The Antarctic Peninsula

An ideal marriage of comfort and adventure; travel onboard one of Antarctica's true luxury vessels. The highlights of the peninsula are brought to you in 5* comfort with spacious suites, first class cuisine and exciting optional adventure activities.

Complimentary Pre-Arrival Day (optional):

There’s no need to worry about flight delays or missed connections when you begin your adventure a day early. Take advantage of our free pre-arrival night at the beautiful Arakur Hotel & Resort in Ushuaia. You can choose to wander the trails, or enjoy the spa, or simply to unwind and soak in the surroundings.

Day 1 - Exploring Ushuaia:

The day is yours, to explore some of Ushuaia’s sights, including museums and an Argentinean leather market, or perhaps to continue relaxing at the Arakur. There will be an optional evening briefing, which is a great opportunity for you to meet some of your fellow travellers and ask questions.

Day 2 - Set Sail:

Today begins with a complimentary buffet breakfast, and then you’re free to either explore Ushuaia or unwind at the resort until your mid-afternoon transfer to the ship. At the vessel, you’ll be greeted by our Expedition Team and the ship’s officers. We will start with a safety and orientation briefing, which is followed by the Captain’s welcome dinner. After dinner, we set sail through the Beagle Channel, where you can relax and enjoy the scenery, perhaps spotting porpoising Magellanic penguins, rock cormorant, and black-browed albatross along the way.

Days 3 and 4 - Sailing the Drake Passage:

Our polar experts will prepare you with presentations on all things Antarctic, from wildlife to history, as we make our way closer to the White Continent. Eventually, we’ll notice a distinct drop in temperature as we cross the Antarctic Convergence and enter the waters of the Antarctic Ocean. If you’re interested in helping our with our science projects, you can take part in sea bird surveys, help collect salinity samples or record weather data along the way. We’re sure to see some spectacular sights, including majestic icebergs and an array of seabirds and whale species - some of which, if we are lucky, may fully breach from the sea.

Days 5 and 6 - The South Shetland Islands:

We will use as much time as possible exploring the Antarctic Peninsula and its waters by Zodiac (inflatable boats) giving us chance to admire and marvel at nature’s glory. Our Captain and expedition leader will work together to create a flexible itinerary based on weather, ice, and opportunity. Aiming for the most scenic bays and channels we will make stops at seal wallows, penguin rookeries, whale feeding areas and bird colonies, as well as sites of historic and scientific interest.

The South Shetland Islands will probably be our first sight of land; highly volcanic islands, they offer an amazing abundance of wildlife and beauty. Conditions permitting we may visit historic Deception Island or Half Moon Island nestled inside Livingston’s eastern shore. Sub-Antarctic species are more commonly found here, because we are further north, so we’ll be looking out for chinstrap penguins and southern elephant seals.

Days 7 to 9 - Antarctica:

We enter the Trinity Coast and Gerlache Strait, as we head south across the Bransfield Strait. Here we may take the opportunity to explore sheltered Paradise Harbor, picturesque Neko Harbo, the humpback whale- favoured Wilhelmina Bay, the wildlife-filled Penola Channel, the striking Lemaire Channel, or the majestic Neumayer Channel. We may also make stops at an active scientific base such as Poland’s Arctowksi or Ukraine’s Vernadskiy, as well as visits to a historic base such as Port Lockroy or Wordie House.

Days 10 and 11 - The Drake Passage:

We leave this magical place and make our way north, heading back across the Antarctic Convergence and the Drake Passage. Wildlife spotting and presentations onboard continue as we sail. We return to Ushuaia through the Beagle Channel and we celebrate the conclusion of our expedition with a special slideshow.

Day 12 - Disembarking in Ushuaia:

A morning disembarkation allows you to either catch a flight to Buenos Aires or stay in Ushuaia for more exploring and adventure.

Please note: The itinerary given is for guidance only. Each voyage will vary depending on weather and ice conditions, and any opportunities to see wildlife. Flexibility is part of the adventure of an expeditionary cruise and vital to its success.

The 9-Dec-2018, 18-Dec-2019, 27-Dec-2019 and 17-Jan-2020 departures are all 11 days long. The 14-Feb-2020 departure is a unique 14 day trip - it includes 3 days in the Antarctic Sound and 3 days on the west coast of the Antarctic Peninsula.

Includes:

• A choice of a beverage with dinner
• Complimentary parka jacket
• Daily international news service
• Post voyage digital log
• Pre-voyage 5* hotel night in Ushuaia
• Free public internet & 100 mins of wifi
• All airport/hotel/ship transfers
• Voyage aboard the vessel as indicated in the itinerary
• Accommodation and meals during the voyage on full board
• All shore excursions and zodiac activities
• Educational lectures by expert onboard polar guides
• Access to an onboard doctor and basic medical services
• Loan of rubber boots for the voyage's duration
• Comprehensive pre-departure information
• Port taxes and any entry fees to historic landing sites

Excludes:

• Any flights to and from points of embarkation/disembarkation
• Any additional pre/post land services, including meals
• Transfers not specified in the itinerary
• Optional adventure activities (e.g. kayaking)
• Visa, passport and any vaccination expenses
• Airport arrival or departure taxes
• Personal travel insurance
• Items of a personal nature, e.g. laundry, beverages and communication
• Customary staff gratuity at the end of the voyage
• Additional onboard purchases (i.e. gift shop)