Unique Expedition to Reunite Original Polar Explorers

Leading Polar cruise operator, One Ocean Expeditions is proud to sponsor an extraordinary expedition in which the last wish of world-renowned polar adventurer, Frank Wild, to be buried alongside his ‘boss’ and loyal friend, notorious fellow explorer, Sir Ernest Shackleton, will be carried out at the whalers’ graveyard in Grytviken, South Georgia, a British overseas territory in the southern Atlantic Ocean.



The special 18-night commemorative voyage to transport Wild's ashes to South Georgia, takes place exactly 90 years after his last voyage with Shackleton in 1921, and is only possible following a seven-year-long research journey by South African author and polar expert, Angie Butler, who discovered Wild's ashes in Johannesburg. Wild’s wish to be buried beside Shackleton never materialised due to the outbreak of WWII a week after his death.



Among the confirmed guests on the Frank Wild Expedition to South Georgia, is the Honorable Alexandra Shackleton, Sir Ernest's grand-daughter, and six members of Wild's family.



Angie Butler, whose recently released book, The Quest For Frank Wild, features exclusive publication of his original memoirs covering four expeditions including those on the Nimrod and Endurance, will also be joining the cruise as a guest speaker.



Passengers on the once-in-a-lifetime voyage will depart Ushuaia, the world’s southern-most city in Argentina on November 20 on board One Ocean Expeditions’ impressive ice-strengthened ship, Akademik Ioffe.



Designed for Polar Research and combining modern comforts and superb amenities with first-class safety features, the ship will chart a course through the Beagle Channel towards the Falkland Islands, where the first planned shore excursion aims to reveal a profusion of seabirds and migratory birds, including the black-browed albatross.



Other highlights of the West Falkland Archipelago may also include bustling rookeries of rare rockhopper penguins, nesting Magellanic penguins, oyster-catchers and the flightless steamer duck, followed by a stop in the islands’ charming capital, Stanley, with its brightly painted houses and fascinating history.



Majestic glacier-covered mountains herald the Ioffe’s arrival at the rugged island of South Georgia, where visitors are greeted by the staggering sight of hundreds of thousands of king penguins covering every inch of the shoreline. It is here that the two friends, adventurers and polar explorers will finally be reunited during a ceremony at the whalers’ graveyard in Grytviken.



The 18-night Frank Wild Commemorative Expedition includes all meals and accommodation, plus Zodiac excursions and landings. The One Ocean Expeditions team includes hospitality staff, guides, historians, naturalists, kayak expedition leaders and experts in the Antarctic, all of whom bring a wealth of knowledge, experience and fun to the voyage. Prices start from $12,990 per person based on twin share, from $10,290pp for triple share and from $16,200pp in a One Ocean Suite.



For further information, visit www.oneoceanexpeditions.com or the UK's leading adventure-cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Off The Beaten Track Adventures To Antarctica

Antarctica Off The Beaten Track is a brand new 12-night adventure cruise from One Ocean Expeditions incorporating a selection of extraordinary outdoor pursuits not previously available on other itineraries, which are designed to excite and inspire lovers of the Great Outdoors.

Departing Ushuaia, the world’s southern-most city, in Argentina, on November 8, passengers travelling with One Ocean Expeditions on board Akademik Ioffe, an impressive ice-strengthened ship designed for Polar Research, will have the opportunity to experience three new activities: ski touring, overnight sea kayaking trips - unique in Antarctica to this operator - and full-day expedition field photography with renowned Polar photographer, Daisy Gilardini.

Other options providing the opportunity to appreciate varied terrain amidst Antarctic snow pack include snow-shoeing ($45) giving access to breathtaking vistas unimpaired by waist deep powder, or the new, more strenuous mountaineering/ski touring expedition ($750) aimed at skiers who enjoy a challenge and are not afraid of skinning up for the run of a lifetime. Ski-touring also requires previous experience and approval from a guide before participation can be confirmed.

For keen photographers interested in field photography, a full day’s expedition with speciality photographer, Daisy Gilardini, is now on offer ($45), focusing on capturing either adventure pursuits with a remarkable backdrop or stunning landscape scenes.

The 12-night Antarctica Off The Beaten Track expedition includes all meals and accommodation plus Zodiac excursions and landings, special hiking programmes, ship transfers, foul weather gear and overnight camping. Prices start from $8,390 per person based on twin share, from $6,590pp for triple share and from $1,0980pp in a One Ocean Suite. Price excludes flights from the UK to Ushuaia (available from £949 including pre-paid taxes and current fuel surcharges). Dates: 8 – 20 November 2011, (Ushuaia/Ushuaia).

For further info, visit www.oneoceanexpeditions.com or the UK's specialist adventure-cruise agents of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Antarctica - Off the Beaten Track

One Ocean Expeditions has an exciting new Antarctic itinerary for this winter - a remote wilderness adventure onboard the Akademik Ioffe, sailing from November 8-20.

Based on an extended 12-night itinerary along the Antarctic Peninsula (the usual length of a Peninsula itinerary is 10 nights) the new Off the Beaten Track departure will bring all the adventure options to life. For clients looking for the next level of adventure, there are opportunities to join mountaineering guides as they explore and climb along the Peninsula or to become part of an overnight kayak expedition with the paddling group.

Pre-booked optional activities include a Snow-shoeing expedition, Field Photography, Ski Mountaineering and both standard kayaking and overnight kayaking.

For more information, visit One Ocean Expeditions online or call the UK's leading adventure cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd on 0800 008 6677.

Wildlife Sculptor in Antarctica

By guest blogger Steve Newman

Top British wildlife sculptor Hamish Mackie will be traveliling to Antarctica with One Ocean Expeditions on a spectacular 18-night/19-day trip via the Falkland Islands and South Georgia on the Russian ice-strengthened ship Marina Svetaeva on February 16. Taking his own materials, including his modelling tools and a particular clay able to withstand the cold, he will be working directly from life, capturing penguins, albatross and elephant seals.

These works of art will then be brought back to the UK in special containers to be cast into bronze for his one-man exhibition in New York later in the year. Hamish, 36, will also be giving talks on his work on board and, uniquely, offering workshops where passengers, both professional and amateur, will have the opportunity to make their own sculptures.

“The way I handle clay draws you into the anatomy of the subject and leaves a history as to how the sculpture was made,” says Mackie, who is looking forward to sculpting the unique wildlife of the seventh continent.

The price for the 18-night voyage starts at $13,490 per person sharing a twin cabin, including accommodation, food and excursions during the voyage. Flights to/from Ushuaia, Argentina, where passengers embark the Marina Svetaeva are not included. There is no additional charge for the sculpting workshops with Hamish Mackie.

For more details, visit http://www.oneoceanexpeditions.com/ or contact the adventure cruise specialists of the Cruise Line Ltd.

Art in Antarctica - One Ocean Expeditions

By guest blogger Steve Newman

Polar cruise operator One Ocean Expeditions takes popular polar photographer Daisy Gilardini and her partner, watercolour artist David McEown, to Antarctica.

In November and December this year, polar photographer Daisy Gilardini and watercolour artist David McEown will sail to the Antarctic Peninsula on board the comfortable, ice-strengthened 89-passenger Marina Svetaeva. During the voyage Daisy and David will give talks, multi-media presentations and practical workshops on photography and art and, when landing on the Antarctic Peninsula and surrounding islands, they will be available to help guests with sketching, camera settings and other creative queries.

The sailing dates for the Antarctic Peninsula Adventure are 28 November, 8 and 18 December 2010. All three voyages start and end in Ushuaia, Argentina. Passengers who choose to sail on the 8 December 2010 departure will be entitled to a great offer – the best available cabin at the time of booking for just US$6590 per person. They could even find themselves in a Shackleton Suite (subject to availability) with a normal published price of US$8590 per person; an enormous saving of US$2000 per person.

The Marina Sveteava has a multimedia download studio with computers and cables for downloading images, as well as numbered hard-drives for storage until guests are ready to back up to their own media device.

The price for the 10-night voyages (28 November & 18 December) starts at US$7590 per person sharing a twin cabin including accommodation, food and excursions during the voyage. The special price on the 8 December voyage is US$6950 per person for the best available cabin at the time of booking. Flights to/from Ushuaia, Argentina where passengers embark the Marina Svetaeva are not included in the price. There is no additional charge for the photography and art workshops with Daisy Gilardini and David McEown.

Find out more from www.oneoceanexpeditions.com