Crossing the Antarctic Circle

Day 1: Arrive in Ushuaia

Arrive in Ushuaia, where you will be met and transferred to your included downtown hotel (if you have taken preferred flights only).

Day 2: Exploring Ushuaia and Embarkation

This morning after a leisurely breakfast, your luggage will be collected for loading onto the ship and you have free time to explore the city. Ushuaia, capital of Tierra del Fuego, is located at the shores of the Beagle Channel and surrounded by the Martial Mountains, giving you a unique landscape in Argentina of mountains, sea, glaciers and forests.

There is an optional included afternoon catamaran cruise this afternoon. Meet back at the hotel lobby at 12.45 pm ready to transfer to the port at 1 pm. Here, you will board a comfortable catamaran and sail the Beagle Channel, towards the city’s iconic Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse. Crossing the Bridges Archipelago look out for colonies of sea lions and imperial cormorants on the rocky outcrops. Gulls, rock cormorants, skuas, petrels, albatrosses and cauquenes are also often sighted. Alternatively, enjoy your day at leisure and meet at the hotel lobby at 3.45 pm to be transferred to the pier for embarkation. 

As the ship pulls away from port, gather on the deck to commence your adventure with spectacular views over Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego. You'll have time to settle into your cabin before the briefings. Over the first evening, get to know your fellow passengers, crew and expedition team at a welcome dinner to celebrate the start of a thrilling adventure to Antarctica.

Day 3: Drake Passage Crossing

As you sail across the Drake Passage, make the most of your time getting comfortable with the motions of the sea. The expedition team prepare you for the first landing with important wildlife guidelines and biosecurity procedures, and start their educational lecture program to help you learn more about Antarctica's history, wildlife and environment.

Your wildlife experiences begin immediately as you enjoy watching and photographing the many seabirds, including majestic albatrosses and giant petrels following in the wake of the ship. They rise and fall effortlessly, using air currents created by the ship to gain momentum.

Day 4: Drake Passage & South Shetland Islands

Nearing the South Shetland Islands and the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula on day four , the excitement is palpable with everyone converging on one of the observation decks, watching for the first iceberg. The ocean takes on a whole new perspective once you 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. Weather permitting, the team may attempt your first landing in Antarctica by late afternoon. 

Days 5-10: Antarctic Peninsula & Antarctic Circle

The experienced expedition team and Captain will use their expertise to design the voyage from day to day. This allows them to make best use of the prevailing weather, ice conditions and wildlife opportunities.

Because you are so far south, you will experience approximately 18-20 hours of daylight and the days can be as busy as you wish. You will generally make landings or Zodiac excursions two, and occasionally three, times a day; cruising along spectacular ice cliffs, watching whales that are feeding near the surface, and landing on the continent and its off-shore islands to visit penguin rookeries, seal haul outs, historic huts, and other favourite spots along the Peninsula. There will be plenty of time for sleep when you get home!

During this voyage, the ship will attempt to cross the invisible line of the Antarctic Circle at latitude 66 degrees South - this is certainly a special highlight for everyone and there may even be the opportunity to celebrate with a toast on the deck. In order to reach the Antarctic Circle, the ship will motor south every night and during meal times or when we are not ashore exploring.

As you reach and cross the circle, you may notice subtle changes in the Antarctic land and icescapes, and also in the distribution of wildlife. The waters at this time of year are rich with krill and so keep a look out for whales, particularly humpbacks and minkes. 

Days 11-12: Drake Passage Crossing

Today you enter the Drake Passage for the return journey to South America. With lectures and videos to complete your Antarctic experience, there is still plenty of time to enjoy the magic of Southern Ocean and the life that calls it home. There is time for reflection and discussion about what you have seen and experienced.

Day 13: Disembark in Ushuaia

During the early morning, you will cruise up the Beagle Channel, before quietly slipping into dock in Ushuaia, where we will be free to disembark around 0800, weather permitting.  A transfer to downtown Ushuaia before continuing to the airport is included in the cost of the voyage.

At the conclusion of the voyage, we do not recommend booking flights departing Ushuaia prior to 1200 on the day of disembarkation in case there are any delays.

PLEASE NOTE: 

This itinerary is for guidance only as each voyage will vary depending on ice and weather conditions, and opportunities to see wildlife. Flexibility is key and all part of the adventure of an expeditionary cruise. Furthermore, it's important to understand that the charter flight(s) to/from Antarctica where applicable are particularly prone to weather, which requires a flexible flight schedule.