Antarctica Complete (Christmas and New Year)

Upon arriving in Ushuaia, a representative greets you and arranges your transfer to the group hotel. When you check in, be sure to request cabin tags from the hotel staff and label them with your name and cabin number.  

Around 6:00 pm, attend a voyage briefing to meet your fellow travelers. After the briefing, you’ll have free time to dine at one of Ushuaia’s many local restaurants (dinner not included).  

Your included accommodation in Ushuaia will be confirmed before your stay.  

This morning, enjoy breakfast and check out. Make sure your cabin luggage is tagged clearly with your name and cabin number. Take your luggage to reception before or during check-out. It is stored and transferred directly to the port, where it is placed in your cabin ahead of your arrival. Keep any valuables or personal items with you throughout the day.

If you are joining the Lake Escondido tour, meet in the hotel lobby at 8:45 am. The tour offers a scenic drive through the Andes, with views of valleys, forests, waterfalls, and rivers. You leave Ushuaia, drive through peat bogs to Garibaldi Pass, and enjoy panoramic views of Lake Escondido and, weather permitting, Fagnano Lake. You continue toward Fagnano Lake to visit a local ranch, where you enjoy a Fuegian Lamb barbecue before returning to Ushuaia for embarkation.

Alternatively, enjoy your day at leisure and meet at the hotel lobby or the meeting point near the pier to be transferred for embarkation.

Once aboard, you have time to settle into your cabin before mandatory briefings. As the ship departs, you take in stunning views of Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego from the deck.

In the evening, you join your fellow expeditioners, the team, and the crew for a welcome dinner to celebrate the start of your Antarctic adventure.

Settle into your stateroom and get comfortable! The onboard gym, wellbeing center, and well-stocked library are there for you to explore. Your expedition team offers a series of presentations on Antarctica’s history, wildlife, and environment to enhance your experience. You are also invited to pick up your Muck Boots and attend essential briefings on biosecurity, wildlife-watching guidelines, and Zodiac safety, preparing for your first landing in Antarctica. 

On day four, excitement builds as you approach the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula. Everyone heads to the observation decks to spot their first iceberg. Now that you’re south of the Antarctic Convergence, the ocean changes character, with porpoising penguins and dramatic icebergs surrounding you. The memory of your first iceberg sighting will likely stay with you forever. If time and weather allow, you may attempt your first Antarctic landing in the late afternoon.

Arriving in Antarctica is an indescribable feeling. Spotting your first iceberg and taking in a deep breath of the freshest, crispest air on Earth is an experience that will stay with you forever.

Once you arrive, you’ll explore the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands, with many options available to you. Since you’re so far south, you’ll experience 18-24 hours of daylight, and your days can be as busy as you wish.

Your experienced expedition team, who have made countless trips to this area, will use their knowledge to plan your journey, choosing the best options based on weather, ice conditions, and wildlife opportunities.

You generally make landings or Zodiac excursions twice a day. Be sure to bundle up before joining Zodiac cruises along ice cliffs or among grounded icebergs, watching for whales, seals, and penguins. Zodiacs will also take you from the ship to land, where you can visit penguin rookeries, explore historic huts, and check out favorite spots along the peninsula.

While ashore, you’ll stretch your legs by wandering along pebbly beaches or climbing snow-covered ridgelines to get stunning views with mountains towering overhead and ice-speckled oceans below. If you’ve chosen an optional activity, you can participate whenever conditions allow. You can also take the plunge and immerse yourself in polar waters—if the conditions are right! The polar plunge is available at any time during the voyage, so listen for the announcement from the expedition team and get ready for an exhilarating experience!

Along with Zodiac cruises and shore excursions, you may also cruise through narrow, dramatic straits separating offshore islands from the mainland or spend time in scenic bays watching whales. This is a great opportunity to enjoy the observation lounge or head to the bridge (when open) for uninterrupted views of Antarctica. Listen for the creaking and rumbling of glaciers as they carve. Take a quiet moment to appreciate the stunning beauty of the pristine white continent.

Under favorable conditions, the plan is to cross the Antarctic Circle, located at latitude 66°33' south. This is a special highlight for many, and the moment will be celebrated with a toast on deck (weather permitting). You’ll join a small group of adventurers who have ventured to this part of the world. As you approach the Circle, you’ll notice subtle changes in the landscape and wildlife. The waters are rich with krill at this time of year, and there will be plenty of whales—especially humpbacks and minkes. You may also witness penguins feeding their hungry chicks.

Attend informative lectures to learn about South Georgia as we sail across the Scotia Sea. You may want to relax in the sauna or stay active in the gym; the choice is yours on how you want to enjoy days at sea. 

Sea and weather conditions determine our arrival time in South Georgia today.

As you approach the rugged island of South Georgia, think of Captain James Cook, who arrived here in 1775 and believed it to be the northern tip of a great southern continent! In reality, it’s a small island, just 176 km (110 mi) long, but with a 3,000 m (9,842 ft) snow-capped mountain range, some of the world’s largest wildlife congregations, and a fascinating human history, South Georgia is an island of incredible richness.

As you get closer, jagged mountain peaks rise steeply, and seabirds are often spotted soaring around the ship. You’ll sail down the coast, taking in the stunning glaciated scenery. This captivating coastline is yours to explore!

If time and weather conditions allow, you could pass close to Shag Rocks, a striking group of jagged islets rising from the sea near South Georgia.

Your experienced expedition team uses their local knowledge to plan your voyage each day, selecting the best options based on the weather, sea conditions, and wildlife opportunities.

Make sure to layer up before joining Zodiac excursions that zip into craggy coves and along the rocky coastline, looking for nesting penguins, seal haul-outs, and bird cliffs. Keep an eye out for South Georgia’s kelp forests—these mesmerizing underwater ecosystems have their fronds swaying back and forth on the water’s surface.

The Zodiacs also transport you ashore, where you can visit some of the largest king penguin colonies on Earth, take a guided walk among fur seals and elephant seals (listening to your guides and keeping your distance!), and wander along pebbled streams and grassy glacial outwash plains. You may also visit the remains of South Georgia’s once-thriving whaling stations and pay your respects to Sir Ernest Shackleton, whose incredible survival voyage is tied to this island. If you’ve chosen an optional activity, you can do it whenever conditions allow.

In addition to Zodiac excursions and shore trips, you may cruise through fjords with towering cliffs of ancient stone or into deeply indented bays toward dramatic glacier fronts. This is a perfect time to relax in the observation lounge or head to the bridge (open at the captain’s discretion) for uninterrupted views of South Georgia’s majestic coast.

Between the Falklands~Malvinas and South Georgia, you will be enthralled by the ceaseless flight of the many seabirds that follow and circle the ship. Our onboard lecture program will continue with presentations from our team of experts. You can also enjoy the many facilities on the ship, borrow a book from our well-stocked library or perhaps stay active in the fitness centre.

Sea and weather conditions determine our arrival time in the Falklands-Malvinas today.

The Falklands~Malvinas consist of two large islands (East and West Falkland) and over 700 smaller islands scattered along the coast. All but seven of these islands are uninhabited, featuring windswept coastlines, white sand beaches, and crystal-clear waters. These stunning, barren islands are wildlife havens, home to an impressive range of birdlife, including the world’s largest black-browed albatross colony. The cold, nutrient-rich waters around the islands make it a prime spot for marine life sightings.

The Falklands-Malvinas consist of two large islands (East and West Falkland) and over 700 smaller islands scattered off the coast. All but seven of these islands are uninhabited, with windswept coastlines, white sand beaches, and crystal-clear waters. These beautiful, barren islands are wildlife havens, home to a diverse range of birdlife, including the world’s largest black-browed albatross colony. The cold, nutrient-rich waters surrounding the islands are ideal for spotting marine life.

There are many stunning areas to explore across the Falklands~Malvinas, each offering a unique perspective on this magnificent archipelago. Your experienced expedition team, who have made countless journeys to this region, will use their knowledge to plan your voyage day by day, selecting the best options based on prevailing winds, weather, and wildlife opportunities.

You generally make landings or Zodiac excursions twice a day. Even though you're north of the Antarctic Convergence, it can still be quite chilly, so make sure to layer up before joining Zodiac cruises into rocky coves or along sea cliffs, keeping an eye out for seals, sea lions, dolphins, and penguins. Zodiacs will also take you from the ship to land, where you can visit albatross colonies, penguin rookeries, and perhaps even enjoy a traditional English ‘tea and scones’ at a local cottage.

Conditions permitting, you plan to land in historic Stanley, the capital of the Falklands~Malvinas. This charming town has a distinctly British feel, with terraced houses, pioneer cottages, and even an iconic red telephone box! Colourful buildings house cosy cafes, English pubs, souvenir shops, a post office, and the fascinating Historic Dockyard Museum, which showcases the Falkland Islands' maritime history, natural history, and ties to Antarctica.

As we sail towards Ushuaia, you may choose precious time editing photos, enjoying the onboard facilities, or attend final lectures. Celebrate the end of an unforgettable voyage with newfound friends at a special Captain’s farewell dinner. 

During the early morning, we cruise up the Beagle Channel, before quietly slipping into dock in Ushuaia, where we will be free to disembark around 8.00 am. Farewell to your expedition team and fellow passengers as we all continue our onward journeys, hopefully with a newfound sense of the immense power of nature. A transfer to Ushuaia airport or to your hotel is included in the voyage fare. 

Note: At the conclusion of the voyage, we do not recommend booking flights departing from Ushuaia prior to 12.00 pm on the day of disembarkation in case there are delays.