Across the Antarctic Circle

Day 1 : Ushuaia

Arrive in Ushuaia, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel. This afternoon you’ll receive detailed information about activities and schedule available for your Antarctic journey. You’ll then have time at leisure to visit the town or just relax at your room.
NB: Today you can choose to add a visit to Beagle Channel and Isla de Los Lobos cruise (sea lion island) on day 2 of your journey.

Day 2 : Ushuaia

After breakfast your luggage will be transferred ahead of your arrival on board. Your morning is at leisure to explore Ushuaia.

If you opted to join a catamaran cruise to Beagle Channel and Isla de Los Lobos, you’ll be met at the hotel and transfer to the port at to board a catamaran and sail the Beagle Channel, towards the city’s iconic Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse. Crossing the Bridges Archipelago we’ll slow down to watch colonies of sea lions and imperial cormorants sun themselves on the rocky outcrops, while gulls, rock cormorants, skuas, petrels, albatrosses and cauquenes are often sighted.

Alternatively, enjoy your day at leisure and meet at your hotel lobby this afternoon to be transferred to the pier for embarkation.

Once onboard, you’ll have time to settle into your cabin before a mandatory briefing. As the ship pulls away from port, you’ll gather on the deck to commence an adventure with spectacular views over Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego.

This evening enjoy a welcome dinner to celebrate the start of a thrilling adventure to Antarctica.

Days 3 & 4 : Drake Passage crossing

Today you will commence the Drake Passage crossing. Make the most of our time getting comfortable with the motions of the sea. The expedition team will prepare you for your first landing with important wildlife guidelines and biosecurity procedures and start a lecture program to help you learn more about Antarctica’s history, wildlife and environment.

The wildlife experiences begin as you enjoy watching and photographing the many seabirds, including majestic albatrosses and giant petrels following the vessel. On sea days, you may enjoy the facilities on board the vessel including the gym, wellness centre or the relaxing in one of the observation lounges.
The ocean takes on a whole new perspective once we are below the Antarctic Convergence and are surrounded by the surreal presence of floating ice sculptures. The memory of your first big iceberg sighting is likely to remain with you for a lifetime. Time and weather permitting, we may attempt our first landing in Antarctica by late afternoon.

Days 5-10 : Antarctic Peninsula &  Antarctic Circle

It is almost impossible to describe the feeling of arriving in Antarctica. Spotting your first iceberg and taking a deep breath of some of the most fresh, crisp air on earth is an experience that will stay with you forever. Because you’ll be so far south, you’ll experience approximately 18-24 hours of daylight and the days can be as busy as you wish.
Your experienced expedition team will use their expertise to design your voyage from day to day, choosing the best options based on the prevailing weather, ice conditions and wildlife opportunities. Generally there’ll be landings or Zodiac excursions twice a day.

You will want to rug up before joining Zodiac cruises along spectacular ice cliffs or among grounded icebergs, keeping watch for whales, seals and porpoising penguins. Zodiacs will also transport you from the ship to land, where you can visit penguin rookeries, discover historic huts and explore some of our favourite spots along the peninsula. While ashore, wander along pebbly beaches or perhaps up snow-covered ridgelines to vantage points with mountains towering overhead and ice-speckled oceans below.

If you have chosen an optional activity, you will have the option to do participate in the activity whenever conditions allow, and of course keen polar plungers will have the chance to fully immerse themselves in polar waters – conditions permitting!

In addition, cruise some of the narrow, dramatic straits separating offshore islands from the mainland, or linger in scenic bays to watch whales travelling or feeding. This is a great time to enjoy the observation lounge or make your way to the bridge (open at the captain’s discretion) for uninterrupted views of Antarctica in all its splendour. Listen out for the creak and deep rumble of glaciers as they carve into the sea. Take a quiet moment to experience the wonder of the pristine paradise of the splendid white continent.

On this voyage, conditions permitting, you might cross the Antarctic Circle, an imaginary line located at the Antarctic Circle at latitude 66°33′ South (approximately). Crossing below The Circle is certainly a special highlight for many people, and the moment will be celebrated with a toast out on the deck!

Days 11 & 12 : Drake Passage crossing

Enjoy a final morning landing in the South Shetland Islands before we re-enter the Drake Passage for your return journey to South America.

With lectures and film presentations to complete your Antarctic experience, there is still plenty of time to enjoy the magic of the Southern Ocean and the life that calls it home.

As you approach the tip of South America, the Captain may sail close to legendary Cape Horn, weather and time permitting.

Day 13 : Ushuaia

During the early morning, we cruise up the Beagle Channel, before quietly slipping into dock in Ushuaia, where you will disembark. Farewell your expedition team and fellow passengers as we all continue our onward journeys, hopefully with a newfound sense of the immense power of nature.

NB: At the conclusion of the voyage, we do not recommend booking flights departing Ushuaia prior to 12:00 pm on the day of disembarkation in case there are delays.