Zodiac cruising

Jam-Packed Itinerary with
More Landings and Zodiac Cruising

Since 1994 we have led over 20 expeditions to the Antarctic regions and now use this experience to continuously perfect and update our itinerary to make it the most in-depth you will find.

We make more landings than other voyages. Please compare the number of landings we plan to other tours - we are sure that we will come out on top! We can offer more landings without rushing from one site to the next because our trip is longer. Years of experience give us the knowledge to hand pick the most fantastic sites. In fact, we plan over 15 landings along the Peninsula! Plus we spend significant time zodiac cruising to get you close to the spectacular scenery, whales and seals in the waters of this unique area.

Hugh Rose

Expert Leaders and Staff

Excellence, expertise, and genuine interest in your enjoyment define our leaders and staff. While on shore, we offer you photography seminars, plus geology, bird, and nature walks to enhance your visit. Also, while on board the ship at sea, we offer ecology, geology, photography, and history lectures. Staff members are on watch from the ship's bridge and deck to spot and identify marine mammals and seabirds. Our full slate of diverse leaders brings you a richer experience.

Our numerous and experienced staff will help you safely land in challenging sea conditions. For this reason, we rarely miss landings, especially at such fantastic but difficult sites such as Bailey Head on Deception Island - undeniably one of the most fantastic sites in the world for Chinstrap penguins.

We have accessible expedition leaders - most likely when you contact us you can talk directly to the one of our expedition leaders who is glad to answer all your questions, no matter how small! We can also provide names and contacts of former travelers upon request.

Exploring Baily Head

Small Cohesive Group

IAATO rules state that only 100 people are allowed to go ashore at one time. Having fewer than 100 participants on board allows everyone to be ashore at the same time, eliminating timed shifts and maximizing field time. Our groups are small enough so we can land ashore at the same time without creating a crowd, yet large enough to allow us to bring a diverse array of knowledgeable leaders.

We charter the entire ship to make sure that our group is cohesive and passionate about their wildlife experience. We talk to each and every participant about the natural history focus of our expedition to assure the best experience for all. We also provide a non-smoking policy for the comfort of everyone.

Ortelius

Best Ships

We charter the best possible ships, such as the Ortelius, for these types of wildlife expeditions. These ships are strong and fast, perfect for the Southern Ocean, yet small enough to provide an intimate experience. The Ortelius has the highest ice-class notation (UL1 equivalent to 1A) so you can feel safe as you explore the icy waters around the Antarctic Peninsula.

Chartering the entire ship puts our expedition leader in charge resulting in more time ashore and zodiac cruising than other expeditions. Our experienced expedition leaders and ship crew know these waters well and can put together agreeable alternate plans when sea and weather conditions change.

Adelie Penguins

Great Value and Quality

Our tour is the best value of any Antarctic Peninsula voyage. This is primarily because we are a small, efficient company so you are not paying for a lot of advertising and travel agent commissions. Be sure to compare the number of days, landings, and leaders, plus the hours spent ashore against other tours before you sign-up. Read independent reviews on Epinions.com.

Our leaders and participants are a most enthusiastic, excited, and fun bunch of people. Many of our travelmates are repeat participants, so you will likely see a familiar face or two on our tours. Many new and lasting friendships have been started on a Cheesemans' expedition. The high number of repeat travelers is a testament to our high quality and value.

Beach cleaning

Passionate Conservation

We are concerned about protecting the polar environments and have supported many conservation efforts over the years. We promote protection of the Wandering Albatross and other albatross species. We are full members of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO), and Ted Cheeseman is a member of their Executive Committee. IAATO is a membership organization that advocates, promotes, and practices safe and environmentally responsible travel to the Antarctic.

We initiated an annual beach cleanup of Dyke Bay on Carcass Island in the Falklands where we removed over a hundred bags full of trash the first year. Thanks to our many generous staff and travelmates who volunteered to give up valuable time to benefit this spectacular place. Read more about our cleanup.