We recently organized a very well-attended informative trip webinar for trip.  It's hosted by CNH Tours Antarctica Travel Advisor, Kathy Haesevoets, and presented by the trip's tour leader, international veterinary doctor, Kristine Hoyt.  

The presentation is about 35 minutes long, followed by a good question and answer session.  

VIEW TRIP WEBINAR

9 SPACES REMAINING

GROUP SIZE:  We will be reserving 6 berths (for 12 guests) on this trip.  

DATES: 24 Nov - 5 Dec 2026 (1 night in a hotel, 10 days on board)

PRICE:  US$15,980 per person, shared accommodation in comfortable twin window cabin. Options for superior berths - contact us.  Solo occupation prices is US$27,125. Contact us if you are a solo traveller willing to share. 

TRIP START / END LOCATION: Trip begins and ends at Ushuaia, Argentina.  

 

 

BOOKING: We're open for bookings.  Go to our BOOKING FORM HERE.

 

INCLUDES: 

Extras provided exclusively to CNH Tours guests:

• private transfer from Ushuaia airport to the Alto Andino hotel on arrival (24th November).
• 1 night accommodation in the Alto Andino hotel, with breakfast (night of 24th November).
• transfer to Ushuaia port for embarkation on the 25th November.
• services of your dedicated tour leader, Dr. Kristine Hoyt.
• USS$200,000 complimentary emergency medical evacuation insurance.
• trip carbon emission offsets.

Part of the standard tour

• 11 days / 10 nights aboard the M/V Ortelius, in a standard twin window cabin, excursions, guides,
• all meals on board the ship (including snacks, coffee, tea, water).
• all shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac.
• program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff.
• free use of rubber boots and snowshoes.
• ship-to-shore helicopter transfers (with no specific amount of helicopter time guaranteed - subject to weather conditions).
• luggage transfer from pick-up point to the vessel on the day of embarkation, in Ushuaia.
• on-board certified doctor.
• pre-scheduled group transfer from the vessel to the airport in Ushuaia (directly after disembarkation).
• all miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the programme.
• comprehensive pre-departure material.

 

DOES NOT INCLUDE:

• Any airfare, whether on scheduled or charter flights (guidance on best routes will be provided)
• Pre- and post- land arrangements beyond accommodations the night before embarkation
• Passport and visa expenses.
• Government arrival and departure taxes.
• Meals ashore (beyond breakfast on 25 November)
• Baggage, cancellation and personal insurance (which is strongly recommended).
• Excess baggage charges and all items of a personal nature such as laundry, bar, beverage charges and telecommunication charges.
• The customary gratuity at the end of the voyages for stewards and other service personnel aboard (guidelines will be provided).

 

 

IN SEARCH OF THE EMPEROR PENGUIN

A CNH TOURS GROUP DEPARTURE

 

CNH Tours, in cooperation with veterinary Dr. Kristine Hoyt (she will lead the trip), is organizing a group expedition to the Weddell sea in search of the Emperor Penguin.  

Few journeys to Antarctica venture in these parts - and while the usual attractions offered by a visit to this remote part of the world will be on hand (other penguin species, leopard seals, marine mammals, amazing land and icescapes), we will also be looking out for this most flamboyant of all penguins.  

WHY THIS TRIP?

A few good reasons:

1) You'll enjoy the services of a trip concierge, helping you prepare for the trip. 

2) You'll have your own CNH Tours tour leader - a world travelling veterinary doctor full of insights, offering original perspectives on what you'll be experiencing and ensuring all goes swimmingly.

3) Timing:  By going towards the end of November / early December, we will have benefited from intel gathered by the first trips taken earlier the season.  Emperor penguin colony locations shift from year to year and the first expeditions may use precious time simply trying to locate them in the vast expanses involved. We'll know exactly where to find them by end November.  

4) Chicks! Chicks (which typically hatch in July / August) will be around and busy.  They will be a wonder to observe at this stage in their lives.

Dr. Kristine Hoyt

CNH Tours considers itself fortunate to have met Kristine Hoyt - a particpant in our Galapgos, Madagascar and Provence trips. 

Born and raised on a farm in the picturesque state of Maine, Kristine developed a deep connection with nature and animals from an early age. Her passion for animal care was evident as she volunteered at local veterinary hospitals and shelters  during her youth. This early exposure to animal husbandry and welfare inspired her to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. 

By age 11 she had the calling to her profession, but first she needed to gain some worldly insight. After graduating from Bowdoin College, she conducted cancer research at the Medical School of Bern, Switzerland. She followed that up with Masters work in clinical nutrition at University of Illinois before receiving her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Wisconsin in 1990. During her training she interned at many zoos, including The San Diego Zoo and Marine World Africa, USA. While at the later institution, she worked under the direction of the iconic “Big Jim“ from Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom.  

For  over two decades , Dr. Hoyt owned and operated her own veterinary hospital in Maine. In 2011 she started volunteering in Africa on endangered species conservation efforts. She continues to be an active advocate for animal welfare. She collaborates with local animal rescue organizations, provides pro bono services to underserved communities internationally, and participates in educational initiatives to promote responsible pet ownership. Her dedication extends to mentoring aspiring veterinary professionals, fostering a new generation of compassionate caregivers and representing Maine in the AVMA (National Veterinary Congress). 

A veteran traveller and excellent public speaker, Kristine regularly shares her discoveries with her community and wider group of friends. 

 

 

What is the role of a tour leader?

A tour leader is there to watch over things, ensure that all goes as swimmingly as possible.  The tour leader represents the group when communicating with the ship or local guides. If you have any questions / concerns over issues such as accommodation, logistics etc. during the trip, the tour leader is there to listen and help make things better.  A tour leader will also provide some added insight based on personal / professional experience - adding colour and depth to your trip. 

 

 

NOTE:  Itinerary is subject to environmental conditions.  Ice pack conditions, winds, fog/snow may compel the ship / expedition crew to modify the itinerary presented below.  

Day 1:  Arrival in Ushuaia, overnight

CNH Tours guests will enjoy a private transfer from the airport to a comfortable hotel in town. Ushuaia is the southernmost town on the planet, located on the far southern tip of South America. After settling in, enjoy some free time, explore this quirky town on the edge of nowhere.  

Day 2: End of the world, start of a journey

You'll check out and you'll be taken to the M/V Ortelius for embarkation in mid-afternoon.  Settle into you cabins, attend the introductory presentations on the ship and safety procedures, and set sail through the mountain-fringed Beagle Channel for the remainder of the evening.  

Day 3 - 4: Path of the polar explorers

Over the next two days on the Drake Passage, you enjoy some of the same experiences encountered by the great polar explorers who first charted these regions: cool salt breezes, rolling seas, maybe even a fin whale spouting up sea spray. After passing the Antarctic Convergence – Antarctica’s natural boundary, formed when north-flowing cold waters collide with warmer sub-Antarctic seas – you are in the circum-Antarctic upwelling zone. Not only does the marine life change, the avian life changes too. Wandering albatrosses, grey-headed albatrosses, black-browed albatrosses, light-mantled sooty albatrosses, cape pigeons, southern fulmars, Wilson’s storm petrels, blue petrels, and Antarctic petrels are a few of the birds you might see.

 Day 5 - 8: Entering Antarctica (see possible alternative itinerary for days 6-7 below)

You may sail into the Weddell Sea via the Antarctic Sound. Here huge tabular icebergs herald your arrival to the eastern side of the Antarctic Peninsula. During this part of the cruise, the search is on for emperor penguins. Using both the vessel and helicopters (weather conditions permitting), there’s a good chance you’ll find them (though guests must understand that conditions may not be conducive to doing so). You might also enjoy scenic flights, and if conditions allow, helicopter landings in locations otherwise out of reach this time of year.   

 Helicopter flights are a true trip changer, and may include:  

• The west slopes of the Antarctic Sound – The western side of this area is only rarely seen from the air, though the landscape is truly worth the flight: Layered sandstones, lava flows, glaciers, icebergs, and pack-ice extend as far as the eye can see. There are often individual emperor penguins and Adélie penguins on the ice floes, as well as kelp gulls, skuas, and various breeds of petrel. Jagged mountain peaks stab through the snow, and enormous walls of ice lie shattered on the slopes below. 
• Duse Bay – A soaring helicopter flight may deposit you on a rocky hillock close to an old refuge hut overlooking this bay. There’s still a lot of snow and ice this time of year, but much of the walk in this location is over frost-shattered rock covered with lichen of all shapes and colors.  
• Seymour Island – This is where the Swedish Antarctic Expedition of 1901 – 4 wintered under harrowing polar conditions. Sedimentary rock, fossils, and expansive views define this location.  

If conditions allow for deeper ventures into the Weddell Sea, Zodiac trips may include: 

• Devil Island – Home to a large colony of Adélie penguins, this island offers a magnificent vantage point for hikers willing to foot it to the top of the hill. Melting ice sometimes forms a waterfall dropping from the cliffs close to Cape Well-met. 
• Brown Bluff – Maybe the most scenic location in the entire northern tip of the Antarctic Continent:  sheer canyon walls, fallen boulders, beautiful volcanic creations capped with ice. A large Adélie penguin rookery lives here, with gentoo penguins and nesting snow petrels also to be found.  
• Gourdin Island – Chinstrap, gentoo, and Adélie penguins love this island, which is yet another landing option for your continuing Antarctic adventure.  
• Esperanza Base – This Argentine research station, which operates year-round and is one of only two civilian settlements in Antarctica, could serve as an alternative landing site.

Day 9: Drake via Deception Island

In the morning, you sail to Deception Island for the last landing of the voyage, either at Pendulum Cove or Whalers Bay. Conditions on the Drake Passage determine the exact time of departure. 

Day 10 - 11: Familiar seas, familiar friends

Your return voyage is far from lonely. While crossing the Drake, you’re again greeted by the vast array of seabirds remembered from the passage south. But they seem a little more familiar to you now, and you to them. 

Day 12: There and back again

Every adventure, no matter how grand, must eventually come to an end. It’s now time to disembark in Ushuaia, but with memories that will accompany you wherever your next adventure lies. Your transfer to the airport is included. 

 

The M.V. Ortelius is a robust expedition vessel originally built in 1989 for polar research purposes. Now refurbished for expeditions, the ship is ice-strengthened with a reinforced hull rated to the highest ice-class (UL1, equivalent to 1A), making it well-suited for navigating Antarctic waters and sea ice. It is equipped with a fleet of Zodiac boats for landings and wildlife viewing, modern safety systems, and comfortable accommodations for up to 108 passengers. The Ortelius is specifically designed for polar expeditions, offering excellent maneuverability in icy conditions and access to remote areas.

While the Ortelius offers all the necessary modern comforts one could expect on a sea voyage, (including tasty meals), guests should understand that it is not a "bells & whistles" vessel. You won't find a cigar-smoking room, nor a whiskey bar on board.  But you will find a full-on complement of dedicated crew and expedition staff, keen on ensuring you will get the most out of your time on board and off the ship. 

CNH Tours has reserved Twin Window rooms for our departure, more specifically, rooms #512, 513, 515, 525, 526, 527 (all on deck 5). Should you wish to be updgraded to a larger cabin, please contact us for availabilities. 

TWIN WINDOW CABIN DETAILS:

• Cabin size between 17,5 m² and 17,7 m²
• 2 windows
• 2 lower berths
• Private shower & toilet
• Desk & chair
• Flatscreen TV
• Telephone & WiFi (supplemented)
• Hair dryer
• Safe deposit box
• Ample storage space

   

 CLICK HERE FOR THE DECK PLAN

 

 

 

 

 

 Pictures are indicative - actual cabin may be slightly different

 

 SHIP SPECIFICATIONSN

Length : 90.95 meters
Breadth : 17.20 meters
Draft : 5.4 meters
Ice class : UL1 (Equivalent to 1A)
Displacement : 4090 tonnes
Propulsion : 6 ZL 40/48 SULZER
Speed : 10.5 knots average cruising speed
Passengers : 108 passengers in 50 cabins
Staff & crew : Crew 44 | Guides 8 | Doctor 1

 

 

 

TERMS AND CONDITIONS:  In Search of the Emperor Penguins

RATES

Published voyage rates are always quoted in U.S. dollars and are based on passengers sharing a cabin, unless otherwise indicated. Rates for voyages are based on anticipated fuel costs at the time of departure multiplied by a maximum daily usage. There will be no fuel surcharge for voyages if the price of fuel, delivered locally, does not exceed US$1100 per metric ton. Should the price go above this a surcharge, to cover only the increase in fuel costs, may apply. In this case agents will be notified immediately, and passengers will have the right to cancel their reservations within 14 days of notice of increase without penalty.

RESERVATIONS

To confirm a booking a deposit of 20% of the trip price is required.  A 2nd payment of 20% is required 150 days prior to departure with the final balance due 75 days prior to the trip start date. 

CANCELLATION / PAYMENTS / TRANSFERABILITY

While all payments are non-refundable once the date at which they are due has passed, CNH Tours will endeavour to reimburse you to the greatest amount possible should we be able to find someone to take your booking - though we make no guarantees in this regard.  All payments may be made via cheque, wire transfer or credit card (a credit card transaction fee applies).   

Should you need to cancel your trip, you may propose someone else to take your place.  There may be a small administrative cost involved in transfering your booking.  

ELIGIBILITY

In general there are no specific physical requirements for travel in Antarctica. However, we are traveling to the most remote region of the world and we are traveling on a ship which, at times, may be in rough seas and which has limited facilities. Passengers with unstable medical/health issues may not be appropriate for this type of expedition and are advised to exercise appropriate caution.

CHILDREN

In general, our policy is that children must be at least 12 years old to join a voyage. However, we may on a case-by-case basis accept children between the ages of 7-11 with additional screening and prior approval before booking, and the completion of our Child waiver by the parents/guardians.
 

GUEST MEDICAL INFORMATION

We may require all passengers to submit basic medical information prior to departure. Upon receipt of that basic medical information, significant disabilities or unstable medical conditions may necessitate additional documentation from a passenger’s physician certifying fitness to travel on a voyage to Antarctica. If additional medical confirmation is requested, boarding will not be allowed absent receipt of that confirmation. PLEASE NOTE: please review our medical form at time of booking, and if there is any question regarding your eligibility contact your agent immediately to begin a dialog with us. While we cannot dispense medical advice, we reserve the right to deny passage to any passenger whose individual situation is deemed to be a safety risk, or who has not disclosed accurate information as to their physical or mental condition. In such a case CNH Tours cannot be responsible for any expenses incurred. This includes non-refundable cruise fees, airfare or any other miscellaneous expenses. If you have any questions, please contact us for further clarification.

CNH Tours places the highest value on the safety of our guests.  As such we maintain strict health and safety protocols prior to boarding and throughout our operation. All passengers will be required to comply with all of our safety protocols as well as with all local, national, international and industry laws, rules, regulations and protocols, and to provide proof of same prior to embarkation.  Additionally, we may require passengers to undergo health screenings or other precautions prior to embarkation, and/or enhanced safety protocols onboard. Should a passenger fail, refuse, be unwilling or unable to comply, we must deny boarding, or if a passenger has already boarded, we must insist the passenger disembark, and as circumstances dictate, we may invoke standard cancellation terms.

CNH Tours has a pregnancy policy that women who will be in the 13th through 22nd weeks of pregnancy during the entire voyage are welcome with explicit doctor’s permission and having signed a specific waiver. Pregnancy policies of carriers (airlines, bus companies, hotels, etc.) may also apply. Please note that medical information will, of necessity, be available to designated ship staff.

Please note that regardless of general eligibility there may be instances where environmental conditions require a level of fitness/mobility. In these cases, individual participation in the landing(s) in question may be restricted by the Captain, Expedition Leader, or ship’s doctor.

INSURANCE

All passengers must carry a Travel Insurance Plan. While all CNH Tours guests are covered by a complimentary US$200,000 emergency medical evacuation insurance policy, guests must acquire a travel insurance plan that covers other eventualities, including personal injury, medical expenses, repatriation expenses and pre-existing medical conditions.

CNH Tours may require information as to carrier, policy number, and a 24-hour contact number. Additionally, passengers are strongly advised to carry a Comprehensive Travel Insurance Plan which should also include coverage for cancellation, curtailment, trip interruption, and all other expenses which might arise as a result of loss, damage, injury, delay or inconvenience occurring to or otherwise involving a passenger. Please also note: Travel to Antarctica carries with it a slight but inherent risk that a voyage may be interrupted after the voyage has begun. In such matters the Master of the vessel has full authority to make decisions that can affect itineraries and trip length. In such a case, CNH Tours cannot be responsible for situations outside its control, and in the event of financial losses, your travel insurance may be your only recourse for recovery of funds. Should you elect to travel without comprehensive insurance you are accepting this risk.

ITINERARIES

The ship’s captain and expedition team will do everything possible to complete the voyage as outlined in the voyage itinerary. However, itineraries in polar regions are heavily dependent on weather and ice conditions. Occasionally conditions and or safety concerns require itinerary changes. The Captain and expedition team will accordingly make every effort to find the best alternative to the original itinerary while keeping passengers informed and updated. Itinerary changes are not subject to passenger approval/consent, and in the event of such a change no refunds or price adjustments are possible. Placement of a booking with CNH Tours amounts to an acknowledgement that itinerary changes are possible.

VOYAGE CANCELLATION

In the unlikely event that an expedition is cancelled by the ship operator prior to sailing, passengers will be offered preferential booking on alternative voyages of similar itinerary based on availability. Please note that CNH Tours will not be responsible for travel arrangements or other expenses outside the voyage cost.

ACTIVITIES

All activities, whether on board or ashore, conducted during a voyage are permitted by authorities and must comply with strict guidelines and regulations. As such, no one may conduct unauthorized activities during a voyage. 

ON-BOARD LANGUAGE

All voyages are conducted in English as the principal language. Our on-board staff will do their best to make the voyage as enjoyable as possible for our non-English speaking guests. However, if safety is an issue, guests not fully understanding briefings may be excluded from an activity at the discretion of the Expedition Leader or Captain.

ON-BOARD AUTHORITY

All passengers are subject to instructions or regulations given by the Captain or the Expedition team.

PHOTOGRAPHY / VIDEO

The ship operator reserves the right to use photographs and/or videos taken during the operation of the voyage for promotional purposes for the company and/or its sales agents. Passengers who prefer that their images not be used are asked to identify themselves to the ship representative prior to embarkation.

SMOKING

Our ships offer a smoke-free environment. Smoking is permitted only in the designated smoking area. Smoking is not permitted anywhere inside the ship (including the balcony areas). The Expedition Leader will discuss this policy with anyone known or suspected to be smoking in a non-designated area so that there is no misunderstanding as to the proper location and protocol for smoking. Repeated non-compliance will result in a $1,000 penalty to be added to your shipboard account. The Expedition Leader and Captain also reserve the right to disallow participation in off ship activities.

ALCOHOL

The ship operator reserves the right to refuse alcohol to anyone deemed to be intoxicated.

ON-BOARD PAYMENTS

All payments are in US dollars. Passengers may run a tab which must be paid prior to disembarkation. Payments can be made in cash or with a credit card.

RESPONSIBILITY

The ship operator is a qualified tour operator that organizes and administers its polar voyages. It will provide services in conjunction with local operators and air and sea operators. The designated operator(s), in turn, acts only as an agent for any transportation carrier, hotel, ground operator, or other suppliers of services connected with these tours (“other providers”), and the other providers are solely responsible and liable for providing their respective services. The passenger tickets in use by the carriers shall constitute the sole contract between the carriers and the passenger; the carriers are not responsible for any act, omission, or event during the time participants are not aboard their conveyances. 

CNH Tours, the ship operator and its designated service providers shall not be held liable for (A) any damage to, or loss of, property or injury to, or death of, persons occasioned directly or indirectly by an act or omission of any other provider, including but not limited to any defect in any aircraft, watercraft, or vehicle operated or provided by such other provider; and (B) any loss or damage due to delay, cancellation, or disruption in any manner caused by the laws, regulations, acts or failures to act, demands, orders, or interpositions of any government or any subdivision or agent thereof, or by acts of God, strikes, fire, flood, war, rebellion, terrorism, insurrection, sickness, quarantine, epidemics, theft, or any other cause(s) beyond their control. The participant waives any claim against CNH Tours or its service providers for any such loss, damage, injury, or death. 

By accepting passage on a CNH Tours voyage, the participant acknowledges these terms and conditions and certifies that he/she does not have any mental, physical, or other condition or disability that would create a hazard for him/herself or other participants. CNH Tours and its designated tour operator reserve the right in their sole discretion to accept, decline to accept, or remove any participant from a voyage.  The ship operator reserves the right, without penalty, to make changes in the published itinerary whenever, in their judgment, conditions warrant, or if they deem it necessary for the comfort, convenience, or safety of participants. The Captain and Expedition Leader have the right to restrict the activities of any passenger who repeatedly violates onboard or on shore protocols. 

Neither CNH Tours, nor its service providers shall be liable for any air carrier’s cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a non – refundable ticket to or from the participant’s departure city. Baggage and personal effects are at all times the sole responsibility of the participant.

SHIP OPERATOR TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Beyond the terms and conditions noted above, the ship's operator also applies its own terms and conditions.  These can be consulted here.