Buenos Aires

Feel the rhythm of bustling Buenos Aires An overnight stay in Buenos Aires is the ideal way to start your Antarctic adventure.  Home to a proud and diverse community of porteños, or ‘people of the port’, this city is a sensuous fusion of faded European splendour and Latin American panache.... Feel the rhythm of bustling Buenos Aires An overnight stay in Buenos Aires is the ideal way to start your Antarctic adventure.  Home to a proud and diverse community of porteños, or ‘people of the port’, this city is a sensuous fusion of faded European splendour and Latin American panache.  There are plenty of places to explore, including many parrillas serving authentic Argentine steak. Or maybe you’d like to practise your dance moves in the famous hometown of the tango.  Why not consider arriving a few days early to see all this vibrant city has to offer, or explore the region on our optional Pre-Programme. Read More

Ushuaia

Flying south to Ushuaia where you'll board your ship Your adventure begins with an early morning flight to Ushuaia, where you'll meet your hybrid-powered expedition ship, specially designed for sustainable cruising in polar waters. This bustling port is the capital of Argentina’s Tierra de... Flying south to Ushuaia where you'll board your ship Your adventure begins with an early morning flight to Ushuaia, where you'll meet your hybrid-powered expedition ship, specially designed for sustainable cruising in polar waters. This bustling port is the capital of Argentina’s Tierra del Fuego Province. Set against the magnificent backdrop of the Martial Glacier, Ushuaia vies for the title of the world’s southernmost city. After a briefing from your Expedition Team, you’ll have time to settle into your cabin and explore the comforts and amenities on board. Read More

Drake Passage Seas

Centre on science before your Antarctic adventure On the two-day crossing through the Drake Passage, the Expedition Team will equip you with all you need to make the most of your polar expedition cruise. Visit the onboard Science Centre and find out what lies ahead. Listen to experts talk... Centre on science before your Antarctic adventure On the two-day crossing through the Drake Passage, the Expedition Team will equip you with all you need to make the most of your polar expedition cruise. Visit the onboard Science Centre and find out what lies ahead. Listen to experts talk passionately about Antarctica’s history, the science beneath the ice, and the impact of climate change and plastic pollution. You'll learn how to make your visit as safe and as low-impact as possible, and about the Citizen Science projects you can join.  There's plenty of time to relax, so unwind in the spa and wellness area, enjoy some delicious cuisine and meet fellow travellers in the Explorer Lounge & Bar. Read More

Drake Passage Seas

South Shetland Islands

Experience Antarctica in all its natural majesty  Nothing quite prepares you for it. Surrounded by looming glaciers, and icebergs the size of floating cathedrals, Antarctica will fill you with wonder. Perhaps the most surprising part of Antarctica is the silence. It's a stillness that's br... Experience Antarctica in all its natural majesty  Nothing quite prepares you for it. Surrounded by looming glaciers, and icebergs the size of floating cathedrals, Antarctica will fill you with wonder. Perhaps the most surprising part of Antarctica is the silence. It's a stillness that's broken every so often by the locals – the wildlife. In the Antarctic summer, that might be penguins tending to their chicks; cormorants, sheathbills and petrels wheeling through the skies; or even orcas or humpback whales feeding on the krill-rich waters. Antarctica is simply a place where nature is king and the rest of us are mere observers. You’ll spend an exciting five days busily exploring several of the possible landing sites. Wherever we go and whatever we do, each day will offer something different and thrilling.  You'll join the Expedition Team on landings and ice cruises. You can take part in activities such as kayaking, snowshoeing and hiking, and may even get the chance to go camping overnight. Back on board, the Expedition Team will continue their lectures, helping you grow in your insights of the frozen continent. Read More

Gerlache Strait

Experience Antarctica in all its natural majesty  Nothing quite prepares you for it. Surrounded by looming glaciers, and icebergs the size of floating cathedrals, Antarctica will fill you with wonder. Perhaps the most surprising part of Antarctica is the silence. It's a stillness that's br... Experience Antarctica in all its natural majesty  Nothing quite prepares you for it. Surrounded by looming glaciers, and icebergs the size of floating cathedrals, Antarctica will fill you with wonder. Perhaps the most surprising part of Antarctica is the silence. It's a stillness that's broken every so often by the locals – the wildlife. In the Antarctic summer, that might be penguins tending to their chicks; cormorants, sheathbills and petrels wheeling through the skies; or even orcas or humpback whales feeding on the krill-rich waters. Antarctica is simply a place where nature is king and the rest of us are mere observers. You’ll spend an exciting five days busily exploring several of the possible landing sites. Wherever we go and whatever we do, each day will offer something different and thrilling.  You'll join the Expedition Team on landings and ice cruises. You can take part in activities such as kayaking, snowshoeing and hiking, and may even get the chance to go camping overnight. Back on board, the Expedition Team will continue their lectures, helping you grow in your insights of the frozen continent. Read More

Gerlache Strait

 The Gerlache Strait is a narrow body of water located in Antarctica, separating the Antarctic Peninsula from various islands to the west, including the Palmer Archipelago. Named after the Belgian explorer Adrien de Gerlache, this strait is renowned for its stunning scenery, featuring...  The Gerlache Strait is a narrow body of water located in Antarctica, separating the Antarctic Peninsula from various islands to the west, including the Palmer Archipelago. Named after the Belgian explorer Adrien de Gerlache, this strait is renowned for its stunning scenery, featuring towering icebergs and dramatic mountain landscapes. It serves as a vital navigation route for research vessels and tourist ships visiting the region, offering access to some of Antarctica's most breathtaking sites. The waters of the Gerlache Strait are rich in marine life, including seals, whales, and various seabirds, making it a prime location for wildlife watching. Its unique ecosystem and breathtaking vistas attract adventurers and researchers alike, contributing to our understanding of this remote and pristine part of the world. Read More

Gerlache Strait

 The Gerlache Strait is a narrow body of water located in Antarctica, separating the Antarctic Peninsula from various islands to the west, including the Palmer Archipelago. Named after the Belgian explorer Adrien de Gerlache, this strait is renowned for its stunning scenery, featuring...  The Gerlache Strait is a narrow body of water located in Antarctica, separating the Antarctic Peninsula from various islands to the west, including the Palmer Archipelago. Named after the Belgian explorer Adrien de Gerlache, this strait is renowned for its stunning scenery, featuring towering icebergs and dramatic mountain landscapes. It serves as a vital navigation route for research vessels and tourist ships visiting the region, offering access to some of Antarctica's most breathtaking sites. The waters of the Gerlache Strait are rich in marine life, including seals, whales, and various seabirds, making it a prime location for wildlife watching. Its unique ecosystem and breathtaking vistas attract adventurers and researchers alike, contributing to our understanding of this remote and pristine part of the world. Read More

Gerlache Strait

 The Gerlache Strait is a narrow body of water located in Antarctica, separating the Antarctic Peninsula from various islands to the west, including the Palmer Archipelago. Named after the Belgian explorer Adrien de Gerlache, this strait is renowned for its stunning scenery, featuring...  The Gerlache Strait is a narrow body of water located in Antarctica, separating the Antarctic Peninsula from various islands to the west, including the Palmer Archipelago. Named after the Belgian explorer Adrien de Gerlache, this strait is renowned for its stunning scenery, featuring towering icebergs and dramatic mountain landscapes. It serves as a vital navigation route for research vessels and tourist ships visiting the region, offering access to some of Antarctica's most breathtaking sites. The waters of the Gerlache Strait are rich in marine life, including seals, whales, and various seabirds, making it a prime location for wildlife watching. Its unique ecosystem and breathtaking vistas attract adventurers and researchers alike, contributing to our understanding of this remote and pristine part of the world. Read More

South Shetland Islands

Some 770 kilometers (478 miles) south of Cape Horn, the South Shetland Islands are usually the first land seen in Antarctica. Separated from the Antarctic Peninsula by the Bransfield Strait, nine major islands make up the group. The region was the first to be exploited by sealers in the ea... Some 770 kilometers (478 miles) south of Cape Horn, the South Shetland Islands are usually the first land seen in Antarctica. Separated from the Antarctic Peninsula by the Bransfield Strait, nine major islands make up the group. The region was the first to be exploited by sealers in the early 19th century, and because of its proximity to South America, it still is the most visited by scientists and tourists. Chinstrap, Adelie, Gentoo and Macaroni Penguins all breed here. In addition, because it is the warmest part of the continent, large moss beds as well as orange, black, grey and green lichens grow –even hair grass and pearlwort manage to survive. Leopard seals, Weddell seals, crabeater seals, Southern elephant seals and Antarctic fur seals can be seen in the water and on the beaches. Read More

Drake Passage Seas

Discover more about the Falkland Islands As you savour your Antarctic experiences, prepare for more adventures ahead as we cruise towards the Falkland Islands. Your Expedition Team will brief you about the history and biology of the islands. In the Science Centre, you can look through the... Discover more about the Falkland Islands As you savour your Antarctic experiences, prepare for more adventures ahead as we cruise towards the Falkland Islands. Your Expedition Team will brief you about the history and biology of the islands. In the Science Centre, you can look through the microscope at the tiny krill and phytoplankton that sustains so much of the region's wildlife.  Get tips from our professional photographer to improve your images or join workshops on wildlife painting and nautical knots. You can also book a spa treatment, visit the gym, and enjoy the locally sourced, regionally inspired dishes in our restaurants. Read More

Drake Passage Seas

Port Stanley

Enjoy birding and hiking in these green islands The Falkland archipelago is filled with seamless horizons and white sands teeming with birdlife. Only the occasional farm dots the landscape. You’ll find grassy hills and wildflowers, in contrast to the vast whiteness of Antarctica. You'll al... Enjoy birding and hiking in these green islands The Falkland archipelago is filled with seamless horizons and white sands teeming with birdlife. Only the occasional farm dots the landscape. You’ll find grassy hills and wildflowers, in contrast to the vast whiteness of Antarctica. You'll also enjoy a community walk of Stanley, taking in the Jubilee Villas gardens, Christ Church Cathedral and the Historic Dockyard Museum.  Our landings, hikes and excursions are, as always, guided by the conditions. We hope to visit albatross and penguin colonies, which are often found sharing space with seals, and getting as close as we can without disturbing them. Read More

Saunders Island

Saunders Island is the fourth-largest of the Falkland Islands in the western portion of the archipelago. The island’s topography is unusual, being made up of three peninsulas linked by narrow necks, and three big upland areas. Today the island is run as a sheep farm, but has historical imp... Saunders Island is the fourth-largest of the Falkland Islands in the western portion of the archipelago. The island’s topography is unusual, being made up of three peninsulas linked by narrow necks, and three big upland areas. Today the island is run as a sheep farm, but has historical importance as the location of the first British settlement in the Falklands. Saunders’ wildlife is also impressively varied. It is possible to see Gentoo and King Penguins in the open dune and sand-flat area, while Rockhopper Penguins (with the odd pair of Macaroni Penguins in between them), Imperial Shags and Black-browed Albatrosses frequent Mount Richards, the highest point on the island at 457 m (1500 feet). Other key bird species are the Black–throated Finch, Ruddy-headed Goose and Falkland Steamer Duck. Read More

West Point Island

Located slightly northwest of West Falkland, West Point Island is used for sheep farming and nature observations. Peale’s dolphins and the distinctive black and white markings of the Commerson’s dolphin can usually be seen in the waters around West Point Island. Rolling moorland and steep... Located slightly northwest of West Falkland, West Point Island is used for sheep farming and nature observations. Peale’s dolphins and the distinctive black and white markings of the Commerson’s dolphin can usually be seen in the waters around West Point Island. Rolling moorland and steep cliffs make for great photographic opportunities, but the main attraction is the Devil’s Nose, a cliffside colony of Black-browed Albatrosses nesting side-by-side with feisty Rockhopper Penguins. Magellanic Penguins and Magellanic Cormorants can also be found on the island. Read More

Cruising

A relaxing day at sea with time to reflect Your expedition cruise, taking in the wonders of Antarctica and the wildlife of the Falkland Islands nears its end. As we sail the final leg to Ushuaia, enjoy your final day at sea. Join the Expedition Team in the Science Centre to examine special... A relaxing day at sea with time to reflect Your expedition cruise, taking in the wonders of Antarctica and the wildlife of the Falkland Islands nears its end. As we sail the final leg to Ushuaia, enjoy your final day at sea. Join the Expedition Team in the Science Centre to examine special interests in more depth. Enlist the help of the Expedition Team to help identify species captured in your photos or simply relax on deck, recalling the highlights of your memorable adventure. End the day in the Explorer Lounge & Bar with the new friends you’ve made on your trip, sharing experiences over a relaxing drink.  Read More

Ushuaia

From Ushuaia to Buenos Aires Your expedition cruise ends in Ushuaia, the main city in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina’s southernmost province. From here, you’ll take a flight back to Buenos Aires, but it doesn’t have to be the end of your adventure. Why not join our popular, optional Post-Prog... From Ushuaia to Buenos Aires Your expedition cruise ends in Ushuaia, the main city in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina’s southernmost province. From here, you’ll take a flight back to Buenos Aires, but it doesn’t have to be the end of your adventure. Why not join our popular, optional Post-Programme before heading home. Read More