Included
Mandatory Transfer Package (approximate package price is $995 for the 2025-26 season and includes one night’s pre-expedition hotel night in Buenos Aires on Day 1 with breakfast on Day 2, group transfer from hotel to airport in Buenos Aires, charter flight from Buenos Aires (AEP) to Ushuaia, arrival and departure transfers in Ushuaia, charter flight from Ushuaia to Buenos Aires (EZE), and combined airport transfer and, if available, express bus tour of Tierra del Fuego National Park [before embarkation or after disembarkation] in Ushuaia); shipboard accommodation with daily housekeeping; all meals, snacks, soft drinks and juices on board; beer, wine, standard spirits and cocktails during dinner and bar service hours; complimentary WiFi; all shore landings per the daily program; leadership throughout the voyage by experienced expedition leaders; all Zodiac transfers and cruising per the daily program; formal and informal presentations by expedition team and special guests as scheduled; a photographic journal documenting the expedition; waterproof expedition boots on loan for shore landings; an official Quark Expeditions® parka to keep; coffee, tea and cocoa available around the clock; a hair dryer and bathrobes in every cabin; all miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program; all luggage handling aboard the ship; emergency evacuation insurance to a maximum benefit of US$500,000 per person; one 10- to 15-minute helicopter flightseeing excursion (weather and logistics permitting).
Exclusions
International airfare; passport and visa expenses; government arrival and departure taxes not mentioned above; meals ashore unless otherwise specified; baggage, cancellation, interruption and medical travel insurance (strongly recommended); excess-baggage fees on international and domestic flights; mandatory waterproof pants for Zodiac cruising, and any other gear not mentioned above; laundry, bar, massage services and other personal charges unless specified; phone charges; additional overnight accommodation; optional adventure activities; voluntary gratuity at the end of the voyage for shipboard staff and crew; arrival and departure transfers, except where explicitly stated.
Payment & Cancellation
In order to confirm this trip, a deposit of 25% of the total trip cost is required when booking 181 days or more prior to departure. A second deposit of 25% of trip cost is due 180 days prior to departure. Bookings made 180 days or less prior to departure require a deposit of 50% of total trip cost. The balance of the trip price is due 120 days prior to departure. Guests who must cancel their trip for any reason must do so in writing. Standard cancellations are subject to the following per-person penalties, based on number of days prior to departure:
Up to 121 days – 100% of deposit
120 to 91 days – 75% of total trip cost
90 to 0 days – 100% of total trip cost
(For expeditions booked prior to October 15,2024: Please refer to your invoice for your payment and cancellation terms.)
Terms & Conditions
This trip is subject to AdventureSmith Explorations Terms and Conditions. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A Traveler Information Form, which includes a release of liability, must be completed and signed by all travelers. Your Adventure Specialist will send you a unique link to complete this form along with a packing list and extensive pre-departure and travel insurance information upon booking confirmation.
Arrival & Departure
The Emperor Penguin Quest begins and ends in Buenos Aires, Argentina (EZE), with charter group flights to and from Ushuaia (note: the charter flight to Ushuaia is via the domestic airport, Aeroparque/AEP). We highly recommend arriving one day prior to your trip start date in case of any flight delay, cancellation or lost luggage issues. Plan flights to arrive to Buenos Aires ahead of the 12:00-8:00pm window for luggage weighing and tagging on Day 1. Arrange your own independent transfer to the included Buenos Aires hotel on Day 1. Plan flights to depart Buenos Aires no earlier than 9:00pm on disembarkation day. If you would like assistance with international flights, please visit our Booking Flights resource page.
Internal Flights
Group charter flights between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia are required on this trip’s itinerary; see the Mandatory Transfer Package information listed above under Inclusions. The flight to Ushuaia (via the domestic airport AEP) is expected to depart early on Day 2 of the itinerary. There is a luggage limit of 50 lbs (23 kg) checked luggage and 17 lbs (8 kg) cabin baggage on the flights to and from Ushuaia. Should you have additional luggage, it can be stored at the hotel in Buenos Aires; there is no option to pay for additional luggage. On the final day of the itinerary, the ship is scheduled to arrive at the pier between 7:00 and 8:00am local time. Disembarkation follows breakfast, with an included short tour of Tierra del Fuego National Park before transferring to the airport for the return charter flight to Buenos Aires (note: This tour may happen prior to embarkation).
Activities
Included are optional hiking, Zodiac cruising, daily presentations, photography guides, the polar plunge and a 10- to 15-minute helicopter flightseeing excursion (weather- and logistics-dependent). Various optional activities may be available on your Emperor Penguin Quest, for guests aged 16 and older. Per-person prices for the 2025-26 season: stand-up paddleboarding $295. One-time paddling excursions are available for $295 per person, per outing, for those who want something less in-depth than the full sea kayaking program; no experience is necessary. Each departure’s first paddling excursion may be pre-booked and all subsequent outings are booked on the ship. Please contact AdventureSmith to reserve activity space with your booking.
Room Configuration
Select double-occupancy cabins may be available for single occupancy with a single supplement fee. Solo travelers willing to share can reserve a triple or twin-shared cabin, where you will be matched with a person of the same gender. If the other cabin berth goes unsold, you will be guaranteed the double rate. Single travelers wishing to book a double-occupancy cabin may do so at 1.7x (2x for Premium cabins) the per-person listed rate in select cabins based upon availability. Premium Cabins are as follows:
Ultramarine: Deluxe Balcony Suite, Terrace Suite, Penthouse Suite, Owner’s Suite & Ultra Suite
Families & Children
At date of embarkation, a minimum age restriction of 8 years and minimum height and weight requirements (weight of 64lbs or 29kg and 48 in. or 1.2 m. tall) must be met. Children under 16 years of age must be supervised by a parent/guardian at all times and may not participate in adventure options.
Travel Insurance
Emergency evacuation insurance to a maximum benefit of up to $500,000 USD per paying traveler provides coverage between the first and last day of ship-based travel and is included in the cost of this trip. For ship- and land-based trips, additional days of travel pre- and post-expedition are not covered. Travelers are responsible for having adequate international medical coverage prior to embarkation, with a minimum benefit of $50,000 USD. In addition, we highly recommend our travelers also protect their investment with travel insurance that includes trip cancellation and other benefits. Our partners at Travelex Insurance offer a variety of plans and policies to fit every trip and budget. Coverage for a pre-existing medical condition is also available if you purchase the Travel Select plan within 15 days of the initial trip payment; refer to plan details. Learn more about travel insurance or get a free quote.
Itinerary Notes
Read this itinerary as a guide only; the exact route and program varies according to ice, weather conditions, wildlife encountered and the captain’s discretion. Flexibility is the key to the success of any Antarctica expedition. Visits to research stations depend on final permission.
