RSSC 2008 Antartica Cruises

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Information Center

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Announces 2008 Antarctica Cruises

Explorer II

Photo Courtesy of Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Featuring A Maiden Call To South Georgia Island

Regent Seven Seas Cruises^® has unveiled two Antarctica itineraries for 2008, offering guests a rare opportunity to experience the stark beauty and abundant wildlife of the White Continent amid the comfort of the world's top-rated expedition cruise ship, Explorer II. Regent Seven Seas will offer guests two round-trip itineraries in 2008, departing from the world's southernmost city of Ushuaia (Argentina) and sailing the Falkland Islands, Drake Passage and Antarctic Peninsula. A new, extended 14-night itinerary also includes South Georgia Island.

"We are delighted to enhance Regent Seven Seas' 2008 Antarctica cruises with the addition of South Georgia," said Mark Conroy, Regent's president. "Exemplary itineraries, highly-trained expedition staff and lecturers and the world's best adventure cruise vessel make Regent's Antarctica voyages an unforgettable way to explore this largely unknown continent."

Setting sail on January 21, 2008 (11 nights) and February 1, 2008 (14 nights), both cruises begin with calls to the wildlife-rich shores of the Falkland Islands and the quaint village of Port Stanley, with its unique architecture, charming pubs and teahouses. The Explorer II then cruises the South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula (with opportunities for disembarkation and exploration as weather permits) and then onward through Drake Passage. Before returning to Ushuaia, she'll also sail along Cape Horn, located at the confluence of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. New for 2008, the extended 14-night cruise also includes a call at South Georgia, featuring large colonies of king penguins, fur and elephant seals.

January and February are peak summer months in Antarctica, bringing milder temperatures, longer days and unrivaled wildlife viewing: penguin chicks (and their parents, who gather by the tens of thousands to tend to them), seal pups and parents, whales, blooming snow algae, albatross and other seabirds, and spectacular glaciers and icebergs. Explorer II's team of naturalists, historians, marine biologists, geologists, and ornithologists will add immeasurably to guests' adventures in these pristine realms.

Though a range of shore excursions can accommodate more adventurous travelers, the state-of-the-art Explorer II provide guests a way to experience the beauty of Antarctica in stylish comfort, and its small size and maneuverability brings guests face-to-face with each of the sites. Recently rated among the world's top small cruise ships by readers of Condé Nast Traveler, Explorer II features a polished brass and wood interior with all ocean-view suites and staterooms, two open-seating restaurants, a full-service health club and a salon. Although the ship is designed to accommodate up to 394 passengers, Regent limits these cruises to 198 guests for maximum comfort.

Beneath its stylish exterior, the Explorer II features a strong steel foundation, including an ice-strengthened hull, bow and stern thrusters to make her extraordinarily maneuverable, and stabilizers to ensure a safe, smooth passage. Regent's expedition team of highly-trained naturalists and biologists, along with the high crew-to-guest ratio of 1 to 1.5, ensures the ultimate relaxing and enriching voyage.

Per person prices for Regent's Antarctica cruises start from $9,395 for the 11-night voyage and $11,494 for the 14-night voyage, including up to 25% Early Booking Savings coupled with Free Coach Air from our 86 gateways - a value of up to $2049 per person. Cruise-only guests will receive $1200 credit. Air scheduling, routing, and carrier for free air offer are at Regent Seven Seas' sole discretion.

Both programs include a one-night pre-cruise stay in Santiago (Chile); round-trip charter flights from Santiago to Ushuaia; a city tour and Patagonian lunch on day of embarkation in Ushuaia; and a complimentary backpack and parka. As with all Regent Seven Seas cruises, fares include all shipboard gratuities; complimentary beverages, including select wines and spirits served throughout the ship; and a refrigerator stocked with soft drinks, beer and bottled water replenished daily in higher stateroom categories.

Through The Regent Travel Concierge^SM, guests may select from a variety of exciting pre- and post-cruise land adventures, from horseback riding in Ushuaia to a guided walking tour of the city's Tierra del FuegoNational Park, including a trek across the border to Chile. Air scheduling, routing, and carrier for free air offer is at Regent Seven Seas' sole discretion.

For additional information on Regent Seven Seas Cruises, please visit their website a RSSC.com