Elite Traveler Spring 2020

CLOUDBREAK CHARTER ANTARCTICA

Bored of the usual South of France run? Enter Cloudbreak , one of the largest explorer yachts of her kind. While she is built for adventure and has an extensive toy collection, she does not skimp on luxury. There is an onboard spa with a sauna, pool, massage room and gym; sundeck with an open-air pool; accommodations for 12 guests in six suites; and a crew of up to 22. Begin your 12-day Antarctic voyage at Ushuaia, Argentina, then glide through the Beagle Channel, past Cape Horn and into the open waters of the enormous Drake Passage. The South Shetland Islands are on the other side of the Drake Passage, and Livingston Island has two important nature reserves used by scientists to monitor wildlife. Disembark onto the pebble beaches to see colonies of penguins and elephant seals. Travel onwards to Deception Island, where you can dig a hole in the black sand on Port Foster beach and relax in volcano-heated water near chinstrap penguins. Next, you’ll sail into Iceberg Alley in the Antarctic Sound and marvel at immense ice shelves and colossal glaciers. Bird enthusiasts will know that the area is an important location for several species of penguin, gull and petrel, and if you’re lucky, you might spot the elusive emperor penguin. Then, you’ll discover the incomparable Danco Coast — it stretches from mainland Antarctica towards South America. Keep your eyes on the water: You might see killer and humpback whales, or you can take a kayak out to spot gentoo penguins and Weddell seals. If conditions permit, the next port of call is unoccupied Detaille Island, where a former British research camp remains preserved as a historic site. It was abandoned in the 1950s, and the survey books and logs left behind by researchers are still there. You’ll go on to the Gullet that lies between Adelaide Island and Graham Land. This narrow channel is bordered by soaring snow-tipped mountains, and the calm and flat waters allow for tranquil cruising. Visit Marguerite Bay, which has 24 hours of daylight in the summer; it is the best spot to see emperor penguins, elephant seals, leopard seals and humpback whales, before you cruise back

through the Drake Passage and see Cape Horn appear in the distance to cap off your Antarctic charter. From $830,000 per week. Contact Jim Evans, managing director, charter@superyachtsmonaco.com, +377 932 503 48, superyachtsmonaco.com