Weddell Sea: In Search of the Emperor Penguin, with Helicopters
Ten nights on Ortelius from Ushuaia and back in November and early December, carrying helicopters to try for the emperor penguin colony at Snow Hill Island. The day by day works the west side of the Antarctic Sound, Duse Bay, Seymour Island, Devil Island, Brown Bluff and Gourdin Island, and returns by Deception Island. The line says plainly that the helicopter flights depend on weather and ice, and that the chance of reaching Snow Hill by ship is under half.
- Operated by: Oceanwide Expeditions
- Ship: Ortelius
- Length: 10 nights
- Regions: Antarctica
- Wildlife: The emperor penguin colony at Snow Hill Island if the helicopters can reach it, Adélie penguins in the Antarctic Sound, and killer whales and leopard seals
- From: $15,450 per person
- Season: November to December 2026 in Oceanwide's published schedule.
- Next departures: 2026-11-15, 2026-11-25, 2026-12-05
- Route: Ushuaia → Drake Passage → Antarctic Sound → Devil Island → Brown Bluff → Deception Island → Drake Passage → Ushuaia
The ship
- Ortelius: 108 guests, built 1989
Departures
- 2026-11-15 to 2026-11-25: $15,450
- 2026-11-25 to 2026-12-05: $15,450
- 2026-12-05 to 2026-12-15: $15,450
Booking is arranged by an affiliated travel advisor, not by Your Naturalist. Your Naturalist does not operate or sell this sailing; deposits, payment schedules and cancellation terms are the cruise line's own. A request from this page reaches the travel advisor directly, who arranges the sailing with the line, including any current offers the line is running, and assists before and during travel.