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A trek to Antarctica is a unique journey and part of the adventure is its unpredictability. The best preparation is to be fit, flexible and open to the experience.

Most remote wilderness in the world: Frequently-Asked Questions about Antarctica Adventure

For ten days, we’ll sail along the waterways of the Antarctic Peninsula, to see some of the most stunning wilderness areas on earth. Rugged and savage, teeming with extensive wildlife, Antarctica is still an explorer’s dream. We’ll sail down the Beagle Channel accompanied by albatross, then head across the Drake Passage. Along the Antarctic peninsula and nearby islands, we’ll see icebergs, massive mountains and ice shelves. Then, we step onto the continent, itself, exploring an old whaling station on Deception Island, and perhaps take a thermal dip in the waters at Pendulum Cove.

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Contents:

• When and where does the Antarctica Adventure cruise start and end?
  
• What kinds of cabins are available for the 2008 Antarctica Cruise on Quark’s Clipper Adventurer, and what are their prices?
  
• What flights are required to get to and from the Antarctica cruise?
  
• Are you offering a pre-cruise extension to explore Buenos Aires and Ushuaia?
  
• What are the dates and cost of the Buenos Aires and Ushuaia pre-cruise extension?
  
• Are you offering a pre-cruise extension to Iguazu Falls?
  
• What are the dates and cost of the Iguazu Falls pre-cruise extension?
  
• Are there any post-cruise options offered for the group?
  

When and where does the Antarctica Adventure cruise start and end?
The cruise starts and ends in the southernmost city in the world, the Beagle Channel port of Ushuaia, Argentina. Embarkation is on the afternoon of the first day of the cruise, but we strongly urge you to arrive in Ushuaia the day before the cruise starts, since it is nearly impossible to catch up to the cruise if you miss the sailing.

What kinds of cabins are available for the 2008 Antarctica Cruise on Quark’s Clipper Adventurer, and what are their prices?
For the December 28, 2008 to January 7, 2009 Antarctica Adventure on Quark’s Clipper Adventurer, the cabin configurations and cruise-only prices are as follows. All prices are in US dollars, and are per person, double (or triple) occupancy for the 10-night cruise (flights and optional pre-cruise and post-cruise extensions are priced separately). Please note that cabin category requests are not guaranteed until confirmed by the cruise line:

Twin Porthole Cabin on Lower Deck: $7,200 (total of 18 cabins) with two lower berths and private facilities in double occupancy, per person.

Twin Porthole Cabin on Main Deck: $7,500 (total of 12 cabins) with two lower berths and private facilities in double occupancy, per person.

Twin Window Cabin on Main Deck: $7,900 (total of 18 cabins) with two lower berths and private facilities in double occupancy, per person.

Superior Cabin on Upper Deck: $8,300 (total of 5 cabins) with two windows, two lower berths and private facilities in double occupancy, per person.

Deluxe Cabin on Upper Deck or Captain's Deck: $8,900 (total of 5 cabins) with windows, two lower berths and private facilities in double occupancy, per person.

Captain's Deck Suite: $9,800 (total of 2 cabins) with windows, two lower berths and private facilities in double occupancy, per person.

Owner’s Suite on Captain's Deck: $11,800 (one cabin only) with windows, two lower berths and private facilities with bathtub in double occupancy, per person.

Single travelers: pending cabin availability, should you request sole occupancy of a twin-berth cabin, you will be charged 1.7 times the published rate (2 times the rate for Captain’s and Owner’s Suites).

What flights are required to get to and from the Antarctica cruise?
Most travelers will fly between their home airport and Buenos Aires (BA). Aerolineas Argentinas, American Airlines and LAN Argentina fly non-stop between Miami and BA several times a week, and various other North American and European carriers fly to BA from their hub airports. Most flights between North America and Argentina are overnight in both directions.

Within Argentina, all travelers will need to fly the four hour flight between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia, at the southern tip of the country. At this time, Aerolineas Argentinas is the only airline flying this route, but LanArgentina may add this route as well. Those joining the Iguazu Falls pre-cruise extension will also need to reserve the two-hour flight between Buenos Aires and Iguazu.

The only other flights to Ushuaia are 2-stop flights on LAN Chile from Santiago, Chile, with connections from several North American cities to Santiago.

Flights are not included in the tour package, because Aerolineas Argentinas generally charges MORE for groups than for individuals. However, we would be happy to assist with flights, and we can often obtain lower ticket prices than can be obtained elsewhere.

Are you offering a pre-cruise extension to explore Buenos Aires and Ushuaia?
Since almost everyone on the cruise will pass through Buenos Aires on our way to the port of Ushuaia, we are offering a two night stay in Argentina's vibrant capital city. In this pre-cruise package we are also including two nights in Ushuaia, to allow time before the cruise departure in case there are any flight problems.

In Buenos Aires we will stay at a centrally-located hotel, close to many fine restaurants, and the gay clubs on Santa Fe Avenue. Included in the program is a city tour of Buenos Aires. We will also offer an optional dinner and show at one of Buenos Aires' finest tango clubs.

The third and fourth nights of this pre-cruise extension will be in Ushuaia, and weather permitting, will include our last dry land hike before the cruise in the Tierra del Fuego National Park, overlooking the Beagle Channel, on the border between Argentina and Chile.

What are the dates and cost of the Buenos Aires and Ushuaia pre-cruise extension?
In 2008, this extension starts on December 24-26, with a two night Christmas stay in Buenos Aires, and continues with a two night stay in Ushuaia, December 26-28. Most travelers will leave home on the night of December 23 for an overnight flight to Argentina, arriving on December 24. The cost of the four night extension in 2008 is $1080 per person, double occupancy, and $1290 per person, single occupancy (flights not included). The highly recommended optional dinner and tango show is $90 per person, including transfers between our hotel and the tango club. (Please note that having an Alyson Adventures tour director for these days is subject to minimum participation.)

Are you offering a pre-cruise extension to Iguazu Falls?
Yes, we are offering a two-night pre-cruise extension to Iguazu Falls, starting two days before our Buenos Aires extension. This extension includes two nights at the Sheraton International Hotel overlooking the falls (pending availability), one dinner, and a guided tour to the Argentinian side of this magnificent wonder of nature. An optional half-day tour to the Brazilian side of the falls is available, but is not included in the package, since it requires a Brazilian visa ($100 to US citizens; less expensive for citizens of most other countries). It may be possible to obtain a Brazilian visa on-site (at the above price), but this cannot be guaranteed. We will send information about obtaining a Brazilian visa to those who book this option.

What are the dates and cost of the Iguazu Falls pre-cruise extension?
In 2008, the two-night Iguazu Falls pre-cruise extension will start on December 22 and finish on December 24. Most North American travelers will leave home on December 21, take an overnight flight to Buenos Aires, arriving on December 22. You will then transfer to the domestic airport and fly on to Iguazu Falls. In 2008 the cost of the two-night Iguazu Falls pre-cruise extension is $690 in double occupancy, and $850 in single occupancy (flights not included). The half-day excursion to the Brazilian side of the falls is $60, and also requires a Brazilian visa. (Please note that having an Alyson Adventures tour director for these days is subject to minimum participation. If there is no tour director, you will explore the falls together with other visitors to the area.)

Are there any post-cruise options offered for the group?
We are offering a one night hotel stay in Buenos Aires on the date of disembarkation from the Antarctic cruise ship, including arrival day transfer from Buenos Aires domestic airport to the hotel, and departure day transfer from hotel to Buenos Aires International Airport. (Transfers not included if not flying on these dates.)

In January 2009, we will disembark from our expedition ship on January 7, and most people will fly to Buenos Aires that day. This option is for the night of January 7, with departure for home on January 8, 2008. (This option gives you a night in Buenos Aires to wrap up your trip with friends, and to make sure that you do not miss your international flight due to ship or Ushuaia-Buenos Aires flight delays.)

In January 2009, this option is $180, per person, double occupancy ($215 in single occupancy), including the hotel night, breakfast and the above transfers.

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