Expedition to Antarctica
Feb 8 2009 - Feb 21 2009
From $6995.00, per person, plus airfare and V.A.T., based on double occupancy.
Operated by Thomas P. Gohagan & Company
Following in the wake of intrepid explorers like Amundsen, Scott and Shackleton, travel with us to Antarctica and experience the White Continent’s majestic coastal scenery and abundant wildlife. Spend two nights in the cosmopolitan Argentinean capital of Buenos Aires before boarding the exclusively chartered, deluxe M.S. LE DIAMANT in Ushuaia, and embarking on a journey of discovery to Earth’s most pristine wilderness, where towering mountains of ice and lava rise abruptly out of the ocean, and constantly changing patterns of ice stretch as far as the eye can see.
In this seemingly harsh environment, a vast array of wildlife flourishes, including millions of penguins, thousands of seals and whales and countless seabirds. From spectacular volcanic topography and majestic glaciers to wildlife and the outposts of some of history’s great explorers, this itinerary has been carefully designed to provide you with the optimal Antarctica experience.
Throughout the program, an expert team of naturalists will lead excursions on Zodiacs and provide their knowledge and insight into this region’s unique ecosystem. A special Post-Program Option to majestic Iguazú Falls is also offered.
ITINERARY
Day 1 - Depart from the U.S.
Day 2 - Buenos Aires, Argentina
Arrive in cosmopolitan, seductive Buenos Aires; check into the deluxe Marriott Plaza Hotel, adjacent to the chic boutique-lined Calle Florida. This evening, attend the welcome reception.
Day 3 - Buenos Aires
The city tour highlights Buenos Aires’ diverse barrios (neighborhoods), from the colorful La Boca district and the grand public buildings of the city center to the parks of Palermo, the charming old quarter of San Telmo and the historic Recoleta Cemetery, famous for its ornate vaults, sculpture and as the final resting place of the legendary Evita Perón.
Day 4 - Buenos Aires/Ushuaia
Fly to rustic Ushuaia, gateway to Antarctica and the world’s southernmost city. This afternoon, embark M.S. LE DIAMANT and depart Ushuaia, cruising through the Beagle Channel, named for the ship that carried Charles Darwin on his South American voyages. Attend the captain’s welcome reception this evening.
Day 5 - Cruising Drake Passage En route across the legendary Drake Passage, watch for seabirds feeding on plankton and krill brought to the surface by cold Antarctic surface waters merging with the warmer waters of the South Pacific and Atlantic Oceans at the Antarctic Convergence. The expedition team of naturalists will present insightful lectures to prepare you for your arrival in Antarctica.
Days 6 to 10 - Cruising Antarctica
The ship cruises below the 60th parallel to the outer shores and islands of the Antarctic Peninsula, the world’s last frontier.
Day 11 - Cruising Drake Passage Relax and reflect onboard today as the ship turns north and crosses the Drake Passage.
Day 12 – Cruising the Drake Passage and Cape Horn
Enjoy a lively, informative discussion with the ship’s naturalists. Watch for seabirds and breaching fin, humpback and minke whales as you cruise across the Antarctic Convergence and past the infamous Cape Horn, the southernmost tip of South America. Attend the captain’s farewell reception this evening.
Day 13 - Disembark and fly to Buenos Aires. Your return flight to the U.S. departs this evening.
Day 14 - Arrive early this morning in the U.S.
Post-Program Option- Iguazú Falls
Complement your journey with an extension to Iguazú Falls, 275 spectacular waterfalls cascading through the heart of the jungle, one of Earth’s most exquisite natural wonders along the Argentina-Brazil frontier. Explore this magical setting on the exclusive three-night Post-Program, which includes round trip airfare from Buenos Aires and accommodations overlooking the falls in the deluxe Sheraton Internacional Iguazú Resort.
Please note that M.S. LE DIAMANT’S specific itinerary is dependent on weather, ice and sea conditions.
Click here for more information about the M.S. LE DIAMANT.
Your Northwestern Host
Leslie Donavan
Leslie Donavan (L82) is the President of the NAA. She is a past president of the NU Club of Chicago, as well as a past vice president of NAA. She has chaired both the Alumni Awards Committee and the NAA Nominating Committee, and has served on the Board of Directors of the NU Law School Board. She has chaired her law school class reunions numerous times, and is member of the Council of 100.
Leslie is the President and CEO of the Starfish Aquatics Institute, an international aquatics risk management and safety training firm headquartered in Champaign, Illinois. Previously, she was a partner in private law practice in Chicago, specializing in commercial real estate and general business law and President of Beyond the Pail, a handpainted metal company. She has also worked for United Airlines, Inc. and in the journalism and public relations fields. Leslie received her undergraduate degree in journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Leslie’s volunteer activities have focused on educational foundations, land use planning boards and bar association activities. She served as Brand Supervisor for the Salt Lake Organizing Committee for the Olympic Winter Games of 2002, and she chaired the Board of Advisors of the Starfish Aquatics Institute.
