to unravel the mysteries of Easter Island, indulge in the fine food and wines of Chile and Argentina or travel to the heart of the Amazon to discover Iguazu Falls. Arctic add-ons allow travellers to explore the beauty of Longyearbyen (Svalbard Islands) and Oslo.

Passengers who book a space on a selection of the Arctic cruises by January 31 will also receive a 25 per cent early-booking discount.

Uniquely equipped to meet the demands of cruising in polar environments, the Expedition provides an exceptionally safe, spacious and comfortable experience for all passengers. At a nimble 105 metres in length, the ship is able to approach remote areas to which many other vessels cannot navigate. This is also one of the most stable expedition ships in its class.

For more information, visit http://www.gapadventures.co.uk./

MS Expedition In Antarctica

By guest blogger Steve Newman

The MS Expedition (Above) travels a yearly cycle from Antarctica to the Arctic, also stopping at the islands of the North Atlantic as well as parts of Central/South America. Gap Adventures have a focus on top of the line safety, comfort and the unique demands of polar travel, the MS Expedition is one of the world's leading polar expedition cruise ships. The expedition team is made up of naturalist, biologist, anthropologists and historians, who give detailed lectured and briefings on all the elements of the trip. Every evening the Expedition Leader will give a briefing on the plan for the next day. All travellers will also be prepared for what they are about to see and experience before any landing or excursion.

Antarctica Classic Duration: 11 days Departures: available throughout 2010 and 2011

Highlights: Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, the South Shetland Islands, the Antarctic Peninsula, amazing wildlife, and immense icebergs. A true adventure to the world's most remote wilderness. This 11-day Antarctica Classic expedition focuses on the South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula, home to some of the planet's most impressive wildlife and dramatic landscapes. Throughout the voyage, the team of lecturers and guides will share their knowledge of the region's remarkable natural history.

Enjoy an 11-day trip from £3,249. Price includes accommodation onboard the MS Expedition, meals, ten expedition staff and naturalists, Zodiac excursions, scheduled visits to the modern scientific research stations and one night accommodation with breakfast in Ushuaia.

For full details please visit: www.gapadventures.co.uk

Visit Antarctica Out Of Season, says Gap Adventures

OUT OF SEASON ANTARCTICA IS OUT OF THIS WORLD

Gap Adventures says travel in the outer seasons for some spectacular scenery and wildlife encounters

January and February are the most popular months to travel to Antarctica, but The Great Adventure People advise travellers to think again - and consider travelling earlier and later in the season if they are keen to save some pennies.

Travel to the Great White Continent at the beginning of the Austral summer in November and experience a pristine destination, untouched at the start of the season by fellow travellers. The extraordinarily beautiful pack ice is still intact, offering ideal platforms for resting wildlife, and giant icebergs are still in their full glory. The beginning of the season also offers the astonishing sights and sounds of penguins and seabirds courting as they perform spectacular courtship rituals.

Meanwhile, at the tail end of the season, late February and March provide the best opportunities to catch a glimpse of magnificent Minke and Orca whales in Antarctica. The receding pack ice allows ships to explore further south than earlier in the season and travellers witness the unforgettable sight of penguin chicks fledging and adults moulting.

“Travelling to Antarctica onboard the MS Expedition at any time during the season is a true adventure and an unforgettable voyage,” says Michael Edwards, Gap Adventures Director of Sales and Marketing for UK and Europe. “While mid-season is traditionally the most popular time to visit this area, the beginning and end of the season provides some unique scenery and wildlife viewing opportunities. We travel to Antarctica the full length of the season from November to March and each month brings new and exciting sights to our adventurers.”

Below is just one incredible itinerary that makes the most of the outer season conditions:

Antarctica Classic Package
Duration: 16 days*
Price: From £5049 per person for a category three twin cabin (compared to £5919 per person peak season)
Departure: 4 November 2010

*As a promotional bonus, there are 16 days (not the usual 14 days) for the 4-19 November 2010 departure. This gives you a chance for two extra days of shore landings in Antarctica

Highlights: Buenos Aires, Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, the South Shetland Islands, the Antarctic Peninsula, amazing wildlife, immense icebergs, penguin colonies, leopard seals and glaciers

Description: Explore the rugged, remote South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula , home to some of the continent’s most dramatic landscapes and impressive wildlife. See huge penguin rookeries rubbing shoulders with seal colonies, while orcas and whales ply the waters offshore. This 14-day trip is identical to the Gap Adventures Antarctica Classic (XVCASX) expedition with the added inclusion of flights, transfers, tours and extra days in Buenos Aires .

Enjoy a 16-day trip from 4-19 November from £5049 per person. Price includes nine nights on board MS Expedition, four nights accommodation on land, all meals onboard the ship, 10 expedition staff and naturalists and all shore landings and Zodiac cruises in Antarctica.

For more information or to book, visit:
http://www.gapadventures.com/trips/antarctica-classic-package/XPCASX/2011/?utm_source=Rooster&utm_medium=PR&utm_campaign=Shoulderseason or call 08444 10 10 90

About MS Expedition
The Expedition takes Gap Adventures travellers to destinations that have inspired bold explorers for centuries. It cruises the coastlines, islands and oceans of some of the most remote destinations on Earth and allows guests to visit secluded rookeries and hidden places that are only accessible by Zodiac landing craft. Accompanied by the Gap Adventures team of experts, travellers can get up close and personal with polar wildlife and cruise through colossal icebergs.