Palmer Station is located at 64°46′ S, 64°03′ W, on a protected harbor on the southwestern coast of Anvers Island off the Antarctica Peninsula. Palmer is the only U.S. Antarctic station north of the Antarctic Circle. The temperature is mild, with monthly averages ranging from minus 10°C in July and August to 2°C in January and February. The annual mean is minus 3°C. The extreme range is minus 31°C to 9°C.

The station, built on solid rock, consists of two major buildings and three small ones, plus two large fuel tanks, a helicopter pad, and a dock. Construction was completed in 1968, replacing a prefabricated wood structure (”Old Palmer,” established in 1965) two kilometers away across Arthur Harbor. Old Palmer has been disassembled and removed from Antarctica. Somewhat over 40 people can occupy Palmer in the summer. Wintering population is about 10, although Palmer does not have a long period of winter isolation as do McMurdo and South Pole.

Palmer Station is superbly located for biological studies of birds, seals, and other components of the marine ecosystem. It has a large and extensively equipped laboratory and sea water aquaria. In 1990 it was designated by the National Science Foundation as a long term ecological research (LTER) site. Ocean and climate systems, aeronomy and astrophysics, glaciology also have been pursued at and around Palmer. The station operates in conjunction , with a research ship, the R/V Laurence M.Gould.

Palmer Station is named for Nathaniel B. Palmer, a Connecticut sealer who, on 17 November 1820, during an exploratory voyage ranging southward from the South Shetland Islands, may have been the first person to see Antarctica. (British and Russian ships were in the area at about the same time.)

Our programme during the visit on 09 March 2010:
A small group from the station will come out to the ship to give a brief overview of the US Antarctic Program to our passengers. Following the presentation, we can begin sending passengers ashore.

The Palmer Station area has two sites typically visited by tour groups: Palmer Station itself and Torgersen Island. 40 people at each of these sites are allowed to visit at one time. There are numerous scientific study sites in the area, and we ask passengers to avoid these due to the risks to the wildlife under study.

When our passengers visit the station, they will be divided into groups of 10-12 people to be given a tour. A tour guide from Palmer Station will walk them through the route, which includes a look around the outside of the station, a view of some local sea creatures in an outdoor aquarium, and an opportunity to purchase souvenirs. After the tour, passengers are invited to come to the dining room where they can meet some of our staff, enjoy refreshments, pick up literature, and sign our guest book. Each group will spend approximately 60 to 90 minutes on station.

Passengers’ passports can be stamped with the dated Palmer Station stamp. Palmer Station does not have a post office, therefore no stamps or postal services.

Passengers are encouraged to bring a bag with them to hold literature and souvenirs, since this helps reduce the number of plastic bags used. For the shop, only U.S. cash and Visa or Master Card credit cards are accepted.

www.oceanwide-expeditions.com

This is the start of a new era in polar expedition cruising: the Dutch-flagged, expedition vessel “Plancius,” operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, is finally ready to set sail to Antarctica this season.

“Plancius” is now freshly painted and alongside the dock in the Netherlands. While the ship is waiting for final sea trials, a team of builders is giving the final touch to the interior of the vessel. The crew will board end of October and bring life to the ship. Departure from the Netherlands is scheduled for early December in order to carry out the first Antarctic voyage on January 8, 2010.

Oceanwide Expeditions offers the free use of boots aboard the ship. Also, outdoor wind and waterproof North Face® expedition jackets can be ordered and bought for a discounted price prior to departure and will be given to the passengers on board the vessel.

Plancius is a base camp for various activities such as scuba diving; kayaking; near-shore, field camping; and active hiking trips with snowshoes. Detailed information can be found on Oceanwide Expeditions website or can be requested per email.

SETTING NEW STANDARDS IN EXPEDITION CRUISING

“Plancius” will set new standards to the world of expedition cruising: spacious yet small ship character; comfort and style; modern technology and safety appliances; and a base camp for active, adventurous, and wildlife-minded modern explorers!

“Plancius” was built in 1976 as an oceanographic research vessel for the Royal Dutch Navy and was named “Hr. Ms. Tydeman.” The ship sailed for the Dutch Navy until June 2004 and was finally purchased by Oceanwide Expeditions. The vessel was completely rebuilt and converted to a 110-passenger vessel, which complies with the latest SOLAS-regulations (Safety Of Life At Sea) and is classed by Lloyd’s Register in London. The ship sails under the Dutch flag.

It’s a small ship operation: “Plancius” can accommodate 110 passengers in 53 passenger cabins with private toilet and shower in 4 triple private cabins, 39 twin private cabins (ca. 15 square meters), and 10 twin superior cabins (ca. 21 square meters).

All cabins offer lower berths (either two single beds or one queen-size bed), except for the 4 triple cabins (bunk beds and 1 lower bed). The vessel offers a restaurant/lecture room on deck 3 and a spacious observation lounge (with bar) on deck 5 with large windows, offering full panorama view. “Plancius” has large open deck spaces (with full walk-around possibilities on deck 3), giving excellent opportunities to enjoy the scenery and wildlife. She is furthermore equipped with 10 Mark V zodiacs, including 40 HP 4-stroke outboard engines and 2 gangways on starboard side that guarantee a swift zodiac operation.

“Plancius” is comfortable and nicely decorated, but the ship is not a luxurious vessel. It’s made for explorers! Voyages in the Arctic and Antarctic regions are and will still be primarily defined by an exploratory educational travel program, spending as much time ashore as possible. This vessel will fully meet our demands to achieve this.

The vessel measures 89 meters in length (267 feet), has a breadth of 145 meters (475 feet) and a draft of 48 meters (157 feet) and is equipped with a diesel-electric propulsion system, which reduces the noise and vibration of the engines considerably. The 3 diesel engines generate 1,230 horse-power each, giving the vessel a speed of 10-12 knots. The vessel is ice-strengthened and was specially built for oceanographic voyages.

“Plancius” is manned by 17 nautical crew, 18 hotel staff (6 chefs, 1 hotel manager, 1 steward-barman, and 10 stewards/cabin cleaners), 8 expedition staff (1 expedition leader and 7 guides-lecturers), and 1 doctor.

“Plancius” was named after the Dutch astronomer, cartographer, geologist, and vicar Petrus Plancius (1552 – 1622). Petrus Plancius theorized the existence of an accessible northern passage to Asia and his theory encouraged several northern discovery voyages at the end of the 16th century. A dutch expedition under the command Willem Brantsz discovered Spitsbergen, but got stuck in the pack ice of Novaya Semlya (now Russian territory). Those discoveries gave rise of the 17th century whaling industry in Spitsbergen.

“Plancius” is furthermore a homage to the predecessor of Oceanwide Expeditions (Plancius Foundation, 1981-1996), the first cruise operator on a yearly base in Spitsbergen, offering voyages with a small cruise vessel named Plancius. It certainly means “the return of Plancius.” Oceanwide continued with the activities of the Plancius Foundation in 1996.

www.oceanwide-expeditions.com

Like so many travel industry segments, the so-called global financial crisis has caused many operators to reevaluate their strategic planning. Even so, several were committed to new vessels and itineraries devised in the glory days leading up to the collapse.

Certainly one of the most ambitious and adventurous itineraries would have to be Cruise West’s Voyages of the Great Explorers, a 335-day circumnavigation of the world. Departing Singapore on March 6, 2010, the 120-guest, all-suite Spirit of Oceanus will sail westward, following the sun, to return to Singapore on February 3, 2011.

This remarkable journey includes visits to 242 ports in 59 countries and 85 UNESCO World Heritage sites while crossing 14 seas and oceans, transiting three canals, as well as a voyage tied to The Famed Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Scotland’s colorful military musical spectacular. This is really a fine weave voyage, over twice as long and visiting nearly five times as many ports as a comparable Cunard, ‘big ship’ itinerary.

Another vessel that re-emerged after an expensive refit was Silverseas’ Prince Albert II. The luxury small ship cruise line jumped the adventure bandwagon by picking up the ex-Society Expeditions MS World Adventurer in 2007 and following her relaunch last year, immediately placed her on a leisurely schedule in French Polynesia. Fortunately that was quickly corrected and she is now embarking on proper polar voyages.

GAP Adventures were obliged to find a new ship after the high profile loss of Explorer in Antarctica in November 2007. The new 105m Expedition re-entered service last month and follows a popular recent trend among operators of converting arctic ferries into adventure vessels along the lines of Quark’s Ocean Nova, which was reborn from the Danish-flagged Greenlander, Sarpik Ittuk, in 2007.

Quark Expeditions, by the way, is in the process of rejigging their itineraries in response to the new challenges and an announcement is due any day on the revised plans. Stay tuned.

The giant, century old, Norwegian Hurtigruten cruise line (formerly Norwegian Coastal Voyages) is currently negotiating choppy waters. The decision to embark on a major fleet upgrade was a bit of unfortunate timing and the company is one of many caught in the global mess. There is a major push to get travellers aboard the newest expedition vessel, MS Fram. Built in 2007, she is one of the bigger expedition vessels with 318 berths and a GRT of 12,000.

In a more classic vein, the 1976-built Royal Dutch Navy vessel, Hr. Ms. Tydeman will be transformed to the 112-passenger MV Plancius and begin polar voyages next year in Antarctica with Oceanwide Expeditions.

As you’ve seen written many times already, now is certainly a great time to go adventure cruising with many companies offering enticing specials and deals. Go see your travel agent today.