MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands in Chilean cruise company itinerary.

A Chilean cruise company that begins operating next October from Punta Arenas has included Falkland Islands, South Georgia, South Shetland and Antarctica among its several options for this coming season.

Antarctic Shipping S.A., www.antartic.cl, has invested over six million US dollars in refurbishing a former Chilean Navy icebreaker into a 2,000 tons modern cruise vessel "Antarctic Dream" with an 84 passengers. The vessel will be officially baptized next September 30 in the Asmar Talcahuano shipyard and its first cruise from Punta Arenas will be leaving October 30.

However the inaugural Antarctic cruise will take place November 6 "for which Chilean President Ricardo Lagos has been specially invited" according to Hernan Middleton Holley General Manager of Antarctic Shipping S.A.

"For climatic reasons we have to make a mix of Patagonia and Antarctica since we can only travel to Antarctica between November and the end of March", said Mr. Middleton Holley.

Therefore the cruise packages offered include seven days to Patagonia south, between Punta Arenas and Cape Horn; and seven days to Patagonia north between Punta Arenas, Tortel cove and the Aisen region to the north of Magallanes.

However the real interesting cruises are the "Antarctic expedition", a 14 days tour of South Shetlands and Antarctica and the "South of the world Expedition" which leaving Punta Arenas includes the Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctic Peninsula.

Mr. Middleton Holly said fares average 6,000 US dollars and further information can be checked at www.antartic.cl

"Antarctic Dream", the former Dutch built icebreaker "Piloto Pardo" will be painted with the three emblematic colours of the Chilean flag, red, white and blue.