Contingency Plans
Fly/Sail and Fly/Fly Voyages
For Fly/Sail and Fly/Fly voyages (where a voyage commences with a flight from Punta Arenas to King George Island, Aurora Expeditions will deploy the following Contingency Plan.
Every effort will be made to fly our expeditioners to Antarctica to start their voyage, as long as it safe to do so. This requires suitable weather conditions at both the departure point and the arrival point in Antarctica. For each day of the itinerary after Day 1, if there is a flight delay, Aurora Expeditions’ ground staff will update all expeditioners on the flight status. During the delay, we are waiting for a break in the weather allowing us to depart, and are often required to leave with very little notice. All expeditioners and staff will be on standby during this time.
Days 1, 2 & 3
After breakfast, there will be a briefing regarding new flight departure time from Punta Arenas (in case there is a confirmed flight time) or new briefing time (in case there is no confirmation of flight time).
If the flight has been scheduled to depart early afternoon, an updated transfer bus departure time will be advised to expeditioners.
If the flight is delayed until the evening, lunch will be provided and an afternoon excursion will be offered to expeditioners.
If the flight has been delayed until the following day, a briefing will occur to advise expeditioners of the new flight departure time from Punta Arenas the following day.
Aurora Expeditions will provide all meals and guided tours to sites of historic and wildlife interest in Punta Arenas as well as additional night(s) of hotel accommodation in Punta Arenas with breakfast included.
Day 4
If by 2.00 pm authorisation to fly to Antarctica is not provided, the voyage will be cancelled. Aurora Expeditions will provide accommodation and all meals. No other services are included after day 4.
Sail/Fly Voyages and Fly/Fly Voyages
At the end of a Sail/Fly and Fly/Fly voyage, if the return charter flight from King George Island to Punta Arenas is delayed, expeditioners already in Antarctica will remain on board the ship until the return flight to Punta Arenas is authorised to depart. If the flight from Punta Arenas is cancelled after up to 96 hours of attempting to depart, the ship will transport expeditioners from King George Island to Puerto Williams or Ushuaia for disembarkation. Full board is included. Strictly no refund will be provided for any reason.
Important Note:
No refund will be provided to you for the voyage if the flight is successfully completed regardless of which day it was executed up to 96 hours after the originally scheduled flight time. If the voyage is deemed cancelled due to weather conditions or otherwise, Aurora Expeditions will provide you with a full credit for your voyage.
Aurora Expeditions will not be liable for and does not accept any claims for any costs made by you including but not limited to international airfares, domestic airfares, accommodation, any additional services purchased, or change fees impacted by or as a result of the delay or cancellation of a Fly & Sail voyage. Aurora Expeditions will provide a trip interruption letter to be submitted by the expeditioners to their insurance company for the airfare, change fees, re-booking fees, and other expenses incurred due to the trip interruption or cancellation.
