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+44 207 384 2332 Plan Your Trip
+44 207 384 2332 Plan your trip
Luxury Expedition Ship

Magellan Explorer

Magellan Explorer, Antarctica
Magellan Explorer, Antarctica
Magellan Explorer, Antarctica
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Magellan Explorer, Antarctica

Highlights

  • Fly-Cruises to Antarctica: Offers fly-cruise expeditions, allowing passengers to fly over the Drake Passage, reducing travel time and providing a more comfortable and efficient way to reach Antarctica.
  • Small Group Experience: With a capacity of only 100 passengers, and just 74 for Antarctic air-cruises, the Magellan Explorer offers an intimate and personalized expedition experience.
  • Modern Design: Launched in 2019, the ship features modern design and amenities, ensuring a comfortable and luxurious journey through polar regions.
  • Spacious Cabins: The ship boasts a variety of spacious cabins, many with private balconies, en-suite bathrooms, and large windows for spectacular views.
  • Advanced Technology: Equipped with the latest navigation and safety technology, including an ice-strengthened hull, making it ideal for polar exploration.
  • Expert-Led Excursions: Passengers can enjoy guided excursions by a team of experienced naturalists and scientists, enhancing the educational aspect of the journey.
  • Eco-Friendly Operations: The ship employs environmentally friendly practices, such as efficient waste management systems and reduced emissions, to minimize its impact on delicate ecosystems.
  • Exceptional Facilities: Amenities include a gym, sauna, outdoor BBQ area, and a spacious observation lounge, providing ample opportunities for relaxation and socializing.
Antarctic Air

Features

  • Constructed: Built in 2019, the Magellan Explorer is a modern expedition ship designed for polar exploration.
  • Capacity: Accommodates a maximum of 100 guests, and just 74 on fly-cruises, providing an intimate and comfortable experience for all onboard.
  • Guides: The expedition team includes specialist and local guides, such as historians, geologists, ornithologists, and glaciologists, each selected for their expertise relevant to the destination.
  • Crew: Staffed with a dedicated crew of approximately 60 members to ensure exceptional service and safety.
  • Speed: Travels at a cruising speed of 14 knots.
  • Ice Class: Certified with an Ice Class 1B rating for polar expeditions.
  • Size: Measures 90.7 meters in length and 16.2 meters in breadth.
  • Restaurants: Features a main dining room offering diverse dining options.
  • Leisure: Amenities include a library, gym, sauna, outdoor BBQ area, and a spacious observation lounge.
  • Stabilisers: Equipped with advanced stabilising systems for smooth sailing in rough seas.
  • Cabins: There are 50 cabins, including deluxe cabins and suites, many with private balconies, en-suite bathrooms, climate control, in-room entertainment, and some with spacious living areas.

Country Highlights

Antarctic Peninsula

Gentoo penguin, Antarctica

November to March

The Magellan Explorer offers  Antarctic fly-cruise trips, allowing travellers to skip the Drake Passage and fly directly to King George Island from Punta Arenas in Chile. This approach provides a quicker and more comfortable journey to the Antarctic Peninsula. Upon arrival, passengers embark on the modern expedition ship, Magellan Explorer, to explore pristine landscapes, encounter diverse wildlife, and participate in guided shore excursions and Zodiac cruises. Activities include visiting penguin colonies, hiking on ice fields, kayaking through serene waters, and witnessing majestic icebergs up close. Expert-led lectures and photography workshops enhance the experience, making each day an adventure in this breathtaking environment.

Falklands + South Georgia

King penguins on South Georgia

October + March

These voyages aboard the Magellan Explorer offer a unique blend of wildlife and history. The expeditions, typically lasting 16 to 20 days, include visits to the rugged Falkland Islands, home to an incredible array of wildlife from southern rockhopper penguins to the beautiful black-browed albatross as well as giant elephant seals and a fascinating history.

The breathtaking landscapes of South Georgia take things to a new level. Giant king penguin colonies with 300,000 breeding pairs line the beaches while snowcapped mountains and glaciers make up the backdrop. Elsewhere abandoned whaling stations slowly rot as the wildlife reclaims them and ghost towns such as Grytviken where Ernest Shackleton was laid to rest lie in lonely silence. It truly is an epic place.

Chilean Fjords

The Chilean Fjords

September, March + April

The Magellan Explorer’s 9-day voyage through the Patagonia and Chilean Fjords begins in Ushuaia, Argentina, and sails through some of the most stunning landscapes in South America. Highlights include navigating the Beagle Channel, exploring Glacier Alley, and visiting the Amalia and San Rafael Glaciers. The expedition also features stops at Puerto Eden, known for its indigenous Kawéskar culture, and the Strait of Magellan, where passengers can spot diverse marine wildlife.

Country Highlights

Our tailor-made journeys include

  • A dedicated Destination Expert who will curate your itinerary from scratch, tailoring it to your preferences + interests
  • Private + extraordinary under-the-radar experiences
  • Access to the very best guides + experts to bring the destination to life
  • Private international airport transfers in destination
  • The MyCazLoyd app to view your itinerary offline anywhere, anytime
  • 24/7 support whilst travelling
  • ATOL protection to give you total peace of mind

Good to know

What are the cabin options on the Magellan Explorer?

The Magellan Explorer offers various cabin options to accommodate different preferences and needs during expeditions:

  1. Grand Suite: Spacious two-room suite (44 m²) with two private balconies, separate living area, two bathrooms, and a choice of twin beds or a king-size bed.
  2. Penthouse Suite: Suite (33 m²) with a private balcony, separate lounge area, and a choice of twin beds or a king-size bed.
  3. Triple Suite: Two-room suite (44 m²) with two private balconies, a separate living area, and two bathrooms, accommodating up to three passengers with twin beds and a queen-size sofa bed.
  4. Deluxe Veranda Cabin: Cabin (22 m²) with a private balcony, sitting area, and twin beds or a king-size bed.
  5. Veranda Cabin: Cabin (19 m²) with a private balcony, sitting area, and twin beds or a king-size bed.
  6. Porthole Cabin: Cabin (18 m²) with porthole windows, sitting area, and twin beds or a king-size bed.
  7. Single Cabin with Balcony: Cabin (19 m²) designed for solo travellers, with a private balcony and a double bed.

Are children welcome?

Children aged eight and older are welcome onboard the Magellan Explorer. While the ship does not offer specific children’s facilities or programmes, the expedition environment is generally designed for adults. Families considering bringing children should ensure that the young travellers are prepared for the adventure and able to participate in the activities offered.

Sustainable travel

The Magellan Explorer has a comprehensive sustainability programme aimed at minimizing environmental impact. Key aspects include:

  1. Energy-Efficient Engines: Equipped with state-of-the-art engines that meet stringent MARPOL Tier III emission standards, reducing emissions and improving fuel efficiency.
  2. Waste Heat Recovery System: Utilizes an energy-recovery system to recycle heat produced by the engines, warming the ship and its water supply, thereby minimizing fuel consumption.
  3. Advanced Waste Management: Features systems to compact and store waste for safe disposal, reducing environmental footprint during expeditions.
  4. Water Production: Includes a desalination plant producing at least 24 tons of fresh water daily, conserving local resources and reducing the need to carry large amounts of fresh water.
  5. Eco-Friendly Design: Built to the latest Polar Code specifications, with ice-detecting radar, bow and stern thrusters for maneuverability, and stabilizers for comfortable navigation.

Citizen science

The Magellan Explorer’s citizen science programme allows passengers to actively participate in scientific research during their expeditions. This programme includes:

  1. FjordPhyto Project: Passengers collect phytoplankton samples to monitor the effects of melting glaciers on these critical organisms, which play a significant role in the carbon cycle and global oxygen production.
  2. Happy Whale: Participants photograph whale tails and upload the images to a global database to help track whale migrations and populations.
  3. PolarTag: Guests gather and report wildlife sightings, which contribute to tracking and studying individual animals over time, providing valuable data for researchers.
  4. Seabird Surveys: Conducting bird surveys helps scientists understand seabird distribution and habitat usage in the Southern Ocean.

Why we love the Magellan Explorer

This is the only ship specifically designed to carry the same number of passengers as the plane to Antarctica which dramatically reduces the chances of delays as other ships need to wait for two flights. This means more time to explore Antarctica.

Caroline Maber

Head of Department

Latin America, The Caribbean and Polar Regions
Antarctica seal

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UK: +44 207 384 2332
US: +1 800 409 4233
Serena Winn-Darley
Caroline Maber
Karen Chapman